THE FAR SPENT NIGHT

by Edward N. West ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 22, 1960

A more appropriate book of devotion for out times would be hard to find. Canon Edward N. West, of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine, in New York takes as his theme the Church's Advent, pre-Christmas theme of the coming of our Lord. Though the characteristic notes of this season in the Christian tradition have been one of stress on ""last things"", judgment, death, and hell, brought vividly to man's attention when times are so bad they couldn't be worse. But the author reminds us that the Christian never arrives at the point of being a pessimist about the world, because quite frankly he had never been in the silly position of being an optimist about it. The ultimate question, he writes, is this: Can we conceive of, or do we wish for, an endless continuation of our world as it is? Is there such a thing as fruition and completion for every member of suffering humanity? If the answer to the second question is Yes, then the answer to the first is No. The whole Advent season is God's Yes to his people, and God's No to all those things that enslave them. Such a book as this is a badly needed antidote for the peace of mind, do it yourself, sweetness and light books that flood the bookstalls today. It is a book of hope that by no means spurns this world, but is based on that beyond it which is imperishable.

Pub Date: Sept. 22, 1960

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Seabury Press

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1960

Categories: NONFICTION