BOOKS - For Your Library

The Temple of Jerusalem, Andre Parrot, Philo­sophical Library, New York, 1955, H2 pages, $2.75. The author is curator in chief of the French National Museums, professor at Ecole du Louvre, Paris, and director of the Mari Archaeological Expedition. A scholar in his field, he also authored Discovering Buried Worlds, The Flood and Noah's Ark, The Tower of Babel, Nineveh and the Old Testament, and Golgotha and the Church of the Holy Sepul­chre.

The building program as portrayed in this book throws much light on the glorious era when Solo­mon built the first Temple at Jerusalem. Chapters 2 and 3 deal with the temple of Ezekiel, its altar, the spring of living water, the ministry of Haggai and Zechariah, the profanation by Antiochus Epiphanes, and the capture of Jerusalem by Pompey, furnishing interesting detail in the light of modern archeology. Chapter 4 describes Herod's Temple, supplying the background for many of Jesus' teach­ings and miracles. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 a.d. is vividly portrayed, with many new points for the reader's study.

The last section of the book, under the title "The Haram Esh-Sherif," carries the reader through the Byzantine Era, the coming of Omar, the Crusades and the return of the Moslems, closing with stimu­lating information on the present conditions in the Holy Land. A revealing bibliography adds value to this work, as well as many maps and illustrations. The author's solid spiritual tone and Biblical em­phasis recommend his book. Ministers, teachers, and Bible instructors will find it a source of good information.

Louise C. Kleuser

It Began on the Cross, Guy Schofield, Hawthorne Books, Inc., New York, $5.00.

A former editor of the London Evening News, Mr. Schofield has done an expert job in painting a picture of events between the end of the book of Acts and the death of the last man to have known one of the twelve apostles personally, or from about A.D. 39 to A.D. 155.

Here is a swift-moving historical narrative with deft pictures of the chief characters of three gen­erations. Here are traditions and legends from which the well-read and much-traveled author picks what secular history seems to suggest as the truth. This is a period on which the New Testa­ment is silent and of which we know next to noth­ing—the travels of the apostles (apart from Acts), the astonishing spread of Christianity, the conflict with Roman imperialism, the persecutions, the graphic end of Jewish nationhood in a.d. 70, the deaths of the first Christian leaders, the cynicism of a dying world, the sweetness of noble souls in an ignoble age. All this is brought together, the pub­lishers claim, for the first time.

"Here are the Roman emperors strutting on their imperial stage—Caligula, the slavering lunatic; megalomaniac Nero with his calculating mistress, Poppaea; Vespasian, the rough, homespun soldier; Domitian the paranoiac; Trajan, who conquered wherever his sword flashed; restless, quizzical Hadrian."

You will not readily leave this story of the heroes and heroines who, unknown to history, eagerly passed on the torch of truth from Peter and Paul while the personal influence of Jesus of Nazareth was still a vibrant, galvanizing memory. Even when picking a delicate course through folklore, legend, pseudohistorical documents and exaggerations the author highlights many an arresting thought that will provide valuable background for preaching material and for devotional thinking.

H. W. Lowe

Basic Evangelism, Dr. C. E. Autrey, Director of Evangelism for the Southern Baptist Convention, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1959, 183 pages, $2.95.

This fine book should awaken a deep interest in the ranks of all administrators, evangelists, pastors,

and teachers of applied theology. Dr. Autrey is a successful Baptist evangelist in his own right, and before being called to his present position, he was professor of evangelism at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The reading of the book makes one aware that the author is a lover of lost souls, and a profound Christian. The book not only gives valuable instruc­tion in the science of soul winning but also inspires to a better Christian life. Above all, it urges a re­vival in evangelism in these solemn times of the world's history.

In this textbook of basic evangelism the author discusses in a logical and mature pattern the follow­ing subjects: Biblical Background, Visitation in Evangelism, Conservation of Results, Pastoral Evan­gelism, Theological Basis of Evangelism, Dynamics of Evangelism, Evangelistic Invitation, The Evange­listic Church, Rural Evangelism, Preparation and Performance in Revival, and Evangelism Beyond the Doors of the Church.

In my opinion this book is the finest of its class in recent years. Every Adventist minister will find some new approaches or ideas in his endeavors to win souls for Christ. It merits a careful study by all who are praying, "Thy kingdom come."

Walter Schubert

Through Sunlight and Shadow, Evelyn Bauer, Her­ald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, 1959, 221 pages, $2.95.

This is a simple narrative of the experiences two young people encountered during the first years of their mission service in India. Nothing is glamor­ized. Evelyn Bauer describes simply the hardships, difficulties, and disappointments, as well as the pleasures and satisfactions, found in service for others. Their failures and successes in trying to learn a new language and adjust to a new country and its people are faithfully described.

Just when the young couple feel they have reached the place where they can begin to work for the people of central India in earnest, Mrs. Bauer is stricken with polio. Her realistic description of her experience in trying to hold onto life and her faith in God are graphically portrayed in this story.

The book is informative and may be read with profit, especially by those who may be considering mission service in India.

J. Ina White

The Other Side of Rome, John B. Wilder, Zonder-van Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1959, 159 pages, $2.50.

The author, a Baptist minister in Texas, right­fully claims to have seen the "other side" of Rome. Being well acquainted with Rome's doctrines, he writes strongly, yet without vindictiveness. He does not stoop to destructive criticism, but fearlessly points out the error in a system of religion so bas­ically opposed to the Scriptures. And just why? Speaking for himself he states: "Parents and pastors need a book of facts to show their people what Catholicism has been, what it is, and what it hopes to become." There is a crying need for such a book in our land, where complacency and tolerance are not always virtues. The book is penetrating and direct, but not bitter, and it is not rabid. It is fair and well documented. Subjects discussed: Tradi­tion; the Mass; Images; Relics; Indulgences; the Pope; the Glitter and the Gleam; Rome, Hearth and Heartbeat; and Prelude to Darkness.

Having carefully read the entire book, we recom­mend it to our workers, not merely for its informa­tion but as a helpful missionary tool to assist others in investigating Catholicism in the light of Bible truth. The author knows the Scriptures and the prophecies relating to this system of religion and practice. The book is different and will hold the interest of the reader. Our ministers and evange­lists will here find some excellent source material to meet the more recent problem of Catholicism in the study of Bible prophecy. Louise C. Kleuser

Meet Martin Luther, Ruth Gordon Short, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1959, 194 pages, $2.95.

Born in New York City, Mrs. Short lived there after her marriage to Dr. James Short, specialist in internal medicine, until the close of World War II, when the Shorts moved to California. The family is well known to Adventists; their two sons and two daughters, with their families, are dedicated to min­isterial, medical, and educational work. Mrs. Short has two hobbies: good music and good books. Since she is well known to the reviewer, we cheerfully add that she is also an ingenious mother and a devoted member of our church. More recently Dr. and Mrs. Short accepted a call to our medical work in Korea. Daughter Beatrice and her husband are in min­isterial work in Cambodia.

Meet Martin Luther, Mrs. Short's third book on the Reformation, is novel in its message, and wher­ever possible she lets Luther speak for himself. In a fast-moving, readable style the author presents graphic word pictures of this great Protestant leader whose real character has never been truly revealed. It is with pleasure that The Ministry announces the publication of this valuable book. College and church librarians, kindly take notice.

Louise C. Kleuser

The Holy Spirit, His Person and Work, Edward Henry Bickersteth, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1959, 192 pages, $2.95.

This is the companion volume to an earlier book by the author, entitled The Trinity. It is a com­plete study of the personality, the Godhead, and the divine work of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps a single extract from a chapter dealing with the sealing of the Spirit will show the freshness of treatment that makes this subject live in the minds of its readers. "The allusion to the seal as a pledge of purchase would be particularly intelligible to the Ephesians, for Ephesus was a maritime city, and an extensive trade in timber was carried on there by shipmasters of the neighboring ports. The method of purchase was this; the merchant, after selecting his timber, stamped it with his own signet, which was an acknowledged sign of ownership. He often did not carry off his possessions at the time; it was left in the harbor with other floats of timber; but it was chosen, bought and stamped; and in due time the merchant sent a trusty agent with a signet, who, finding the timber which bore a corresponding impress, claimed and brought it away for the mas­ter's use. Thus, The Holy Spirit impresses on the soul now the image of Jesus Christ; and this is the sure pledge of the everlasting inheritance."

This book has been recommended for personal and class study and as the basis for prayer meeting revivals. A glance at the table of contents, with an outline for each chapter, reveals inspirational and instructional points of emphasis. The chapters cover: The Witness of Scripture; The Distinct Personality of the Holy Spirit; The Eternal Godhead of the Holy Spirit; The Holy Spirit Anointing the Son of Man; The Spirit the Author of the Holy Scripture; The Holy Spirit Striving With the World; The Holy Spirit Quickening the Soul to Life; The Holy Spirit Sanctifying the Believer; The Issue of the Holy Spirit's Work. The author's messages have profoundly influenced the minister and his ministry. Here is inspiration, enrichment, and enlightenment on an important phase of the Godhead.

Louise C. Kleuser

Design for Preaching, H. Grady Davis, Muhlenberg Press, Philadelphia, 1958, 307 pages, $4.75.

A man may possess vast theological knowledge, rich spiritual concepts, and a personal relationship with God, and yet come short of his high calling as a minister if his avenues of communication are vague, stilted, unattractive.

Dr. Henry Grady Davis, professor of functional theology at Chicago Lutheran Seminary, has attempted in his book Design for Preaching to pull away from the traditional formulas of sermon prep­aration and to suggest a fresh, functional approach. It seems his purpose is to encourage a man to think large thoughts and then skillfully to develop those great ideas for pulpit presentation.

Some twenty years ago a young minister asked Dr. Davis, "What do you do to your thought when you preach?" Both the inquirer and Dr. Davis had been taught the processes of homiletics in their respective theological seminaries, yet at the time neither man could give a satisfactory answer to that intriguing question. Then more recently a famous clergyman, who had already won distinc­tion as a preacher, inquired in a letter, "What method do you propose to your students as they go about the task of preparing their sermons? Specifically, how does the text come alive from a basic statement of truth about God to the living existential person-to-person relationship?"

The author endeavors to answer these two similar questions. Basically his reply is that a sermon be­gins from a central generative idea, then grows. AH other sections of the sermon are merely parts of the original idea. Stimulating illustrations come from inside the sermon and are not pinned on simply for interest. Of course, we recognize that this concept of a seed thought growing into a ma­ture beautiful plant is not new, but Dr. Davis has given the idea new development in the field of homiletics. His book deals primarily with sermon design, a description of what take place in the proc­ess of preaching actual sermons.

He analyzes many hundreds of sermons of all grades from the worst to the best by men of all persuasions. Although it would seem he has been influenced by those who are not theologically con­servative, nonetheless the book provides valuable illustrative material from these men of varied back­grounds. The ideas discussed are valid for any type of preaching. He works on the premise that mode, tense, proper use of voice, the principles of logic, and the right choice of words play a decided part in aiding the minister to say more effectively what is to be said.

Although the author specializes in presenting skillful ways of handling the topical sermon, the expository preacher would enhance his own pres­entations by adapting the counsel given in this volume to his special type of preaching.

The bibliography supplies a list of books for those interested in expanding the study. After each chap­ter there are helpful specific readings and suggest­ions for the reader to follow when he applies the principles discussed.

If I should choose one chapter of this book above any other that I believe will be a beneficial influ­ence to my future ministry, it would be chapter 15, "Writing for the Ear." The 38 pages of this chapter, if adopted, would embellish any man's vocabulary, his mode of sentence structure, and his personal communication, enabling him to say a great deal and suggest more in a few choice words.

A. C. F.