'The Sum and Substance of the Gospel - the Christ-Centred Piety of Charles Haddon Spurgeon' is the latest in the excellent 'Profiles in Reformed Spirituality' by Reformation Heritage Books. The books are short, deeply spiritual, experiential and wonderfully Christ centred. This little book is only 167 pages and could be used as a daily devotional which will warm your heart and fill you with gospel hope.  

The book starts with an excellent summary of Spurgeon's life and reminds us that he was much more than a preacher but also a visionary and a pioneer.  He started the Pastor's College, published a magazine, wrote books and his sermons were published and sent all over the world. Spurgeon was also a social philanthropist as well as an evangelist. He had both a zeal for saving sinners as well as a large heart for the poor. His benevolence was seen in orphanages and an 'almhouse' for widows - a timely reminder for preachers and theologians today that reformed theology and love for the poor are not mutually exclusive.  

It is great to see this new but very accessible volume with extracts from Spurgeon's sermons and writings. Each of the small 49 chapters of this book is pure gold and is rich with Spurgeon's wonderful writing so that readers can see the love of Christ in the gospel in all it glory. The book covers subjects such as the power of the gospel, the covenant, union with Christ, the atonement, forgiveness, the scapegoat, redemption, hypocrisy, conversion, persecution and many other subjects.  

The reader is left in no doubt that at the heart of the gospel is the substitutionary atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Spurgeon says: 'I have always considered, with Luther and Calvin, that the sum and substance of the gospel is substitution - Christ standing in the stead of man. If I understand the gospel, it is this: I deserve to be lost forever; the only reason why I should not be damned is that Christ was punished in my stead, and there is no need to execute a sentence twice for sin.'  

I can't recommend this little volume highly enough and would particularly encourage you to buy it if you are feeling spiritually dry. It is a wonderful reminder of the love of Christ for poor, needy sinners and it is hard to put it down without feeling refreshed and encouraged. 

This book is available to purchase from CLC Bookshops.

Andy Murray, Livingston Free Church