In the past few years I have read about 100 books, and this has been, of all of them, the deepest, the loftiest, the most moving.

Just in the past two weeks, I have come across quotes about George MacDonald but writers such as C.S. Lewis, Elisabeth Eliot, Oswald Chambers, and F.W. Boreham. His influence (especially on C.S. Lewis) has been vastly underestimated. Oswald Chambers said in 1932 that it was a mark of the shallowness of the time that so few actually read MacDonald.

I read these sermons out of order, and it took me about two years because I like to "chew" on them. If you want an introduction, I would recommend "The Fear of God." It is not as long as some others, and while you have to work through the language (which is well-cultivated), that sermon was for me the easiest to follow.

Some people take issue with MacDonald's theology, especially on his supposed "universalism." While his thoughts on heaven and hell have bothered me, I believe I'm satisfied with the assertion that he is not a strict "universalist"--that is, he does not believe, like others, that God will swing the door wide to rebels and believers alike. He hints over and over at a second chance, though, to take up the cross; and I believe that if you, like me, read a number of his works, and treat him as a friend who you are getting to know, you will understand his heart in this matter (although I don't believe the "second chance" idea jives with the words of Jesus)--and what's more profound, you will learn through this book to take every question, in science, theology, ministry, biblical interpretation, or politics, back to the heart of the One who gave you the ability to question. ( )