The Puritans ........

[Irishcat922]

I think the Difference with the Puritans and modern protestant Preachers and writers is that the Puritans were carefully and thoroughly Biblical in all there teaching and writing.

 

[SamInService]

As a point of curiosity, from a historian, do any of Perry Miller's or Edmund Morgan's books on the Puritans show up on reputable bookshelves these days?

 

[cygnusx1]

As a point of curiosity, from a historian, do any of Perry Miller's or Edmund Morgan's books on the Puritans show up on reputable bookshelves these days?

Yes!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/023105419X/002-1351802-9924065?v=glance

I have heared of Perry Miller but not Edmund Morgan ....

 

[SamInService]

Yes!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/023105419X/002-1351802-9924065?v=glance

I have heared of Perry Miller but not Edmund Morgan ....

I'm delighted to hear it! Perry Miller was, and remains, a great favorite of mine; both volumes of The New England Mind occupy an important place on my intellectual history shelf. Even though I didn't finally come to rest in the Reformed camp, it was these books, and the combination of the ideas contained in them and the seriousness with which they are treated, that first got me to think seriously about the Christian faith.

As for Edmund Morgan, I think that he is one of the finest historians that America has produced. As a relatively young scholar (under Perry Miller's tutelage, if I'm not mistaken) he wrote a couple of small books on American Puritanism before moving on to other aspects of early American history. Here are the Amazon links:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_4/102-1432362-1690514?v=glance&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...t_1/102-1432362-1690514?v=glance&s=books&st=*

I have to confess, it has been several years since I've read either of these two small books, and I make no claims as to how they hold up in terms of accurately depicting theological issues. I'd be curious to hear of any comments on these, should anyone have run across them.

Take care,
Sam

 

[cygnusx1]

I have just read a most fascinating and moving article .......... here's a taster ...

Predestination must be preached for at least four reasons:

· Predestination is part of God’s counsel revealed in His Word, none of which may be omitted in preaching.

· Predestination must be preached “to teach and to consider the great love of the Father which was bestowed upon us. Further it is necessary to hear the call of the gospel daily preached to us by the Lord.”[cxxii][122] As preaching cannot exist without the church, nor the church without predestination, so predestination cannot be realized without the church and preaching. The connection between predestination and preaching is deep and direct.

· Preaching predestination is useful for the humbling of our pride and for faith in God’s mercy. Luther said that predestination must be preached “that we may know ourselves and that we may long for the grace which is alone possible if we are convinced that we are unable to help ourselves, and that our salvation depends wholly on God. . .through which faith we can comprehend how that same God can be merciful and just, who carries the appearance of so much wrath and iniquity.”[cxxiii][123] Perkins agreed.

· Preaching is the instrument through which God accomplishes the effectual calling, justification, sanctification, and glorification of His elect. Through preaching, God comforts the elect, shows them His grace, acquaints them with His eternal purposes of love, and assures them that they shall never be lost. God uses preaching to move the will of all those He has determined to grace with salvation. Because the preacher does not know who those elect are, he must preach as though all could be saved, knowing that the many will not be saved. He may not be indifferent in this, for he knows he is performing God’s will by bringing in the elect through the Spirit-blessed proclamation of the Word.

Preaching sound theology is totally consistent with the serious intent to save souls, says Perkins, for the purpose of preaching is to deliver souls from hell and to make sinful men into new creatures like Christ. Perkins calls preaching the way to “lay hold of Christ,” to “repair the image of God,” and to “form Christ in the hearts of all believers.”[cxxiv][124] The elect are not just called by preaching, then neglected; rather, preaching serves as a continual “converter” in repairing the image of God in a believer.

http://www.apuritansmind.com/WilliamPerkins/BeekeJoelPerkinsPredestinationPreaching.htm

 

[cygnusx1]

The wonderful thing about The Puritan age is that there was such a diversity and wealth of Preachers ..........


Just consider a few names ......

John Owen
Thomas Goodwin
Thomas Manton

Joseph Caryl
Christopher Ness

John Flavel
William Perkins

William Gouge
George Swinnock

William Ames
Thomas Watson

etc ........


but best of all that 'old Tinker' John Bunyan .

John Owen

(known as 'the John Calvin of Puritanism'!) was said to have helped gain Bunyans release from jail , and to declare "if I could preach like that tinker , I would give up all my learning this day" ......

For those who haven't got Bunyans works , go here .......

http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Stories/Bunyan.html

 

[cygnusx1]

The funeral

(Thomas Brooks, "The Transcendent Excellency of
a Believer's Portion above All Earthly Portions")

A Christian knows that death shall be the funeral of all . . .
his sins,
his sorrows,
his afflictions,
his temptations,
his vexations,
his oppressions,
his persecutions.

He knows that death shall be the resurrection of all . . .
his hopes,
his joys,
his delights,
his comforts,
his contentments.

He knows that death shall bring him to a more clear,
full, perfect, and constant enjoyment of God! This
makes him sweetly and triumphantly to sing it out,
"O death! where is your sting? O grave! where is
your victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:35-37

 

[cygnusx1]

Not the doll nor the rattle

(Thomas Brooks, "The Transcendent Excellency of
a Believer's Portion above All Earthly Portions")

"The one who loves money is never satisfied with
money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied
with income. This too is futile." Ecclesiastes 5:10

Worldly portions can never satisfy the souls of men.

Absalom's beauty could not satisfy him.

Haman's honor could not satisfy him.

Ahab's kingdom could not satisfy him.

Balaam's gold could not satisfy him.

Ahithophel's wisdom could not satisfy him.

The pharisees' learning could not satisfy them.

Dives's riches could not satisfy him.

All the world cannot fill the soul; nor can all the
creatures in the world fill up the soul with complete
satisfaction. Nothing can be the satisfaction of the
soul--but He who made it.

All earthly portions aredissatisfying portions. They
do but vex and fret, gall and grieve, tear and torment
--the souls of men. The world is a circle, and the heart
of man is a triangle--and no triangle can fill a circle.
Some good or other will be always lacking to that man
who has only outward good to live upon.

The soul can never be at rest, until it comes to rest and
center in God. God Himself is the soul's only home. No
good but the chief Good, can suffice an immortal soul.

It is the breast--and not the doll nor the rattle--which
will satisfy the hungry babe. And it is God, and not this
or that creature--which will satisfy the soul of man.

 

[AndOne]

Great thread Cyg -

I've been diving head first into the Puritans lately - we are so blessed that those giants of the faith produced the works they did.

The more I read of their works - the more my particular brand of Calvinism is becoming the Puritan persuassion of it.

Speaking of the Puritans I have a question about Jon Bunyan. I saw him listed on a reformed baptist website as being padeo-baptist. Is that true? Just curious if someone can confirm that..

Dave

 

[HiredGoon]

Wow, this is an old thread. Thanks for bringing it back up Cyg.

Speaking of the Puritans I have a question about Jon Bunyan. I saw him listed on a reformed baptist website as being padeo-baptist. Is that true? Just curious if someone can confirm that..

Dave

I've never heard of Bunyan referred to as a paedobaptist. As far as I know he was always credo. I have read that his church allowed the practice of both forms of baptism. But I don't know for a fact that its true.

 

[bradfordl]

From Bunyan's "Differences on Water Baptism":

Ans. The Lord, in the Old Testament,
expressly commanded no uncircumcised person
should eat the passover (Exo 12:48; Eze 44:9),
that no stranger, uncircumcised in heart, or
uncircumcised in flesh, should enter into his
sanctuary.20 And had the Lord commanded,
that no unbaptized person should enter into his
churches, it had been clear. And no doubt,
Christ was as faithful as a son in all his house,
as Moses was as a servant; and although there
had been little reason, if the Lord had
commanded it so to be, yet in God’s worship
we must not make the likeness of any thing in
our reason, but the will of God, the ground of
duty; for upon such a foundation some would
build the baptizing of infants, because it would
be like unto circumcision, and so break the
second commandment, in making the likeness
of things of their own contrivance, of force with
institutions in the worship of God

I'm sure there's more, but here he sounds credo, but I love the guy anyway​

​

 

[Atha]

believe in God, what is a name to hold you close, if not the same for those closer??

 

[cygnusx1]

Great thread Cyg -

I've been diving head first into the Puritans lately - we are so blessed that those giants of the faith produced the works they did.

The more I read of their works - the more my particular brand of Calvinism is becoming the Puritan persuassion of it.

Speaking of the Puritans I have a question about Jon Bunyan. I saw him listed on a reformed baptist website as being padeo-baptist. Is that true? Just curious if someone can confirm that..

Dave

Hi bro , I think Bunyan like Pink was a credo Baptist (like myself) but he may have been OK with both forms of baptism.

Most think Bunyan "a walk in the park" , few could conceive this giant wrote a book on reprobation , some even have suggested he couldn't be the author , which reminds me of the attitude of the Victorian press accusing Spurgeon of being inconsistant.

I was so impressed with pilgrims Progress I bought a few copies to give away , I have only done that with one other book , Pink's Sovereignty of God.

 

[cygnusx1]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]John Bunyan was born in Bedforsdhire, England in 1628. Like Andrew Fuller, Bunyan came from the working class and understood poverty early in life. His early life included a good deal of degradation as well as a stint in the army. Even after he had married, Bunyan was what we would call today a wayward Christian. He later realized he was no Christian at all. The story is oft told of how Bunyan heard a sermon one Sunday morning against the evils of Sunday sports. That afternoon, while playing "cats", Bunyan heard a voice in his heart which said, "Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to Heaven, or have thy sins and go to hell?" Those words would not leave him over the next few months. In one of God’s divine encounters, John Bunyan began to turn from religion in form to Christ in fact. One day Bunyan tried to join in on a conversation about religion with several poor women he heard talking as he walked down the street. He thought himself to be quite knowledgeable about such things so he attempted to reason along with these godly women. Instead, Bunyan had no idea what they were speaking of. He wrote: [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"Their talk ... was about a new birth, the work of God on their hearts, also how they were convinced of their miserable state by nature. They talked how God had visited their souls with His love in the Lord Jesus, and with what words and promises they had been refreshed, comforted, and supported against the temptations of the devil." 1 [/FONT]
​

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Later those same women introduced Bunyan to their pastor, John Gifford. While not Baptist, Gifford and the church he pastored were definitely congregational and definitely not "high church." The church was comprised of both Congregational and Baptist believers. It was under Gifford’s preaching and teaching that Bunyan at last came to Christ. Bunyan's, Grace Abounding is his own spiritual biography. In it he tells how the verse, "He hath made peace by the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:20), finally broke through to his heart and he was truly saved. [/FONT]

​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Several years (1656) after coming to Christ, Bunyan began to preach at the same church which Gifford had pastored. He was above all a preacher who would proclaim God's Word anywhere and everywhere:[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"He himself ... went out to preach the Word in the open air on village greens, in barns, in private houses, and sometimes even in parish churches. Bedfordshire and neighboring shires are full of traditions of his preaching, and several Congregational and Baptist churches claimed to have been founded through his preaching." 2[/FONT]
​

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It was not long before Bunyan’s willingness and drive to preach the gospel everywhere got him into trouble. By 1660, Anglican royalists had stepped up their attacks on non-conformist preachers (Baptists, Congregationalists, and Puritans in general). It became illegal to preach in non-sanctioned places. So on Nov 12, 1660, John Bunyan was arrested for preaching in a field near a farmhouse. Upon his arrest, Bunyan was informed that if he would apologize to the magistrates and refrain from preaching, he would be released. Bunyan replied that such a promise was not possible and thus began a twelve year imprisonment. His refusal to cease preaching reminds one of Peter and John's reply to the Jewish leaders when they were instructed to refrain from preaching: [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Acts 4:18-20 - "Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'" [/FONT]
​

​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]During those 12 years of imprisonment, Bunyan wrote Grace Abounding, Confessions of Faith, and A Defense of the Doctrine of Justification by Faith. Ernest Bacon speculates that it was in the last part of his imprisonment that Bunyan began to formulate his greatest work, Pilgrim's Progress.3 Finally, King Charles II released most religious prisoners including John Bunyan. Bunyan emerged a leader among non-conformist and the pastor of the church at Bedford. He wouldn't have long to spend with his wife and seven children, however. On Feb 1675, Charles II changed his mind and Bunyan along with others was arrested again. This time more legally minded friends accomplished the release of Bunyan after a short time. On leaving prison this second time, Bunyan released for publication part one of his monumental The Pilgrims Progress in 1678. [/FONT]

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]What may seem like a question for church historians and no one else is whether Bunyan was really a Baptist at all. The answer is important to modern Christians as you will see. There can be no doubt that Bunyan had little use for denominational titles. He once said: [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"As for those titles of Anabaptists, Independents, Presbyterians, or the like, I conclude that they come neither from Jerusalem nor from Antioch, but rather from hell and Babylon, for they naturally tend to division."4 [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In fact, it would probably be safer to call Bunyan a baptist rather than a Baptist. He was baptized as a believing adult and often taught that baptism should be administered only to those who had heard and embraced the gospel. At the same time, Bunyan did not believe that either baptism or the Lord's Supper should divide true Christians. "Instead of accenting the differences … he emphasized the fundamentals of the faith which all true believers shared. He defended the gospel as the basis of Christian unity … When he involved himself in controversy, he did so because he saw a challenge to the gospel itself."5 Bunyan was a baptist in the sense that he held to what became the foundational tenets of Baptists. He was committed to God's Word first and foremost; he held to a congregational form of church government; and he strongly emphasized justification by faith alone. [/FONT]

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bunyan certainly was in sympathy with the Particular Baptists in his firm grip on the Doctrines of Grace. We, of what is sometimes called the Reformed Faith, could learn much from John Bunyan. He was far more interested in God's glory and man's salvation than he was in restrictive denominational tags.[/FONT]

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]By the time of Bunyan’s death in 1688, eleven editions of The Pilgrim’s Progress had been published with over 100,000 copies in print. He left a legacy of many other great books and poems. None of these, however, are his greatest legacy to us. Bunyan’s greatest gift to the church was his demonstration that the Doctrines of Grace are not static or cold. The gospel is not predestination - it is Christ! Grace is how God brings us to Christ. Above all Bunyan loved Christ. He preached Christ and exalted Christ. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"There was first and foremost in John Bunyan a deep personal love for his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ ... Bunyan's books are full of Christ - His welcome, His unshakable truth, his advocacy for sinners ... His preaching and writing were Christ-centered, and it was this that carried men's hearts captive to Christ. If our present day preachers and theologians had the same emphasis a very different spirit would prevail in both the Church and the State."[/FONT]

http://www.siteone.com/religion/baptist/baptistpage/Portraits/bunyan.htm
​

 

[cygnusx1]

The constant cry of the rod

(Thomas Brooks, "The Privy Key of Heaven" 1665)

One lesson that you are to learn by the rod of affliction,
is to get more weaned and more mortified affections to
all worldly comforts, contentments, and enjoyments.

A man never comes to experience so much of . . .
the emptiness,
the nothingness,
the uselessness,
the vanity,
the mutability,
the impotency,
the insufficiency,
the uncertainty
of all worldly comforts and enjoyments--as when he falls
under the rod of affliction. The constant cry of the rod
is, "Be dead to the profits, pleasures, honors, and applauses
of the world! Be dead to everything below a living Jesus!"

 

[AndOne]

Yes - I meant to ask if he was "credo" - not "padeo" - my bad on that. Looks like he was credo - I always thought he was credo - interesting...

 

[cygnusx1]

It would make him pull his hat over his eyes!

(Thomas Brooks, "The Privy Key of Heaven" 1665)

All Christians have their secret sins. Secret not only
from other men--but from himself! It is but natural for
every man to err, and then to be ignorant of his errors.
Every man's sins are beyond his understanding. There
is not the best, the wisest, nor the holiest man in the
world--who can give a full and entire list of his sins.

"Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from
secret faults." Psalm 19:12

"Who can understand his errors?" This interrogation has
the force of an affirmation: "Who can?" No man! No, not
the most perfect and innocent man in the world!

O friends! who can reckon up . . .
the secret sinful imaginations,
the secret sinful inclinations,
the secret pride,
the secret blasphemies,
the secret hypocrisies,
the secret atheistical risings,
the secret murmurings,
the secret repinings,
the secret discontents,
the secret insolencies,
the secret filthinesses,
the secret unbelievings,
which God might every day charge upon his soul?

Should the best and holiest man on earth have but
his secret sins written on his forehead, it would not
only put him to a crimson blush--but it would
make him pull his hat over his eyes, or cover
his face with a double scarf!

"Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from
secret faults." Psalm 19:12

 

[HiredGoon]

As Weary Pilgrim
Anne Bradstreet

As weary pilgrim, now at rest,
Hugs with delight his silent nest,
His wasted limbs now lie full soft
That mirey steps have trodden oft,
Blesses himself to think upon
His dangers past, and travails done.
The burning sun no more shall heat,
Nor stormy rains on him shall beat.
The briars and thorns no more shall scratch,
Nor hungry wolves at him shall catch.
He erring paths no more shall tread,
Nor wild fruits eat instead of bread.
For waters cold he doth not long
For thirst no more shall parch his tongue.
No rugged stones his feet shall gall,
Nor stumps nor rocks cause him to fall.
All cares and fears he bids farewell
And means in safety now to dwell.
A pilgrim I, on earth perplexed
With Sins, with cares and sorrows vext,
By age and pains brought to decay,
And my clay house mold'ring away.
Oh, how I long to be at rest
And soar on high among the blest.
This body shall in silence sleep,
Mine eyes no more shall ever weep,
No fainting fits shall me assail,
Nor grinding pains my body frail,
With cares and fears ne'er cumb'red be
Nor losses know, nor sorrows see.
What though my flesh shall there consume,
It is the bed Christ did perfume,
And when a few years shall be gone,
This mortal shall be clothed upon.
A corrupt carcass down it lies,
A glorious body it shall rise.
In weakness and dishonour sown,
In power 'tis raised by Christ alone.
Then soul and body shall unite
And of their Maker have the sight.
Such lasting joys shall there behold
As ear ne'er heard nor tongue e'er told.
Lord make me ready for that day,
Then come, dear Bridegroom, come away.

August 31 1669

 

[cygnusx1]

I am not what I once was!

(William Plumer, "Sinners Saved by Unmerited Kindness")

In his old age, when he could no longer see to read, John
Newton heard someone recite this text, "By the grace of
God I am what I am." He remained silent a short time and
then said: "I am not what I ought to be. Ah, how imperfect
and deficient! I am not what I wish to be. I abhor that which
is evil, and I would cleave to that which is good. I am not
what I hope to be. Soon, soon I shall put off mortality,
and with mortality all sin and imperfection.
Though I am not what I ought to be, what I wish to be,
and what I hope to be; yet I can truly say, I am not what
I once was--a slave to sin and Satan! I can heartily join
with the apostle and acknowledge--By the grace of God I
am what I am!"

 

[HiredGoon]

"How soon are we broken on the soft pillow of ease! Adam in paradise was overcome, when Job on the dunghill was a conqueror."
- Thomas Watson