The Beginning of the Road to Emmaus
Primeval Saints, by James Jordan, published by Canon Press
Reviewed by R.C. Sproul Jr.

The Bible is a big book, and it begins with a big book, the book of beginnings, Genesis. Therein we are told a big story, beginning with creation, and leading up to Joseph seated at the right hand of power. Oops, I showed my hand. Which can be a dangerous thing in these troubled times. You start seeing Jesus in the Bible, and the next thing you know, someone will claim you're on the road to Rome. I mean look, there's the word "Saints" right there in the title.

One could argue that the recent hubbub between our friends wearing the mantle of the Puritans, and our friends accused of wanting to don the bishop's mitre is as sensible as pots and kettles arguing over who is blacker. On one side one might say we have those who argue that we are saved by our theology. On the other we have those who argue that we are saved by the fonts within our churches. Wrong on both counts. I say that when we do our theology properly, we make our way back to the Font, Jesus. Jesus saves, and here I stand.

Which is why, far from a return to Rome, a redemptive-historical hermeneutic is actually a grammatical-historical hermeneutic. That is, if we would understand the Bible literally, that is, as it was intended, what should we find but that it's all about Jesus. Rome did wrong when she turned the Bible into a secret code book that when decoded, surprise, consolidated Rome's power. The Bible isn't a code book, and its secret message certainly isn't, "Write fat checks to the Bishop." Instead the Bible is a clear proclamation of the story of Jesus.

And thank Jesus for the work of James Jordan in guiding us through Episode One of The Passion of the Christ. This thin volume isn't, thankfully, yet another excursis on sound hermeneutics. Neither is this James Jordan at his strangest, out Origening Origen. Instead it is a compelling example of sound hermeneutics, pointing us away from us, away from itself, and toward glory. The glory of the book isn't how well it does what it does, but what it does, show us Jesus in the lives of the patriarchs. We don't get esoterica, but the very stuff of life.

Jordan looks at the thankfulness of Adam, the worship of Enoch, the rest of Noah, the patience of Abraham, all in the context of faith. All of the stories, from beginning to end, show us what faithfulness looks like, because they show us what Jesus looks like. And that is worth not only looking at, but studying with a sober mind, and a joyful heart. Would that all God's people would demonstrate their piety not by bickering over the objectivity of the covenant and the horror of apostasy, but by rejoicing in the One in whom we are in covenant, now and forevermore.

Death Be Not Proud
Holy Sonnet #10, by John Donne
Reviewed by Laurence Windham

When it comes to forms of human communication, poetry is of the highest order. For in poetry, words soar to heights that prose only attempts to describe. Poems are the winged ones among the literary cadre. Carefully crafted, the poet's words exude the beauty of tension, of irony. Sometimes they take the form of odes, of ballads, but accompaniment isn't necessary for poetry is always musical. Whether it is the brevity of the haiku, or the breadth of the epic, poetry is an emotive force that grasps the heart and captivates the mind. No wonder then, that God used the pens of poets in Holy Writ. David, Job, Asaph, Solomon were men whose lives were full of passion and pain. We find strength and solace in every line they wrote. Poetry becomes a tool to teach as well as to emote truth.

Even Paul used a Greek metaphysician's own lines to anchor his apologetic on Mars Hill. The few words that he quoted from a now forgotten poem drove home the apostle's point with a conciseness that was final.That's what poets do well. With lyrical nets, they capture the ethereal.

One of my favorite poets is John Donne. His sacred poems are empathic in that one gets the feeling that Donne is in touch with the same remorse for transgression as his readers. Likewise, one feels with the poet, the same great joy of forgiveness.

John Donne was a man frightened with the prospect of death for most of his life. "Jack" as he was known before his conversion, was a man of the world, a place where he lived riotously according to the dark prince of this age. Following conversion, he became a prominent preacher. His winsomeness and bard-like preaching were extremely popular among all classes of people. But there remained within Donne's heart, a great fear- he was afraid to die. Thoughts of the Grim Reaper invaded his mind as he endeavored to serve the Prince of Life.

Perhaps Donne was constantly visited with memories of his decadent life. His earlier poetic works that celebrated sensuous desires were circulated and proved to be reminders of a forgiven but not forgotten past. Doubt is a fearful struggle in matters of the least importance, but eternity? That's the big one. A cursory reading of Donne's post conversion poetry gives any reader the feeling that he lived with substantial regret and remorse.

But Holy Sonnet #10 one of his "later works" gives to all an assurance that he finally triumphed cognitively as well as emotionally:

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell;
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

Here is the secret to life, knowing we cannot die. All in Christ live forever. Death is a captive enemy slave whose usefulness will one day end. And when that day comes, He who is Life will execute Death itself.