Now Available. Christ Crucified: Or the Marrow of the Gospel in 72 Sermons on Isaiah 53. By James Durham (1622-1658). 2nd Naphtali Press printing.
Text carefully corrected and compared from several editions. Size: 7×10. Hardcover. Smyth sewn. 704 pages. Extensive Table of Contents, Subject and Scripture Index. Side headings. Retail between $45.00. See Sale Pricing in our Store.
Samples from the Naphtali Press edition:
Life of the Author (PDF).
Table of Contents, including the subheadings. An extensive table of fourteen pages. (PDF).
Sermon 68 on Isaiah 53:12, And made intercession for the transgressors (PDF).
We are pleased to announce a second printing of James Durham’s Sermons on Isaiah 53. This has been by far the most sought after Naphtali Press title since the first printing was exhausted a few years ago. That edition received several nice reviews. To date it is the largest volume undertaken by Naphtali Press, ‘weighing in’ at 704 pages and seven by ten inches, and two inches thick. However, it is the content that has attracted Christians to this work for centuries, resulting in eight editions. It is a ‘must have’ for lovers of the Puritans. The 2001 Naphtali Press edition was the first new edition in over 200 years.
The following is from the Editor’s Introduction to the 2001 edition.
Scottish Presbyterianism in the Seventeenth Century had many bright and shining lights. Of these, James Durham (1622-1658), who shone brilliantly but briefly, ranks alongside the greatest of his generation, for his theological depth, faithful preaching, and particularly for his moderate spirit at a time when such was in scarce supply.1 Except for a short stint as chaplain to King Charles II, he ministered diligently in Glasgow, preaching mostly in the Inner-Kirk of Glasgow Cathedral. It was thought that he poured so much of himself into this work, that it brought about his early death at the age of thirty-six, after an all too brief ministry of ten years.2 Yet his sermons and expositions left an impression that lasted for centuries, and are still worthwhile reading today.
Of the publications of James Durham, George Christie writes: “The writings of `Judicious Durham’ claim a place in Scottish Bibliography simply owing to their great popularity. His books were constantly read for almost two centuries. Twenty-six printing-presses in eight towns of Scotland, England, and Holland were occupied with them; in each decade between his death and the beginning of the nineteenth century at least one of his books was printed; …. Not one of them, however, was published during his lifetime … it was through the loving care of his widow and her brother-in-law, Mr. John Carstairs of Glasgow, that his Sermons and Expositions were edited and published.” 3
The published works of James Durham are:
1. A Commentary upon the Book of the Revelation.
2. A Treatise Concerning Scandal.
3. Clavis Cantici: An Exposition of the Song of Solomon.
4. A Practical Exposition of the Ten Commandments.
5. The Blessedness of the Death of those that Die in the Lord.
6. Christ Crucified: or, The Marrow of the Gospel.
7. The Unsearchable Riches of Christ.
9. The Great Gain of Contenting Godliness.
10. The Great Corruption of Subtile Self.
11. An Exposition of the Book of Job.
Durham’s works were not only well received in Scotland, but many were also highly appreciated in England. His commentary on the Ten Commandments was prefaced by letters to the reader by both John Owen and William Jenkyn. In his Commenting & Commentaries, C. H. Spurgeon writes of Christ Crucified; or, the Marrow of the Gospel: “This is marrow indeed. We need say no more: Durham is a prince among spiritual expositors.”
Unfortunately, except for his exposition of the Song of Solomon,4 no new edition of his works appeared in the Nineteenth Century. Most were only available in rare, fragile, and costly editions. And beyond this, the old orthography and antiquated style made the works less accessible as well. However, with new editions of his works coming forth in the last decade or so, the works of Mr. Durham are being rediscovered and appreciated once again. 5
- During much of Durham’s ministry, the Church of Scotland was divided by the Protestor/Resolutioner controversy. For information covering this period, see the Introductions to: Consultations of the Ministers of Edinburgh, 1652-1657, William Stephen, ed. (Edinburgh: Scottish History Society, 1921); Johnston of Warriston’s Diary, volume 2, David Hay Fleming, ed. (Edinburgh: Scottish History Society, 1919); and volume 3, James D. Ogilvie, ed. (Edinburgh: Scottish History Society, 1940). See also: Politics, Religion and the British Revolutions: The Mind of Samuel Rutherford, James Coffey (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997); “A bibliography of the Resolutioner-Protestor controversy, 1650-1659″, J. Ogilvie, Transactions of the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society (1930) 14.57-86; and the Dictionary of Scottish Church History & Theology, Nigel M. De S. Cameron, ed. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1993). [↩]
- James Durham was ordained on December 2, 1647 to the Blackfriars church, where he served until called to serve as chaplain to the King. He died June 25, 1658. A Life of the author is included in this volume, beginning on Mr. James Durham, by birth was a good gentleman, of the house and family of Grange Durham, an ancient, honorable, and sometime flourishing family in the parish of Monufeith, in the shire of Angus. He had a good estate in the parish of Murrose, then called Easter Powrie, but now called Wedderburn, after the gentleman’s name who is present heritor of it.. [↩]
- George Christie, B.D., “A Bibliography of James Durham: 1622-1658.” Papers of the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society, 1918. 35. [↩]
- Banner of Truth has kept a photo-reprint of this volume in print in their Geneva series of Commentaries. [↩]
- Naphtali Press has published Durham’s Sermons on Death (Anthology, 1988); Treatise on Scandal (1990); and Lectures on Job (1995) [and since this was original written, Exposition of the Ten Commandments.] The Revelation commentary has also been published (Old Paths Publications, 2000). [↩]
