The Subversive Puritan

Perhaps this is not the most colourful re-telling of what must have been a very colourful life. But it is a thoughtful biography, in which Mostyn Roberts considers what Roger Williams' life and belief have to say to present day Christians. He had to find answers to important questions which divided opinions among godly people - and still do. Should the church aim to gain civil power? Does it seek freedom of conscience for itself alone among the different faiths making up society? Should it be expected that Christian observances and values are enforced by the powers that be? Williams wrestled with these issues both before and after embarking for New England, where Puritans had sought a new home and a fresh start free from interference in the mother country. He found that, sadly, the persecuted soon became the persecutors. Thus he was eventually banished from Massachusetts for his views on the separation of church and state, which entailed tremendous hardships for him and his family as it was winter at the time. But he was a true pioneer, first in going out to find a place to settle, and then in helping to establish a new colony, Rhode Island, and ensuring that its charter was the first in the world to protect full liberty of conscience - for all.
Williams has been rewarded with a statue at the Reformation wall in Geneva, yet all too few know of him today. This book goes a long way to put that right, and throw light on a man of uncompromising integrity - yet so as to show him as Cromwell desired to have his own portrait painted - 'warts and all.'
The Subversive Puritan. Roger Williams and Freedom of Conscience by Mostyn Roberts, published by EP Books, £9.99.

Still pondering presents?

If you are, like me, still thinking about what gifts to get certain people in your life I have a suggestion...

This book looks lovely, feels lovely and reads lovely! With a daily reading from a Puritan for each day of the year you are sure to enjoy a pithy meditation packed with doctrinal truths each morning (or evening). All Scripture readings are AV.
You can read a sample here 
Daily Readings - The Puritans edited by Randall J Pederson, Published by Christian Focus Publications, priced £12.99
Lorna

Gleanings From The Past

This is the name of a 3 book series now republished in paperback by Scripture Truth Publications, and new to our bookshelves. The editor was Hamilton Smith, not a name widely known outside Brethren circles. His desire was to bring older classic writers 'back to life' by taking their work and producing a cut down form of them, more accessible to the average reader. Now, considering that he did this around the turn of the First World War, he by far anticipated later efforts like Banner of Truth's Puritan Paperbacks, and Grace Publications' Great Christian Classics series. But there is also one very different and unusual way in which he set about his task. He took material and arranged it by subject. Thus there might be sections entitled 'Afflictions,' 'Contentment,' 'Thanksgiving,' 'Warning,' 'Sin and Guilt,' 'Faith,' etc as well as more closely specific ones like 'Giving,' and 'Reading.' This all has the advantage of encouraging people to dip in and be benefited without being baffled or deterred by the typical Puritan writing structure. Of course it does have the downside of shredding and re-setting, which can put material out of context. I have to say, particularly in the case of Thomas Watson, it would have been much more informative to have cited the source of each dollop. It works more easily with Rutherford's sublime letters, although it will not be pleasing to the purist. But that's not the point! Vol 2 on Gurnall is actually the famousm 'Christian in Complete Armour,' albeit given this thematic treatment. I feel these books do have their place and usefulness. A good point is that the authors are quoted without being tampered with - just some obsolete words are explained, and also the Authorised Version is used.

Try them for £6 each, and let me know what you think of the Hamilton Smith treatment!

Jeremy

Temptation of Christ

This is not a new book, and certainly not a new author, but I looked at it in the course of preaching sermons on Christ's temptations in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).  One of the joys of having a Christian Bookshop is the resources it provides for personal use!  Christian Focus Publications have this in their Christian Heritage range, and thankfully have maintained it in print for 15 years or so now.  For £5.99 it is a well-selected, well-edited edition of this careful study of a deep subject.  I believe Maurice Roberts (Free Church of Scotland Continuing minister, ex-editor of Banner of Truth magazine) did a commendable job here.  He has taken Thomas Manton and made his work more suited for reading by someone who has never visited the Puritans before.  But he has not done this by dumbing it down.  He first carefully explains in the Introduction the typical Puritan style and structure of sermonizing.  Then within the text he makes frequent use of square brackets to explain words or obsolete phrases.  This may be a bit OTT for anyone who is used to reading Puritan writings, but the point is that it is targeting a certain (growing?) sector of younger evangelicals who are alienated from such as Manton.  Modern Bible versions have also not helped in this trend.  A generational dislocation from godly and profound authors from the past is a sad injury to the church of God.  Men like Thomas Manton still deserve a hearing - they were above all men of the Bible, and who suffered for it.  He was one of the 2000 men ejected from their livings in 1662, but who still were determined to preach and became an Independent.  In earlier times he had been a chaplain to Oliver Cromwell and preached before Parliament.  So he experienced the same as the Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:12).
This is not a long book by any means, but amply demonstrates the revitalising truth of Christ's full identification with his people in their temptations (Hebrews 2:18), and has many practical applications re struggling against Satan's attacks.
Jeremy

Helpful Truth in Past Places

There has been a resurgence of interest in the Puritan writings in recent years.  Banner of Truth were at the forefront of reprinting Puritan writings when they began back in the 1950's, but it seems that even in the last 5 years or so there has been an even greater flood of publications that are edited versions of the Puritans.  One such book that I have recently been reading is called Helpful Truth in Past Places.  It is subtitled 'the Puritan Practice of Biblical Counseling' and whatever your bias for or against Biblical Counselling (a controversial issue in some quarters!) you cannot deny that many of the Puritan writers have much practical advice that is solidly biblical and whose principles can certainly be applied to contemporary issues.  The aim of Mark Deckard the author of this book is to take the reader through some of these Puritan writings, to draw out some of the principles and to make the applications relevant. 
'Why is this happening to me?' is answered through John Flavel's The Mystery of Providence, the anxious and dissatisfied Christian is encouraged through The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs and those who have lost all joy are comforted with A Lifting Up for the Downcast by William Bridge.  Writings by Thomas Brooks, Jonathan Edwards, John Bunyan and John Owen are also examined.  I haven't finished the book yet, but so far I have found it useful for an overview of some of these older writings and thought provoking in its applications.
Lorna
Helpful Truth in Past Places by Mark Deckard, Christian Focus Publications, £11.99

February 3 for 2

The February offer is up and running - it's a good one, so you may need to run to catch it! All of the 'Great Classics Series' by Grace Publications are being sold on a '3 for the price of 2' offer. This series covers a good range of the writings of the Reformers and Puritans in abridged and simplified editions. The prices are good too - the cheapest being £2.50 and the most expensive only reaching as high as £5.95. Read our February Bulletin and you will see the full list of titles available in this series.

Lorna

John Flavel

Though he was one of the later Puritans, Flavel ranks high as one of the best known among many fine candidates. Of all Puritan writings his 'The Mystery of Providence' has been enduringly popular, although not as 'heavyweight' as some. This is perhaps because he touches upon christian experience with earnest sympathy, and yet with the particular aim of leading the reader to glorify God by meditating upon his providence. 'Divine Conduct' was the original title of this book when printed in 1677. How great he is in working all things, small and great, together for good to all his people! Banner of Truth have this book still in print, last in 2006 with a new cover to accompany the price rise to £5.75 (Puritan Paperbacks series). However, Flavel seems to have become 'typecast' on this one book. Next up offering from Banner is the full 6 vol set of his Works for £85.00 !

Other than this, Christian Focus Publications have done 'Keeping the Heart' in their Christian Heritage series, a practical treatise which they have subtitled 'A Puritan's view of how to maintain your love for God'. Costs £4.99. However this was followed up by Flavel by 'Touchstone of Sincerity' which is about heart searching, and detection of signs of grace or hypocrisy. We can supply this and the previous book from Gospel Mission for £4.50.

Gospel Mission also reproduced 'The Righteous Man's Refuge', written in troubled national times to help 'direct the gracious soul to its rest in God'. This costs £4.95.

For less than £5 each we also stock the two Baker reprints Gospel Mission took over. These are 'The Fountain of Life', all about the person and work of Christ in a heartwarming set of meditations. Then 'The Method of Grace' which does a thorough study in the same vein about the Holy Spirit and his applying of redemption's blessings. Flavel refers to 'gospel offers', but at least he is clear in outlining who he means them to be for - the self-condemned sinner. Also he maintains a high view of the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit's operations upon the souls of men, which is a good antidote to today's epidemic of Arminian teaching within supposed Calvinistic circles.

To come full circle, if you feel you need an easy to read version of 'The Mystery of Providence', then 'God Willing' is an option provided from Grace Publications. Costs just £2.95.

Jeremy

Apples of Gold

This series of booklets, published by Zoar Publications in the 1970's, are real gems. On many occasions we have had customers testify to the spiritual profit they have found in them. One local customer talked of finding one of these booklets in a little Christian Bookshop in the middle of nowhere in the US!

Indeed, when they were first published they were sent in good quantities all over the world. Jeremy remembers watching his Dad pack these booklets up in big boxes addressed to Kalamazoo (MI, USA). His father and Mr David Oldham formed Zoar Publications with a vision to publish puritan writings in small booklets making them accessible to many. Mr Oldham prepared and printed them, and his father distributed them. In total about 16 booklets were published, some of which are now out of print. They also published 2 bound volumes of which only Volume 1 is still available.

I recently read 'It is Well' by John Hill and found it very good. Hill writes clearly on the subject of submission to the will of God in a typically structured puritan style. He examines what submission is, what the foundations of submission are, the fruits of submission, faith and submission, and helps to submission. I would recommend this booklet, particularly to anyone who feels to be walking a difficult path. Although it is now out of print as an individual booklet, Volume 1 includes it and at only £6 it is a bargain at the price.

Volume 1 includes:

Mason's Sayings - John Mason

Everlasting Mercy - Thomas Adams (now out of print as an individual booklet)

It is Well - John Hill (ditto)

Honey Out of the Rock - Thomas Willcox

Divine Meditations - Richard Sibbes (ditto)

The Christian on Watch - Thomas Gataker
Heart Surgery - Robert Bolton

Christ's Pre-eminence - Tobias Crisp

To check which booklets are still available individually, go to Zoar Publications on our site.

Lorna