One of my ongoing reading projects involves reading the best of the Puritans. While I have not reviewed each of these books, I have read them and, in most cases, read them in community as part of a project I call “Reading Classics Together.” Here are some recommendations if you are just getting started with the Puritans.
Begin With…
Here are a few titles that are a little bit on the simpler side:
- Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks – Brooks shows how Satan opposes Christians and non-Christians.
- The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs – Contentment is rare but precious; Burroughs describes how the Christian can achieve it.
- The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes – Here is hope for the suffering.
Advance To…
Once you have become accustomed to Puritan writing you may want to try some more difficult works:
- Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen – Owen shows you how to do battle with sin.
- The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards – This is a brilliant work that calls you to love the Lord with your affections.
Resources
- A Puritan Theology by Joel Beeke and Mark Jones – This is a massive but very readable work that provides a systematic theology through Puritan writing. The final eight chapters challenge us with how we should be more like the Puritans.
- Meet the Puritans by Joel Beeke and Randall Pederson – This book introduces you to the most important Puritan authors and offers brief descriptions of their works.
- Puritan Portraits by J.I. Packer – Packer provides short biographies of several Puritan authors.
