Spots of the Godly and of the Wicked (Book Review)

This book ought to be required introductory reading for any new Christian. In it Jeremiah Burroughs makes distinctions between the nature of the sins of believers and the sins of unbelievers. It is fundamental to the understanding of what it is like and what it means to be a Christian that is still subject to sin. He observes that our justification is perfect, while our sanctification is imperfect. It can be a great source of confusion, and a great burden to bear, for a Christian to not understand this. Furthermore, that it is normal to be in this condition while we await the day of our final state of sanctification. Burroughs points out that though we sin we also have a principle of life by which to live by. And though we sin our sin is not the same as that of an unbeliever.

Book Review Gospel Fear

Jeremiah Burroughs' book Gospel Fear is a powerful treaties on the right disposition of a Christian's heart before God and his word. The positive response of a heart that comes under the hearing of God's word is that of a Godly fear and trembling, which in turn, so effects the heart that it melts from its natural state of hardness into tenderness. He contrasts the heart that has been changed such by the Spirit of God with that of a hard heart that awaits the judgment of God. Gospel Fear consists of seven sermons and is well worth the read. Burroughs makes the case and argument, i.e. that our hearts are to be hearts that melt before God, so powerful and compelling that one cannot help but to walk away from his subject matter with just such a heart that trembles before God. I am thankful for the puritan Jeremiah Burroughs for writing this book and Don Kistler for the publishing of it for my reading.

"Though the Lord has all the world where He is, and fills heaven and earth, yet the two great places where He keeps His court are in the highest heavens and in the lowest heart" (Jeremiah Burroughs Gospel Fear Pg. 119).

Book Review A Sure Guide to Heaven

Joseph Alleine's book A Sure Guide to Heaven is the most powerful call to the Gospel, repentance, and conversion to God that I have ever heard or read. Originally published I think under the title An Alarm to the Unconverted (a title more suitable than the current title), this puritan demonstrates with all clarity the complete corruption of an unsanctified soul, leaving no excuse for impenitence and faith in Christ. If you have not read this book and are a seeker of God, and especially a church leader, you must not wait another minute, but must read it immediately. You will have no doubt of your need of Christ after reading this book. And if your Gospel presentation is a bit cloudy this book will shine so brightly on the understanding that you will never preach the same.

Book Review (Heaven Taken by Storm)

Heaven Taken by Storm by the puritan Thomas Watson is a must read. This is a new publication by The Northampton Press, the new ministry of Don Kistler. The message of the book is that entering into heaven is no easy matter, but that we must take great pains to see to it that we arrive at last to our final resting place. We must fight the good fight of faith and violently strive to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. This is a foreign concept for the church of our day which for the most part has distorted the true Christian experience making it out to be a state of pacifism when it is not.

"Though we do not have the power to save ourselves, yet we must pursue after salvation because God has made a promise of grace as well as to grace" (Pg.83).

The Bible and the Future (Book Review)

Anthony A. Hoekema's book The Bible and the Future is a text book type description and defence of amillennialism. This book is for the serious student of eschatology. He discusses such topics as the kingdom of God, death, immortality, the intermediate state, the second coming, the signs of the times, the major millennium views, the resurrection of the body, the final judgement, eternal punishment, and the new earth. Eschatology is a complicated topic of theology, and Hoekema sheds much light on the subject. This is a scholarly work and takes quite a bit of effort to read through, but all serious theologians (and laity that are looking for answers) must put this on their list of required reading.

Book Review The Life of Go in the Soul of Man

I highly recommend everyone concerned with true religion to read Henry Scougal's The Life of God in the Soul of Man. I rank it up there with Thomas a Kempis' The Imitation of Christ. Faith, love, charity, and humility are the themes of the book. One cannot help but to feel the love Scougal had for God while reading the book, and one will never be the same after reading it. If you truly desire to know, love God more, and be more accurately devoted to his service, read this book!

Book Review True and False Worship by John Knox

The booklet True and False Worship by John Knox is a powerful argument in support of the regulative principle in worship. Knox was arguing against the Catholic version of the Lord's supper. His arguments against the Catholic mass and in support of the biblical prescription of it are powerful and irrefutable. One can kill two birds with one stone by reading this booklet, i.e. the regulative principle is effectively demonstrated and defended and also the falsehood of the Catholic mass is brought to light.