 n this book, Iain Murray gives us a glimpse of the people and events
surrounding a dispute between Charles Spurgeon and some of his
contemporaries and predecessors. At issue was their minimized
proclamation of the gospel as a consequence of taking the biblical
doctrine of election to an unwarranted, unbiblical, and absurd
extreme.
After a brief introduction to Spurgeon, Murray unfolds the historical
progression of hyper-Calvinism’s emergence in 18th and 19th century
England, and the controversy between Spurgeon and the
hyper-Calvinistic preachers of his day. The book ends with sermon &
lecture excerpts from Spurgeon and others, addressing the apparent
“problem” of God’s sovereign election and man's free will and
responsibility.
Many of Murray’s own comments are as profound and significant as much
of the period material he cites, all of which I found at least as
enriching as the historical treatment—particularly a passage from T.J.
Crawford and the many sermon excerpts from Spurgeon himself.
This book is more than a mere doctrinal essay. It reveals the danger
of overemphasizing one biblical doctrine at the expense of another,
and the assuming of a “right” or “entitlement” to exhaustive
comprehension of God’s truth:
“I could point you to innumerable instances where harping
upon any one peculiar doctrine has driven men to excess of
bigotry and bitterness.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Having personally embraced reformed doctrine only recently-and
rather late in my Christian walk, I found this book a refreshing
antidote to the “problem” so often thrown up as an objection to
biblical election. It does this without in any way diminishing the
key biblical doctrines inherent in the “election/free will” controversy,
so that when I finished reading it, I was freshly encouraged and
inspired-both by the sweet durability of God’s timeless truth, and by
the examples of humility, wisdom, and boldness displayed in men like
Charles Spurgeon, who proclaimed the whole council of God as found in
the Scriptures.
Timothy Wallace
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