Here's his review!
While the name of Samuel Rutherford is not well known by
many in our day, those who do know of this choice servant of Christ typically
associate him with his wonderful letters or the hymn, “The Sands of Time Are
Sinking.” The letters of Rutherford in
particular continue to refresh and strengthen Christians with new glimpses of
Christ’s beauty and a contagious passion for His Name. They are full of longing for Christ,
practical wisdom, and humility of spirit.
Rutherford’s letters are perhaps his greatest legacy and gift to
Christ’s Church.
Richard Hannula’s “Bitesize Biography” of Samuel
Rutherford relates the story of the man behind the letters. The greatest strength of this clear and
concise telling of Rutherford’s life is that Hannula allows his subject to do
much of the speaking, drawing quotes from Rutherford’s letters, diaries,
sermons, and other works. This is
particularly appropriate for a biography of Rutherford, whose words are
so-often saturated with his love for his Savior and Christ’s Church (Kirk), and
have such power to inspire and edify.
In Samuel
Rutherford, we are given enough of the historical context to appreciate the
pivotal role Rutherford played in the Scottish Reformation, without being
overburdened with detail. We learn of
Rutherford’s conversion (“My heart is
not my own; [Christ] hath run away to heaven with it.”), his appointment as
Professor of Humanities at the University of Edinburgh , and the allegations
that removed him from that office.
Hannula helps us to experience the sweetness of Rutherford’s years as
pastor in Anwoth, and what it was like to sit under his preaching. (“He was
short, slight and preached in a high pitch voice – some describe it as
‘shrill’. But he vividly set Christ
before his congregation…”) Using short
excerpts from Rutherford’s sermons, we
are drawn into the heart of this pastor for the people under his care, and hear
his exhortations for the people to know the loveliness of Christ.
Similarly, we learn more of the heart of this man as we
hear brief excerpts from his letters during his time of exile in Aberdeen. We feel his suffering as he longs to return
to the people he so dearly loves, and yet also his resolve to bear the cross
Christ has for him. “They are not worthy
of Jesus who will not take a blow for their Master’s sake.” Hannula continues to walk us through
Rutherford’s joyful reunion with the church in Anwoth, his appointment to St.
Andrews, and his involvement in the Westminster Assembly. These chapters reveal how influential
Rutherford became, and cause us to reflect on how a man who garnered such
notoriety and respect could remain as humble before God and men as his writings
from these periods show him to have been.
The final chapters of Samuel
Rutherford go further to indicate how important this man was in the
purposes of Christ for Scotland. As
Rutherford strove and flourished in his work, so did true Christianity in Scotland. As Rutherford’s health weakened and he neared
his life’s end, Scotland’s Christian commitments began to fade as well. We are encouraged to read of Rutherford’s
dying days, however, because of his love and longings for the Lord Jesus. In the last chapter, Hannula serves us by
giving us an assessment of Rutherford’s legacy, and leaves us wanting to read
more of Rutherford’s writings. Most of
all, this book helps us to long for the kind of deep love for Christ that
characterized this Rutherford’s life.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments!