Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 61:241 (Jan 1904)
Article: Notes On British Theology And Philosophy.
Author: James Lindsay

BSac 61:241 (Jan 1904) p. 175

Notes On British Theology And Philosophy.

James Lindsay

Kilmarnock, Scotland

A really good book—and one that meets a real need—is something rarely met with in British theological literature. Such a book is “The Fatherhood of God,” by J. Scott Lidgett, M.A., Warden of the Bermondsey Settlement.1 Mr. Scott Lidgett’s work combines, in a very felicitous way, systematic completeness with interesting and suggestive writing. His work is that of a fresh and live thinker,—the kind of book to keep alive interest in theological issues in days when the churches of England and Scotland alike tend to sink into the quagmire of mere ecclesiasticism. An excellent synopsis of the work is given in the Contents, and there is a useful Index at the end. In printing and binding, the work is enhanced by every quality to be expected from a firm to which theological scholars have, for so long, owed so much,—Messrs. T. and T. Clark, of Edinburgh. A striking feature of Mr. Lidgett’s treatment is the way he keeps close to palpitating spiritual reality, and does not allow himself to be overborne by abstractions. Fatherhood is to him something so far in advance of abstract theological propositions that never through these alone can we know the power and inspiration of the doctrine. When he has carefully dealt with the New Testament doctrine of the Fatherhood of God and its place in theology, he passes to discuss the Old Testament doctrine. This is followed by a most valuable chapter on “The Fatherhood of God in Church History,”—a thing we have often wished to see well done, as it certainly is here. For there are not many points to which one would take exception. Next, the “validity” and “content” of the doctrine are interestingly treated, and our author then proceeds to discuss the constitution, spiritually, of the world, the redemption of mankind, and the consummation of all things. The discussion is everywhere marked by sanity, breadth, clearness, insight, good sense, spiritual and intellectual power of marked quality,

BSac 61:241 (Jan 1904) p. 176

whereby the sovereignty of Fatherhood is brought out in all “the greatness of its motives” and “the awfulness of its sway.” In the heartiest manner possible I commend the book,—learned without being pedantic, systematic without being dull, and spiritual without ever becoming unctuous or unreal.

“The Pathway to Reality” is the title of the Gifford Lectures at St. Andrews University, by the Rt. Hon. R. B. Haldane, M.P.2 This volume, so beautifully printed and admirably got up by the famous publisher, must take rank as on...