A biography recommendation from John MacArthur
John MacArthur recommends The Pastor of Kilsyth; a little biography by Islay Burns on the life and times of his father, Pastor W. H. Burns.
In our celebrity-driven age (from which the evangelical church is far from exempt), this is exactly the kind of life we need to study. We need to be reminded of the beauty, dignity and ultimately the glory of humble, obscure Christian service (Matt. 10:42). Yes, we need the towering leaders of men like John Calvin and John Knox. However, the great work of the church is ultimately carried forward by those who receive little earthly reward and recognition (but great is their reward in heaven!). William H. Burns was one of these, and we need many like him in our day.
The Pastor of Kilsyth
The Life and times of W.H. Burns
Description
Endorsements ‘One of the best Scottish ministerial biographies.’ — IAIN H. MURRAY Book Description The Pastor of Kilsyth introduces us to the life and ministry of William Hamilton Burns (1779– 1859), the father of the better known preacher and missionary to China William Chalmers Burns (1815–68). But while eclipsed in fame by his son, the […]
Latest Articles
Reading the Psalms: A New Resource 12 October 2026
As Christians we believe that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16), but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t particular books and sections of Scripture that we love even more than […]
Pitfalls in Preaching: A Letter on Application 30 September 2026
The following letter was published in the December 2025 issue of the Banner Magazine. It is published here at the request of a reader who found it helpful, in the hope that its counsel might be blessed to others also. You can also listen to a reading of this letter on the Banner Podcast. Dear […]