Pond, Clifford

Ryle J. C.

"For a number of years I have had the conviction that practical holiness and complete self-consecration to God are being neglected.  Godliness has been smothered by worldliness, personal devotion to Christ hardly exists and standards of Christian living have been lowered.  The importance of making the teaching about God our Saviour attractive (Titus 2:10) has been forgiven." 

"Professing good evangelical doctrine is useless unless it is accompanied by a holy life. The insincerity of claiming to be a Bible-believing Christian without holy living is soon recognised as a sham which brings contempt for our religion." 

"It is of utmost importance, however, that the whole subject should be understood in the light of Bible teaching.  My intention in this book is to try and explain what the Scripture actually teaches on the subject." 

But many were suffering cruelly in France for their new-found Reformation faith. Calvin felt he should write to the French king to vindicate the sufferers by giving the king a summary of the true Christian religion. In 1536, the first edition of The Institutes appeared - a slender volume of six chapters and 520 pages.

Edition after edition followed, each larger than the former, till the work finally reached eighty chapters and half-a-million words! What began as an evangelistic tract, ended as a manual of profound theology, an abridged version of which is offered here. 

Both Erasmus and Luther rejected many of the errors and failings of the Roman church of their day. But Luther challenged, more ad more, the Roman teaching of salvation by works. Erasmus, at first reluctant, at last yielded to pressure to state the teaching of 'free-will'. His book is said to have pleased the Pope and Henry VIII.

Luther was not pleased, however, and now declared Erasmus to be an enemy to the evangelical faith. In 1525 THE BONDAGE OF THE WILL appeared from Luther's pen, providing a complete rebuttal of Erasmus' position.

"... some who hold this truth of salvation by grace merely in a theoretical way may live carelessly.  They have never experienced the beauty of this gospel in their affections nor the power of it in their wills.  So I write to show the power, glory and majesty of this gospel in the salvation of sinners.  I shall try to illustrate the words of Paul: "Even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:21).  And while I pray for spiritual wisdom to write truthfully, I entreat you to think carefully about the contents of the following pages." 

Owen, John

'The confutation of Mr Goodwin was but secondarily in my eye; the best way for that I judged to consist in a full Scriptural confirmation of the truth he opposed. That I chiefly intended; and therein I hope the pious reader may, through the grace of God, meet with satisfaction'.

We offer here an abridgement of Owens's volume, in easier  English. Those chapters of Owens's original writing which relate to Goodwin's book have been omitted here, leaving only the positive explanation of the great Bible truth that Christians are for ever!

Edwards, Jonathan 

What a lot of trouble the Church would have escaped, if Christians had kept to what Scripture teaches about a true experience of salvation!

Owen, John 

'Meditations on the Glory of Christ was the last of many books that Owen wrote. he died as it was being printed in 1683. It was written, he tells us, 'for the exercise of his own mind when weakness, weariness and the near approaches of death' were calling him away from this earth.

As Owen says: 'A continual view of the glory of Christ will have the blessed effect of changing us more and more into the likeness of Christ. Perhaps other ways and means have failed to make us Christ-like. Let us put this way to the test'.

Unwilling to permit unconverted people to receive Communion, Edwards was removed from Northampton in 1749. He then began a missionary ministry, during which time he wrote several of his most important works.

Flavel, John

"There is great delight in observing providence for the people of God.  Providence not only brings them to heaven, but also brings much of heaven into their souls on the way.  The most wise God is providentially steering all to the port of his own praise and his people's happiness, even though the whole world is busily employed in managing the sails and tugging at the oars with quite an opposite purpose.  How great a pleasure it is to see how the world brings about God's purposes by opposing them; doing his will by resisting it; and enlarging his church by scattering it." 

"But the people of God cannot understand all that happens to them on their way to heaven ... When we get to heaven, we will see, not only that it is a beautiful place, but, in addition, the beauty of the way by which we have come ... How lovely it will be to see, in one view, the whole plan of providence and the right reason for every act of God." 

Burroughs, Jeremiah 

"This book is a simplified and shorter version of "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment" by Jeremiah Burroughs (1500-1646).  Burroughs' book is an exposition of Philippians 4:11." 

-- Extracted from the Preface Written by Philip Tait 

"The Bible says that the death of Jesus Christ was like a payment to set men free from sin.  So far so good; but now there is a problem!  Did Christ's death free all men, or only some men, from their sin?  Christians are divided in their views.  Some say one thing, some say the other.  So what does the Bible Say?  This is what we need to find out." 

Smeaton, George  & 
Owen, John

"It must surely be thought a sad thing that there is so much disagreement among Christian believers about the nature of the Holy Spirit and his work.  For he is the one divine Person whom we can be familiar with, in intimate personal experience ... One would ... have thought that every Christian's experience of the Holy Spirit would be profound, and their knowledge of his work would be comprehensive and unanimous." 

"Sadly it is not so and has not been so throughout the history of the Christian church.  The historical survey in Chapter One of Part One well illustrates this.  There has been a succession of misunderstandings and even outright heresies concerning the Spirit, as well as times of renewal both of the experience and the understanding of his work." 

"That there should be such a variety of views must lead any sincere believer to examine what the Scripture teaches concerning the Spirit.  Chapters Two to Nine of Part One seek to do this." 

"In Part Two of the book Chapters Ten to Seventeen are concerned with the practical nature of the relationship between the believer and the Spirit in daily experience.  The book therefore provides a biblical study both of the doctrine, and of the practice of the presence, of the Holy Spirit." 

"Baxter believed that teaching was the minister's main task.  He also believed that Christians should regularly come to their pastor with their problems and ministers should regularly catechise their congregations.  Baxter's main concern was that personal catechising should be given to everyone, not just the young.  It was this concern that brought The Reformed pastor to birth ... By 'Reformed" he means, not Calvinistic in doctrine, but renewed in practice.  'If God would but reform the ministry,' Baxter wrote, 'and set them on their duties zealously and faithfully, the people would certainly be reformed.  All churches either rise or fall as the ministry doth rise or fall.'"

Buchanan, James 

"The way of justification, to be of help to us, must take account of three facts: that we are helpless in God's sight; that a holy God cannot simply overlook our sin; that Jesus Christ graciously made himself a substitute for sinners--their sin for him, his obedience and holiness for them.  And these facts are stated on the authority of the Bible, God's revelation of truth to us." 

"Where such Bible truth is ignored, or misunderstood, there will follow a wrong view of how to be acceptable to God.  The true knowledge of salvation is lost if the truth about justification is lost." 

"In this book Dr Muchanan seeks to explain what the Bible teaches about justification.  It is doubtful whether any other book has presented the subject so fully." 

Guthrie, William 

Part One, Who Is A Christian? covers (1) Being sure about our salvation; (2) Ways in which people are drawn to Christ; (3) Evidence that a person is a Christian; (4) More evidence that a person is a Christian; (5) Differences between true and false faith; (6) Dealing with doubts about our faith. 

Part Two, How to Become a Christian? covers (1) What it means to come to Christ; (2) The importance of coming to Christ sincerely; (3) Problems that prevent people coming to Christ; (4) More problems preventing some from coming to Christ, and the conclusion of the whole. 

Owen,  John 

"It was not Owen's intention to suggest that Christians should not be concerned to think about, or enjoy the things lawfully to be enjoyed in this life.  But he was deeply concerned that none of these things should so dominate the minds of believers that there was then no desire for nor joy in spiritual things." 

"Owen was disturbed by the lack of Christian commitment and the spiritual immaturity of many who professed to be believers in his day.  He wrote, 'To call men off this evil frame of heart and mind, to discover the sin and danger of it, to direct them unto the ways and means whereby it may be effected, to supply their thoughts and affections with better objects, to discover and press that exercise of them which is indispensably required of all believers if they design life and peace, is some part of the work of the ensuing discourse. 

Alleine, Joseph 
 
 

The author wrote this book for people who are not yet Christians.  He said, 

"Some of you may be unsure as to what a Christian is.  I shall therefore begin by addressing the question, What is a Christian?  Others may imagine that all is well between them and God when in fact it is not.  For them I will explain about becoming a Christian.  Then there will be those who wonder whether it is important for them to become Christians.  I shall therefore deal with the question, Does it really matters?  Others may claim to be Christians when they give no real evidence of this in the way they live.  To them I will attempt to show the way we are before we turn to Christ.  Others fear no danger because they don't feel any.  I must therefore show that without Christ we are all condemned!  Then there are some who are aware of their need but don't know what to do about it.  I shall therefore answer their question, What must I do?  And Finally, for the benefit of all, I shall point you to the amazing grace of God. 

Ryle,  J. C. 

"Few nineteenth century writers retain the freshness and relevance of J. C. Ryle.  Practical Religion lives up to its title.  Each chapter is easy reading, well structured, and goes to the heart of the matters under discussion.  The abridgement loses nothing of the urgent practical and pastoral spirit that characterises Ryle.  Both Christians and those seeking the truth about God and his Son Jesus Christ will find instruction, challenge and encouragement." 

The contents include: (1) Self Examination; (2) Effort; (3) Reality; (4) Prayer; (5) Bible Reading; (6) Love; (7) Zeal; (8) Happiness; (9) Formality; (10) The World; (11) Wealth and Poverty; (12) The Best Friend; (13) Illness; (14) The Family of God; (15) Heirs of God; (16) The Great Gathering; (17) The Great Separation; (18) Eternity. 

Owen, John
 

Part One includes the following:
(1) The Saviour's warning against temptation; (2) Temptation--handle with care; (3) Why be so serious about temptation? (4) The power of temptation; (5) Is all this effort really necessary?; (6) Entrance into temptation--the symptoms; (7) How can we keep out of temptation?; (8) What are we watching for? (9) How can we guard our hearts against temptation? (10) What  happens if you do not 'watch and pray'? 

Part Two includes the following: 
(1) God's promise and the believer's duty; (2) The lifelong duty of every believer; (3) The work of the Spirit in mortification; (4) The value of mortification; (5) An introduction to the practice of mortification; (6) A positive explanation of mortification; (7) General rules for the practice of mortification; (8) The second general rule for mortification; (9) The first particular rule for  mortification; (10) The second particular rule for mortification; (11) Five more particular rules for mortification; (12) Meditation upon the excellent majesty of God; (13) Don't let your heart deceive you! (14) Final instructions. 

Goodwin, Thomas  & 
Palmer, Benjamin 
 

Such questions as these-and others-are most helpfully answered in this abridged version, written in today's English, of two famous classics from the past by Thomas Goodwin (1600-1680) and Benjamin Palmer (1818-1902).

THOMAS GOODWIN a Congregationalist, was one of Oliver Cromwell's top advisers and served under that general's appointment as president of Magdalen College, Oxford. Early in his career Goodwin was recognized as 'a Puritan divine of very superior powers, whose writings cast much light on the Scriptures'.

BENJAMIN PALMER has been described as one of the greatest and most famous preachers of America's Southern states in the 19th century. He served both a pastoral ministry and as Seminary Professor in Columbia. He was honored in 1861 by being appointed Moderator of the first General Assembly of the newly formed Southern Presbyterian Church.

Peet, J. H. John 
 

Tait, Philip 
 

First was Jonathan Edwards, who was a minister in America in the Eighteenth Century.  In 1734 and 1735, and again in 1740, large numbers of people in the twon where he lived became Christians in the course of what we call a 'revival'.  However, after a few years Edwards noticed that some of those who had apparently become Christians had gone back to their old ways.  He realised that they had never been Christians at all, but had only been imitating the way Christians behave.  So he wrote a book with the strange title of The Religious Affections, to show the difference between real and imitation Christians. 

Second was another American preacher, Gardiner Spring.  He wrote a book called The Distinguishing Traits of Christian Character, which seems to have been based on Edwards' book, though it is much shorter and easier to read. 

Third were A.N. Martin and E.C. Reisinger and fourth were H.J. Appleby and J.K. Davies, whose shortened and simplified version of Spring's book, What's Real?, was published in 1978. 

I come last of all.  The present work is a rewriting of What's Real?  I have endeavoured to smooth down the English to make for easier reading, but the substance of the book is virtually unchanged.  May it continue to be as useful in its new form as its three predecessors. 

--- Philip Tait