I recently finished reading All Things For Good (A Divine Cordial was the original title) by Thomas Watson, who was a 17th-century Puritan preacher. I realize that books written by Puritan authors probably don’t take up much shelf-space in the average modern library. This particular book had banded together with Richard Baxter’s The Reformed Pastor and hunkered down on a corner shelf, bravely representing their brethren among the more glamorously-inked lumber that retains the majority in my own library.
However, Watson’s book providentially made it’s way into my hands not long ago and I was surprised at how forcefully relevant it was to me. Watson lays his expository case out in a logical, easy to follow way, just as you should expect from a preacher. But it’s his recognition and use of rhythm and balance that gives the reader so many truth-encapsulating sentences, sentences that stay with him long after the book is closed. I’m posting some of these very sentences here in hopes that you’ll see what I mean, and perhaps go lug a Puritan out from your own shelf.
Though a Christian has not a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Gospel, yet he has a certain knowledge. … Let us then not rest in skepticism or doubts, but labor to come to a certainty in the things of religion.
Mercy does more multiply in Him than sin in us.
If God does not give you that which you like, He will give you that which you need.
God will not be an inmate, to have only one room in the heart, and all the other rooms let out to sin.
He who is in love with God is not much in love with anything else.
What shall we think of such as have never enough of the world?
… may not Christ suspect us, when we pretend to love Him, and yet will endure nothing for Him?
Was His head crowned with thorns, and do we think to be crowned with roses?
Ken
Ben,
I am likewise becoming more and more interested in the Puritans. I got a two books of their work for Christmas that I’m looking forward to reading. One is John Owen’s Communion With The Triune God, and the other is The Christian In Complete Armour by William Gurnall (done in three volumes). Both are modernized and abridged to some degree (think of that, the Gurnall is abridged and still three volumes!).
I’ve also been listening to an on line course from Reformed Theological Seminary’s iTunesU taught by J.I. Packer on the History and Theology of the Puritans that I’d recommend highly.
Thanks for the post.