Which book would you read from this list?
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arapahoepark
Puritan Board Doctor
Yes, go with Sibbes.
Logan
Puritan Board Graduate
Pilgrim's Progress is an absolute classic parable of the Christian life. Packer's book is a classic. Hodge's Way of Life is fairly introductory but is excellent in its brevity and scope. Sibbes is excellent. Owen's Mortification is excellent and very convicting. Scougal is decent. Lewis has some excellent thoughts but must be taken with a grain of salt. Gurnall's work is a classic as well. Hard to choose just one.
Steve Curtis
Puritan Board Senior
I would lean toward Flavel or Gurnall.
CasualWestminsterEnjoyer
Puritan Board Senior
How busy are you? "The vanity of thoughts" by Goodwin is pretty short.
TheMantis
Puritan Board Freshman
I recently finished The Bruised Reed, and The Doctrine of Repentance both were great reads. Personally enjoyed Thomas Watson more. Out of this list I’d probably read Richard Baxter next or Charles Hodge.
retroGRAD3
Puritan Board Senior
Bunyan. That list overall though is really good.
chicagophil
Puritan Board Freshman
Depends a lot on your maturity and your situation of course. But without any more information....
Anyone growing in the knowledge of God should (have) read _Mortification_. I have several prayer cards I built from the material in this and pray through them regularly.
_Communion with God_ is probably the most demanding book on the list which is worth keeping in mind. But if that's not a problem, it's the next book from this list I'd read after _Mortification_.
Anyone growing in the knowledge of God should (have) read _Mortification_. I have several prayer cards I built from the material in this and pray through them regularly.
_Communion with God_ is probably the most demanding book on the list which is worth keeping in mind. But if that's not a problem, it's the next book from this list I'd read after _Mortification_.
Mr. Great-Heart
Puritan Board Freshman
If I had not read any books on the list, I would choose Pilgrim's Progress.
Edward117
Puritan Board Freshman
I imagine I am not alone in this, but I am happy to offer my observations. The books by Bunyan, Packer and Sibbes I have read, and will read again. It is hard to specify which of the others I intend to read next, but either work by Owen (The Mortification of Sin and Communion with God) are sure to bless and edify.
Ben_Leevey
Puritan Board Freshman
I know you've heard a lot of different opinion. But personally, I would really recommend Alleine's Sure Guide to Heaven. Also, Gurnall's Christian in complete armor would be a good pick. I also have a soft spot for Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.
Hearty agreement to that. I did myself damage as a brand new Christian by ingesting too much Lewis. It turned me to leaning on my own logic, more than the scriptures. I generally find if I listen to John Piper he has picked the meat of the bones for me, so that I don't choke.
SolaScriptura
Puritanboard Brimstone
For personal devotion... any but Spener. Pia Desideria was a foundational text for pietism and the pietist tradition. Which is why it is worthy of study for academic/historical awareness... but for personal sanctification I think everything on that list is better.
TheInquirer
Puritan Board Junior
Loved Sibbes, I would probably choose Gurnall not having finished it but liking quite a bit what I did read.
D
Deleted member 6112
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Scougal. It gets to the heart of what's in many of the other books.
Jerusalem Blade
Puritan Board Poet
I would go with Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.
@Mr. Great-Heart : A quote you might like:
In John Bunyan's classic, Pilgrim's Progress (part two), Mr. Great-heart is questioning newly-met Mr. Valiant-for-truth concerning his adventures, and asks why he did not cry out for help when overwhelmed. Valiant answers, “So I did to my King, who I knew could hear, and afford invisible help, and that was sufficient for me.” Then said Great-heart to Mr. Valiant-for-truth, “Thou hast worthily behaved thyself; let me see thy Sword;” so he shewed it him.
When he had taken it in his hand, and looked thereon a while, he said, “Ha! It is a right Jerusalem blade.” And Valiant, “It is so. Let a man have one of these blades, with a hand to wield it, and skill to use it, and he may venture upon an Angel with it. He need not fear its holding, if he can but tell how to lay on. Its edges will never blunt. It will cut flesh, and bones, and soul, and spirit and all.”
@Mr. Great-Heart : A quote you might like:
In John Bunyan's classic, Pilgrim's Progress (part two), Mr. Great-heart is questioning newly-met Mr. Valiant-for-truth concerning his adventures, and asks why he did not cry out for help when overwhelmed. Valiant answers, “So I did to my King, who I knew could hear, and afford invisible help, and that was sufficient for me.” Then said Great-heart to Mr. Valiant-for-truth, “Thou hast worthily behaved thyself; let me see thy Sword;” so he shewed it him.
When he had taken it in his hand, and looked thereon a while, he said, “Ha! It is a right Jerusalem blade.” And Valiant, “It is so. Let a man have one of these blades, with a hand to wield it, and skill to use it, and he may venture upon an Angel with it. He need not fear its holding, if he can but tell how to lay on. Its edges will never blunt. It will cut flesh, and bones, and soul, and spirit and all.”
You will find, I think, in general that the Puritans are almost invariably helpful . . . I shall never cease to be grateful to one of them called Richard Sibbes who was balm to my soul at a period in my life when I was overworked and badly overtired, and therefore subject in an unusual manner to the onslaughts of the devil. In that state and condition . . . what you need is some gentle, tender treatment for your soul. I found at that time that Richard Sibbes, who was known in London in the early seventeenth century as ‘the heavenly Doctor Sibbes’, was an unfailing remedy. His books The Bruised Reed and The Soul’s Conflict quietened, soothed, comforted, encouraged and healed me.
[Martyn Lloyd-Jones]
[Martyn Lloyd-Jones]
Faithhopelove24
Puritan Board Freshman
So many good books in this list. I’d love to hear what is the required reading for this course?
bookish_Basset
Puritan Board Freshman
Though I favor Sibbes as well, I'll also put in a plug for Rutherford. No one writes about the beauty of Christ quite like he does.
Pilgrim's Progress is incredibly rich and worth reading. It's rightly beloved, but it doesn't really fit modern tastes and can be a struggle for some, so reading it within the structure of a class requirement could be helpful.
Pilgrim's Progress is incredibly rich and worth reading. It's rightly beloved, but it doesn't really fit modern tastes and can be a struggle for some, so reading it within the structure of a class requirement could be helpful.
No Other Name
Puritan Board Senior
Goodwin's Vanity of Thoughts intrigues me. Fascinating title and I would love to know his overall thesis and drive. (Ecclesiastes?)
Ben_Leevey
Puritan Board Freshman
Amen to that statement about Rutherford! When I read Him he takes me into the very chamber of the Groom, and I see more than ever that He is: "the most handsome of the sons of men" Psalms 45:2
Here is a quote from him that has lately encouraged me:
| Augustine | Confessions |
| Kempis, Thomas | The Imitation of Christ |
| Calvin | A little Book on the Christian Life |
| Burroughs, Jeremiah | The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment |
| Brooks, Thomas | Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices |
| Edwards, Jonathan | Heaven, A World of Love |
| Vos, Geerhardus | Heavenly-Mindedness |
| Bonhoeffer, Dietrich | Cost of Discipleship |
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