Evangelical Press of England will soon be publishing another installation of the sermons of the nineteenth century French Reformed pastor and professor, Adolphe Monod. Those who know Monod’s works will not be surprised that Constance K. Walker is, once again, the editor and translator. Dr. Constance Walker, a physicist from Duke University, has blessed and refreshed the Church greatly by giving her time and gifts to this project through the years. We are most grateful and her labors must not be forgotton. I believe that Monod represents one of the best examples of classical pastoral theology. I trust that pastoral students, in particular, will discover, in Monod, an example of an authentic under-shepherd who combines tender-hearted evangelism, pastoral love for the flock, appropriate regard for the sacred traditions of the Church, and faithfulness in all things to the Lord through Word, Sacrament, and Prayer. He combined these features in a person of humility and brokenness before the Lord, as well as life-long awe of God’s grace and wonder over God’s Son. This Spirit-shaped, prayer-in-the-closet combination creates a compelling pastoral portrait that attracts the wayward and comforts the hurting. In the end, you see, it as I have said, the pastor’s “one sermon” that constantly preaches through every other sermon. Monod had that one sermon. It comes through in every page of his life. Connie Walker, faithful scribe that she is, picks up on this so beautifully, and records that one sermon with artistic flair from French to English. Wonderful.
Look for this new book from EP Books and Dr. Constance Walker on Adolphe Monod soon to be released. You will want it in your library, pastor, and professors will want it in their syllabi on preaching. Yet, perhaps the single greatest use is devotional.
Title? You and I will have to wait on the publisher for that. But Adolphe Monod and Dr. Constance Walker will make their appearance, once more, thanks to my friends at EP Books.
This morning I read these lines from Living in the Hope of Glory (2002) and feasted on Jesus Christ as my only righteousness from Romans 3:10-12, 21-24.
[pullquote]Oh, the infinite sweetness of resting ourselves fully at the foot of his cross![/pullquote]
“Oh, the infinite sweetness of resting ourselves fully at the foot of his cross! I begin to understand the extent of my misery, but I embrace the cross of my Savior. I desire only it and its unique grace and righteousness with no mixture of my works. My works! They could no nothing but condemn me. But redeemed by him, washed in his blood, which made atonement for my sins, I take hold of his cross, and I lean solely on the sacrifice of my Savior.” (Monod, Adolphe, and Constance K. Walker. Living in the Hope of Glory: A New Translation [by Dr. Constance Walker] of a Spiritual Classic. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Pub., 2002, 16)