To learn the backstory of a hymn can be a richly rewarding exercise. The same applies with hymnwriters. This week we consider the life and faith of two wonderful hymnists of yesteryear: Isaac Watts (1674–1748) and Frances Ridley Havergal (1836–1879). 

Featured Resources: 

– Mark S. Shuttleworth, 'Isaac Watts: The Man Behind the Hymns', The Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 221, February 1982.

– Pamela D. Bugden, 'Sweet Singer and Poet of Worcestershire', The Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 503, August–September 2005. 

Worthy of note: 

The Havergal Trust has been set up by David Chalkley to make the complete works of Frances Ridley Havergal available to the body of Christ in our own day. To date, a number of the titles have appeared as paperbacks, and there is a strong desire to see all volumes published in due course. If you would like to browse the books, or find out more about the project, see below: 

https://www.havergaltrust.com/about/about-the-havergal-trust/ 

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There is, writes the Preacher of Ecclesiastes, 'a time to die' (Ecclesiastes 3:2). The believer in Christ is called to be mindful of this time, to prepare for it, and then, when it comes, to commit his or her soul to a faithful Heavenly Father. 

Featured Resources: 

- Toni Saad, 'Life at all Costs?', The Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 738, March 2025.

- Excerpt from Iain H. Murray, David Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The Fight of Faith 1939–1981 (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1990, 2024), Chapter 35, 'Dying ... He Worshipped', pages 746–748. 

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How can a Christian prepare for death? It is a question pertinent to us all, and yet it is asked earnestly by so few.

This week we seek guidance on this question from the work of the seventeenth-century minister George Swinnock and the nineteenth-century pastoral theologian Archibald Alexander. 

Featured Resources: 

- Excerpt from 'The Fading of the Flesh' in The Works of George Swinnock, Vol. 3 (1672; repr. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1996), pages 466–471. 

- Excerpt from Archibald Alexander, Thoughts on Religious Experience (1844; repr. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1978, 2024), pages 277–280. 

Related resources: 

The Works of George Swinnock (5 volumes, 2526 pages, clothbound)

The Works of George Swinnock, Volume 3 (source of today's excerpt from The Fading of the Flesh, a work contained in volumes 3 and 4 of Swinnock's Works)

Archibald Alexander, Thoughts on Religious Experience

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In this, the first of three episodes on the subject of dying in the Lord, we ask what the Bible teaches about death, and apply it to the case of the unbeliever and the believer. 

Featured Resources: 

- George Curry, Preparing Unbelievers for Death, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 317 (Ferbruary 1990).

- Excerpt from 'The Christian Man's Calling' in The Works of George Swinnock, Vol. 3 (1672; repr. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1996), pages 84–86. 

- Excerpt from 'The Christian Man's Calling' in The Works of George Swinnock, Vol. 3 (1672; repr. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1996), page 46. 

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Meditating on the Lord Jesus Christ is a high privilege of the Christian. It strengthens his faith, deepens his love, and calibrates his hope. The Lord Jesus Christ is the One in whom we, by the power of the Spirit, see the glory of the Father. 

This week we take time not to pursue another aspect of Christian living, or another profile from church history, but to think about 'God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side' (John 1:18).

Featured Resources: 

- Excerpt from John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (1541), (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2014). 

- Charles Hodge, Christ, the God of Christians, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 590 (November 2012).

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New this summer from the Banner of Truth is a unique collection of lectures on revival from nineteenth-century Scotland. 

In this brief bonus episode, we read a portion of the Publisher's Introduction by Banner trustee Donald John MacLean to see just why this collection warrants republication today. 

Read the entire Publisher's Introduction: https://banneroftruth.org/resources/book-excerpts/2025/the-revival-of-religion-publishers-introduction/ 

Buy your copy of Revival of Religion: https://banneroftruth.org/store/uncategorized/revival-of-religion/ 

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Pastoral ministry isn't for everyone. Indeed, it isn't for the many. 'Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers', writes James, 'for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness' (James 3:1). 

This week's readings spell out and explore some bad reasons for going into ministry, hopefully serving men considering the pastoral office, as well as those who advise and support them. 

Featured Resources

– Rebecca Vandoodewaard, Five Bad Reasons to Go Into Ministry, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 698 (November 2021).

– Albert N. Martin, Wrong Reasons for Entering the Christian Ministry, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 208 (January 1981).

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'He did not get up to talk about his party, his cause, his interest or his office', wrote J. C. Ryle of George Whitefield. 'He was perpetually telling you about your sins, your heart, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, the absolute need of repentance, faith, and holiness, in the way that the Bible presents these mighty subjects.' 

This week we turn our attention to a man who, by God's grace, became a means in the salvation of thousands of souls in the eighteenth century. 

Featured Resources:

– David Campbell, 'George Whitefield: The Power of the Gospel', Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 699 (December 2021).

– Bob Thomas (collator, introduction), 'Encouragement from the Eighteenth Century: Extracts from Arnold Dallimore's Biography of George Whitefield', Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 737 (February 2025).

Resources on Whitefield:

Dallimore, Arnhold, George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the 18th Century Revival (2 volumes, clothbound, 1232 pages, also available as single volumes)

Philip, Robert, The Life and Times of George Whitefield (paperback, 588 pages)

Vandoodewaard, Rebecca, The Man Who Preached Outside (board book)

Select Sermons of George Whitefield, With an Account of His Life by J. C. Ryle (paperback, 200 pages)

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Last year the Trust published W. Ross Blackburn's Unveiling the Cross: Beholding and Proclaiming the Whole Christ. Ross has a background in Old Testament studies, has pastored in the ACNA (Anglican Church in North America) and has been involved for many years with the pro-life movement in the USA. We sat down with Ross and found out a bit more about his own backstory, and also his burden in Unveiling the Cross. We trust you'll enjoy the conversation. 

Buy the Book:

Unveiling the Cross: Beholding and Proclaiming the Whole Christ

Online articles from W. Ross Blackburn:

- Down Syndrome Day? (Human Life Review)

'Have you ever wondered why we see so few children with Down Syndrome today compared with past generations?...' Read the article

- Keep Them From Idols: The Education of Children Takes Generations of Fidelity (Touchstone Magazine)

'Education is chiefly about God. If that sounds strange, it is because we have understood education to be a different endeavor than raising children to know God...'

Read the article.

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There is no such thing as 'neutral' history. All history is written from a religious standpoint, reflecting either an awareness of and reverence for God and his purposes and dealings, or an ignorance of the same. 

Towards the end of the twentieth century, some Christian historians reacted to 'providentialist' history, that is, history that gives place to God, and sought to deal in strictly naturalistic terms, explaining and conjecturing on the sole basis of biological, social, and economic forces. It was thought that only this approach could make the work of Christian historians appeal to those with no faith. This framework was even brought to bear to 'explain' revival movements and the success of preachers. 

In 1994 Iain H. Murray engaged with such a group of scholars in a book review. His critique will continue to resonate while Christian scholars feel the need to operate according to a framework which allows no room for a free, sovereign God to work out his glorious purposes in the world. 

We read Mr. Murray's review article this week, alongside the Foreword to his book Heroes, which sets forth some of the blessings history offers to the attentive believer. 

Featured Resources

– Iain H. Murray, 'Explaining Evangelical History', Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 370 (July 1994).

– Iain H. Murray, Foreword to Heroes (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2009, 2020), pages ix to xiii.

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