It's a toss up between John Willison and Robert Murray M'Cheyne, although John Owen must be mentioned as well. Willison was, IMHO, one of the most experimental of the Puritans I've read. His "Treatise Concerning the Sanctification of the Lord's Day" and "A Sacramental Directory", pierce through the heart and move one's soul every closer to Christ more than anything I've ever read. M'Cheyne's sermons are likewise experimental and draw one to Christ ever so gently but directly. Both of these men's sermons are more applicational than doctrinal. Yet, it becomes quickly obvious that their applications are firmly grounded in biblical and systematic theology. Owen, on the other hand, at least his extent writings, are more doctrinal in nature. His appeal is more to the mind first but not excluding the heart. However, his book, The Glory of Christ has to be one of the most profound treatises on the Lord Christ I have ever read.<br><br>In His Grace,
I have to say John Owen because of his work called "The Death of Death...” Though I will admit that if it wasn't for JI Packer's introduction of this marvelous work, the language that he uses would go right over my head.<br>I am extremely grateful to Packer in that regard.<br><br>Tom
What a great question, but so difficult to answer, as has been so pointed out in a negative way, I love them all, and at different times in my life, different ones have ministered to me. Thomas Brooks and Thomas Watson are so very rich and speak so much to my soul. Below is a quote from Brooks that is a wonderful "sermon" of who we are as Christians. There is a book once titled, "A Divine Cordial" and is now called "All For Good" teaches Romans 8:28 in a way that is better than any thing I have ever read, and truly got me through the death of my daughter. Also, I have to say, Jonathan Edwards book Charity and It's Fruit is awesome!<br><br>"You are those worthies "of whom this world is not worthy," Hebrews 11:38. You are the princes "that prevail with God," Genesis 32:28. You are those "excellent ones" in whom is all Christs delight, Psalms 16:3. You are His glory. You are His picked, culled, prime instruments which He will make use of to carry on His best and greatest work against His worst and greatest enemies in these latter days." Thomas Brooks
Thomas Watson is probably my favorite at the moment, but as you said it does change depending whom I am reading at the time. Watson's books such as, The Christian Soldier, Godly Man's Picture, A Body of Divinity, A Divine Cordial, The Ten Commandments, A Plea for the Godly, The Beatitudes The Lord's Prayer, The Art of Divine Contentment, The Happiness of Drawing Near to God, just bring one closer to God and convict one for God's glory.<br><br><br>
Richard Sibbes comes to mind as a peculiar favorite of mine, and that is perhaps largely attributable to the providential timing of when I was reading "The Bruised Reed" during a particular spiritual struggle I was having at that time. Interestingly, the work is often recommended as a help for personal assurance, but that was not my problem, it was more related to the way in which I saw myself so susceptible to break bruised reeds and quench the smoking flax in others. It challenged me to a greater patience, love, and care towards Christians whom we might consider spiritually immature.<br><br>Richard Baxter is a close second, if not tied for first, because of his exemplary pastoral faithfulness to his congregation. He has some of the most practical wisdom to offer that I have read.<br><br>Regards,<br><br>~Jason
Linda,<br><br>I think you really wanted to post your reply to "Joe" and not me, eh? [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/shrug.gif" alt="shrug" title="shrug[/img] [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile[/img]<br><br>But, since you mentioned it, on The Highway you can read A Divine Cordial by Thomas Watson, as well. <br><br>
I love his allegories, and I love his persuasive excitement over Christ in his messages. He was a simple man who suffered much and was full of the grace of God, Who enabled all his timeless teaching in spite of little education. Psalm 119:99 comes to mind.
Jonathan Edwards. <br><br>Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote a good eulogy when he wrote: "So, let us leave Jonathan Edwards by quoting what he himself said of David Brainerd. I cannot think of anything better to say about Edwards himself: <br><br>'How much is there, in particular, in the things that have been observed of this eminent minister of Christ, to excite us, who are called to the same great work of the gospel-ministry, to earnest care and endeavors, that we may be in like manner faithful in our work; that we maybe filled with the same spirit, animated with the like pure and fervent flame of love to God, and the like earnest concern to advance the kingdom and glory of our Lord and Master, and the prosperity of Zion! How amiable did these principles render this servant of Christ in his life, and how blessed in his end! The time will soon come, when we also must leave our earthly tabernacles, and go to our Lord that sent us to labor in his harvest, to render an account of ourselves to him. Oh how does it concern us so to run as not uncertainly; so to fight, not as those that beat the air! And should not what we have heard excite us to depend on God for his help and assistance in our great work, and to be much in seeking the influences of his Spirit, and success in our labors, by fasting and prayer; in which the person spoken of was abundant? This practice he earnestly recommended on his death-bed, from his own experience of its great benefits, to some candidates for the ministry that stood by his bedside. He was often speaking of the great need ministers have of much of the Spirit of Christ in their work, and how little good they are like to do without it; and how, "when ministers were under the special influences of the Spirit of God, it assisted them to come at the consciences of men, and (as he expressed it) as it were to handle them with hands: whereas, without the Spirit of God, said he, whatever I reason and oratory we make use of, we do but make use of stumps, instead of hands". <br><br>'Oh that the things that were seen and heard in this extraordinary person, his holiness, heavenliness, labor, and self-denial in his life, his so remarkably devoting himself and his all, in heart and practice to the glory of God, and the wonderful frame of mind manifested in so steadfast a manner, under the expectation of death, and the pains and agonies that brought it on, may excite in us all, both ministers and people, a due sense of the greatness of the work we have to do in the world, the excellency and amiableness of thorough religion in experience and practice, and the blessedness of the end of such a life, and the infinite value of their eternal reward, when absent from the body and present with the Lord; and effectually stir us up to endeavors that, in the way of such a holy life, we may at last come to so blessed an end' (Vol.2, 35-36). "<br><br>I have appreciated Jonathan Edwards writings and sermons for many years. Interestingly John Piper is also very fond of his writings and has referrenced his work in many of his own writings as well. Maybe that's why I like his books too. They both put a great deal of emphasis on God's sovereignty, God's glory, and being totally satisfied in Him. <br><br><br>Wes
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride. - Isaac Watts
Among the English Puritans, it is so difficult to choose since nearly all of them can qualify as "favorites". How can one choose Thomas Brooks over Thomas Watson? or vice versa? Or choose Richard Sibbes over John Flavel or William Bridge or Thomas Manton? Even the uneducated John Bunyan can compete with the Scholarly John Owen, the latter whom thought so highly of Bunyan's preaching that he said he would gladly relinquish all of his own learning to be able to preach like Bunyan. Hence, Peter Lewis's book, The Genius Of Puritanism which discusses their various views on the Christian walk. <br><br>I do tend to be a bit partial to the Scottish "puritans" like Samuel Rutherford and Thomas Boston and Matthew Henry. Boston's book, Human Nature in its Four Fold State was a widely read classic in its day, and Rutherford's Letters were called the "nearest thing to Divine inspiration among men" by C. H. Spurgeon.<br><br>While I love Robert Murray McCheyne, I do not consider him to be a "puritan", but he most certainly wrote like one of them, as did many others Scottish Presbyterians in the 19th century (e.g. Hugh Martin, George Smeaton, Robert Candlish).<br><br>However, I should point out that many modern Christians who love the puritans are only getting half the story about them. This is partly the fault of publishers like The Banner of Truth and Soli Deo Gloria who tend to be very selective about their choice of reprints. The focus of their selections is on personal piety and spirituality. While these are very important themes to focus on, they do not express the total picture of what the puritans wrote (nor does it express the total picture of what the Bible teaches either).<br><br>A good example of this is seen in the BoT reprint of Rutherford's Letters, while ignoring his other classical writings on important Christian political questions such as his book, Lex Rex. The BoT deliberately overlooks all the puritan writings on political or social matters, though some of them can be found in the Complete Works of John Owen such as his Sermons on Parliament. But such writings are never chosen as "Puritan Paperbacks". Thus, most modern readers of Puritan works tend to think that they never wrote on such "worldly" topics as politics or law or culture. I have read somewhere that all the political writings of the puritans would equal almost 20 or 30 volumes of books or more. <br><br>Thus, the puritans were not just concerned with the internal affairs of the heart and sin and grace, they were also concerned about the social affairs of the nation as well. The "Political sins" of the king were just as important as the personal sins of the individual. The BoT have presented an unabalanced view of the Puritans in their narrow and selective reprints. <br><br>"The Christian in Complete Armour" by William Gurnall is one example of this imbalance, since it never addresses any cultural or political issues, despite being a very large sized book and allegedly being about a Christian in "complete armour". Not surprisingly, William Gurnall was a political compromiser who signed the infamous Act of Uniformity of 1662 while his puritan colleagues chose instead to be jailed or banished than compromise their own Christian political convictions in opposing tyranny. And Oliver Cromwell is rarely ever mentioned by BoT despite being a major figure in the Puritan era and a major defender of Puritan freedoms.<br><br>Colin
Tom wrote:<br><br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"] have to say John Owen because of his work called "The Death of Death...” Though I will admit that if it wasn't for JI Packer's introduction of this marvelous work, the language that he uses would go right over my head.<br>I am extremely grateful to Packer in that regard.</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>You should also be grateful to Martyn Lloyd-Jones for encouraging Packer to read John Owen. Before he did so, Packer was a Baxterian Amyraldan (Four Point Calvinist) until Owen changed his views.<br><br>And, Packer's Historical Introduction to Luther's Bondage of the Will is also well worth reading too.<br><br>Colin
Colin Puritan Paperbacks were designed to make puritan works available to everyone at affordable prices.<br>They are published in the hope that this small taste of each author will encourage the reader to pursue further writings.
As I said I love most of the Puritans, leaning toward one as the providences in my life direct.<br><br>However, I don't agree that most people who read the Puritans are ignorant of them, I for one would rather glean from their teaching, which by the way, William Gurnall's Complete Armour is a very large and wonderful book, and just possibly didn't want to include what you think needed to be included. As a pastor cannot include every point there is to be made on a subject, neither could these puritans, who were mainly preaching these messages, that later were put in print.<br><br>While these men were sinners saved by grace, I find very few, though some, men who have the same depth of the knowledge and those that do usually have the puritans to thank. Most of us will never write anything for people to even talk about.<br><br>I am also glad, that when the Holy Spirit chronicled the life of David he left out the sin of Bathsheba. So while we might know the shortcomings of the puritans, and learn from those just as we do our own, they are still men that God raises up on once in a century......men of whom this world was not worthy.
CT292<br>Thanks for sharing that, [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/bravo.gif" alt="bravo" title="bravo[/img] for Martyn Lloyd-Jones.<br><br>I just thought of someone else who has been an inspiration to me. Though he probably wouldn't be considered a reformer, George Muller and his obvious love of God needs to have honorable mention.<br>