Thomas Guthrie Books: A Guide to All 9 and Where to Start
Thomas Guthrie (1803–1873) was the great pictorial preacher of nineteenth-century Edinburgh, and every one of his books began in the pulpit. TheWay Library has nine of them, all free to read: a whole gospel preached from Ezekiel 36, twelve parables of Jesus, seventeen Old Testament character studies, a practical exposition of James, two books of sermons on the way of salvation and the Christian graces, a short book on salvation for young men, twenty sermons on Colossians 1, and his sermons on the city bound with his famous pleas for ragged schools. For his life story, see who was Thomas Guthrie.
Where to start
Start with The Gospel in Ezekiel. It was his most widely read book, and it gives you the whole message of salvation in one connected series.
After that, choose by what you want:
- The parables of Jesus: The Parables Read in the Light of the Present Day.
- Bible characters: Studies of Character from the Old Testament.
- A practical study of James: Man and the Gospel.
- Shorter sermons on faith, hope and love: Speaking to the Heart.
- The Christian life from start to finish: The Way to Life.
- A plain outline of salvation for a young reader: Saving Knowledge.
- The glory of Christ: Christ and the Inheritance of the Saints.
- The poor and the city: The City, Its Sins and Sorrows.
Every quotation below is checked against the book it comes from. For more, see our collection of Thomas Guthrie quotes.
The gospel
The Gospel in Ezekiel (1856)
Twenty-two discourses on Ezekiel 36, preaching the whole gospel from a single Old Testament chapter. Guthrie moves from man sinning and suffering under God's justice, through God's motive and glory in redemption, to justification by Christ's righteousness and conversion. The center of the book is the promise of a new heart: the heart of stone, the new heart, the Holy Spirit as renewer, and the new life. It closes with the security of believers and the power of prayer.
Be the objects which we love noble or base, good or bad, holy or sinful, belonging to earth or to heaven, some object we must love.
The Gospel in Ezekiel, The New Heart
The Way to Life (1873)
Twenty-one sermons that follow the road to life from first concern to a Christian's death. The early sermons press man's great duty, the lies of the world, the one thing needful and the danger of delay. The middle ones set forth Christ as the Lamb of God and the love and example of Christ. The rest follow the believer's faith, prayers, growth, strength, work, triumph, patience, life and death. The scan has some misread words.
Earth for work, heaven for wages — this life for the battle, another for the crown — time for employment, eternity for enjoyment.
The Way to Life, The Christian's Life
Saving Knowledge: Addressed to Young Men
Twelve short chapters that set out the way of salvation in order for young men: God's verdict and sentence on man, the evil of sin, man's inability to save himself, God's gift of His Son, the person and work of the Saviour, faith, the new life of the Spirit, holiness and the sacraments. Guthrie wrote it with his friend W. G. Blaikie. A note at the front says Guthrie wrote five chapters and Blaikie the rest. Each chapter ends with a direct appeal to the reader.
Poor senseless, stupid bird it seems to fancy that the danger which it ceases to see has ceased to exist.
Saving Knowledge, chapter III
That's Guthrie on the ostrich that hides its head, and on people who hide from sin the same way. In this edition the chapter titles in the contents are shifted: the first section is really "God's Verdict on Man," and the next four each carry the title of the chapter before. The text itself is complete. Read Saving Knowledge.
Bible characters and Bible books
Studies of Character from the Old Testament
Seventeen portraits of Old Testament men and women, each named for one trait: Abraham the Friend of God, Eliezer the Pattern Servant, Joseph the Successful Man, Moses the Patriot, Caleb the Soldier, Boaz the Farmer, Ruth the Virtuous, Hannah the Matron, Jonathan the Friend, David the Afflicted Man, Solomon the Wise Man, Rehoboam the Foolish Man, Jehu the Zealot and more. Guthrie compares the book to an artist studying the old masters: look at the best examples and catch their spirit. Each chapter retells the story with his scene-painting and draws lessons for work, friendship, home and public life.
Take him for all in all, regard him not in one but many aspects, Moses is the greatest character in history, sacred or profane.
Studies of Character from the Old Testament, Moses the Patriot
This is one of his most enjoyable books and works well for a Bible class, one character a week. Start with Joseph the Successful Man. Read Studies of Character.
Man and the Gospel
Nineteen discourses, most of them a practical walk through the Epistle of James: trial and temptation, true religion, pure religion and undefiled, riches, favoritism toward the rich, the law of God, faith and works, the poor and charity. In the chapter on faith and works he defends James and shows how true faith and good works belong together. The last part turns to the shining path of the just, being risen with Christ, four sermons urging the young to turn to God early, and a New Year sermon.
If the world is right in its judgment of what constitutes true greatness, the humblest believer is a great man.
Man and the Gospel, Risen with Christ: Part II
The parables
The Parables Read in the Light of the Present Day (1873)
Studies of twelve parables, applied to everyday life: the leaven, the ten virgins, the prodigal son, the good Samaritan, the unjust judge, the Pharisee and the publican, the hid treasure, the pearl, the lost coin, the sower, the unmerciful servant and the laborers in the vineyard. It opens with a short memoir of Guthrie's life. This is the easiest book to pick up and read a chapter at a time, and a good one for a group study of the parables.
God forgives offences; but the forgiven never forget them.
The Parables Read in the Light of the Present Day, The Parable of the Prodigal Son
Read The Parables Read in the Light of the Present Day.
Sermons on Christ and the Christian graces
Christ and the Inheritance of the Saints (1858)
Twenty sermons that walk phrase by phrase through Colossians 1:12–20: the inheritance of the saints in light, deliverance from the power of darkness, the kingdom of Christ, redemption through His blood, and Christ as the image of God, Creator, Lord of providence, Head of the church, firstborn from the dead and reconciler of all things. It's Guthrie at his fullest on the person of Christ.
Should it not dissipate every care and fear, to think that our Saviour, friend, and lover, has the heart of a brother and the hand of God?
Christ and the Inheritance of the Saints, The Beginning
Read Christ and the Inheritance of the Saints.
Speaking to the Heart (1862)
Twelve sermons aimed, as the title says, at the heart and conscience. They treat neglected warnings, the godly fear that grows out of forgiveness, God's grace that never wears out, three sermons on faith, hope and love from 1 Corinthians 13, the good fight, Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, the true test of love to Christ, and Demas, who loved this present world.
Christ's resources are inexhaustible; and here, therefore, one man's gain is no other man's loss.
Speaking to the Heart, The Undecaying Power and Grace of God
The city and the poor
The City, Its Sins and Sorrows (1857)
Four sermons preached in Edinburgh on the sins and sorrows of the city, above all drunkenness, starting from Christ weeping over Jerusalem. The volume also contains Guthrie's Pleas for Ragged Schools, his famous appeal for free schools to feed, teach and train the city's outcast children, with later pleas reporting how the work grew. It's a window on the social side of his ministry. The text comes from a scan and has errors in places.
The grand and only sovereign remedy for the evils of this world is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The City, Its Sins and Sorrows, Sermon III
Read The City, Its Sins and Sorrows.
Why read Guthrie today
Guthrie makes old truths vivid. He never leaves a doctrine in the abstract; he paints it, then presses it home. Begin with The Gospel in Ezekiel, then read the parables or the Old Testament character studies a chapter at a time. All nine books are on the Thomas Guthrie author page.