p. 13 | GEO. I. BUTLER by George I. Butler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 11, 1877

GEO. I. BUTLER

By George I. Butler

SPIRIT OF PROPHECY, VOL. II.

I have just finished reading through this most remarkable book, and I can truly say it has been one of the most interesting volumes I ever read. It treats wholly upon the scenes connected with Christ’s first advent, the birth, early life, ministry, teachings, and miracles, of Jesus, unless the chapter concerning John the Baptist be an exception. The reader may think this is a subject upon which so much has been said and written that nothing further could be added. No candid person will say this after perusing this volume. The style and manner of presenting the great facts of the Messiah’s life in this book are in such striking contrast to the heavy histories and novelist methods of some other writers in treating this subject that its superiority is easily recognized.

What theme could be more opportune at the present time? When such selfishness everywhere prevails, and the coming of the Son of God is so near? How fitting that a vivid presentation of the character and life of our Saviour should be given us, that we may know how to become like him in spirit and be prepared to hail him with joy!

There is such a naturalness and clearness in the explanations of passages in the gospels somewhat obscure, that they carry conviction to the reader’s heart. Never before did the work of Christ seem so wonderful and beautiful as after reading this book. His character stands out in such striking contrast with that of every other teacher that the heart is imperceptibly drawn out to love and admire.

The terrible nature of sin, the beauty of humility, and obedience to God, the comprehensiveness of God’s plan for saving men, the deceptive work of Satan upon the human heart,—all stand out with a peculiar prominence before the mind after reading this book. The marriage at Cana, the turning of the water into wine, the driving of the buyers and sellers out of the temple, the night interview of Nicodemus with the Saviour, the new and spiritual birth when the heart is renovated by divine power, the cleansing of the leper, the healing of the paralytic, the resurrection of Lazarus, and the triumphant ride into Jerusalem,—are all of them of most absorbing interest.

But it seems useless to specify particular parts when all are so excellent. The only regret I could feel after reading it was that it continued no further. But this lack we may hope will be met hereafter in another volume portraying in the same vivid manner the scenes of Christ’s death and resurrection.

For one I feel to thank God for this excellent book, which I trust may be a means of grace to my heart to make me more like the blessed Saviour in character and life than ever before.