New Book Published!

John Brown of Haddington on Frequent Communion

I’m pleased to announce the publication of my new book, John Brown of Haddington on Frequent Communion! John Brown of Haddington (1722-1787) was one of the most popular Scottish Reformed pastors and writers of the late 1700s. His Self-Interpreting Bible and A Short Catechism for Young Children were bestsellers. When he died, his unpublished papers contained a brief essay arguing for more frequent communion. It was published in 1804 and has been out of print since that time.

Brown was one of the sources I consulted in my PhD work, when I wrote the first scholarly treatment of communion frequency practices and debates in the Reformed tradition.

I summarized Brown’s arguments in my book, but I came across a blog post from Prof. Ray Van Neste on John Brown, where he expressed a desire to see this old essay back in print. We corresponded a bit, and he encouraged me in this work (see below for his endorsement of the book). So, over the past few years, I slowly re-typed Brown’s essay and added explanatory notes to help the modern reader understand the context.

It’s now published! It’s been a long journey, and I hope that a new generation of readers will be able to benefit from Brown’s pastoral and scholarly wisdom.

Here’s what people are saying about the book:

"The works of John Brown of Haddington, the orphaned shepherd boy who rose to become a revered pastor, theologian, and reformer, are a largely unmined treasure trove. I am therefore very grateful for Gregory Soderberg's new edition of Brown's carefully reasoned and pastorally practical treatise on the ordinary means of grace God affords us at the Lord's Table. This is a vital resource and, if possible, more relevant today than when it was written more than two centuries ago."

--George Grant, pastor emeritus, Parish Presbyterian Church, and director, King's Meadow Study Center

"I am delighted to see this significant work by John Brown of Haddington available once again with the valuable historical introduction by Dr. Soderberg. More frequent communion, thoughtfully led, would enhance the health of our churches, and this brief address argues well for the practice. I hope it may stir many to consider more frequent communion."

--Ray Van Neste, professor of biblical studies, Union University

"Dr. Soderberg puts us greatly in his debt by republishing for a contemporary audience John Brown of Haddington's apology for a more frequent celebration of Holy Supper. Having previously explored the post-Reformation debates on communion frequency on both sides of the Atlantic, Soderberg now helps us to see the present-day relevance of one of the most extraordinary sources he came across in his doctoral work. It is my hope that this 18th century treatise will help all those with an interest in the issue of communion frequency to make up their minds in a more well-considered way, and where appropriate make decisions that will strengthen and deepen the faith of their communities."

--Gijsbert van den Brink, professor of theology & science, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam

It’s available from the publisher’s website, on Amazon, and should be available from most major booksellers. Just in time to add it to your Christmas wish list.

If you’re academic or a writer and are interested in writing a review or receiving a desk copy, please write to the publisher at: sierra@wipfandstock.com.

Thanks for reading!