The Two Covenants and the Second Blessing

by Andrew Murray

2012 Reprint of 1899 Edition. Exact facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This book is a series of eighteen meditations contrasting the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. Murray shows us the blessings God has given us, along with the conditions necessary for the full and continual experience of those. Murray's discussion of covenants is instructive, describing the nature of a covenant, the difference between the two covenants, and the transition between them. His ultimate goal, however, is to show "what exactly the blessings are that God has covenanted to bestow upon us." And here Murray's spiritual insight and ability for profound teaching shines through. His "humble attempt" to instruct the believer can have a renewing and transformative effect.

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Murray was Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Murray became a noted missionary leader. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian serving the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, and his mother had connections with both French Huguenots and German Lutherans. This background to some extent explains his ecumenical spirit. He was educated at Aberdeen University, Scotland, and at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. After ordination in 1848 he served pastorates at Bloemfontein, Worcester, Cape Town, and Wellington. He helped to found what are now the University College of the Orange Free State and the Stellenbosch Seminary. He served as Moderator of the Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church and was president of both the YMCA (1865) and the South Africa General Mission (1888-1917), now the Africa Evangelical Fellowship.

He was one of the chief promoters of the call to missions in South Africa. This led to the Dutch Reformed Church missions to blacks in the Transvaal and Malawi. Apart from his evangelistic tours in South Africa, he spoke at the Keswick and Northfield Conventions in 1895, making a great impression. upon his British and American audiences. For his contribution to world missions he was given an honorary doctorate by the universities of Aberdeen (1898) and Cape of Good Hope(1907).

Murray is best known today for his devotional writings, which place great emphasis on the need for a rich, personal devotional life. Many of his 240 publications explain in how he saw this devotion and its outworking in the life of the Christian. Several of his books have become devotional classics. Among these are Abide in Christ, Absolute Surrender, With Christ in the School of Prayer, The Spirit of Christ and Waiting on God.

Reviews

[James Tetley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have read through 2 times. A deep challenge to take hold of the promises of Christ. That as believers we have not grasped the promises of God sufficiently and are still working them out by human effort as by the Spirit. A deeply challenging book as to whether I am trusting God moment by moment or simply using a combination of the religious flesh and the Spirit. Not the easiest of read, but a neglected subject.

[Walter Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Substance rather than fluff.

Unlike most recent books on the Christian life the writings of Andrew Murray are thought provoking and worthy of the readers time. This one is difficult reading in places, but well worth the effort.

[Steven Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book redefined my approach to God and Christ. An amazing read.