Library/Office Tour 2023
It's been about two years since I did a library tour, so here's an updated one. Before we dive in: this isn't for bragging. I just really enjoy watching these videos myself, and I've found so many of them inspiring. If it ever comes across as bragging, please click off; it's not worth it. Most of this was given to me rather than something I bought, and I've been extremely blessed by God and His grace these last couple of years to collect such a library. All glory goes to Him.
Reference
The first shelf you see when you walk in is all reference: commentaries and other things. My Greek resources are here, including the Complete Biblical Library, which my grandfather gave me when he didn't need it anymore. It's a little more liberal than I'd like to go, but it's still a wonderful reference and I use it all the time. Then Spurgeon's Treasury of David, the Tyndale New Testament Commentary (a birthday gift from my pastor), the New Bethany Parallel Commentary on the New Testament (Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown), and a small single-volume encyclopedia with lots of biographies and history.
And of course Matthew Henry's commentary, my absolute favorite commentary on my shelf. I'd love to read through it one day. Below that: Lockyer's "All" series, the entire thing with a single-volume Bible commentary, given to me by a retiring pastor, and a few volumes of Albert Barnes' Notes. There's also a record player, some records, and a couple of pieces of art I did (one when I was four, and The Lion and the Lamb from a few years ago).
Systematics and my favorite shelf
The next shelf is systematic theologies, and the one above it might be my favorite shelf: the works of Robert Traill, Ryle, more Ryle, William Gurnall's The Christian in Complete Armour (highly recommend), and the complete works of Augustus Toplady.
As we go through, you'll notice the theme of the library is cowboys and Indians, along with music. There's a horseshoe up here (not for luck, just for the aesthetic), a pipe, and horses scattered about. My favorite is made of pewter.
Below are some random theological works: The Practical Philosophy by Dabney, The Covenant of Grace by Matthew Henry, Thoughts on Public Prayer by Samuel Miller, The Confessions of Saint Augustine, and some of Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Romans commentary. Then animal encyclopedias, mostly birds (I love, love, love birds), and my pet cactus. I don't believe in pet plants, but if I were to have one, that would be it.
Fuller, Owen, Witherspoon and Jay
Next: the works of Andrew Fuller, some of the works of John Owen, some of Dabney, half of the works of Bates, and a true treasure, the works of John Witherspoon. I'm so glad I have these on my shelf.
Below that is another shelf I'm super proud of: William Jay's works, the whole thing less a few sermons that aren't in print today. Then Spurgeon: Lectures to My Students and more. Then my dictionary, my thesaurus, and a painting of Noah's Ark.
Biographies, history and literature
This whole section is biographies, whether autobiographies or written about them, along with letters and journals. I'd like it to be full; we're not there yet. Below that is American history, some cool volumes I've picked up here and there, an atlas, and English literature: all classics.
Up top: pictures of me with animals, birds, Lego birds, a clock that unfortunately doesn't work (I hope to get it working one day), the Westminster Confession, Ryle's Autobiography, and a Lego pet shop. Again, I love animals. Then a leather horse with boots and a hat, hymnals (including the Trinity Hymnal, which I use all the time), journals, and music. I'm a musician, so a lot of this is music. Then Bible translations and other reference books.
On the table are my reader's set and a statue we joke is the future me: no shoes, rips in his jeans, but he has books, so he's good to go.
The desk
This is where all of my work is done. It's a little messy today. Over here are little bits of art I've done over the last year or so: Ryle, Matthew Everhard, and Spurgeon. Just a little touch of theology. There's my diploma, a chair with a lamp so I can read, and a section of books I'm working through and trying to get into the library.
The antique case
The last section is downstairs: a case that was my grandmother's and is now mine, where I keep my antique volumes. There are 13 volumes of 20 Centuries of Great Preaching (I've read a couple), 10 volumes of Mark Twain's works over 100 years old, some of Hawthorne's works, one of Thackeray's, Memories of Many Men in Many Lands (which I intend to read at some point), and Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students, second series, in an 1889 edition. That one is really cool. Then Irving's works, a leather-bound Life and Works of Garfield, a volume of John Wesley's, and volumes two and four of William Romaine's works in 1796 editions. These are on display because they're older and have a little more value than the others.
That concludes the library tour. Hopefully it was helpful or encouraging. I'd love to hear from you in the comments.
Soli Deo Gloria!
