This week's Friday Extra is a short snippet from David McKay, author of Last Things: Preparing for the Future in the Present. This volume is one of our Banner Mini-Guides, concise introductions to essential areas of Christian belief and life. 

More on the book: 

https://banneroftruth.org/store/christian-living/last-things/ 

What makes a Reformed pastor? Ian Hamilton draws out some lessons from the strengths and weaknesses of the seventeenth-century Scottish pastor, Samuel Rutherford. 

Featured resource: 

Ian Hamilton, 'Marks of a Reformed Pastor: Lessons from Samuel Rutherford,' Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 617 (February 2015). 

Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org 

Subscribe to the Magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine 

Leave us your feedback or a testimony: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

What do we need to know when melancholy comes knocking? Where do we turn when the darkness does not lift? 

Featured resource: 

John Colquhoun, 'Directions to Christians Afflicted with Melancholy,' Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 97 (October 1971). 

Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org 

Subscribe to the Magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine 

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In this Friday Extra, Rufus Burton, Minister at First Presbyterian Church, Martinsburg, West Virginia, recommends Chad Van Dixhoorn's Confessing the Faith: A Reader's Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith. 

Buy the book: 

https://banneroftruth.org/store/theology/confessing-the-faith/

Study guide, authored by Emily Van Dixhoorn: 

https://banneroftruth.org/store/theology/confessing-the-faith-study-guide/ 

'Endeavour with all your might to make a conquest of all those enemies that be within you.' So wrote the Puritan Thomas Brooks (Works, vol. 6, p. 385). 

This week we take a closer look at the virtue of self-control, without which we are left vulnerable to all of the predations of Satan and sin. Heaven-bound saints cannot afford to neglect self-control. 

Featured resource: 

Mark J. Larson, 'The Virtue of Self-Control,' Banner of Truth Magazine, Issues 515–516 (August–September 2006). 

Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org 

Subscribe to the Magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine 

Leave us your feedback or a testimony: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

In this Friday Extra, the Chair of the Banner board, Rev. Jeff Kingswood, recommends one of our more obscure biographical titles, Faith Cook's William Grimshaw of Howarth. 

Buy the book: https://banneroftruth.org/store/history-biography/william-grimshaw-of-haworth-2/ 

The subject of health, and what is now called 'mental health,' comes up a great deal today, even in connection with ministry. While the treatment of the subject may sometimes leave much to be desired—biblically, theologically, or medically—it is at least firmly on the agenda. 

That was not the case when Dr Brian Beardsworth was asked to speak on the topic of 'The Pastor and His Health' at the 1992 Leicester Ministers' Conference in England. 

The substance of this address was published in two parts in Issues 358 and 359–60 (July and August–September 1993) of the magazine. Rather than read these, we have included Dr Beardsworth's address in its original form in this week's instalment of Magazine Mondays. 

Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org 

Subscribe to the Magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine 

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In this Friday Extra, we explain a little bit about some exciting new podcast developments at the Banner of Truth.

Following that 'service announcement' we hear from the Chair of the Banner board, Rev. Jeff Kingswood, about a little-known but highly significant title published by the Trust. 

More info. on T. J. Crawford's The Mysteries of Christianity: 

— Short review by David Campbell

— Excerpt: 'The Mystery of God's Oneness'

— Excerpt: 'The Mystery of the Trinity'

Buy the book: https://banneroftruth.org/store/theology/the-mysteries-of-christianity/ 

We readily accept that preachers need to be familiar with the Scriptures and with theology. But church history? Surely it is a matter of indifference whether or not a preacher has much knowledge of the often-complicated history of the church? 

Featured Resources: 

Peter Barnes, 'The Use of Church History in Preaching,' Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 287–8 (August–September 1987). 

Books noted in the article:

J. C. Ryle, Five English Reformers

J. C. Ryle, Christian Leaders of the Eighteenth Century

Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org 

Subscribe to the Magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine 

Leave us your feedback or a testimony: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

This week we read a gripping article on a man whose ministry, despite sorrow and ill-health, was faithful and blessed—in Perth, Scotland, as well as Calcutta, India. 

Featured Resources: 

David Campbell, 'John Milne: "A flower of rare beauty and sweetness of odour"' Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 754 (July 2026). 

Buy the book: 

Horatius Bonar, The Life of John Milne of Perth

Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org 

Subscribe to the Magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine 

Leave us your feedback or a testimony: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast