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Here is a riddle for you. He never wrote a book, yet Christians all over the
world love to read his works. Yes, you've guessed - Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He
did write `forewords' to other people's books it is true. For example, in 1949
he wrote a `cover blurb' for a republication of Calvin's Institutes by
James Clark. `No other book repays reading more than this, especially so in the
case of preachers of the Word'. At about the same time he wrote a three page
foreword to The Life of Pastor Hsi, which he regarded as ,one of the
really great Christian biographies'. Two years later he wrote one for E J
Poole-Connor's Evangelicalism in England - a historical survey from the
Reformation to the present time. Again, he showed his interest and support for
the Banner of Truth by writing forewords to William Hendriksen's Commentary
on John, The Early Life of Howell Harris by Richard Bennett and Lectures
on Revivals by W E Sprague. There may well be others.
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However, the great bulk of his published work is sermons and addresses. These
have poured out in a steady stream from about 1970. Prior to this date the flow
of published works was comparatively slow. It may be helpful to trace the
different strands. Lloyd-Jones moved to London in 1938, and from that time a
number of addresses appeared in print. In the early months of World War II he
published a short series of sermons under the title Why does God allow War? a
general justification of the ways of God. In his preface he strikes a note
that he was to sustain in all future publications - `These sermons - not essays
- were delivered substantially as they appear here ....' He was a preacher, not
an essayist! From the same period comes Truth Unchanged Unchanging, a
series of addresses delivered at the invitation of the Free Church College. By
the late 1940s the Inter Varsity Fellowship had begun to publish addresses by
the Doctor. The Presentation of the Gospel is an example, highlighting
some of the dangers and weaknesses of modern evangelism.
Christ our Sanctification is a wonderfully clear critique of `Keswick'
teaching on Christian holiness. I recall a friend passing a copy on to me when
in my late teens. It must have been the first thing by the Doctor I ever read.
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So this was the pattern in the forties and fifties: separate addresses or small
books of sermons published from time to time. In 1952 he gave the Presidential
Address at the IVF Annual Conference. This was immediately published under the
title Maintaining the Evangelical Faith Today, and was, for many years,
the best and most stirring defence of biblical Christianity. I well recall
reading it as a student in the late 1950s and feeling its force and power in my
heart. Forgive the personal references, but I can still feel the old thrill that
came as I read those addresses for the first time! Another small book of sermons
belonging to those years is From Fear to Faith - Studies in the Book of
Habakkuk. |
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At the end of the 1950s came the first major collection of sermons to be
published - Studies in the Sermon on the Mount. I remember giving it to
my girl-friend (now my wife) for her 21st birthday. Faith on Trial -
studies in Psalm 73 - appeared in 1965. I was at Grove Chapel in those days,
assisting lain Murray, and Dr LloydJones preached for us one evening. Later, at
supper, I asked him to sign my copy. One more volume here is
Spiritual Depression - a series of choice sermons so helpful to troubled
souls. |
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A further strand of published works is the Puritan Papers published between 1959
and 1978, and now available in the Banner volume entitled The Puritans, their
Origins and Successors. These addresses show the Doctor's interest in
history and his convictions about its importance both as a warning and as a
stimulant to zeal and godliness. |
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A lesser known area of his work is that connected with the Evangelical Library.
Year after year he presided at the Library's Annual Meeting, and gave an
address. These were later published in the Annual Report. They are not to be
confused with the Annual Lectures, of which he gave only one, in 1962,
1662-1962 From Puritanism to Non-Conformity. The Annual Addresses make
fascinating reading. They were not sermons or even addresses on particular
subjects, but a pot-pourri of personal reminiscences - places he had visited,
people he had met over the past year, but always with books in view - he was a
great book lover. He said in the course of one such address, `I imagine that
during these 30 years I have borrowed more books from the Library, and used more
books from the Library, than any other single individual; and 1 do thank God for
it.' Sadly, I have to tell you that these addresses are long out of print, and
so must be borrowed if you can find a kind Christian friend who will trust you
with such treasures! On some eight occasions between the years 1967 and 1979 the
Doctor preached at the BEC Conference. The first of these was his address on
Luther, commemorating the 450th anniversary of his 95 Theses. Around 2,500
gathered in Westminster Chapel - it was a memorable occasion in every way. |
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Finally, in 1970 a volume of sermons appeared which was to be the first of a
steady flow of material from the Westminster pulpit. The volume was, of course,
the first of the Romans series - not on Chapter 1 but Romans 3:20-4:25 -
the Doctor wanted to begin with the atonement and justification. Then came eight
volumes on Ephesians. Both series were published by Banner of Truth. They are a
wonderful blend of theology - vibrant and living - and practical Christian
teaching. They provide the very best way to gain a deeper grasp of the Christian
faith. Not since Spurgeon have printed sermons had such continuing popularity.
Banner also produced volumes of sermons on 2 Peter, Old Testament Evangelistic
Sermons and, in paperback, Evangelistic Sermons from the Aberavon period. Other
publishers have issued paperback volumes, for example on Philippians; the
Baptism of the Spirit (Joy Unspeakable); Isaiah 5; 2 Timothy 1:12 and a
three volume set on John 17. Please will someone reissue these in hardback -
they are pure gold! |
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Where shall I begin? The Sermon on the Mount is a good place to begin. Or
perhaps something smaller would be better -Authority or What is an
Evangelical? Perhaps best of all would be Knowing the Times - yes,
that is where you must begin; and then you will be hooked! |
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