{"id":5753,"date":"2024-10-05T12:33:02","date_gmt":"2024-10-05T12:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shrbt.org\/?page_id=5753"},"modified":"2024-10-05T12:47:54","modified_gmt":"2024-10-05T12:47:54","slug":"webster-review","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.shrbt.org\/index.php\/webster-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Webster FPCS Magazine review"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Review in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Magazine of August 2024<\/h2>

Out of His Fulness, Sacramental Sermons of a Notable Covenanter, by James Webster, published by the Scottish Highlands Book Trust, hardback, 268 pages, \u00a316.00.<\/h5>

David said that \u201cthe righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance\u201d. Solomon tells us that \u201cthe memory of the just is blessed\u201d. Through the publication of this book, the Scottish Highlands Book Trust has revived the memory of one whom we believe is worthy to be held in everlasting remembrance, and we hope that, through the republication of these sermons, his memory will be blessed and made a blessing.<\/p>

Though James Webster (1659-1720), latterly an Edinburgh minister, may not be well known generally, those who are familiar with the indomitable zeal of faithful Covenanters, will remember him. Webster was at pains to employ every conventional avenue available to him (and some other legitimate if unconventional avenues too) to alert the Church to the dangerous heresies being taught by Professor James Simpson. Like others in the history of the Church in Scotland during that period, he clearly feared no man\u2019s frown and courted no man\u2019s favour (if fearing and courting was to be at the expense of the truth).<\/p>

This strength of character is illustrated in his life work and in his dying words too. Defying a sinful world which despised him, he said on his deathbed: \u201cI have sweet peace of these appearances, for which I have often been accounted a fool\u201d. If one is not familiar with this redoubtable Christian warrior he will find material in the publisher\u2019s biographical account of the author which will draw a sympathetic heart to a prayerful perusal of the author\u2019s sermons, for \u201cthe tongue of the just is as choice silver\u201d and \u201cthe lips of the righteous feed many\u201d and \u201cthe mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom (Prov 10:20,21,31).<\/p>

We are informed that Patrick Walker, a learned and esteemed student of Scottish church history and author of Six Saints of the Covenant, described the author as \u201cworthy Mr James Webster\u201d; and that Thomas Boston refers to him as \u201cthat great man, Mr James Webster\u201d. In the light of these recommendations, there is no need for me to recommend the book to those who have the discernment to esteem highly the judgement of these men, especially of the latter \u2013 one who was described by Ralph Erskine as \u201cthe great, the grave, judicious Boston\u201d.<\/p>

The publisher\u2019s Preface gives brief details of the sources from which the sermons are taken. There is also an account of the manner in which providence gave Webster\u2019s sermons to a reading public once again, through this publication. The interesting biographical account of the author was penned by the Rev I D MacDonald (Portree).<\/p>

We are indebted to the Scottish Highlands Book Trust for republishing this excellent book. I understand that the project to bring it to the light of day was begun by Rev Alasdair Beaton MacLean, our friend and brother in labour who died before the project was brought to completion by other Trust members. In light of this fact, Out of His Fulness comes forth to the world in a mournful garb for those of us who knew Mr MacLean.<\/p>

When I was a divinity student, one of our ministers said that what we need to feed the Lord\u2019s people is \u201cfresh light on the text\u201d. This describes well what one will find in this volume: fresh views of sacred mysteries, articulated in arresting terms by one who knew what it was to speak as the oracles of God.<\/p>

The 13 sermons occupy 239 pages of the book. The reader will find himself not only carried along by the author\u2019s warm-hearted and lively style of preaching, but carried aloft, like a lark ascending, meditating on Webster\u2019s exposition of the doctrines of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Or is it that one might be brought on a descent into the great depths of the smitten Rock of Ages, whence the Most High brought drink for His chosen people? Webster finds grave and sweet doctrines in the crevasses of the smitten Rock, where others might not have cared to look. Here one will learn much of the mystery that surrounds the sacrament of the Lord\u2019s Supper. With fresh light on old, familiar themes and terms, he opens up the meaning of the words of institution, for example. He shows in polemic terms what is meant by the words, \u201cye do show forth the Lord\u2019s death\u201d. The author in his graphic manner (a characteristic of his style) makes clear what it is that makes the Lord\u2019s Supper a feast: \u201cYou shall have the gospel shewbread; the Christian manna, which was ground and bruised betwixt the Father\u2019s wrath and our sins\u201d.<\/p>

By describing beams of majesty and of mercy in the one mysterious Immanuel, Webster gives a sense of Christ in His holy and humble yet majestic heart, offering Himself as a sacrifice, with love and desire. Views of His suffering soul, drawn from the inspired record, are presented in a way well calculated to shine \u201cin our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ\u201d.<\/p>

Webster opens up what God has revealed about the \u201cwounds\u201d of the awakened sword of pitiless vengeance, upon the soul of the Man who is \u201cthe fellow\u201d of God, One who has fellowship with the Father in the eternal Godhead, and who is the believer\u2019s Surety. He speaks of the \u201cgashes\u201d and wounds into which the vials of God\u2019s wrath were poured. In arresting terms he gives a description of the doleful sufferings Christ was to endure and His wholehearted willingness to undergo these.<\/p>

You will find what I believe to be clear and helpful ways to think of significant statements about His final suffering: what the desertion in Psalm 22:1 does and does not mean, and why it was necessary; what is implied by His commending His spirit to the Father; what we are to learn from the recorded fact that He \u201cbowed His head\u201d \u2013 and much more in the same spiritual vein.<\/p>

Reading this book prayerfully, the believer will find thought-provoking material to feed the life of grace in his or her soul. Woven into this fabric of light and love are solemn warnings to sinners who are out of Christ, coupled with the free overtures of mercy, and the practical obligations His love imposes on those who are its objects. One will often find brief, comprehensive statements explaining terms and doctrines, the incisive opening of apposite texts, and a tender distinguishing between the experiences of God\u2019s children and those of hypocrites.<\/p>

One will on rare occasions come across expressions that might have been better expressed. But this is inevitable when a sermon is transmitted by means of a hearer\u2019s written notes. The editor has explained most of these expressions in footnotes. (Rev) Roderick Macleod<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Review in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Magazine of August 2024 Out of His Fulness, Sacramental Sermons of a Notable Covenanter, by James Webster, published by the Scottish Highlands Book Trust, hardback, 268 pages, \u00a316.00. David said that \u201cthe righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance\u201d. Solomon tells us that \u201cthe memory of the just […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5753","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shrbt.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shrbt.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shrbt.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shrbt.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shrbt.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5753"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.shrbt.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5753\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5772,"href":"https:\/\/www.shrbt.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5753\/revisions\/5772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shrbt.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}