Life Essential: The Hope of the Gospel (Wheaton Literary Series) [Paperback]

George MacDonald (Author), Rolland Hein (Author)

Book Description

Series: Wheaton Literary Series | Publication Date: June 1978

"... I know hardly any other writer who seems to be closer, or more continually cloxe, to the Spirit of Christ Himself. Hence his Christ-like union of tenderness and severity. Nowhere else outside the New Testament have I found terror and comfort so intertwined. "I have never concealed the fact that I regarded him as my master; indeed I fancy I never written a book in which I did not quote from him. But it has not seemed to me that those who have received my books kindly take even now sufficient notice of the affiliation. Honesty drives me to emphasize it." -- C.S. Lewis, in the preface to George MacDonald: An Anthology

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 102 pages
• Publisher: Harold Shaw Pub; 2 edition (June 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877884994
• ISBN-13: 978-0877884996
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,202,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Introduction to George MacDonald, May 13, 2004

By 

Douglas MacRae (Toronto) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Life Essential: The Hope of the Gospel (Paperback)

Although I agree with the previous reviewer up to a point, I recommend this little book as an introduction to MacDonald's writing. It is easy to read and contains deep truths that penetrate to the heart. He brings a fresh and unique perspective from a deep understanding of our Heavenly Father's love for us. This is a book for those who hunger after righteousness, for those who, in MacDonald's words, trust that "increasing desire is the sign that satisfaction is drawing nearer." As Corbin Scott Carnell, University of Florida, has said, "Rolland Hein's expert condensation makes these writings accessible to our time." If I personally hadn't begun with this book I may never have wanted to buy the sermons in their original, unedited form.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hein does to MacDonald what Jefferson did to the Bible., June 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Life Essential: The Hope of the Gospel (Wheaton Literary Series) (Paperback)

In the essay "Sorrow--The Pledge of Joy", George MacDonald wrote: "Out upon such miserable theologians as . . . so cut and pare the words of the Lord as to take the very life from them, quenching all their glory and colour". You won't find these words in the edited version of this essay in _Life Essential_; in my opinion, Hein has so cut and pared the words of MacDonald as to take the very life from them, quenching not all, but much, of their glory and color.

In the introduction, Hein warns us that the editing has taken place, resulting in about half of MacDonald's words being discarded. The ostensible reason is that MacDonald tended to use florid language that is awkward to the modern ear, and that he tended to repeat himself. Search the Internet for MacDonald's original texts and compare them to Hein's editions and see if you don't agree with me that the language Hein cut was often glorious. And when you examine the deletions it will be obvious that elimination of repetition can't explain all of them. On the contrary, the deleted passages often make points not made by the surviving text, points that perhaps made Hein uncomfortable (like, in "Sorrow--The Pledge of Joy", the eternal nature of human relationships: "A heaven without human love it were inhuman, and yet more undivine to desire; it ought not to be desired by any being made in the image of God.")

Do yourself a favor and buy the lovely Johannesen editions of MacDonald's original works instead.

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Essential: The Hope of the Gospel, August 26, 2011

By 

Joseph C. Waters - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Life Essential: The Hope of the Gospel (Paperback)

An extremely good book for people who can read, or for those like me who are willing to read and reread, think and rethink. MacDonald presents a picture of the Gospel consistent with rational thought and devoid of theological slight of hand.