They Knew Their God Book Two, Edwin and Lillian Harvey

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They Knew Their God Vol. 2, like its predecessor, contains a wide variety of men and women who illustrate that knowing God is available to every Christian irrespective of nationality, gender, or religious affiliation. Unlike Volume One, however, the first sketch in this book was born in the late seventeenth century. He is Gerhard Terstegen, the German Pietist, mystic and hymn-writer. We then move into the eighteenth century in the next two sketches: two Americans—the Quaker John Woolman, and Methodist itinerant bishop, Elijan Hedding. The fourth sketch in this volume is about Robert Aitken, the Scotsman who became an Anglican minister and labored in Pendeen, a small town in Cornwall.

Phoebe Palmer, an American Methodist, comes next, succeeded by Robert Murray McCheyne, the well known Scottish Presbyterian preacher from Dundee. He is followed by his close friend, William Burns, who became a missionary in China. In the eighth sketch, we read about the Anglican poet and hymn-writer, Frances R. Havergal, and in the ninth, we span the seas and read of Pastor Hsi, the Chinese pastor and convert of David Hill, missionary in the China Inland Mission. Next comes George Watson, an American Methodist at the turn of the twentieth century. He is followed by Jessie Penn-Lewis, born in Wales and author of the helpful albeit somewhat controversial book: “War on the Saints.” The Three Garrat Sisters come next, who were born in Ireland and labored in South Africa for the Lord. The thirteenth sketch is about Englishman Paget Wilkes, who was co-founder with Barclay Buxton of the Japan Evangelistic Band. From Japan we turn to Latvia and read of Basil Malof, Baptist missionary to Russia, and then we turn back to America to the Quaker Thomas Kelly, the missionary martyrs, John and Betty Stam. The seventeenth sketch brings us once more to England and to George Henry Lang of the Christian Brethren.

And so we have the list of saints who knew their God. England, Germany, America, Latvia, Ireland, Russia, Japan, China, Africa—their lives span the world and embrace all peoples. Knowing God opens up a universe to those who will explore it, hand in hand with their God.

This volume is written by Edwin and Lillian Harvey and is available on the Online Christian Bookstore, made available by Harvey Christian Publishers.

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