John Arrowsmith 'Plans for Holy War'

[Stephen L Smith]

I was thinking of purchasing this book for my own spiritual edification. I recently saw this comment by Rich.

I've been listening to a recent translation into English of John Arrowsmith's Plans for Holy War
https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/plans-for-holy-war-arrowsmith.html He has to take on Roman Catholics, Enthusiasts, Socinians, and others. He defends Protestant and Presbyterian/Reformed convictions even as he demonstrates the folly of each school. This means that, for Roman Catholics, he has to use the matured doctrines on the nature of Scripture itself to bolster confidence in it as well as deal with the absurd ideas and superstitions that the Roman catholic Church surrounds itself with to merely assert its own authority to settle matters.

For those who have read it, what did you think of it. How does it compare to Gurnall's work?

 

[Stephen L Smith]

Any takers?

 

[alexanderjames]

I imagine because it's new to the market no one has read it yet?

The ToC and the description of an "attempt to blend polemical and pastoral theology" make it look particularly interesting.

I'll get back to you when I finish Gurnall, then John Downame and William Gouge!

 

[Stephen L Smith]

I imagine because it's new to the market no one has read it yet?

I figured that.

I'll get back to you when I finish Gurnall, then John Downame and William Gouge!

Would that be September 2034?

 

[alexanderjames]

I don't suppose you have listened to any of the promotional interviews with Chad Van Dixhoorn and David Noe?
Reformed Forum did one, in which Van Dixhoorn suggest it might be the most interesting Puritan work he has ever read. They discuss the content more in the second half of the interview.

 

[Regi Addictissimus]

I highly recommend it. Though I may be biased as the publisher, plus the translator is a dear friend and my pastor. lol.

To be transparent, I have just recently started to read it, so I can only relay minimal details from experience. Arrowsmith's style is unlike anything I have read form this era. I do know that David is very selective on translation work he takes it. He must feel like it is a special treatise that brings immense value to the modern church.

 

[Alexander Suarez]

Any takers?

I am currently on p. 233, Book 2, Chapter 2. I personally enjoy the work, but I don't think it is comparable to Gurnall, Gouge, or similar.

 

[Stephen L Smith]

I don't suppose you have listened to any of the promotional interviews with Chad Van Dixhoorn and David Noe?
Reformed Forum did one, in which Van Dixhoorn suggest it might be the most interesting Puritan work he has ever read. They discuss the content more in the second half of the interview.

Yes I have. I really appreciated this interview.

Arrowsmith's Plans for Holy War

In this episode, we speak with Dr. David Noe, the translator, and Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn, the editor, behind the newly released English edition of John Arrowsmith’s remarkable work, Plans for Holy War: How the Spiritual Soldier Fights, Conquers, and Triumphs. Originally published in 1657 as Tactica S

reformedforum.org

 

[Stephen L Smith]

I have just recently started to read it, so I can only relay minimal details from experience

When you have finished this work I would be Interested in your thoughts, especially how Arrowsmith compares to other Puritans on spiritual warfare.

 

[Stephen L Smith]

I am currently on p. 233, Book 2, Chapter 2. I personally enjoy the work, but I don't think it is comparable to Gurnall, Gouge, or similar.

Can you expand? Are you saying you prefer the approach taken by Gurnall.

 

[Alexander Suarez]

Can you expand? Are you saying you prefer the approach taken by Gurnall.

Arrowsmith's Plans for Holy War is written to English Academics (as far as I understand from his own words). As a result, some of the concerns he will express concern for will be unique and historically particular (especially his "Three Orations against Weigelianism"). So far, he has some good observations and illustrations here and there but nothing that is in the same style or field of devotionally rich material as Gurnall and Gouge.

 

[Stephen L Smith]

I have finally decided to purchase this book. I was wondering if anyone else has read it in the past year or so. If so I would be interested in your thoughts.

 

[Proverbs4:23]

Im on chapter 3 of book 1. Arrowsmith has alot of good quotes from the Early Church Fathers. So far I have found it to be a great book, with deep insights to the motion of the heart and temptations.

 

[Stephen L Smith]

So far I have found it to be a great book, with deep insights to the motion of the heart and temptations.

Very encouraging. I read a review somewhere that Arrowsmith gives very helpful advice on how to pray effectively as we face the greatest challenges in spiritual warfare. Have you found this to be so?

 

[greenbaggins]

There is nothing quite like Arrowsmith's book. I would say Gurnall, while extremely valuable, is doing something different. Arrowsmith is talking much more about the intellectual and mental state of putting on the armor and using it, though I wouldn't want to give the impression that Arrowsmith is impractical. Far from it! Gurnall focuses much more on the moral and spiritual aspects of the armor. I think they complement each other rather well.

 

[Seeking_Thy_Kingdom]

For the Logos software users among us, this is currently available for preorder at $19.99, but it still needs more interest before Logos will pick it up.

 

[Stephen L Smith]

Arrowsmith is talking much more about the intellectual and mental state of putting on the armor and using it, though I wouldn't want to give the impression that Arrowsmith is impractical.

Gurnall focuses much more on the moral and spiritual aspects of the armor.

The reason I became interested in Arrowsmith is because I have battled with long periods of depression and anxiety and realise there is a strong spiritual warfare component to this. If Arrowsmith focuses on the mental state of the Armour, perhaps this is the book I should focus on.

What advice would you give here. I also have Gurnall.

 

[greenbaggins]

Stephen, the best book BY FAR on depression is Ed Welch's book. But I think Arrowsmith would also be helpful.