Meet The Puritans

Goodwin on Weekly Communion

Posted on 10. Sep, 2009 by Mark Jones.

The question of the Lord’s Supper interests me on a number of levels (e.g. pastoral, personal, theological, and Christological).  The “Calvin versus the Calvinists” issue on the Lord’s Supper is admittedly complex.  I’m not personally persuaded that the Westminster divines shared the same view of the Lord’s Supper as Calvin.  That may surprise some, but there has been some diversity in the Reformed tradition on this question.  But, one area where there is complete unanimity with Calvin and the Puritans is on the frequency of Communion. [...]

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Adam-Christ Parallels (e.g. Holy Spirit)

Posted on 08. Sep, 2009 by Mark Jones.

The parallels between Adam and Christ provide an interesting starting-point for theological discussion, particularly in the area of Christology.  A question in connection with the parallels between Adam and Christ that seems to be rarely asked is whether Adam possessed the Holy Spirit.  Christ was the man of the Spirit par excellence (Isa. 41:1; 61:1-2; Lk. 4).

The Puritan, Thomas Goodwin, affirms that Adam possessed the Spirit in Eden.  Goodwin suggests that the Spirit “was in Adam’s heart to assist his graces, and cause them to flow and bring forth, and to move him to live according to those principles of life given him (6:54)”  There are, however, differences between his having the Spirit and ours!  The emphasis in our experience is, of course, Christological; we receive the risen exalted Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9) who dwells in our hearts by faith (Eph. 3:17), which happens to be the best way to discuss the ordo/historia salutis problem in my opinion. [...]

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WCF: Supra or Infra?

Posted on 05. Sep, 2009 by Mark Jones.

The Westminster Confession of Faith is sometimes deliberately ambiguous, which allows theologians with disagreements to adopt the Confession as a faithful summary of the Scripture’s teaching.  For example, regarding eschatology, there were a good deal of chiliasts (millennialists) at Westminster (e.g. Goodwin), but there were also ‘Augustinians’, namely, the Scots (e.g. Robert Baillie).  Yet, both could agree with the basic teaching of the Confession on ‘last things.’ [...]

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New Book on Thomas Goodwin

Posted on 04. Sep, 2009 by Danny Hyde.

Since Mark will not toot his own horn, I will do it for him. He has co-edited a book along with Joel Beeke with selections from the writings of Thomas Goodwin as well as written a historical introduction. It is entitled, A Habitual Sight of Him: The Christ-centered Piety of Thomas Goodwin (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2009). This book is a part of RHB’s “Profiles in Reformed Spirituality” series.

The book is now available for $7.50.

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The Best Puritan Work

Posted on 03. Sep, 2009 by Mark Jones.

In my reading of the Puritans a number of works stand out.  Because of various reprints, John Owen’s works have received the most attention.  However, in my opinion, which comes from reading hundreds of Puritan Works, thus giving me some credibility, Thomas Goodwin’s short treatise, “The Heart of Christ in Heaven Towards Sinners on Earth”, represents the very best Puritan work I’ve read.  The Christology is quite simply breathtaking; but, more than that, Goodwin’s work shows the way Christology ought to be done, namely, with application to the ordinary Christian who sits in the pew each week.

Incidentally, this may be one of the most edifying posts from my previous blog and yet it did not receive the readership that I had hoped for.  Indeed, my review of “The Law is Not of Faith” or my response to Bruce McCormack on Enns controversy at WTS generated a massive readership, which shows, of course, that people are generally more interested in a good debate than devotional literature.  Sad, really.

Anyway, below I have summarized a small portion of Goodwin’s work on Christ’s heart in Heaven towards sinners on earth. Enjoy, I hope! [...]

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How to Read Thomas Goodwin by Dr. Joel Beeke

Posted on 03. Sep, 2009 by Danny Hyde.

Everyone who reads the Puritans knows Dr. Joel Beeke, President of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. I mean, come on, the guy is like the quintessential Dutch Puritan and the living embodiment of Wilhelmus a Brakel. Alright, enough of me buttering up thesis advisor. A while back he gave his thoughts on “How to Read Thomas Goodwin,” which I have received permission to reproduce here. Reformation Heritage Books has the twelve-volume set of Goodwin’s Works for $240. Tolle Lege.

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If I could have $5 for every time someone has asked me the question, “Who is your favourite Puritan to read?,” I suppose I’d be a wealthy man by now. Though I would probably answer that question today by saying, “Anthony Burgess—and he’s also one of the most neglected!,” for nearly two decades I would have said, “Thomas Goodwin.” I may be an oddball, but—dare I say it—I’ve usually gotten more out of reading Goodwin than reading John Owen.

The first collection of Goodwin’s works was published in five folio volumes in London from 1681 to 1704, under the editorship of Thankful Owen, Thomas Baron, and Thomas Goodwin Jr. An abridged version of those works was later printed in four volumes (London, 1847–50). This reprinted twelve-volume edition was printed by James Nichol (Edinburgh, 1861–66) in the Nichol’s Series of Standard Divines. It is far superior to the original five folio volumes.

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Debating Baptism @ The Westminster Assembly

Posted on 02. Sep, 2009 by Mark Jones.

Debates on the efficacy, or lack thereof, of baptism are nothing new.  At the Westminster Assembly there were some interesting debates, one of which included how to view children who had been baptized.  The debate concerned how to understand the word “holy” in 1 Cor. 7:14.  Thanks to the work of Chad van Dixhoorn, we have better access to the Minutes of the Westminster Assembly and can better understand the dynamics of writing Confessions. [...]

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Thomas Goodwin Site

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by Danny Hyde.

As is noted on Mark Jones’ “Author Profile” page, his old blog site, “Thomas Goodwin,” remains online as an archive for those interested in searching that site for material related to his PhD studies on Goodwin.

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