The Bible played an absolutely vital role in the lives, theology, and practice of the Protestant Reformers. In addition, the proliferation and diffusion of vernacular Bibles--grounded in the original languages, enabled by advancements in printing, and lauded by the theological principles of sola Scriptura and the priesthood of all believers--contributed to an ever-widening circle of Bible readers and listeners among the people they served. This collection of essays from the 2016 Wheaton Theology Conference--the 25th anniversary of the conference--brings together the reflections of church histo... View More...
Who were the Puritans? What did they seek to achieve? What were their successes and failures? Are they of any importance to Christians today? We firmly believe that all Christians need to discover the important story of how these men and women sought to follow Jesus Christ. Their convictions resulted in a brave and joyful faith, and the writing they have left us on the Christian life continues to be a rich resource for our own discipleship. Meeting the Puritans by listening to them has enriched both of us more than we can express. And so, in The Glory of Grace, we want to introduce you to peo... View More...
Who were the Puritans? What did they seek to achieve? What were their successes and failures? Are they of any importance to Christians today? We firmly believe that all Christians need to discover the important story of how these men and women sought to follow Jesus Christ. Their convictions resulted in a brave and joyful faith, and the writing they have left us on the Christian life continues to be a rich resource for our own discipleship. Meeting the Puritans by listening to them has enriched both of us more than we can express. And so, in The Glory of Grace, we want to introduce you to peo... View More...
In these pages, Richard Baxter addresses Christians around Europe in a time of religious upheaval. Here, he strives to show how Christians of all backgrounds can be unified--a unique stance during years of religious warfare between Catholics and Protestants. In two treatises on Ephesians 4:3 and Romans 14:1, he lays out a vision for how Christian love could heal the ruptures separating the different forms of Christianity in his time. Lexham Classics are beautifully typeset new editions of classic works. Each book has been carefully transcribed from the original texts, ensuring an accurate repr... View More...
Richard Baxter was vicar of Kidderminster from 1647 to 1661. In an introduction to this reprint, Dr. J.I. Packer describes him as 'the most outstanding pastor, evangelist and writer on practical and devotional themes that Puritanism produced'. His ministry transformed the people of Kidderminster from 'an ignorant, rude and revelling people' to a godly, worshipping community. These pages, first prepared for a Worcestershire association of ministers in 1656, deal with the means by which such changes are ever to be accomplished. In his fervent plea for the discharge of the spiritual obligations o... View More...
An Updated and Abridged Edition of Richard Baxter's Classic Text Originally written in 1656 and endorsed by generations of leading pastors as an essential book on the work of ministry, this abridged version of The Reformed Pastor presents the best of Richard Baxter's timeless advice in simple, modern language that's more accessible to a new generation of church leaders. In inspiring communications to his fellow ministers, Baxter challenged them to pursue teaching and personal pastoral ministry with an exceptional degree of faithfulness. His words were grounded in the apostle Paul's encouragem... View More...
Once a highly influential preacher in the Elizabethan Church and the international Reformed world, William Perkins (1558-1602) has become a rather surprisingly neglected figure in the history of the church. In this book, Joel Beeke, Sinclair Ferguson, Greg Salazar, Geoff Thomas, and Stephen Yuille seek to recover the importance of Perkins by situating his life, priorities, ministry challenges, and influence within their original seventeenth-century context. They help readers "to peer behind the veil" to see the real Perkins as he contended for the faith and attempted to shepherd God's people... View More...
"This work was first published in 1692, and makes for a great read still today both in addressing false teaching and in promoting the positive Reformation view of justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ and His imputed righteousness. This is one of the best works ever written on the subject. Here the central theme of the Christian gospel and the sure ground of the believer's hope is expounded with profound scriptural clarity. How the churches of today would benefit if pastors would preach this doctrine in contemporary dress as thoroughly, polemically, and winsomely as Keach did in his own... View More...
First published in 1737 this book holds a special place among the tremendous amount of Puritan literature that was produced during that time. Thomas Boston was renowned for his clearly understood English and the manner in which he maintained that clarity while conveying messages of great depth. The Crook in the Lot is introduced to us by J. I. Packer. In an extensive prologue he shows how Boston's advice remains deeply relevant today. Boston was not preaching merely from his theological understanding, he was speaking from direct personal experience. Boston had real "thorns" to deal with himsel... View More...
Thomas Boston (1676-1732) was a remarkable Scottish theologian and pastor. His Works run to 12 volumes and contain some lengthy theological treatises. But Boston also wrote brief, very accessible, and pastoral books, and chief among these is the quaintly titled, The Crook in the Lot: The Sovereignty and Wisdom of God, in the Afflictions of Men Displayed. This little book is a pastoral masterpiece, in which Boston reflects on the words of Ecclesiastes 7:13, 'Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight which he hath made crooked?'
By 'lot', Boston means our 'lot in life',... View More...
Brooks treated the seductive influence and terrible power of Satan in a way 'greatly more full and suggestive than in the literature of the present day'. View More...