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If the Church is not neglected today, it is often idolized; if Church authority is not disregarded, it is frequently turned absolute. The Biblical and historically presbyterian position is that Church authority is conditional, and can only confirm the truth and what is good; it binds only...

One of the main aims of Church discipline, which should also be the aim of all Christians, is to seek the peace and purity of Christ’s Church. It is not always readily clear however, what that principle calls for in particular situations; and the phrase is often readily misused by those who...

The topic of scandal may seem obscure, until one finds oneself in the midst of dealing with one; scandals, in fact, are all around us. Where does one go for help? Until now there has not been an abundance of reformed resources on the topic. These resources will be especially helpful for...

This is a personal topic for myself, Travis Fentiman, MDiv., LPN. Until I became a nurse, I never had any first-hand experience with demonic possession. But since then, after talking to and observing many persons who hear ‘voices’ in their head, I have become persuaded that most...

One of the most popular generas of reformed scholasticism was Polemical Theology, which is Scriptural theology that is organized around refuting false doctrines and religions. The brilliance of the light is often most clearly seen in contrast to the darkness of error. Little is it known that...

Around Thanksgiving we had over 890 online writings of the Westminster divines collected on our site. Realizing there were some that we had missed, we kept digging, searching and scurrying. We are glad to announce that, by the blessing of God, we have been able to cull together for you 1,118...

How can politics be reformed according to the Word of God? Christians more than ever need to gain a more thorough understanding of what Christianity says about politics and law. To say that political theology has been neglected in modern times is an understatement. If it is of help, I have...

The following piece may be the least known, but most important, short document of the Westminster Assembly. A book was circulated in London arguing that God is the Author even of Sin, this being purportedly for the benefit of saints taking comfort in this in their trials. The Westminster...

A few months ago Phase II of Early English Books Online, which contains over 35,000 volumes, became freely open to the public online. Hence, I have been able to add several hundred volumes to: All of the Writings of the Westminster Divines in English Online which now contains over 890 works...

There is a short tract in Latin on God’s decree of predestination by Robert Rollock, the early and formative Scottish theologian, which was left untranslated in his two volume Select Works. It has now been translated and made publicly available for the first time. Rollock here treats of the...

Sometimes persons claim to have an extraordinary calling to the ministry, not being under any Church government. Is this legitimate? Interestingly, this difficult, but Biblical topic of an extraordinary calling was well hammered out in the Reformation and puritan eras. Samuel Rutherford...

Not all sins are the same, nor affect the believer, and God’s grace in them, the same. Exploring the reformed material and distinctions on this new page of resources will help you to become much more acquainted with the nuances of our Lord’s will in these things. Specifically, the Romanists...

Friends, What does one do when a very good defender of Romanist doctrines poses arguments that seem legitimate, and one is not able to answer them? I have built a library of works (concentrated on the 1600’s) that systematically refute Romanism doctrine by doctrine in order that you can...

Friends, If you have not heard already, Phase 2 of Early English Books Online has just been made publicly available on the net (ahead of schedule); the collection has over 35,000 volumes, including many reformed and puritan works. You may search Phases 1 & 2 here...

The Reformation recognized that numerous commands in Scripture were for the good-order of the Church in their given context, and were not absolutely binding, without qualification, on all times and societies. This Scriptural category of 'Church ordinances' was a common-place in Reformation...

The puritans suffered through many spreading diseases and plagues and have given us: (1) Careful and even handed, cautionary advice in such situations, (2) noble and heroic examples to follow, and (3) a wealth of moving and poignant spiritual treasure on this topic. Here is a webpage that has...

Why should a Christian read a significant portion of the apocryphal literature? Because falsehood and deception breeds on ignorance. The Truth does not fear the unknown, or anything at all; rather, it exposes darkness for what it is. Do not found your faith on ignorance. Have you found God’s...

After the joys of Thanksgiving may we be "continuing instant in prayer". (Rom. 12:12) I hope these many resources that have been collected from the best literature on prayer in reformed history stir us up to be continually conversing with our beloved God; and I hope the collection may be of...

The Jesuit Robert Bellarmine (d. 1621) was the most important apologist in all of Church history for the Romanist Church. Responses to his works numbered into the several hundreds. As Bellarmine's volumes of disputations covered most doctrines of the Christian faith in an orderly way, so full...

Greetings brethren and fellow PBer's, There is a new translation of never-before-translated sections of Samuel Rutherford's Examen Arminianismi available now on Reformed Books Online. The work is a systematic examination and refutation of the teachings of the Remonstrant Arminians and it tends...

While maintaining justification by faith alone, the Reformed have historically answered this question: Yes. Many historic reformed resources are linked on the below webpage on this issue, including many in Latin from Reformed Orthodoxy with numerous quotes from those works translated. The...

Two well known Christians have recently left Christianity, in part citing as a reason contradictions in the Bible. If Christianity is a farce, or is true, it is better to find out now rather than later. One of the most notable and difficult seeming discrepancies in the New Testament is that Mk...

The 1500’s Spanish reformer, Juan Perez, wrote a lengthy tract seeking to confirm and comfort protestants in the heart-breaking circumstances of living under the fear and suffering of the Spanish Inquisition. This work has been newly translated into English by Charles F. Johnson for the first...

Some of the early puritans refused to wear wedding rings as Romanism in their day had caused wedding rings to bear a commonly superstitious meaning. To wear them was to affirm that meaning, and was hence scandalous. Some persons today teach that it is wrong to wear wedding rings. However, as...

I am humbled and thankful to God to be able to present to you a webpage of most of the major whole New Testament Commentaries (or the majority thereof, 75+) in Latin throughout Church history which have been preserved and are on the net. The titles have been translated into English. These...

What day was Christ crucified on? The answer greatly affects how one understands the events and flow of Christ’s whole Last Week, which events form a significant share of the Gospels. The issue will be of very practical import to preachers who preach through Christ's Last Week. The options...

Here is every major whole Bible commentary in Latin through Church history (which has survived, is commonly referenced in the secondary literature and is on the net): 38 total, including those of the puritans. The titles are translated into English. If you have not begun learning Latin yet...

What is theology? Can we meaningfully speak of God? What method ought one to go about in learning or setting forth all of theology? How do faith and reason relate? These are the sorts of questions that Prolegomena (before-speaking) asks and answers. On every front modern theology (and much of...

The more we consider the Lord's things, the more we are pressed to consider the underpinnings of them, and of all theology. Such underpinnings often go under the term 'Prolegomena'. While there is often much written on prolegomena today, there have been great omissions from what was included...

According to Scripture, may Christians eat or drink blood and strangled animals? Gen. 9 prohibited it, as well as the apostolic council of Jerusalem in Acts 15. Yet the nearly universal answer of the Reformed Church during the Reformation and Puritan eras was 'Yes'. Find out the plethora of...