Book Reviews
Puritan Book Reviews – The Works of Christopher Love, Volume 1
Reviewed by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon
The Works of Christopher Love, Volume 1
The Combat between the flesh and the Spirit; Heaven’s Glory; Hell’s Terror
by Christopher Love
Soli Deo Gloria Publications, Morgan, PA: 1995.
676 Pages, Hardback
Today Christopher Love is not very well known. But in spite of his obscurity, this delightful volume which has been recently reprinted is of utmost importance in the life of the Christian. The books is divided into 3 sections where Love displays 27 sermons on the Combat between the flesh and the Spirit, using two key tests: Genesis 6:3 and Galatians 5:16-17. The second section is on Heaven’s Glory, which is covered in 10 sermons. Lastly, Hell’s Terror is covered in 7 sermons. Jonathan Edwards kept a copy of Love’s works due to the ever graphic and important work he did in preaching through Hell.
The book is nothing short of phenomenal. It is simply a series of sermons on these topics which cover the topic in detail, and in many ways not previously ventures or thought of before. The Combat section is especially helpful to Christian as they understand what it means to combat, and what it means to please or vex the Spirit of God. It is a difficult task that the Christian is engaged in; he must always be about the mortification of his sin, and is always about this painful and deadly battle which scourges his soul in the fight against sin. Love is very helpful in sermon 14 where he covers the question “Why does God ordain evil.” His treatment on this is something which is little spoken of and is treated scarcely through the writings of great men in the church. Love does an exceptional job in displaying why this is so.
Love also covers the topic of Heaven, wherein the glory of it may consist for the Christian. Why should the Christian hope towards heaven? What may be expected there? What is Christ’s role there and how will the Christian interact with Him before the throne? What does it mean that Christ is glorious, and how will his appearing usher in with great glory the heavenly state? These questions and more are treated in these sermons.
Hell is topic men tend to avoid. They have an aversion, not to sweep it under the rug, but rather to throw it out of the house all together. Here Love tackles the subject with great insight, historical accuracy and penetrating application. It is a most dreadful thing to fall into the hands of a holy God. God will not allow the unrighteous to go unpunished. Love treats the topic of hell in balance with his treatment of heaven. He could not, in good conscience, speak on heaven for the saint without speaking on hell for the sinner.
Some Quotes:
“When the Spirit of God suggests holy motions into your minds, do not leave these motions until you have brought them into actions.”
“When you are overtaken with sin, blame none but your own heart. Blame neither God nor the devil.”
“A godly man is more interrupted in duty by his own heart that he is either by the devil, the world, or anything else besides.”
“This life of glory is that happy and blessed stat5e which God, trough Christ, o0f His mere grace, has provided for all the elect after the day of judgment, whereby their bodies shall be raised from the grave and both bodies and souls shall be glorified in full communion with, and fruition of, God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and all the saints and angels in heaven forever.”
“And therefore, said Jerome regarding the damned in sinning in hell, their sinning is like oil and God’s wrath like fire.”
“Take heed therefore, of gluttony and pampering your flesh; for the more you pamper your flesh, if you are wicked, you make yourselves but sweeter morsels both for worms and devils.”
