A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life

by Joel R. Beeke, Mark Jones

Overview

Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life offers a groundbreaking treatment of the Puritans’ teaching on most major Reformed doctrines, particularly those doctrines in which the Puritans made significant contributions.

The book addresses Puritan teachings on all six loci of theology, covering fifty areas of doctrine. The book explores Puritan teachings on biblical interpretation, God, predestination, providence, angels, sin, the covenants, the gospel, Christ, preparation for conversion, regeneration, coming to Christ, justification, adoption, church government, the Sabbath, preaching, baptism, heaven, hell, and many other topics. It ends with eight chapters that explore Puritan “theology in practice.”

Some chapters highlight the work of a specific theologian such as William Perkins, William Ames, John Owen, Stephen Charnock, or Thomas Goodwin on a specific topic. Other chapters survey various authors on a particular subject. The goal of A Puritan Theology is to increase knowledge in the mind and godliness in the soul. It was written for theologians, historians, pastors, and educated laymen who seek to learn more about Puritan theology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781601781666
Publisher:	Reformation Heritage Books
Publication date:	10/12/2012
Pages:	1060
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 10.20(h) x 2.00(d)

About the Author

Joel R. Beeke (PhD, Westminster Seminary) is president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary; a pastor of the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan; editor of Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth; editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books; and a prolific author.

Mark Jones (Ph.D., Leiden, 2009) has been the minister at Faith Vancouver Presbyterian Church (PCA), Canada since 2007. He is also Research Associate in the Faculty of Theology at the University of the Free State (Bloemfontein) and Lecturer in Dogmatic Theology at John Wycliffe Theological College, in association with North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), South Africa.

Table of Contents

Foreword xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction 1

Prolegomena

1 The Puritans on Natural and Supernatural Theology 11

2 Puritan Hermeneutics and Exegesis 27

3 The Learned Doctor William Ames and The Marrow of Theology 41

Theology Proper

4 Stephen Charnock on the Attributes of God 59

5 The Puritans on the Trinity 85

6 John Owen on Communion with the Triune God 101

7 William Perkins on Predestination 117

8 Thomas Goodwin and Johannes Maccovius on Justification from Eternity 133

9 Thomas Goodwin's Christological Supralapsarianism 149

10 The Puritans on Providence 161

11 The Puritans on Angels 179

12 The Puritans on Demons 189

Anthropology and Covenant Theology

13 The Puritans on the Sinfulness of Sin 203

14 The Puritans on the Covenant of Works 217

15 The Puritans on the Covenant of Redemption 237

16 The Puritans on the Covenant of Grace 259

17 The Puritans on the Old and New Covenants: A Gracious Moses? 279

18 The Minority Report: John Owen on Sinai 293

19 The Puritans on Covenant Conditions 305

Christology

20 The Puritans on Law and Gospel 321

21 Puritan Christology 335

22 The Puritans on Christ's Offices and States 347

23 The Blood of Christ in Puritan Piety 359

24 Anthony Burgess on Christ's Intercession for Us 371

25 Thomas Goodwin on Christ's Beautiful Heart 387

26 The Puritans on Understanding and Using God's Promises 401

Soteriology

27 The Puritans on the Holy Spirit 419

28 Puritan Preparatory Grace 443

29 The Puritans on Regeneration 463

30 The Puritans on Union with Christ, Justification, and Regeneration 481

31 John Owen on Justification by Faith Alone 491

32 The Puritans on Coming to Christ 507

33 The Puritans on Living in Christ 525

34 The Puritans on Adoption 537

35 The Puritans on the Third Use of the Law 555

36 Richard Sibbes on Entertaining the Holy Spirit 573

37 William Perkins and His Greatest Case of Conscience 587

38 The Puritans on Perseverance of the Saints 601

Ecclesiology

39 The Puritans on the Government of the Church 621

40 The Puritans on the Offices of the Church 641

41 John Owen on the Christian Sabbath and Worship 653

42 Puritan Preaching (1) 681

43 Puritan Preaching (2) 699

44 John Bunyan's Preaching to the Heart 711

45 The Puritans and Paedobaptism 725

46 The Puritans on the Lord's Supper 743

47 Puritan Prayers for World Missions 761

Eschatology

48 "The City on a Hill": The American Puritans' Optimistic View of the End Times 773

49 Thomas Manton on the Judgment according to Works 789

50 How History Informs the Historicist: Thomas Goodwin's Reading of Revelation 803

51 Christopher Love on the Glories of Heaven and Terrors of Hell 819

Theology in Practice

52 Puritan Theology Shaped by a Pilgrim Mentality 843

53 The Puritans on Walking Godly in the Home 859

54 Matthew Henry on a Practical Method of Daily Prayer 877

55 The Puritan Practice of Meditation 889

56 The Puritans on Conscience 909

57 Puritan Casuistry 927

58 Puritan Sacrificial Zeal 947

59 Practical Lessons from Puritan Theology Today 961

Afterword

60 A Final Word 975

Works Cited 979

Index 1025

Editorial Reviews

For more than half a century primary research on Puritan theologians and their teaching has been in full swing. Here now is a massive compendium of the findings, digested into sixty lively chapters. The authors’ expository skill will keep readers on their toes, and the Puritans’ own concern for godly living, which runs through everything, will send readers to their knees. This is a landmark book in every way.” - J. I. Packer, Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology, Regent College


"A Systematic Theology, covering the main loci of doctrine, from a Puritan perspective, with insightful comment and analysis from two respected Puritan scholars of our time—what more needs to be said by way of commendation? A necessary text for seminarians and all serious students of theology" - Derek W. H. Thomas, Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary


“Joel Beeke’s and Mark Jones’s work marks a major milestone in the study of Puritan and early modern Reformed theology, setting forth in modern scholarly essays an examination of a full body of seventeenth-century divinity. The work evidences a significant understanding of the primary texts and an excellent grasp of the secondary literature, both providing a sound introduction to Puritan theology and setting aside the myths of a rigid, rationalistic, monolithic system of thought divorced from Christian life. Perhaps the most consistent and unifying theme in the book is the profound connection between faith and practice that, for the Puritans and other early modern Reformed, grounded the exposition of all doctrine. A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life will provide a starting point for further study of Puritan thought for years to come.” - Richard A. Muller, P. J. Zondervan Professor of Historical Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary

From the Publisher