The Works of Robert Traill, Vol. 2 Review
A few weeks ago I reviewed Robert Traill's Works, volume one. There are only two volumes, so this finishes it out.
The book
Volume two is 597 pages, clothbound, Smyth-sewn, printed in the USA by Versa Press. Something I don't think I mentioned last time: the endpapers list what's in each volume. Banner of Truth does this in their sets (John Owen's works too), and it's very helpful for finding things across volumes.
I gave more on Traill's life in the first review, and there's a biographical sketch in volume one, so just a few things to keep in mind: he was born in 1642 and died in 1716. Not many people have looked into his life, so there isn't much information on him. He was a Presbyterian Puritan minister and a Scottish army chaplain, and he fought strongly against antinomianism.
What's in it
Nearly all sermons, very helpful and very biblical:
- Steadfast Adherence to the Profession of Our Faith, 21 sermons on Hebrews 10:21–24
- Eleven sermons on important subjects from 1 Peter 1:1–4
- Six sermons on Galatians 2:21
- A letter from the author to his wife, and one to his children. This part was very special to me.
- Additional sermons, another hundred pages or so.
Are there better books on this topic?
With someone's collected works, I don't think it's fair to answer that. Both volumes are outstanding. I wanted them because I'm deeply interested in J. C. Ryle, and Traill was one of his biggest influences. I wanted to know what shaped Ryle. And as I read, I discovered these are worth their weight in gold: Christ-centered, biblical, gospel-preaching, evangelical, wonderful sermons.
Would I buy them?
Absolutely, if you have the resources. They're a little pricey, and you can only buy the two-volume set. I wish Banner would sell them separately; that would make things much easier.
A few things I marked
- In holding fast our profession we should hold fast the communion of the saints; whoever leaves the communion of the saints for the company of the wicked forgoes his profession (p. 20).
- If believers would part with their profession, the world would part with its quarrel against them (p. 21). Give up your Christianity and the world will love you.
- "Unless you know God as a promising God, you cannot know God in Christ; and you cannot know the true God, unless you know God in Christ" (p. 44).
- The aggravation of unbelief is that we change in our faith, when God is unchangeable in His faithfulness (p. 68). Compare His faithfulness with our faith and you'd think they weren't related at all (p. 73). That one stings. "Can there be anything more reasonable than to trust one that cannot lie?" (p. 77).
- You have great need to study your Bibles well. According to men's diligence in using the Word of God is the thriving of their souls (p. 95).
- "God is our Father, Christ is our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier, heaven is our inheritance, the promises are our charter" (p. 115). This book reminded me of the great promises of God. I don't meditate on them enough. I think on the great doctrines, but it's okay to rejoice in the promises we've been given, because they will be kept.
- The devil's great work is to increase bad works and hinder good ones: to keep the bad bad and make them worse, to keep the bad from becoming good, the good from growing better, and the best from being perfect (p. 141). So true. Ryle writes a lot like that.
- "He that prays much, believes well; and no man that neglects prayer can act faith" (p. 143). That one stings.
- And lastly (p. 474): let the Word of God dwell richly in you, and often look into that glass, which will show you your own heart and ways, that you may loathe yourself, and show you "a sweet sight of Christ's kind heart towards humbled and mournful sinners," that you may love Him. Taste and see that He is good. Blessed are they that trust in Him. Amen and amen.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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