Cross, Timothy
The Shadow of Calvary (Martin)
Calvary cast a shadow over the whole of Christ’s ministry. It was, however, in the last hours of his earthly life that he entered into the full consciousness of ‘the cup’ of suffering which he had to drink.
In The Shadow of Calvary Hugh Martin leads us through the awesome events in the garden of Gethsamane and the arrest and the trial of Jesus Christ. These he interprets in the light of the fulfillment of the Scriptures and the subsequent fruit of Christ’s suffering.
Like Martin’s other published writings this volume is profound yet practical, and intended, as Dr John Duncan said of Martin’s work in general, to promote ‘both the doctrine which is according to godliness and the godliness which is according to doctrine’.
It was the opinion of Professor John Murray, that among the ‘galaxy of gifted and devoted ministers of the gospel’ in Scotland during the nineteenth century, ‘none deserves more honour than Hugh Martin. No one could scale higher heights of sanctified eloquence.’
Author
Hugh Martin (1822-85) combined a brilliant analytical and mathematical mind with a child-like heart which rested in Christ and his atoning work, as revealed in the Scriptures. Born and brought up in Aberdeen, he gained the top prizes in mathematics at the University there, before going on to study for the ministry. He cast in his lot with those who left the Established Church at the Disruption and served at Panbride (Carnoustie) and Free Greyfriars, Edinburgh, until illness forced his retirement from the ministry at the age of 42.
Endorsement
‘Martin was exceptionally gifted intellectually. For all his familiarity with the Christology of the Church, his work does not merely pour old wine into old wineskins. There is something striking, fresh, thought-demanding, about his whole approach.’ — Sinclair B. Ferguson