“Good wine needs no bush,” and such excellent wine as this volume contains wants no commendation. But my old friend expressed a strong desire that I should write a Foreword. And I would rather be thought presumptuous than disloyal to his behest.
A pathetic interest attaches to these pages. While they were still in the press their author passed on to his great reward. The book may, therefore, be regarded as in some way a memorial volume. In subject and content it is worthy of such designation. Throughout his ministry Mr. Chadwick has given exceptional prominence to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit: the Lord and Giver of Life, both to the Church which is Christ’s body and to every member of that body; Who spake by the prophets and is the flaming tongue impelling each believer to speak that which he has felt and seen.
Some excellent books of recent years have done something to remove the reproach of one of these chapters that there has been no great work on the Holy Spirit since 1674. Mr. Chadwick might have been Owen’s successor, but this volume is not the book he would then have written. It is not a formal treatise at all, but a selection from articles on the subject which appeared from time to time in Joyful News. Each chapter is therefore complete in itself and more or less independent of the remainder. Mr. Chadwick was not even responsible for the selection which has been made by Rev. J. I. Brice, his son in the gospel. The editor has shown much judgment in his task and has succeeded in giving a book with more than a mere appearance of unity. In a collection having such an origin some repetition of idea and illustration is inevitable. But the book gives a powerful presentation of the teaching of Scripture from the practical side. It has the characteristic mark of the author, full and accurate knowledge of the Scriptures, clearness of teaching, precision of statement, depth of insight and practical purpose, It cannot fail to improve the mind, quicken the conscience and kindle earnest desire to receive the gift of the Spirit in its fullness.
As in The Path of Prayer, Mr. Chadwick does not hesitate to share with the reader some of the great moments of personal experience. To sit at the feet of one whose ear the Lord has wakened, to whom He also has given the tongue of the learned, is no ordinary boon. To all, whether weary or eager, who take the position I confidently predict the hearing of a word in season.
F. L. Wiseman.
