As I may have whined about already, I’m working full time and going to school full time. Thus, because I am a simpleton, I have not been as apt to keep up with my reading of the Puritans and Reformers as of late (though I have been touching a little Gurnall here and there). I’ve pretty much been sticking with my M’Cheyne Bible Reading and my boring text books from school. However, I have to get some relief- so I picked up a new book today for light reading. John MacArthur’s new release, The Truth War: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception. I look forward to having this small bit of escape.

Though MacArthur is neither a Puritan or a Reformer (especially since he thinks Calvin would be a dispensational premillenialist!), he is nonetheless an excellent preacher and writer (on most things). I have always appreciated his books which show the complete absurdity of modern evanjellyfish thought. My two particular favorites of his are The Gospel According to Jesus and The Gospel According to the Apostles, in which he triumphantly and thoroughly exposes those modern easy believism teachers who seem to think that repentance is optional and wholly separated from faith.

Anyway, I just thought I’d share. Godspeed.

Books recently acquired:

From Left To Right (all by John Calvin):

1. The Bondage and Liberation of the Will
2. A Reformation Debate: John Calvin vs. Jacopo Sadoleto
3. Heart Aflame: Daily Readings from Calvin on the Psalms
4. John Calvin’s Sermons on Galatians

The Bruised Reed
by Richard Sibbes

Concerning Richard Sibbes, Charles Spurgeon claimed “Sibbes never wastes the student’s time, he scatters pearls and diamonds with both hands.” With the same profundity and richness that typically characterizes Puritan works Sibbes, in The Bruised Reed, masterfully and beautifully deals with things like brokenness, humility, mercy, and grace all wrapped up in the greater subject of hardships, whether they be brought by persecution or one’s own sin. In a time where hedonism seems to reign supreme and commandeers the hearts of sinners and confused Christians alike, The Bruised Reed delivers a good dose of sobriety to those who would revel in their good circumstance.

Might it be if one is not under affliction of one sort or another that he has not been bruised, broken, or brought to the end of himself? And if not, has he, in his pride, been given over to his depraved mind, unable to hear the thunder of God’s voice which grants a man repentance? May it not be for you, me, or anyone! The wise Puritan writes, “This is such a one as our Saviour Christ terms ‘poor in spirit’ (Matt. 5:3), who sees his wants, and also sees himself indebted to divine justice…” and God lowers us “levelling all proud, high thoughts, and that we may understand ourselves to be what indeed we are by nature.” Let the sinner see his suffering as God’s kindness which leads to salvation. Let the saint see his suffering as the means by which God perfects grace in the heart of His servant, mortifying the flesh.

With simple language and Biblical saturation, Sibbes encourages the Christian to take comfort in tribulation while looking to victory, to show grace to the weak, and to believe in Christ’s goodness to us despite afflictions undergone. I heartily encourage any and all to read this fine work and now I leave you with some words of wisdom from Richard Sibbes.

“In pursuing his calling, Christ will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax…he will not only not break nor quench, but he will cherish those with whom he deals.”

Lectures to My Students
by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“Affectation of intellectual superiority and love of rhetorical splendour have prevented many from setting forth gospel truth in the easiest imaginable manner, namely, by analogies drawn from common events. Because they could not condescened to men of low estate hey have refrained from repeating incidents which would have accurately explained their meaning. Fearing to be thought vulgar, they have lost goldne opportunities. As well might David have refused to sling one of the smooth stones at Goliath’s brow because he found it in a common brook.” 

Thus, we catch a glimpse of the practical wisdom, which so easily dripped from the pen of Charles Spurgeon, in the preceding quote. It is but a small portion of the witty, yet solid, insights he gives in his work Lectures to My Students. Although this book is intended for those would be pastors and elders who are picking up the mantle of God’s preachers, there are great principles of biblical and practical truth which can be applied to any Christian’s life. On that basis alone I approvingly recommend this read to all.

Spurgeon’s mastery and command of the English language did not keep him from “setting forth gospel turth in the easiest imaginable manner.” In fact, with such an ability, he was one of the most avid communicators of his day, and even to this time. I’ve heard it said before that had Spurgeon’s voluminous writings been “non-religious” in nature, they would’ve been indeed used to exemplify the best of English language. Spurgeon has been affectionately called the Prince of Preachers, and rightly so, for his eloquence of speech was music to the ears of both the common man and well-to-do.

In Lectures to My Students, Spurgeon’s subject matter ranges anywhere from Vocal demonstration and care to “The Minister’s Self-Watch”. It would behoove anyone who “desires the office of an Elder” to get a copy of Spurgeon’s Lectures and make use of the matter found therein. Spurgeon was indeed a uniquely used individual of God. When it comes to preaching, he was definitely exceptional, not typical. Would it be that God would grant us more Preachers such as he!