Harry Ironside's
"Books That Have Helped Me"
BOOKS THAT HAVE HELPED ME.
* by H. A. Ironside.
From my early days I have been an omnivorous
reader. I am afraid I have wasted a lot of time reading some books that were of
very little profit, but in an effort to get a general idea of literature,
embracing history, science, poetry, philosophy, belles-lettres, and worthwhile
fiction, as well as that which was of far more importance than the rest,- a
knowledge of the Bible and related subjects,- I have read as widely perhaps as
one so busily engaged as I, could do.
But as I look back over the years
there are certain books which stand out in my memory and thoughts as having
meant more to me than the general run, whether secular or religious. I think,
as a youth, my first appreciation of history was due to reading a series of
books seldom seen now and which many would look upon as rather juvenile,
namely, the Biographical Histories by John and Jacob Abbott. It was these books
that made historical characters live before my mind's eye, and all that I have
read since along that line has never blotted out the memory of the thrills that
used to come to me as I pondered over these books by the two Abbotts. I have
always had a love for poetry, both secular and religious, but Tennyson and
Shakespeare stand out above all others in the secular field, and the "Hymns of
TerSteegen, Suso, and Others", as translated by Mrs. Bevan, have had the
greatest appeal to me of any religious poetry.
As to fiction, which I have
red somewhat more sparingly than along other lines, I have always felt I owe a
great debt to Dickens, whose vivid portrayals of various phases of life
inculcated in my mind a deep appreciation of human values. I turned to Dickens
again and again when I attempted to read some modern bestseller and found
myself so disgusted with its filth that I consigned it to oblivion. Dickens
never wrote a line that he need to have been ashamed of. I do not speak here of
works of science and philosophy, as I do not recall any of these books or set
of books that stands out above others as having been of special value to me.
When it comes to expository works. I have no hesitancy in saying that I owe
more to five writers of the so-called Plymouth Brethren school than to any one
else. C.H.M.'s Notes on the Pentateuch, together with six volumes of his
Miscellaneous Writings,** proved of inestimable value when as a young preacher
I was seeking a firm foundation for my faith and a better grasp of Bible truth.
Then a little later some unknown friend, to whom I shall be forever indebted,
presented me with a set of J. N. Darby's Synopsis of the Books of the Bible. I
remember well that I literally devoured these five volumes, giving almost every
spare moment to them, so that I red them in two weeks' time I think I am safe
in saying that they opened up the Scriptures in their comprehensiveness in a
way that nothing else has ever touched. Needless to say. I have familiarized
myself with practically everything J. N. Darby wrote and I regard him as far in
advance of any of the other commentators on the Bible. The works of William
Kelly, particularly as set forth in his Lectures Introductory to the
Pentateuch, Early Historical Books, Minor Prophets, The Four Gospels. Paul's
Epistles, The Acts, Catholic Epistles and the Revelation, added much to that
which J. N. Darby had already opened up to me. These early books of Kelly
whetted my appetite so that I was not satisfied until I had red everything else
of his, amounting to thirty or more volumes. I admit they are sometimes rather
dry and I like to have a glass of water by my side as I read them, but they are
clear and definite, and so far as scholarship is concerned, Kelly towers far
above many who are held in honor as outstanding theologians and expositors.
When it comes to theology itself, I owe more to the works of F. W.
Grant, I think, 'than' even to Mr. Darby and Mr. Kelly. F.W., as he is
familiarly known, led me into an appreciation of what I might call the
"inwardness" of the great truths of the person of Christ and His propitiatory
work, such as I have never found anywhere else. Samuel Ridout, who was a close
collaborator with F. W. Grant, helped me much, particularly as to setting the
example of simplicity in unfolding the truth of God, so that the ordinary mind
could readily grasp it.
The following books I have found most helpful in
giving me a deeper knowledge of Bible history and connected subjects:
Edersheim's History of Israel and Judah and also his Life and Times of Jesus,
Messiah. Though not absolutely clear as to certain great truths concerning the
Person and work of our Lord, both Geikie and Farrar, in their books, both
entitled The Life of Christ, helped fix certain outstanding facts in my memory
that have always been helpful in my study of the Gospels.
Sir Robert Anderson's various
books have been a joy and delight because of their keen analysis of great
Biblical themes, though unfortunately Sir Robert was during his later years
evidently somewhat under the influence of that great scholar, but distressingly
ultradispensational teacher, E. W. Bullinger.
I should probably mention in
closing that I have been greatly indebted to both Strong and Young in the study
of words and their inner meaning. Their great concordances are always within
reach and I find them invaluable.
*(At some time around the mid-1940's
Harry Ironside wrote this article for an evangelical publication. I have been
unable to discover where it appeared, but at the time he wrote it he sent a
copy to the Loizeaux Brothers.)
** C.H.M is the abbreviation of C. H.
Mackintosh. It is interesting that the very year this biography is scheduled
for publication (1976), Loizeaux Brothers is issuing all six of his volumes.
Miscellaneous Writings, in one volume under the title, The Mackintosh Treasury.
from: Ordained of the Lord: H.A. Ironside, by E. Schuyler English. Loizeaux
Brothers., 1976 pages 245-7
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