But here the prophet says: ‘Here is your God! See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him’ (Isa. 40:9-10).

The rest of this chapter is composed of prophetic insight into the incomparable greatness of this most sovereign Lord. The people to whom Isaiah is writing are a people who at the time envisaged would be in bondage; they would be in despair. They would have known the distress caused by being oppressed by their enemies. But God brings them this vision of himself as the cure for these burdens. As Professor John N. Oswalt puts it in his commentary on Isaiah: ‘The prophet seems to be saying that if humanity could ever glimpse the true picture of God’s greatness and glory, their problems would be on their way to being solved.’

I believe that is true of our generation. There is nothing that the church of Jesus Christ needs more in our day than this fresh revelation – an eye-opener – of the glory, majesty and wonder of God.  Isaiah displays the greatness of God in this passage by relating four elements:

1. God’s uniqueness within the creation (verse 12)

2. God’s independence from the creation (verses 13-14)

3. God’s supremacy above the creation (verses 15-20), and

4. God’s sovereignty over the creation (verses 21-24).

UNIQUENESS WITHIN THE CREATION

In verses 12-14 the prophet asks five unanswerable questions to establish the absolute uniqueness of God within, and the independence of God from, the created order. The first two deal with his uniqueness.

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? (verse 12).

These questions relate to the measuring of creation, and they display God as both infinitely transcendent above his creation and unique within it. They are challenges to man in his littleness – to stop viewing God as though he were a person like ourselves.

That is one of the tendencies that often develops as we think about God in his personal nature. You may remember how the psalmist records God’s complaint about this in Psalm 50:21. The people had lost their vision of God’s greatness, and God says, ‘You thought I was altogether like you.’ This is why Isaiah asks, ‘Who else holds the oceans in his hand to measure them?’ This is what God does! ‘Who else measures the heavens as a handbreadth or the soil of the earth in his basket, or holds the mountains in his scales to weigh them?’

Can you picture what Isaiah is saying of God? Can you think of God taking the mountains – Everest and the Eiger, for example – putting them in a balance and holding them to see which is heavier? Or again, can you think of the Lord God putting his hand on the heavens and measuring it with just a span? Isaiah asks, ‘Who else has done this?’

Isaiah is trying to teach us about God’s immensity. Is this not precisely what we have lost in so much of our thinking? It is one reason we need a new emphasis on the doctrine of God as Creator. This is how the men and women of the Bible enlarged their faith and fed it. They came into the presence of God, and then, like Jeremiah, they prayed: ‘Ah, Sovereign Lord, you made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you’ ( Jer. 32:17). Similarly, in Acts 4, in equally difficult circumstances the apostles prayed, ‘Sovereign Lord, you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them’ (verse 24).

What is it that persuaded them of the glory and greatness of God? It was the doctrine of creation.

Somebody once commented to me, ‘Historically evangelicals have been strong on the doctrine of redemption and weak on the doctrine of creation.’ I think that is true. But in Isaiah God is using this argument (from the nature of God’s work as Creator) to persuade his people to trust him (as their Redeemer). Notice how he says: ‘Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?’ (verse 21). Then he expounds to them how he created the heavens and the earth.

A. W. Pink is right when he says, ‘The god of this century no more resembles the Sovereign of Holy Writ than does the dim flickering of a candle the glory of the midday sun.’ We need to grasp that the God of Scripture is a God who holds the mountains in a balance and spans the universe with his hand. We get things in proper perspective when we see the uniqueness of God in creation.



To win these four books, simply fill out the contact form below. Good providence!

Introduction

Extracted from Calvin’s larger, Institutes, Banner of Truth has offered a gift edition of the last chapter entitled, ” On the Christian Life.”  While written in the 1500′s, Calvin’s thoughts very much apply to us today.

Summary

Calvin lays the foundation for Christian living according to Scripture in the first chapter.  From there it gets rough…if you are not a believer!  The second chapter looks at the importance of denying the self if one really wants to live the Christian life.

Chapter three instructs the reader to live under the cross.  This chapter alone is worth the price of the book.  Finally, we see in the last two chapters the glory that awaits us in the life to come juxtaposed with the blessings that are to be found in this present life.

Review

As I stated above, this book is very much a profitable book to read today.  There is nothing controversial about this book insofar as Calvin is known for controversial doctrines.  Rather, this book is simply an exhortation to the Christian to live a life worthy of your salvation and calling.

Recommendation

This “gift book” makes a perfect…ahem…gift for the new believer.  It also makes an excellent gift to the “seasoned” Christian.  The chapter on the glory of the life to come will be a pleasant and sweet balm to the soul of any believer.  Purchase copies to give to your family and friends.  If you are on staff at a church, I would highly recommend giving a copy away to those who call upon the name of the Lord for salvation.

Introduction

Do you struggle with loving the person next to you?  Do you ever think that so-and-so cannot possibly be saved by Christ?  Reading The Jerusalem Sinner Saved will change your heart for those around you who you think cannot possibly be saved.  You can read reviews of more of John Bunyan’s works here.

Summary

John Bunyan looks at the importance of Christ’s commission for the disciples found in Luke 24:47, here the Lord tells them that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached to all the nations beginning at Jerusalem.

In showing that those in Jerusalem were to first be exhorted with the gospel, Bunyan explains that this shows the greatest of mercies by Jesus Christ.  This is so because it was the Jerusalem sinner that crucified Christ.  It was the Jerusalem sinner that mocked Christ.  It was the Jerusalem sinner that ultimately rejected Christ while here on earth.

By preaching first to the Jerusalem sinner, Christ is showing that there is no one having ever sinned so much or so bad that they are beyond salvation.  The only person beyond salvation is the one who has lived a complete life as an unrepentant sinner.  That is, the one who has died in his sin is the only one incapable of being saved.

Review

I was constantly humbled to see the grace and mercy extended by Christ to the worst of sinners.  While most believers I know will say they are (rightly) the worst sinner they know, Bunyan shows us how Christ viewed the absolute worst of sinners in His day–those who executed Him.

Bunyan, in fine Puritanical exposition, takes three English words, “Beginning at Jerusalem,” from Luke 24:47 and expounds upon it in such detail that the reader closes the book time and again asking to have this same heart for the sinner next door.

Recommendation

If you struggle with sharing the gospel, The Jerusalem Sinner Saved is the book for you.  If you know someone who makes the claim that they have done too much to be saved, then you need to read this book.  You will be better equipped to show the great grace and mercy that Christ has bestowed upon us!  To read Bunyan is to be exhorted practical Christian walk.

The Life of John Milne of Perth

One of Scotland’s finest evangelical biographies, written by one of her foremost leaders

Horatius Bonar

“Let us put away our own ideas and plans, and let the Lord work when and how he will. Let us look away from difficulties, unlikelihoods, impossibilities, and rest simply on the Lord. This honours him; and he will honour us. How much has faith done! How much it still will do!”

John Milne

“In an age of false ideals and hero-worship, it will be found good … to make one who took, as his great model, both in service and suffering, the Son of God; who knew, above most, what intimacy with him could do, in moulding character, and in producing a true and telling life.”
Horatius Bonar, in the Preface

FROM CHAPTER THREE: 1840-1842, First Years in Perth

John Milne began his ministry in Perth with great earnestness; though his preaching at first was not so marked and full as in after years. He had been sent to do a work for God, and he began it with fear and trembling, as one conscious of insufficiency (2 Cor. 2:16). The work he had come to do soon became apparent.

BLESSING AND OPPOSITION

On the 10th of February 1840, he thus writes to Edmond:

I have been busy, very busy, almost unceasingly, night and day for the last six weeks; and the result of the labour is, I trust, one of the most hopeful and widest revivals that has as yet taken place in Scotland. The person chiefly instrumental in beginning and carrying on this is Mr. Burns, lately of Dundee, who is living with me; and we are very happy, working without intermission. We are in a great degree alone, having only got help occasionally from Mr. Cumming of Dunbarney, and Mr. Bonar of Collace. You can form no idea what a thirst there is on the part of the people to hear; and we have already much fruit in numerous cases of hopeful conversion. I have every day fresh reason to bless God that I was sent here, and to remember you with gratitude and affection for being helpful in sending me. I find cases where my preaching was blest from the very beginning. We have much opposition and it is getting more violent as the work goes on. Mr. Gray is the only town minister that stands by us, though he takes no active part in the services, as he is occupied with the non-intrusion question, of which he is the great champion. I find fresh opportunities of usefulness opening up every day; so you must rejoice with me.

Some time after he thus writes to the same: I see you all active on the patronage question. Let me know the general state of feeling. I have been co-operating as far as I was able on the right side. Let me hear from you soon, or, still better, let me see you. I used to envy your being so constantly employed; but I have enough of it now. But labor ipse voluptas. Are you growing in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ? That is the only desirable advancement.

I have given these two extracts together, though their dates are separated by some ten months, in order to show how the church questions of that day were interwoven with the highest spiritual work.

In one of Milne’s notebooks we find the following entry:

Most of the existing body and soul of New England churches originated in revivals; and hence a danger of fancying that little advance is to be expected or laboured for when there is no special work of God going on. Who can tell whether these occasional periodic showers or a continual down-dropping dew would be best? But let us seek directness of aim; expect conversions, even when not aware that the Spirit is at work, in the way of prayerfulness and inquiry. In revival times there is expectation of being heard; earnestness and determination of mind commensurate. At other times there is a general faith of God’s willingness to answer; but now (in revival times) there is a fervour kindled by a distinct grasp of its object as present and immediately attainable. The hearer now comes expecting that we shall call him to repent immediately and turn to God; conversion is in the mind both of preacher and hearer. Hence we find in America short seasons of energetic fruitful nature, and then long dead vacations. God’s love, interest in his church, faithfulness, never change; and he puts special honour upon those who are stedfast, and go on against discouragements and opposing currents. There are instances of revival going on through a whole ministry. Let revival effort be used even when revival does not exist.

WHAT ARE REVIVALS?

The above paragraph lets us know the state of Milne’s mind, in reference to what are called ‘Revivals’. It prepares us for understanding the part which he took in them, both in his own congregation and those of the brethren with whom he was associated. Like many of us, he did not trouble himself about the word ‘revival’. He did not feel concerned either to defend it or to take offence at it. It was the thing which lay underneath the word that he regarded. That thing which occurred in Jerusalem at Pentecost (Acts 2:41); in Samaria some short time afterwards (Acts 8:8); again at Antioch (Acts 11:21); again at Iconium (Acts 14:1); again at Thessalonica (Acts 17:4); again at Corinth (Acts 18:8); that thing, call it by what name we please, seemed to him to be the very end and object of the ministry. A minister of Christ is not an essayist, nor an orator, nor a lecturer, nor a philosopher, but ‘an ambassador for Christ’ (2 Cor. 5:20); a ‘fisher of men’ (Matt. 4:19). His work is not in the first place that of improving morals, or elevating character, or rectifying social evils, or redressing material wrongs, — but of SAVING. As the Apostle of the Gentiles said, ‘Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel’, so we have still to say, as servants of the same Master, ‘Christ sent me not to civilise, but to preach the gospel.’ It is that gospel which is ‘the power of God unto SALVATION’ (Rom. 1:16); a gospel not depending for its efficacy on the ‘enticing words of man’s wisdom’, but on the ‘demonstration of the Spirit and [on his] power’ (1 Cor. 2:4); for ‘after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by [its] wisdom knew not God, it pleased (it was ‘well-pleasing’) God by the foolishness of preaching (this preaching, i.e. of the cross) to SAVE them that believe’ (1 Cor. 1:21).

The spiritual movement in which Milne took so deep an interest, began, as the first of the above letters indicates, very soon after his settlement in Perth. In December 1839, Burns came for one night; but found such encouragement that he remained for several months, having meetings, chiefly along with Milne, but also with the assistance of some others.

CONTINUOUS FRUIT

The spiritual work went on during January and February with manifest results for good, both in the town and neighbourhood. The crowds were great, both on Sabbaths and week-days. Many were, during that time, ‘turned from darkness to light’. Milne’s sermon on the barren fig-tree, in Gray’s church, is still remembered for its solemnity and power. During the day crowds of inquirers flocked to Milne’s house for conversation with him and Burns. Every seat in the church was let; the aisle, the lobby, the vestry (a small flat-roofed room behind the pulpit) were filled at every meeting. After every seat was let a list of seventy was made up, who were waiting for the first vacancies. Many of these did not get seats till after the Disruption. At Milne’s first communion, in April 1840, there were one hundred and forty young communicants. For some years afterwards great life and warmth exhibited themselves in the congregation. The members were set aworking vigorously, in different ways; various agencies sprung up, connected with both old and young — Milne himself at the head of all of them, full of faith and fervour. A weekly prayer-meeting was begun, which has continued to this day. The Perth Young Men’s Tract Society was commenced. At first three of its members were sent out by Milne with their first distribution of tracts; now there are forty. St. Leonard’s became noted in the neighbourhood. It became a centre of blessing. To it was traced much good or evil, by those who either liked or disliked the proceedings there. ‘You’ll be from St. Leonard’s', was the answer given by more than one, to an individual who was dealing faithfully with his fellow-travellers. One family was signally blest. Several daughters were converted, along with the mother, who, though she had been long a professing Christian, used to say that never till then had she ‘lost her grip of the world’. One son continued unchanged. He soon after left Perth for another place, and Milne gave him a note of introduction to a minister there. The young man saw through the paper his own name, and read these words: ‘Others of the family have got the blessing, but he is left.’ The words smote him to the heart, and he returned to Perth, seeking the Lord, and has long been a child of God. That father was much opposed to the work and to Milne; but before his death he too was changed; and hearing of Milne, after his return from India, being in the place in which he lived, he sent for him and welcomed him with joy.

Introduction

Thomas Brooks (1608-1680), was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1640 while serving as a naval chaplain for seven years. became minister at the church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Queen Street, London (1648-1651). He was often called to preach before Parliament. In 1652, he became rector of St. Margaret’s, New Fish Street Hill, which was the first church that burned to the ground in the Great Fire of London (1666). You can purchase his various books (all reprinted by Banner of Truth) at a discounted price here.

Summary

This little 64 page book from the Pocket Puritan Series being published by Banner of Truth is taken from his larger work Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices. Here, we read of 12 remedies against one of Satan’s most evident devices to destroy the church–division. All over the Christian landscape we see division within the body. This camp argues for a more conservative understanding of man’s choice and God’s sovereignty, that camp thinks drums ought to be used in worship, this camp over here thinks the carpet should be blue and not red.

It is abundantly clear that the Christian church needs to come together and be united so that Satan will not be able to prevail against those individuals that he has. These 12 remedies (read it to find them out) are rooted in Scripture and most certainly apply to us today.

Review/Recommendation

This little booklet will only whet the appetite of the reader. Once the clear teaching and application of God’s word from a divine like Boston is understood, the reader will want to drink further from his well. United We Stand offers a brief look at the strategies of Satan and the means by which God has offered us to stand against him as a body with Christ as our head.

I would greatly recommend this resource to any pastor or church leader who 1) wants to prevent Satan from sneaking into the church through the means of division or 2) has experienced a recent division in a church and wants to better equip the saints to avoid another one. This 64 page book makes a great study for church leadership or Sunday School or even in the home.

Introduction

Isaac David Ellis Thomas was minister of Zion Baptist Church in Llanelli, Wales before conducting preaching-missions work in Europe, Canada and the United States.  Since finishing that work, he has moved to the United States where he has served as a minister at First Baptist Church in Maywood, California.  He also serves as a chancellor of a seminary in California while having established seminaries in the Far East.

Summary

A Puritan Golden Treasury is a compilation of some 1,500 quotes from the 17th century men known as the Puritans.  The purpose of this book is to introduce to the modern reader, the wide array of available literature from the pens of these great saints from yesteryear. The Puritans are generally characterized by:

1. A Calvinistic Theology (sovereignty of God)
2. Supreme authority of Scripture
3. The importance of preaching as a means of grace
4. a desire for church purity
5. strict morality (in a much needed way today)
6. advocacy of civil liberty

This book of choice quotes is arranged topically in alphabetical order.  Thomas starts with Adoption and ends with Worship.  He selects only quotes from the English Puritans; thus, men like Jonathan Edwards is not in this book though he is generally considered a Puritan.

Recommendation

If you are a pastor, a student, or a lover of sound theology, then you need this book.  Many pastors like to find choice quotes to sprinkle throughout their sermons.  This will be a lasting resource for that!  As a student, you will find that the Puritans probably discussed many of the topics that you will write about in your papers.  As a Christian in general, you will be introduced to some men, though dead, still speak to us today.

I confess I have had this book for some time and have not really cracked it until last week.  Once I did, I couldn’t put it down!  There is a quote for just about everything.  I was amazed at the breadth and depth of these men as I read page after page.  I highly recommend that you pick up a copy today and chase the rabbit down the hole as far as it will go.  You will not be disappointed by the universe you discover.

Introduction

Thomas Watson (c.1620-1686) was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In 1646 he was commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen’s Walbrook. In 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love’s plot to recall Charles II. He was released on 30 June 1652, and was formally reinstated vicar of St. Stephen’s Walbrook. Upon the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 he obtained a license for the great hall in Crosby House. After preaching there for several years, his health gave way, and he retired to Barnston in Essex, where he died suddenly while praying in secret. He was buried on 28 July 1686.

You can read more about Thomas Watson here.

Summary

All Things for Good is Thomas Watson’s treatise on Romans 8:28,

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Chapter one details how the best things work for the good of the godly. Watson looks at the attributes, promises, and mercies of God. He also discusses the intercession of Christ (a doctrine I fear is not discussed often enough today) and the prayers of the saints.

The second chapter next looks at how the worst things work for the good of the godly. Here, Watson shows how the evils of affliction, desertion, sin, and temptation actually work for the benefit of the saint. Again, something that is not thought much of today.

In what could be described as the second part of the book, we read of God’s love. Chapter four looks at the nature, ground, properties, and degrees of God’s love while the fifth chapter looks at the tests of God’s love. Chapter six concludes with the author’s exhortation to love God more than anything.

The final section, again my description, is a discussion on God’s effectual calling. In chapter seven Watson lays before the reader the sinner’s condition before being called and the means by which God calls the sinner unto repentance. The eight chapter consists of more exhortations to the saint who has been called by God while chapter nine is a short, three-page treatise on the meaning of God’s purpose–our assurance of salvation.

Review/Recommendation

To read a 127 page book on one verse in the Bible is like taking honey as medicine and its having the desired healing effects on the body. The book is a bit dated as evidenced by the talk of using leeches to suck out “the bad blood” in the body, but the eternal truths are still the same. Truth be told, every Christian would do well to read this book. I read this book at a time in my life when I really needed these truths expounded to my heart and soul.

Yes, he talks of the doctrines of Grace. Yes, that will make some upset. No, he is not argumentative. What Watson does do is point the reader to the Bible as our basis of understanding what is going on in our lives. The wonderful truth that all things work for the good of those who are called and love God is, in the words of Thomas Watson, “A sovereign elixir of unspeakable comfort.” I would highly recommend you purchase this book for yourself. Since it is only $4.80 at Westminster, purchase some for giveaway. You certainly know someone who could use this book.

Wolfe, Paul D. My God is True! Lessons Learned Along Cancer’s Dark Road. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2009. 150 pp. $15.00. Purchase at Westminster Books for $10.50.

Introduction

One might ask who Paul Wolfe is and why is he writing a book published by Banner of Truth. He certainly is not a name many are going to recognize right away, but I believe that will change with the publication of this book. Paul Wolfe, like so many others, is a cancer survivor. My God is True! is his journal of what he learned by the grace of God through his bout with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He currently serves as Associate Pastor of New Hope Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, VA.

Review

Written as a three act play, Wolfe describes the discovery, treatment, and ultimate eradication of the cancer cells in his body. Coinciding with each “act” is a part of the book consisting of three chapters. The first chapter of each part is Paul’s progress in life–what he was experiencing at a particular time in his journey. The second chapter of each part consists of his own questions and how he wrestled with God at various times with God teaching him major life and theological lessons. The third chapter to each section is more like an exhortation to the reader to “learn from my ordeals” (my words not his).

His first lesson learned was the sovereignty of God and the accountability of man. He says he begins with this lesson because it was the sweetest lesson to learn. To know that his God brought about the cancer for His glory and Paul’s growth was a source of hope. Yes, he is aware that this is a hotly debated topic, but he puts it quite succinctly, “When it comes to cancer, our consideration of sovereignty cannot wait. The truth of God’s good and purposeful rule cannot be consigned to an appendix” (28).

The last lesson he shares as he reflects on his eleven month journey “along cancer’s dark road” is that of being heavenly-minded. He readily admits that this is difficult to do all of the time, but he also shows how God uses everything in your life to conform you into His Son, Jesus Christ, but to also cause your gaze to go heavenward. I share only these two lessons of the many lessons he shares because these are two lessons that most of us as Christians need to either be learned for ourselves or reminded of again.

Recommendation

I wrote in the front cover of the book that Paul writes of the gravity and weight of God’s glory found in cancer mixed with the humor of man. What I mean by that statement is that Paul Wolfe strips away the academic theology of God’s sovereignty, man’s accountability, God’s goodness, man’s sinfulness, etc, and applies it to real life. When you are told you have cancer (by the grace of God, at this point in my life, I cannot relate to those words), you need to know that God is sovereign over your cancer and that it is working for your good even though in your finite understanding that is tainted by sin you cannot begin to comprehend how that is possible.

I think Alistair Begg’s blurb on the back of the book best sums up the recommendation. He writes in part, “My search is over for the one book to give to someone battling cancer.” I believe every pastor, elder, and deacon ought to read this book and be conversant with the lessons learned by Paul Wolfe which are rooted in Scripture, in order to be better prepared to minister to those who have been diagnosed with or are currently going through treatment for cancer.

Banner of Truth (BoT) has once again served up some thick Puritan theology in bite-sized morsels. I previously reviewed Heaven by Jonathan Edwards, Anger Management by Richard Baxter, Living Faith by Samuel Ward, and Impure Lust by John Flavel. Now, BoT has blessed us with Repent and Believe by Thomas Brooks and Binge Drinking by John Flavel. Also in the series is The Loveliness of Christ by Samuel Rutherford (reviewed here) and Truth for All Time by John Calvin (review forthcoming).

As I did with the previous review of the Pocket Puritans, I would like to quote Sinclair Ferguson as to why these little books are worth your attention.

To read the work of a Puritan doctor of the soul is to enter a rich world of spiritual theology to feed the mind, heart-searching analysis to probe the conscience, Christ-centered grace to transform the heart, and wise counsel to direct the life. This series of Pocket Puritans provides all this in miniature, but also in abundance.

Repent and Believe by Thomas Brooks

This little 94 page book is a great asset to the pastor. There are days in the ministry when you wonder why people do not repent and believe. It is hard for us believers sometimes to understand why people do not turn to Christ.

Taken from the larger work, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices, Brooks lays it all on the line for his readers. He offers six devices as to how Satan keeps the sinner from repentance and the various remedies to each device. Written in the 1600’s, Brooks’ remedies are still effective today. Every Christian will want to read this particular Pocket Puritan so that they may better understand why their family member or friend will not come to Christ.

You can read the entire book in a .pdf file here.

Binge Drinking by John Flavel

Adapted from A Caution to Seamen: A Dissuasive Against Several Horrid and Detestable Sins, one might think that this book is not needed as much today in Christendom. Perhaps the use of the word “binge” in the title may be off a bit, but after reading this short book, I believe it is more needed today than ever.

Flavel does not set out to argue a Christian cannot partake of alcohol as some would hope. Rather, he concedes, as is proper, that the Bible does not prohibit all use of alcohol, but instead prohibits drunkenness. He lists 10 reasons as to why one should not be drunkard or seek to become drunk while drinking. This little book, in my opinion, is one of the most cogent writings on what the Bible says about alcohol and why one should not become drunk with it. Also, since the book was also originally written in the 1600’s, it predates any political arguments found within Christianity today.

An added bonus in this particular Pocket Puritan is the short essay written by Charles H. Spurgeon entitled, He has a Hole in His Nose and His Money Runs Through it. It is short, but it is to the point and it furthers the arguments brought forth by Flavel.

Conclusion

I would once again highly recommend these books. For many, they say the Puritans are too difficult to read. That problem is solved with this series. The Pocket Puritans are definitely worth your time and money and make for an excellent introduction to the Puritans.