{"id":48689,"date":"2017-04-11T10:00:38","date_gmt":"2017-04-11T15:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/\/us\/?p=48689"},"modified":"2017-04-11T10:04:34","modified_gmt":"2017-04-11T15:04:34","slug":"john-e-marshall-review-barry-shucksmith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/banneroftruth.org\/us\/resources\/book-review-resources\/2017\/john-e-marshall-review-barry-shucksmith\/","title":{"rendered":"John E. Marshall – A Review by Barry Shucksmith"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apart from the occasional mealtime conversation at a Banner of Truth Conference, to my great disadvantage, I did not really get to know John Marshall. John J Murray\u2019s succinct, yet fulsome, biography paints a most helpful portrait indeed. I read it in one sitting (it\u2019s only just under 70 pages) and found myself satisfactorily informed, greatly stirred, genuinely challenged, definitely uplifted, and almost moved to tears. John Marshall was not only soundly converted but a living embodiment of Romans 12:1 \u2013 2, \u2018by the mercies of God, presented as a living sacrifice\u2026not conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of his mind\u2026one who was seeking wholeheartedly to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.\u2019<\/p>\n

From his Irish lineage, to his time at Oxford, his reputation as \u2018stroke-oar\u2019 in Balliol\u2019s eight, his involvement with the Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, his happy marriage and loving family, his commitment to the reformed faith, his position and influence with the Banner of Truth Trust, his work as an open-air preacher, his ventures into Eastern Europe, his significant pulpit and conference ministry, his long expository and pastoral ministry (45 years) at Alexandra Road Congregational Church, Hemel Hempstead, and, most of all, his battle for the truth, the gospel, the reformation and revival of the church, all this, and much more, are set forth in a clear and easy way. The biography is not only a faithful record but a rich devotional stimulant to the prayerful reader. Most impressive of all is the way in which John faced the obvious pain of cancer at the comparatively early age of 67yrs, the stark reality of death, and his final victory in Christ as he passed over to be with the Lord for ever. Some men are great and some men have greatness thrust upon them. John was all energy and all commitment from the day of his regeneration to the day of his glorification.<\/p>\n

The contents of the book is in two parts \u2013 part one is the biography. The larger part two contains eight of John\u2019s memorable writings and conference addresses. These are minutely researched, wide-reaching in perspective, pertinently relevant, certainly original, and deeply effective. For example, \u201cJohn Rogers was the first of the protestant English martyrs\u201d under bloody Mary, \u201cThe Puritan Woman\u201d is a scintillating overview and exposition of Proverbs 31:10, drawing upon the 17th<\/sup> century. Walter Marshall\u2019s book, \u201cThe Gospel Mystery of Sanctification,\u201d is a classic and still greatly needed today for believers seeking holiness of life. The Skegness believer, \u201cThomas Scott,\u201d was one who struggled not only to arrive at \u201cThe Force of Truth,\u201d but who learned to interpret the darker providences of God for his life. John Marshall brings the real character into our century. Similarly, \u201cRabbi Duncan\u201d has a good deal to teach us about Christian Assurance \u2013 still a\u00a0 problem in some reformed circles. We are pointed again and again to Jesus Christ and His shed blood, which goes on cleansing us from all sin.<\/p>\n

How many believers have thought about \u201cMental illness from a Christian perspective?\u201d Or, how much thought have we given to the inconsistent \u201cProphet Balaam\u201d \u2013 even though the churches seem to have many like him today, who hinder and injure the people of God? And those who heard John J Marshall\u2019s final sermon, preached at the Leicester Minister\u2019s Conference, April 2003, will never forget it, or his pointed application of \u201cSlaying Giants: A sermon on 1 Samuel 17:42-47?\u201d It was a costly delivery for it took him a week to recover from the energy expended, in his – by now – cancer-riddled body. The book \u201cJOHN E MARSHALL – Life and writings,\u201d is beautifully produced, contains several periodic photographs, including previous attenders of BOTT conferences, and grabs the reader\u2019s interest from the opening page. Highly recommended reading – for all who want to know and serve the Lord better in the power of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

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