Charles Vince
The Christian’s life is one of ups and downs. This is also true of the significant characters in the biblical record. This collection of messages on the life of David focuses on some key high and low points in his spiritual experience and is full of practical application.
C.H. Spurgeon regarded this book as an example of experimental preaching of the highest order.
The historical books of the Old Testament are the objects of repeated attacks. One of the best methods of defending them and preserving our belief in them is to use them diligently for practical religious purposes. If our acquaintance with them be very imperfect, and our study of them very infrequent, the spiritual profit we derive must be scanty. The less good we get from them the more difficult it is to maintain a living faith in their Divine authority. On the other hand, the more the histories of Scripture are read, the more it will be seen how true they are to human life and experience; how full they are of revelations of God and man; and how rich they are in lessons of wisdom for all generations. If by using them we find that they are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” it will be no impossible task for us to believe that “they were given by inspiration of God.” By their fruits in our own hearts and lives we shall judge them, knowing that men do not gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles.
It is with the hope of promoting, in some measure, an increased use of Old Testament histories that the following studies in the life of David are published. Only a few of the incidents of his eventful career have been taken, and these are not more fruitful in instruction than many of those which for lack of space have been left unnoticed. There will be a good recompense for the labour of writing, if what is here written sends its readers to the Bible with the determination to learn afresh all that can be learnt of the man after God’s own heart.
About the Author
Charles Vince (1823-1874) was an English Baptist minister serving in Birmingham for many years. Alongside his work as a pastor, he was widely respected for his contribution to the civil life of the city.