The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit (Buchanan)

James Buchanan was born in 1804. He held several pastorates before becoming Professor Apologetics and later of Systematic Theology at the Free Church College in Edinburgh. He attained great fame as a preacher, his manner in the pulpit being marked by sustained clarity of thought and eloquent evangelical fervour. The most experimental of Buchanan's theological works is the one from which this article is taken, The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit, which was first published in 1843 and then republished by the Banner of Truth Trust in 1966. 

Table of Contents: 

Part 1: THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS

1. The Necessity of a Great Spiritual Change

2. A General View of the Spirit's Agency, with reference both to the World and the Church

3. A General View of the Process of Conversion by which Individuals are translated from the World into the Church

4. The Work of the Spirit in Enlightening the Mind

5. The Work of the Spirit in Convincing the Conscience

*An Address to Convinced Sinners

6. The Work of the Spirit in Renewing the Heart

7. The Result of the Spirit's Work

8. The Regeneration of Infants

Part 2: ILLUSTRATIVE CASES OF CONVERSION FROM SCRIPTURE

1. The Philippian Jailer, Acts 16:19-34

2. The Dying Malefactor, Luke 23:32-43

3. Paul, Acts 9:1-22

4. The Ethiopian Treasurer, Acts 8:26-40

5. Cornelius, Acts 10

6. Lydia, Acts 16:13-15

7. Timothy, 2 Tim. 3:14, 15

8. Conversions at Pentecost, Acts 2

9. Revivals, Acts 2:17, 18

Part 3. - THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN THE EDIFICATION OF HIS PEOPLE AFTER THEIR CONVERSION

1. The Spirit's Work as the Spirit of Holiness

2. The Spirit's Work as the Spirit of Adoption

3. The Spirit's Work as the Spirit of Prayer

4. The Spirit's Work as the Comforter

Author

James Buchanan (1804-1870) was born in Scotland in 1804 and ordained in 1827 in the Church of Scotland. In 1828 he commenced a very successful ministry at North Leith where he gained a great reputation as an earnest, eloquent, evangelical preacher. In 1845 he was appointed to the Chair of Apologetics at New College, Edinburgh, and in 1847 he succeeded Thomas Chalmers as Professor of Systematic Theology. He retired in 1868 and died two years later. Buchanan was a prolific and popular writer: his first book, Comfort in Affliction (1837), sold nearly 30,000 copies. His two most valuable works were The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit (1842), an exposition which still merits study, and The Doctrine of Justification, the Cunningham Lectures for 1866, reprinted here.

Endorsements

"James Buchanan belonged to the bright galaxy of theologians who graced the early days of the Free Church of Scotland. His brilliant and uniquely conceived treatment of the Holy Spirit expounds his Ministry first biblically and theologically, then in a series of biographical studies, and finally systematically in the life of the Christian. Buchanan superbly combines the reliable with the readable, the doctrinal with the practical, the theological with the devotional. 'The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit' is a classic work on the Holy Spirit and a master class in theology." - Sinclair Ferguson

"James Buchanan was a pastor-theologian whose preaching and writing were precious gifts of Christ to the church. His classic book on the Holy Spirit is especially full in its treatment of the conversion of sinners, considered both in its doctrinal aspects and in several cases of conversion reported in the Scriptures. His writing exemplifies the biblical, doctrinal, experiential, and practical quality of the Reformed tradition. Highly recommended." --Dr. Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

"We find in Dr. James Buchanan's 'The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit,' and in Dr. George Smeaton's 'The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit,' two treatises covering the whole ground; the one in a more practical, the other in a more didactic spirit; and both in a manner worthy of the best traditions of our Puritan fathers." - B.B. Warfield

"When theological ignorance seems to be at an all time low in the pulpits of American churches comes great help from 19th century Scotland. -Who is the Holy Spirit? -What is He doing and what has He done? -What is the new birth, conversion, illumination? -Where can I find illustrations in Scripture of these most important truths? Thank you, SOLID GROUND, for bringing back one of the great practical theology works of the past! 

Nineteenth century Scotland was blessed with many theological "oaks". James Buchanan was one of them and this work is one of his best. Pastors, take your elders and deacons and then the men of the church through this book and bless them all and strengthen your church!" - Steve Martin, Retired confessional Baptist pastor of 31 years, State Coordinator of the Georgia Association of Confessional Baptist Churches