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Reading the Puritans Joel R. Beeke medieval Talmudic scholar, R. Isaiah exegetical ability, intellectual achievement, and A Di Trani (c. 1200–1260), once asked, “Who profound piety. can see farther, a giant or a dwarf?” Upon this mountain our Reformed “city” is The answer was, “Surely the giant, because his built. We are where we are because of our history, eyes are higher than those of the dwarf.” though we are dwarves on the shoulders of giants. “But if the giant carries the Who would George Whitefield (1714–1770), Joel R. Beeke serves as President and Professor of Systematic dwarf on his shoulders, who can Charles Hodge (1797–1878), Charles Spurgeon Theology, Church History, and see farther?” Di Trani persisted. (1834–1892), Herman Bavinck (1854–1921), J. Homiletics at Puritan Reformed “Surely the dwarf, whose eyes Gresham Machen (1881–1937), or D. Martyn Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. are now above the eyes of the Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981) be if not for their prede- giant,” was the answer. cessors? Despite this, Puritan studies were sorely He has been in the ministry since Di Trani then said, “We too are neglected until the resurgence of Puritan literature 1978 and has served as a pastor of dwarfs riding on the shoulders in the late 1950s. Even today, in many evangeli- his current church since 1986. He is also editor of the Banner of Sovereign of giants.... [I]t is by virtue of the cal circles, Puritan theology is still marginalized. Grace Truth, editorial director power of their wisdom that we While the Puritans built palaces, we are comfort- of Reformation Heritage Books, have learned all that we say, and able building shacks; where they planted fields, president of Inheritance Publishers, not because we are greater than we plant but a few flowers; while they turned over and vice-president of the Dutch 1 Reformed Translation Society. they were.” every stone in theological reflection, we are con- He has written, co-authored, or The point is: a dwarf must real- tent with pebbles; where they aimed for compre- edited fifty books, includingPuritan ize his place among giants. This hensive depth, we aim for catchy sound bites. Reformed Spirituality: A Practical Biblical Study from Reformed and is true of all human achievement. The Latin phrase tolle lege, meaning “pick up Puritan Heritage (Reformation When we survey church history, and read,” offers a remedy for this apathy toward Heritage, 2004) and Heirs with we discover giants of the faith, spiritual truth. Our ancestors have left us a rich Christ: The Puritans on Adoption such as Aurelius Augustine (354– theological and cultural heritage. We can say of the (Reformation Heritage, 2008). 430), Martin Luther (1483–1546), Puritans what Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) John Calvin (1509–1564), John Owen (1616– said of his evening routine of reading the ancients, 1683), and Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758). Amid “I enter the ancient courts of rulers who have long those giants the Puritans also rise as giants of since died. There I am warmly welcomed, and I 20 SBJT 14.4 (2010): 20-37 feed on the only food I find nourishing.”2 not find its pages filled with Scripture references; Returning to Puritan writings will also reward their books are all Word-centered. More than 90 a diligent reader. Whitefield said, “Though dead, percent of their writings are repackaged sermons by their writings they yet speak: a peculiar unc- rich with scriptural exposition. The Puritan writ- tion attends them to this very hour.”3 Whitefield ers truly believed in the sufficiency of Scripture for predicted that Puritan writings would be read life and godliness. until the end of time due to their scriptural truth. If you read the Puritans regularly, their Bible- Spurgeon agreed, saying, “In these [writings] centeredness will become contagious. These they do live forever. Modern interpreters have writings will teach you to yield wholehearted alle- not superseded them, nor will they altogether be giance to the Bible’s message. Like the Puritans, superseded to the end of time.”4 Today we are wit- you will become a believer of the Living Book, nessing a revival of sorts in reading the Puritans. echoing the truth of John Flavel (1628–1691), Initiated largely by the Banner of Truth Trust, who said, “The Scriptures teach us the best way of which has been systematically and carefully pub- living, the noblest way of suffering, and the most lishing Puritan literature since the late 1950s,5 comfortable way of dying.”7 Puritan reprints in the last fifty years now include (2) Puritan writings show how to integrate bibli- 150 Puritan authors and seven hundred Puritan cal doctrine into daily life. Cornelis Pronk wrote, titles printed by more than seventy-five publish- “The Puritan’s concern … was primarily ethical or ers.6 Reformation Heritage Books (RHB) alone— moral rather than abstractly doctrinal.”8 The Puri- of which the Puritan line of Soli Deo Gloria is an tan writings express this emphasis in three ways: imprint—carries approximately 150 Puritan titles First, they address your mind. In keeping with the and also sells at discount prices close to five hun- Reformed tradition, the Puritans refused to set dred Puritan titles that are currently in print. mind and heart against each other, but viewed We are grateful for this resurgence of interest in the mind as the palace of faith. William Greenhill Puritan writings. However, this resurgence faces (1591–1671) stated, “Ignorance is the mother of all some challenges and poses some questions which errors.”9 The Puritans understood that a mindless I will address in this article. I wish to address five Christianity fosters a spineless Christianity. An points. First, I will point out several ways of how anti-intellectual gospel quickly becomes an empty, to benefit by reading the Puritans. Second, I will formless gospel that never gets beyond catering consider some ideas on how to begin reading the to felt needs. Puritan literature is a great help for Puritans, and then, third, look at a reading plan understanding the vital connection between what for the writings of an individual Puritan, Thomas we believe and how that affects the way we live. Goodwin. Fourth, I will look at some of my favor- Second, Puritan writings confront your con- ite Puritans, and finally, I will consider some ideas science. Today many preachers are masterful at for printing more Puritan books in the future. avoiding convicting people of sin, whereas the Puritans were masters at convicting us about How to Profit from reading the heinous nature of our sin against an infinite tHe Puritans God. This is amply displayed in Ralph Venning’s Here are nine ways you can grow spiritually by (c. 1622–1674) The Sinfulness of Sin. For example, reading Puritan literature today: (1) Puritan writ- Venning wrote, “Sin is the dare of God’s justice, ings help shape life by Scripture. The Puritans loved, the rape of his mercy, the jeer of his patience, the lived, and breathed Holy Scripture. They also rel- slight of his power, the contempt of his love.”10 ished the power of the Spirit that accompanied the The Puritans excelled at exposing specific sins, Word. Rarely can you open a Puritan book and then asked questions to press home conviction of 21 those sins. As one Puritan wrote, “We must go Christ, can cool our love’s burning languor. O with the stick of divine truth and beat every bush thirsty love! Wilt thou set Christ, the well of life, behind which a sinner hides, until like Adam who to thy head, and drink thy fill? Drink, and spare hid, he stands before God in his nakedness.” not; drink love, and be drunken with Christ!”14 Devotional reading should be confrontational To another friend, he wrote, “I have a lover Christ, as well as comforting. We grow little if our con- and yet I want love for Him! I have a lovely and sciences are not pricked daily and directed to desirable Lord, who is love-worthy, and who Christ. Since we are prone to run for the bushes beggeth my love and heart, and I have nothing when we feel threatened, we need daily help to to give Him! Dear brother, come further in on come before the living God, “naked and opened Christ, and see a new wonder, and heaven and unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” earth’s wonder of love, sweetness, majesty, and (Heb 4:13). In this, the Puritans excelled. Owen excellency in Him.”15 If you would know Christ wrote, “Christ by his death destroying the works better and love Him more fully, immerse yourself of the devil, procuring the Spirit for us, hath so in Puritan literature. killed sin, as to its reign in believers, that it shall (4) Puritan writings highlight the Trinitarian not obtain its end and dominion.... Look on him character. The Puritans were driven by a deep sense under the weight of your sins, praying, bleeding, of the infinite glory of a Triune God. Edmund dying; bring him in that condition into thy heart Calamy (1600–1666) noted this doctrine should of faith.”11 “be allowed to be of as great importance in itself Third, Puritan writers engage your heart. They and its consequences, as any of our most distin- feed the mind with solid biblical substance and guishing Christian principles.”16 When the Puri- they move the heart with affectionate warmth. tans said in the Shorter Catechism that man’s They wrote out of love for God’s Word, love for chief end was to glorify God, they meant the Tri- the glory of God, and love for the soul of readers.
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