Tms ISSUE HAS BEEN PREPARED BY PROF Michael Haykin who has concentrated on our Reformed Baptist history. In particular he has written an inspi ring biography of the Welsh Baptist Benj amin Francis. Prof Haykin is the author of Kiffin, Knollys Keach- an account of our Reformed Baptist beginnings-and One Heart and One Soul which tells the story of John Sutcliff of Olney and his friends like William Carey who helped launch the modern missionary movement. Both these volumes are Michael Haykin avaiiable from Evangelical Press. The article by the editor on Elijah in this issue is a reminder of the dark times in which we live. But as always God is not outwitted by those who oppose him. As we enter a new millennium we need to look back for inspi ration as well as forward. This kind of review of the past, the present and the fu ture is the theme of the forthcoming Carey Conference, January 11-14, 2000. As we go to press we sorrow in the loss of two choice servants of the Lord. Tributes to both are planned for RTl 74. Jim van Zyl On 11th November at 9.15 pm Jim van Zyl slipped away to be with our Lord. He had suffered ill health over a long period but more particularly this year. His decease is attributed to heart failure. Our warm sympathy is expressed to Mary van ZyI and the family. Jim was the primary founder of the annual Evangelical and Reformed Conference at Skogheim in Kwazulu. He has been an associate editor of Reformation Today from the inception of the journal in 1970. His article The Disciplined Habit ofM editation appeared this year in RT 170. David Straub After a long time of illness David Straub, greatly esteemed for his work as Co-ordinator of Reformed Baptist Mission Services, entered the presence of the heavenly assembly on 17th November. We remember Sue Straub and their sons who have faithfully cared for David during this sad time. Front cover: This photo of Jim Elif.f (see News) was taken in the Charles Haddon Spurgeon library now kept at the William Jewell College near Kansas City, USA. ll 'The Clean Sea Breeze of the Centuries': The benefits of reading Calvinistic Baptist History I Michael A G Haykin In Jane Austen's early novel tic of too many 21st-century Northanger Abbey, one of the Christians and Calvinistic Baptists. characters, Catherine Morland, We have prided ourselves on being states that history 'tells me nothing New Testament people who are not that does not either vex or weary weighted down with the freight of me. The qmmels of popes and church traditions. But we need an kings, with wars or pestilences in intimate knowledge of our history every page; the men are all so good as Calvinistic Baptists. Why? for nothing, and hardly any women at all - it is very tiresome.' How accurately this statement reflects History has meaning modern western attitudes towards history! Generally speaking First, we need to note that men and contemporary men and women in women are · · historical beings, the West rarely think of going to immersed in the flow of time. history for wisdom or direction or History, as the 1st-century B.C. encouragement. History, at best, Roman orator Cicero rightly contains interesting and entertain­ observed, 'regulates our lives'. One ing bits of trivia. But wisdom? No, cannot escape the effects of history. that's found by looking to the Even to think ahistorically for any present and to the future. As Neil length of time is a considerable Postman has recently pointed out, task. one might ask the purveyors of this conventional wisdom what it is Not only is it important for the they want us to look at in the future, individual to realize his or her since the future has yet to take on historical nature, but it is also any sort of definite shape.2 So in essential for the community, order to look forward we have to especially the Christian look back. community. For the Christian community, history is the stage on Tragically this modern attitude which the drama of redemption is towards history is also characteris- being displayed. At the beginning is the Fall, at the end is the Last past editor of Christianity Today, Judgment. In between, the most has noted, 'We owe much to many crucial event of all, the entry of the whom we have never met.' 5 Beers Eternal God into time as a man, goes on: 'We live in a throwaway Jesus Christ, the Word Incarnate. society; we dispose of things we From the perspective of the New consider a burden. My concern is Testament, the incarnation is the that we do not add our predecessors culmination of the history of to the collection of throwaways, salvation sketched in the Old carelessly discarding those who Testament. 3 The incarnation has have made us what we are. ' The hallowed history, and initiated a study of Baptist History informs us history of salvation that embraces about our predecessors in the faith - not only Israel, but the entire men and women like John Bunyan world.4 and Anne Steele, John Gill and Isaac Backus, Andrew Fuller and C From the Christian perspective, H Spurgeon, J P Boyce and T T God is undoubtedly active in Shields - those who have helped history. We can affirm that he has shape our Christian communities been, and is, active in the history of for both good and ill and thus make Calvinistic Baptists. It is right and us what we are. Such study builds proper, therefore, to study that humility and modesty into our lives, history for that reason alone. and so can exercise a sanctifying Though it is impossible to trace out influence upon us. his footsteps across the sands of time in detail, it is blasphemous to deny that he is at work. His work Liberation from the tyranny of the may often be hidden, but it is present biblical to confess that he is provi­ dentially guiding history for the The study of Baptist History also glory of his Name and the good of liberates us from the tyranny of his people. present-day ideas, what C S Lewis calls 'the idols of our marketplace'. Consider Charles H Spurgeon's Building a sense of humility unhealthy habit of smoking cigars. VIThen George F Pentecost, a We have noted that human beings visiting preacher from the United are historical beings. Their lives are States, condemned smoking in inextricably tied to the past, their Spurgeon's very own pulpit, the own immediate past and that of great London Baptist stated other humans. As Gilbert Beers, a unequivocally that he was not 2 ashamed of smoking and that he can provide us with guidance for the intended to continue 'to smoke to Christian life. It is exhilarating to the glory of God'. Now, whether stand on the North American East Spurgeon was right or wrong, this Coast and watch the Atlantic surf, incident shows how Calvinistic feel the tang of salt-water in the air Baptist History can call into and hear the pound of the waves. question what we take for granted But this experience will be of as an absolute, and possibly reveal absolutely no benefit in sailing it to be not as absolute as we might across the Atlantic to England. For have supposed. that, a map is needed. A map based upon the accumulated experience of Again and again Calvinistic Baptist thousands of voyagers. Similarly, History, like Church History in we need such a map for the general, confronts us with Christian life. Experiences are fine something that is foreign to our and good, but they will never serve experience, with something that is as a substantial foundation for our different. And so it stretches our lives in Christ. understanding as we seek to learn and challenges our assumptions - Of course, the Bible provides the and in the long run, teaches us basic map of the Christian life. But wisdom. In the words of American the thought of other Baptists down church historian George Marsden: through the ages can help illumine 'History is of major importance in and illustrate what is contained in alerting us to the transitory the Bible. The passage from Samuel character of many of the values of Stennett's pen included in this issue, our own age and culture. Rather for instance, has rich wisdom than unknowingly allowing our regarding the marriage relationship. values to be conformed to passing As Spurgeon once noted: 'It seems contemporary standards, we can odd, that certain men who talk so strive to evaluate our current much of what the Holy Spirit cultural norms intelligently and to reveals to themselves, should think apply to them the transforming so little of what he has revealed to values of Christ. ' 6 others.' 1 Acquainting us with the wisdom of Models for imitation other Baptists Calvinistic Baptist History can also The study of Baptist History, provide us with models for especially that of Baptist theology, imitation. Biblical warrant for this 3 can be found in Hebrews 11 - L2:2, study the history of this people of where the writer uses the history of God to see what God has been God's faithful people in the old doing in the world, and so praise covenant to encourage his readers him for his mighty acts, and trust to run the 'foot-race' of faith. He him to display his power and glory wants them to draw encouragement afresh in our day.