For over 33 years I have been reading the writings of Benjamin B. Warfield (1851-1921) of Princeton Seminary. The first Warfield book I was given by a friend in Seminary was Faith and Life, a book of sermons preached on Sunday afternoons at the chapel of the Seminary. I have read several of those sermons more than a dozen times, and they always speak to my heart with a freshness that is unexpected after all these years.
I recently learned that there was “Another Warfield” who came from the same womb. This baby boy was named Ethelbert Dudley, born ten years after his older brother Ben. Ethelbert was trained at Princeton College, Oxford University, and Columbia Law School. After serving as a lawyer for a few years he was called to serve as President of Miami University in Ohio (1888-1891), of Lafayette College in Pennsylvania (1891-1914) and of Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA (1915-1930). In 1899 he was also ordained into the Ministry of the Presbyterian Church.
I was able to find and purchase (for $95.00) the only available copy of his book At The Evening Hour: Simple Talks on Spiritual Subjects. It arrived today and I have been reading it ever since it came into my hands. There are ten “Simple Talks” (as he humbly called them) that are all works of a master word-smith. I was not disappointed, but encouraged, instructed, rebuked and comforted by his words originally addressed to the Lafayette students on Sunday afternoons in Chapel.
It is evident from the opening address, entitled “Let Him Who Loves Me Follow Me”, that he was a brilliant historian and a humble Christian. I have already finished the book and even read two of the chapters twice within twelve hours. This is a Warfield Book that deserves to be available again, especially to place into the hands of every college and seminary student in the land.
When Professor John Murray of Westminster Theological Seminary was asked by students whose books they should read, he always gave a brief answer: “READ WARFIELD.” The highest praise I can give for this upcoming title by Solid Ground called At the Evening Hour is that it was written by a Warfield, “Another Warfield.”
LOOK FOR THIS BOOK IN SEPTEMBER 2009.
words to light 