Must have it!

It is a great site. What type of books are you looking for? Devotional? Theological? Commentaries? That may help the list be shortened.

 

Are you looking for easy reading (Watson) or hard reading (Owen & Goodwin)

 

Also, another "must have" that is also very cheap is, The Life of God in the Soul of Man by Henry Scougal. It's very short, but packed full of God glorifying truth that will capture your heart for Christ more deeply.

 

While I'm not a fan of abridged/re-worded books, BoT has some good ones of Owen (Mortification of Sin, Holy Spirit, and some others).

 

I read Keeping the Heart by Flavel and it was encouraging.

Now, I'm reading Manton's book, Temptation by Christ, and it has been excellent so far. The book discusses how Satan tempted Christ three times. The book talks about how Christ used Scripture to overcome temptation. The devil used Scripture as well, but it was for the purpose of twisting it.

The Existence and Attributes of God by Charnock is a massive tome. I have read parts of it.

 

Susita,I agree with Curt.* Get Stephen Charnock's "The Existence and Attributes of God". It usually sells very cheap with CBD- for like 10-15 bucks!!* Any of his other works are good as well.* But that one you can find easily.

Jim

 

On holy living:

Personal Declension and Revival of Religion in the Soul -- Octavius Winslow (1841)--though perhaps later than--or at the very end of what one might generally think of as "the puritan era" this 19th Century Nonconformist minister's work is a wonderful treatment of backsliding and restoration to faith.

A Remedy for Wandering Thoughts in Worship -- Richard Steel (1673).

The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul -- Philip Doddridge (1745).

The Crook in the Lot --Thomas Boston (1676-1732).

The Force of Truth -- Thomas Scott (1779).

Modern books about the Puritans (if you'd be interested in such a thing):

The Puritans -- D.M. Lloyd-Jones (Banner of Truth, 1987)

Puritan Reformed Spirituality -- Joel R. Beeke (Reformed Heritage Books, 2004)

 

We should read Witsius because it was written in Holland? The last phrase in this sentence seems garbled to me, Lane.

 

As long as it's the Baker Books printing, not the Banner of Truth re-write.

 

He wasn't a Puritan, of course, but anything by Spurgeon is worth reading. His sermons (more than 3,500 of them) make excellent edifying devotional reading.

 

I've read some historians who call Spurgeon "the last of the great Puritans", as he did come so late in the game.

 

Well Richard, that's more than reason enough to read it, but it just so happens it's got great theological content, too!

 

What's the difference?

 

Susita and all the PB:

Maybe we should start a PuritanBoard lending library or book exchange.

Rather than buying 200 USD in books, perhaps some PBers could mail the books to the recipient who could then read then and mail them back. Not sure how postal rates are going these days, but perhaps 8 books mailed two ways would still be 1/10th of the price of buying them.

 

I believe that Lane is saying that a'Brakel should be on every Christian's reading list as it (ie., "Father Brakel's" The Christian's Reasonable Service) was in Holland in the 18th century.

Bartel Elshout, The Pastoral and Practical Theology of Wilhelmus a Brakel:

Lane can certainly clarify if I misunderstood him, but I wholeheartedly concur with the plugs for Witsius and a'Brakel.

So much has already been said that it would be superfluous to add more. So happy reading!

 

Hey, not related to your quest, but nice cookbook on your self. I'm a proffesional chef and it's the cookbook I use most. Call it the Puritan's Guide to Good Food Which Will Lead to Greater Grace Expressed at The Family Table. (I think that home cooking is a lost art.)

P.S. I love Spurgeon too! Add him anytime.

 

Maybe I have trust issues, but I struggle just loaning some of my cheaper books to people I know and see everyday. Much less loaning an expensive book to someone across the country (or around the world in your case Pergy).

No offense anyone, but I don't see how that could work.

 

Another excellent work on holy living is:

Thoughts on Religious Experience by Archibald Alexander (first published:1844) Reprinted by Banner of Truth, 1967, 1978.

 

The Baker edition is simply a reprint of Pink's book.

The Banner re-write is just that: Iaian H. Murray didn't like Pink's presentation, so he took Pink's book, took out some stuff, re-wrote other sections, and added some new stuff of his own. Then it was published as if it were Pink's book. Highly unethical.

If Murray disagreed with Pink's book, he could have (a) written a long review article expressing his areas of disagreement; or (b) written his own book on the sovereignty of God as an answer book. But it was unethical of him to take Pink's book and re-write it to suit himself. Disapproving of the way Pink wrote, Murray, in effect, censored him.

I always urge people to get the Baker reprint. That is Arthur Pink's book.

 

I own both, the BoT and the Baker edition. I didn't know that Murray rewote any parts. I thought that in his edition there was no appendix, only one chapter for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and no chapters on human will.

 

Dear Susan

There are so many Puritans to read and they wrote so much. So it is difficult to narrow down, but permit me to add my 2 cents worth.

Start by collecting all of Thomas Watson's works - these are real gems!
Then add the works of Thomas Brooks - like Watson he packs a great deal with Pithy sayings etc. Read for instance his "Precious Remedies" for a flavour of the rest of his writings!
For a truly fantastic devotional Scripture commentary (not verse by verse or in any sense exegetical) but a truly great meditational commentary- read Joseph Hall's "Contemplations" - This is searching and heart warming!
Add volumes 6 and 7 of Owen's works - on "Temptation and Sin" and "Sin and Grace"
And Finally Add Bunyan's complete works.

Here in short compass, I believe you have the very cream of puritan writings aimed at a closer walk with the Lord.

Wishing you every blessing.

If you want to taste these works before deciding to buy them, visit my website at:

Book Academy

PS. Hall's commentary is under the Commentaries section

 

I highly recommend Beeke & Pederson's "Meet the Puritans" with a Guide to Modern Reprints. This book came out in 2006 and is almost 900 pages of introductory sketches on scores and scores of the great men of old.

This was one of the best book purchases I've ever made!