Which puritan to begin with?

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Christoffer

Christoffer

Puritan Board Sophomore
I am thinking about starting to read some of the puritans. I was looking for some advice on which of them to begin with.

Dense, complicated english is quite exhausting for me to read, so I wonder if there are any puritans that could be considered more of an "easy" read that could be recommended? If there aren't any, which do you consider the easiest?

I am looking for anything that deals with the joys and trials of the christian life.
 
Pilgrims progress is considered a puritan work no? :p

I have found Owen's Mortification of Sin to be useful.
 
If you're starting into reading the Puritans then the best place to start is Banner of Truth's 'Puritan Paperbacks' series. Its the most accessible way of getting a hold of these wonderful writers.

Don't start with John Owen, unless you get the updated version of 'Communion with God' that is edited by Justin Taylor and Kelly M. Kapic. Owen is certainly 'the Prince of the Puritans' but his language is dense and not often easy reading.

Author to start with would be John Bunyan (Pilgrim's Progess [as above], Holy War and Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners). Also Samuel Rutherford has a wonder turn of phrase and his 'Letters' are a good starting place. Thomas Watson, Richard Sibbes and Thomas Boston are also manageable.

Hope that helps.
 
By all means, start with the 3-volume set of The Works of David Clarkson. There is no easier way (OR MORE PRACTICAL!) way of easing into Puritan Literature than David Clarkson. After all, I am the BuddyOfDavidClarkson. :)

Christoffer said:
I am thinking about starting to read some of the puritans. I was looking for some advice on which of them to begin with.

Dense, complicated english is quite exhausting for me to read, so I wonder if there are any puritans that could be considered more of an "easy" read that could be recommended? If there aren't any, which do you consider the easiest?

I am looking for anything that deals with the joys and trials of the christian life.
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Modernised /abridged versions of the puritan writers' works are available. I would second "the mortification of sin" by Owen. Once you get into the flow of reading them, its not as complicated as it first seems.

I also thought Richard Sibbes' "The Bruised Reed" was a good starting point.

"The Christian in comlete armour" by Gurnall is a great read, but not for your first books... its pretty heavy going.
 
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toddpedlar said:
JOwen said:
TaylorOtwell said:
Thomas Watson. Very readable and very challenging. I started with "The Godly Mans Picture"...
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Could not agree more. Watson's GMP hands down.:up:
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I would then follow that with his 3-volume set, Body of Divinity, The Ten Commandments and The Lord's Prayer - it's a wonderful exposition of the Shorter Catechism, and was one of my first and most influential Puritan reads.
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Actually I might first (after GMP which is as has already been said outstandingly worthwhile) go to "Heaven Taken by Storm", and then follow with the 3 volumes of exposition of the WSC. After having read these you will have a VERY sound introduction to Puritan thought and devotional exposition.
 
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I have a book called The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard published by P&R Publishing in 1998 [comment on the front by J I Packer: "This book will surely be a milestone for many"!]

It claims to be a sort of re-working of two books by John Owen, Indwelling Sin and The Mortification of Sin, sticking close to his thought but "unshelled" and "updated" (I'm quoting from some of the book's own introductory material) for those that find Owen's own English too hard going.

I picked it up somewhere and I haven't yet read it, so I have no idea if it does what the label says! If it does, it might be of use?
 
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I'd add yet another vote for Thomas Watson. His volume, A Body of Divinity on the Shorter Catechism, is outstanding.
 
JennyG said:
I have a book called The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard published by P&R Publishing in 1998 [comment on the front by J I Packer: "This book will surely be a milestone for many"!]

It claims to be a sort of re-working of two books by John Owen, Indwelling Sin and The Mortification of Sin, sticking close to his thought but "unshelled" and "updated" (I'm quoting from some of the book's own introductory material) for those that find Owen's own English too hard going.

I picked it up somewhere and I haven't yet read it, so I have no idea if it does what the label says! If it does, it might be of use?
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That book is excellent - (get it here) I wouldn't call it a "reworking" but a study based on those two treatises by Owen. Fantastic for a small study group who are willing to be open (to a sensible degree of course) about struggles with temptation and sin.
 
Don't overlook Christopher Love. His works are every bit as readable and doctrinally sound as those of Thomas Watson and Jeremiah Burroughs. His work "Grace" is as fine a Puritan book as any of the 300+ I've edited.
 
Don Kistler said:
Don't overlook Christopher Love. His works are every bit as readable and doctrinally sound as those of Thomas Watson and Jeremiah Burroughs. His work "Grace" is as fine a Puritan book as any of the 300+ I've edited.
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No question about this, Dr. K. If only we could find more of Love in print again (hint, hint!) ;)
 
toddpedlar said:
JennyG said:
I have a book called The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard published by P&R Publishing in 1998 ...............

I picked it up somewhere and I haven't yet read it, so I have no idea if it does what the label says! If it does, it might be of use?
Click to expand...

That book is excellent - (get it here) I wouldn't call it a "reworking" but a study based on those two treatises by Owen. Fantastic for a small study group who are willing to be open (to a sensible degree of course) about struggles with temptation and sin.
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Thank you very much, Todd.
It shoots straight to the top of the "to read" list!
 
For works by Christopher Love, are any of these currently or recently in print?

Christians Directory. London: Printed by T.R. & E.M. for John Rothwell ..., 1654.
[8], 291, [5], [4], 142, [4] p.; 19 cm.

The Combate Between The Flesh And Spirit : As Also The Wofull With-Drawing Of The Spirit Of God, With The Causes Thereof, And Walking In, And After The Spirit, Together With The Blessednesse Thereof, Being The Summe And Substance Of XXVII. London: Printed by T.R. & E.M. for John Rothwell ..., 1654. [8], 291, [5], [4], 142, [4] p.; 19 cm.

The Zealous Christian Taking Heaven By Holy Violence : In Severall Sermons Tending To Direct Men How To Hear With Zeal, To Pray With Importunity. London: Printed by R. and W. Leybourn for John Rothwell ..., 1653. [10], 67, [1], 110, [2], 64 p.; 18 cm.

[I have access to them in the CTS library--hint, hint]
 
I was introduced to the Puritan's many many years ago. I unfortunately had never read Jeremiah Burroughs. I have had his writings on my bookshelf for a long time. This past year I picked up Gospel Worship. To me it is one of the most finest places to start a Christian's walk.
 
Spurgeon is considered the last Puritan at least by some, or so I've heard. All of Grace is very good. It's basically just about the gospel, but it really warms your heart.

Uhhhhhh but Jonathan Edwards is my man!!! Yeah I know he is usually pretty dense, but get a book of sermons like Charity and Its Fruits and it's not as bad as The Freedom of the Will and all those others.
 
I vote John Flavel

John Flavel on The Mystery of Providence. Of all the puritans I have read he sticks with me. His exposition really made me sit up and pay attention. Some time later we had a fireworks party (mostly friends from church) I took the opportunity to reflect on the providence that preserved the country from roman catholicism. Opinion was divided - some thought I was serious others that I was joking - I wasn't.

He was easy to read and understand - not always the case wth puritans!
 
Megan Mozart said:
Spurgeon is considered the last Puritan at least by some, or so I've heard. All of Grace is very good. It's basically just about the gospel, but it really warms your heart.

Uhhhhhh but Jonathan Edwards is my man!!! Yeah I know he is usually pretty dense, but get a book of sermons like Charity and Its Fruits and it's not as bad as The Freedom of the Will and all those others.
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Oh yeah, by dense I obviously don't mean stupid... I think I would get laughed off the PB. :lol: I mean his writing is dense.
 
If you can get your hands on Christopher Love's letters from his wife, in A Spectacle Unto God, do read it.

Be prepared to weep though!

Though your wife will be a widow and your children orphans, but who is the husband to the widow and the father to the orphans if it not be the Lord our God?

And when you dress on the morning of your execution, remember you are dressing for your wedding day!
 
John Bunyan''s ---- The fear of God. or any of the dozens of short practical books he wrote, which are collected in the 3 vol collected works published by Banner of Truth.
 
Todd, I no longer have the rights to all the books by Christopher Love I edited. So I can't reprint them. But if you can find them, by all means get them!
 
There are so many to recommend - the Puritan Paperbacks series is a good place to start. Bridge's _A Lifting Up for the Downcast_, Brooks' _Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices_.

We're studying some of these as part of our annual Reformation series. The classes and slides are available online, click on our church's link below.
 
Megan Mozart said:
Spurgeon is considered the last Puritan at least by some, or so I've heard. All of Grace is very good. It's basically just about the gospel, but it really warms your heart.
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an even later Puritan: Martyn Lloyd Jones! and like Spurgeon he has the advantage of being a very straightforward read, which is what you were looking for.
Off the top of my head I'm not sure which one to recommend for a start, but I'm inclined to say, any!
 
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