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Derek Prime’s biography of Charles Simeon already has some warm and enthusiastic commendations and these are thoroughly deserved. This is certainly a most helpful and heart-warming book, which will be of particular usefulness to all preachers of the Word, especially those in the early days of their ministry. There is a great deal to instruct and help those who have not yet got too set in their ways of sermon preparation. I like the sub-title, An ordinary pastor of extraordinary influence, though I confess that if Simeon was an ordinary pastor I am not quite sure where that leaves me! Simeon’s interest in missionary work was already known to me, but I had not appreciated his concern for the evangelization of the Jewish people and his place in stimulating mission work amongst them. I note that while he was convinced of the future restoration of the Jews, he at the same time ‘consistently and steadfastly refused to speculate about the details’. Sometimes I have felt that some societies that work amongst the Jews have made too much of such details. It is one thing to hold one’s own convictions strongly, but a missionary society looking for support could press the main point with which all Christians ought to agree and leave it at that in its deputation and literature.
Every chapter has its value, but in addition to what has already been said I found the chapters on ‘Weaknesses and strengths’ and ‘Simeon’s spiritual legacy’ extremely helpful. One chapter where I think Derek Prime perhaps should have been a little more critical is that called ‘Simeon and the principle of balance’. Overall Simeon’s spirit and moderation shine out (and the author’s) and nothing should be taken away from these. However the principle that ‘the truth often exists in both extremes and not in the middle’ seems somewhat doubtful. This is fine if the ‘extremes’ are divine sovereignty and human responsibility, but not if they are hyper-Calvinism and Open Theism (and these are the real extremes). Moreover the ‘golden mean’ generally means finding the precise point of balance between extremes and not both held together. I do personally wonder if there is not a touch of ‘Anglican fudge’ in some of Simeon’s sentiments. Read the book and see what you think yourself. Overall it is excellent, but it is good to be made to think carefully as well.
