Best Puritan Works

[Reformed1689]

Hey everyone, just wondering what Puritans you guys recommend reading?

Obviously I have John Owen on my list. Who else does everyone suggest and why?

 

[Reformed]

Samuel Rutherford, John Flavel, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, Nehemiah Coxe, William Kiffin...these are the ones that come to mind.

 

[Reformed1689]

Samuel Rutherford, John Flavel, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, Nehemiah Coxe, William Kiffin...these are the ones that come to mind.

Just picked up the whole works of Flavel with a Faithlife Connect coupon.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Hi David,
All the names mentioned by @Reformed are great. I would add Benjamin Keach (1640-1704), one of the leading Particular Baptists of the 17th Century. His Marrow of True Justification (SGCB) is an excellent outline of that doctrine and The Travels of True Godliness (also SGCB) is an allegory somewhat along the lines of Bunyan's Holy War. True Godliness visits the houses of a variety of characters: Riches, Poverty, Youth, Old-Age, Legalist, Formalist, Apostate, and finally Thoughtful. Each of these is attended by a number of servants, relatives or friends. It's a very entertaining read with some excellent lessons to be learned.

Also by Keach is his massive Preaching from the Types and Metaphors of the Bible. It's described as Keach's masterpiece, but I bought it some time ago, and I'm ashamed to say that I have scarcely glanced at it. I think the size of the thing puts me off!

Anything by Thomas Watson is good, especially A Body of Divinity (Banner of Truth). Also, I recently read Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices (also banner of Truth). a very encouraging book.

If you're worried about the Coronavirus, reading God's Terrible Voice in the City by Thomas Vincent (Soli Deo Gloria Publications) will scare you to death! It's an account of the Great Plague of London of 1665 and of the Great Fire of the following year. Vincent was an eye witness of both events, and warns sinners of greater catastrophies awaiting the impenitent.

 

[JonC]

The Wonders of the Invisible World by Cotton Mathers. Very interesting and wonderfully Puritan.

 

[JonC]

Joel Beeke (in terms of Puritan theology) is my favorite alive one. John Owen is my favorite dead one. Cotton Mathers is still the most interesting.

 

[rlvaughn]

David, how would you define or designate the Puritans?

Joel Beeke ...

Here is Joel Beeke's top ten:
My Top Ten Puritan Authors
1. Anthony Burgess

 

[Reformed1689]

David, how would you define or designate the Puritans?
Here is Joel Beeke's top ten:
My Top Ten Puritan Authors
1. Anthony Burgess

I was thinking 17th and 18th century.

 

[rlvaughn]

Thanks. Just getting a frame of reference. I usually think of the Puritans as those trying to purify the Church of England, as opposed to those who separated from it.

 

[Reformed1689]

Thanks. Just getting a frame of reference. I usually think of the Puritans as those trying to purify the Church of England, as opposed to those who separated from it.

Yeah I would put people like Edwards in the mix as well.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Also, I recently read Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices (also banner of Truth). a very encouraging book.

I meant to say that this book is by Thomas Brooks.
Banner of Truth publish a large number of Puritan books at very reasonable prices.
If you're feeling rich you can buy 53 Puritan books for around $300. Puritan Paperbacks Series

 

[JonC]

Yeah I would put people like Edwards in the mix as well.

Then I changed my mind. Edward's is my top choice.

 

[Marooncat79]

Was it Ben Keach Jr that was converted under his own preaching?

 

[rlvaughn]

One person I have not seen named is William Huntington. I have not read him very extensively, but have read some things by him with profit. Perhaps one of his better known works is The Kingdom of Heaven Taken by Prayer.

 

[Yeshua1]

Hey everyone, just wondering what Puritans you guys recommend reading?

Obviously I have John Owen on my list. Who else does everyone suggest and why?

I am currently wading thru a Puritan Theology, over 1000 pages long, good, but one has to really focus while reading!

 

[Martin Marprelate]

I am currently wading thru a Puritan Theology, over 1000 pages long, good, but one has to really focus while reading!

Is that the one by Joel Beeke and Mark Jones? Great book! I use it as a reference book. If you can read it from start to finish you have my admiration! I'm sure it will be helpful to you, but watch out for the paedo-baptism which lurks within.

 

[Yeshua1]

Is that the one by Joel Beeke and Mark Jones? Great book! I use it as a reference book. If you can read it from start to finish you have my admiration! I'm sure it will be helpful to you, but watch out for the paedo-baptism which lurks within.

yes it is, and have not yet ran into the Infant Baptism theology, but since have read both Hodge and Berkhof, pretty much up on how that theology came about!
They are now doing mutli volume ST, wonder how they will handle Baptism? As his co writer is I think Reformed Baptist!

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Another great book is The Excellency of the Gospel above the law by Richard Sibbes, pubilshed by Banner of Truth under the title Glorious Freedom.' This is a fine book explaining what Christian freedom is, and what it isn't.

I read a lot of Puritan books 10-15 years ago, but not so much latterly. This thread has inspired me to re-read some of these wonderful works.

 

[Yeshua1]

Another great book is The Excellency of the Gospel above the law by Richard Sibbes, pubilshed by Banner of Truth under the title Glorious Freedom.' This is a fine book explaining what Christian freedom is, and what it isn't.

I read a lot of Puritan books 10-15 years ago, but not so much latterly. This thread has inspired me to re-read some of these wonderful works.

When does the time line cut off, would someone like a John gill count?

 

[Jerome]

When does the time line cut off, would someone like a John gill count?

Petty France (Dr. Samuel Renihan) on Twitter:

"By the 1690's, Benjamin Keach considered the Puritans to be 'ancient'. And some call Edwards (& others) a Puritan? Error: does not compute."