Arthur W. Pink was born in Nottingham, England in 1886, and became a Christian in his early 20's. After his conversion He went to Moody Bible Institute, but dropped out after two months. He pastored his first church in Colorado, then wound up in Australia, Kentucky, England, back to the USA and elsewhere on preaching itineraries before spending the final twelve years of his life in Scotland. He was more successful as a writer than as a preacher.Yet most of the success came after his death. He published most of his writings in Studies in the Scriptures, a monthly magazine which he published for 30 years. Most of his books, which have helped many, later came from this magazine. He died in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland in 1952. His dear wife carried on the magazine for a time after he died using some of his unfinished studies. His writings have become very valued by many Christians in our day, especially for their doctrinal exposition.
Here is a sample of Pink's writing, regarding Man's Depravity which can be found online, as can most of his writings .
"It is a doctrine of great practical value as well as spiritual importance. The foundation of all true piety lies in a correct view of ourselves and our vileness, and a scriptural belief in God and His grace. There can be no genuine abhorrence or repentance, no real appreciation of the saving mercy of God, no faith in Christ, without it, There is nothing like a knowledge of this doctrine so well calculated to undeceive vain man and convict him of the worthlessness and rottenness of his own righteousness. Yet the preacher who is aware of the plague of his own heart knows full well that he cannot present this truth in such a way as to make his hearers actually realize and feel the same, to help them stop being in love with themselves and to cause them to forever renounce all hope in themselves. Therefore, instead of relying upon his faithfulness in presenting the truth, he will be cast upon God to apply it graciously in power to those who hear him and bless his feeble efforts.
"It is an exceedingly illuminating doctrine. It may be a melancholy and humiliating one, nevertheless it throws a flood of light upon mysteries which are otherwise insoluble. It supplies the key to the course of human history, and shows why so much of it has been written in blood and tears. It supplies an explanation of many problems which sorely perplex and puzzle the thoughtful. It reveals why the child is prone to evil and has to be taught and disciplined to anything that is good. It explains why every improvement in man’s environment, every attempt to educate him, all the efforts of social reformers, are unavailing to effect any radical betterment in his nature and character. It accounts for the horrible treatment which Christ met with when He worked so graciously in this world, and why He is still despised and rejected by men. It enables the Christian himself to better understand the painful conflict which is ever at work within him, and which causes him so often to cry, 'Oh, wretched man that I am!"' (From the introduction of Gleanings in the Scriptures; Man's Total Depravity, Moody Press, 1969).
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