Puritan Sermon sets

[Notthemama1984]

I am wanting to start slowly reading through puritan sermons. Who do you recommend as a starter? I have heard Flavel, Manton, and others.

Just curious who you would recommend.

Thanks

 

[clawrence9008]

Flavel would most definitely get my vote. I’m reading his Method of Grace in the Gospel Redemption (in vol. 2 of his works) right now and it’s unbelievable. His The Fountain of Life Opened (vol. 1 of his works) is on another level too.

 

[Polanus1561]

Flavel.

 

[davejonescue]

You will find that a lot (I dont know if I would say the majority, maybe) of the Puritans works, especially the larger ones, are actually a collection of sermons. So you can take anything from Burgess' Spiritual Refining, Durhams Christ Crucified, Watsons Body of Divinity, etc. and they are all compiled Sermons, or based on Sermons. Even the voluminous Caryl's Job is a collection of Sermons/Lectures he gave to his church on the subject over the course of decades. What I mean is, it seems almost all of the Puritans will have some sort of collection of Sermons on some topic. So, finding out which Puritan you would like to read, as opposed to wondering which Puritan has sermon sets, may be a better route.

 

[BrycenBowers]

I began reading The Works of John Flavel in December 2024. I am currently on Volume 5 and plan to finish the last volume by December 2025. Flavel is a powerful preacher, and his sermons are truly superb. He was among the greatest preachers of his time and consistently embraced the Puritan spirit in all his preaching. I find his fiery yet experimental and comforting style to be well balanced. He also seemed to have been very sensible and rational in all his labors.


The Fountain of Life Opened is a marvelous beginning, followed beautifully by The Method of Grace, as mentioned above. One set of sermons that I feel does not receive enough recognition is England’s Duty Under the Present Gospel Liberty. This work (found in Volume 4) is a wonderful series of sermons on Revelation 3:20. I found much warmth and profit in these blessed sermons, which truly capture his evangelistic heart for sinners.


Overall, Flavel is a good starting point. From what I have learned and experienced through his works, he is truly a treasure to be admired. May the Lord bless your endeavors, my friend.

 

[alexanderjames]

What do you have already?
I have been benefiting from Edwards recently.

 

[a.k.pritchard]

I'm collecting the Crossway series on the sermons of John Owen. Very edifying. Great editors.

 

[Ye_Olde_Heidelberger]

Flavel, Bunyan, or Edwards are great places to start. I would also highly recommend picking up the new edition of Meet the Puritans when it releases in October: https://heritagebooks.org/products/...tpTrk5shK0DARDGe5EbdIkQztisixQ8VZTLJeNU9HXJom. This is an excellent guide to Puritan literature in circulation, including sets of sermons.
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Also, be sure to check out the Morning Exercises at Cripplegate: https://digitalpuritan.net/cripplegate/. These are some of the best Puritan sermons on cases of conscience.

 

[davejonescue]

Just a little side note, they make 12 inch and 13 inch tablets now days. Which make reading PDF's a whole lot more comfortable. A lot of these Puritans works were reprinted in the 1800's; i.e. Flavel, Brooks, Manton, Bunyan, Boston, Owens, etc. There are tons of sites where you can download the entire sets for free as they are now in the Public Domain. This will save you bookoo $$ of purchasing entire sets of these guys. I see often on a Reformed books selling site on Facebook, people are always getting rid of these huge sets of works, either because they have sat on the shelf not really being read for years, or they have read through them and no longer have use for them. I know some people prefer print, but there is always that option.

 

[Notthemama1984]

What do you have already?
I have been benefiting from Edwards recently.

I only have a small collection of Edwards sermons titled all together lovely, and a collection of sermons by John Elias.

So not much. Lol.

 

[alexanderjames]

I only have a small collection of Edwards sermons titled all together lovely, and a collection of sermons by John Elias.

So not much. Lol.

'Altogether Lovely' is the brilliant collection I am coming to the end of. I understand it was compiled by @Don Kistler, who has done several more Edwards collections under Northampton Press (and previously under Soli Deo Gloria).