There have been many books on the Puritans. Most of them are biographical while others on their teachings. These books have benefitted many in the body of Christ over the centuries.
One book on the Puritans that many recommend is J.I. Packer's A Quest for Godliness, which addresses the spiritual life of these men who walked with God so many years ago. Packer begins with the necessity of the Puritans and examines some of their writings.
Packer addresses how the Puritans viewed the Bible including John Owen's view that the Bible is how God speaks to us today, which is the view of the majority of the Puritans and those who hold Reformed Theology. A Chapter in this book is the introduction that Packer wrote from an edition of Owen's classic book, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. Packer dives into how the Puritans viewed the gospel as well as the preaching of it as well as their view of justification.
Many people are not aware that the Puritans have a high view of the Holy Spirit. Packer unpacks that by showing what Puritans believed about the Holy Spirit along with John Owen's view of the spiritual gifts, which is a hot topic in the church today. Packer continues by looking into the Puritans in living the Christian life by writing on their dealings with the Lord's Day as well as worship. Packer even tackles their views on marriage and family.
Finally, Packer writes about the ministry of the Puritans. The Puritans did believe that God is sovereign in the salvation of souls, yet we have a task to proclaim the gospel in the church and outside the church. The puritans along with many in Reformed Theology looked at preaching a means of grace for the believers to grow and be edify as they walk with Jesus in this life.
As stated earlier, there are many books on the Puritans that have been written over the years. They have been recommended by many theologians and pastors, yet I do not hear Packer's book in many of those conversations. I am delighted to tell you that A Quest for Godliness should be on everyone's to-read list on the Puritans.
I received this book from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.
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