Abstract
Whatever weaknesses and limitations there are in Coulbum1 s writings
they fade out of sight in the light of his total worth. He does not follow
the stern, masculine spirits like St. Peter, Athanasius, Bossuet, Luther and
J*
Calvin but the gentle, compass!onate souls like St. Francois de Sales, Pénelon, St. Francis of Assisi, and Jeremy Taylor. Both types have their assets and
liabilities. It is only folly to disavow one or the other; it is wise to
acknowledge that both the stern and the gentle have their place in the service
of God.
In his own age Goulburn made a strong impact on the minds of average
people as well as on the thinking of the clergy. His sound and holy wisdom
joined a lyrical spirit and a poetical heart to write in a manner that gripped
thousands an both sides of the Atlantic. Because his influence, like his
spirit, was neither startling nor dramatic it is not easy to appraise fully
the result of his writing. What we do know is that people read Ids
devotional writings and were greatly helped by them. We know that his
saintly character won the admiration and respect of the clergy. In his
own age he influenced men like F. W. Robertson, Richard C. Trench,
Edward W. Benson, and Frederick Temple. He also had a mighty impact
upon the students at Rugby School: his preaching and his saintly life made
an indelible impression on them. His influence has continued wherever men
have read Ms writings. Interestingly enough, three of the notable writers
Goulbum has influenced have written along the same practical line he did.
A, J. Worlledge's work en Prayer. well marked with references to Goulburn,
seeks to translate theological knowledge into the vernacular of every day
practical religion. The modest titled book, The Lower Levels of Prayer,
tells of the author' s indebtedness to Goulburn. This book by
Dr. George S. Stewart, has in turn influenced countless other writers on the
life of prayer. Principal Charles S. Duthie's book, God in His World, is
the most recent to reflect the influence of Goulburn' s teaching.
For the greater part it most he admitted that Goulburn has not
continued to he the direct influence he -was in his own time. But yet
there are very few devotional writers being read today. For the
vast majority the names like Boehme, à Kempis, Law, Andrewes, Taylor,
Teresa are not household words. Even Banyan is rapidly becoming a
forgotten name. The judgment, however, falls not on Coulburn and the
other devotional writers; it falls upon us. It is only as we study
these devotional books and let the Holy Spirit make real to us the
insights and thoughts of a holy man like Goulburn, that we can know
his true worth and feel Ms real influence. To read his writings and
to feel their uplift is to live in high spiritual atmosphere. At the
end one can only thank God that heaven loaned him to earth to educate
us for eternity.
