CHARLES SIMEON
An ordinary pastor of extraordinary influence
By Derek Prime. Day One. 275 pages. £10.00
ISBN 978 1 846 253 133
Charles Simeon (1759 to 1836) was parish minister of Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, for 54 years. The story of his life and influence is so interesting and spiritually challenging that a modern biography of this sort is to be welcomed.
Derek Prime has used almost all of the existing material by and about Simeon, so this is a well researched book. It is also written in a modern, easy-to-read style. The author avoids the common mistake of weaving his own opinions into the narrative. As a result, Simeon is allowed to speak for himself.
In addition to being a good biography of one of the heroes of the biblical faith, the author succeeds in extracting the principles which motivated Simeon. For instance, if you serve the Lord in difficult circumstances, there is much encouragement in this book. How many of us who speak for the Lord in any context have felt ‘barren and dull’, more conscious of God’s absence than the reverse? Simeon had this experience, only to learn later that God had used his words in the conversion of a particularly significant person. So, while always desiring God’s active presence, he learned not to rely on ‘feelings’.
One of the surprising things about Simeon is the extent of his influence outside his own congregation. He was not the first Anglican to preach in Scottish Presbyterian pulpits and see converts. His visits to Scotland were numerous and blessed by God. Simeon put serious evangelism among the Jews on the evangelical agenda. His spiritual commitment to India saw much fruit, which included encouraging his own curate, the sacrificial Henry Martyn, to go there.
When the reader finally puts this book down, the dominant impression will be thankfulness to God for the life and work of Charles Simeon, and especially for the mature spiritual advice and insights ministered through its pages.
