Chapter 59 - Lessons from the Puritans
The Puritans show us how to
- focus on Christ - they treasured and extolled Him in all things
- stay Biblically balanced - maintain the objective salvation events of God with our subjective experience of it, God's sovereignty and our responsibility, avoiding Arminianism and hyper-Calvinism.
- teach the faith - using catechisms to cultivate biblical knowledge, apply it to life, enhance family worship, and bring people to Christ.
- pray without ceasing - they emphasized a pastor and preacher's private prayers, to model prayer publicly for all Christians and to enhance the power of sermons.
- bear up under troubles - "we need affliction to humble us" (966). Besides, they are temporary, while our reward in heaven is eternal.
- kill pride - pride crops up over almost anything. Don't get satisfied with yourself. Focus on your sins and your humble Savior.
- rely on the Spirit - both to convert souls and grow in the Lord.
Imitate the piety of the Puritans. They show us great godliness.
Chapter 60 - A Final Word
The Puritans lived in hard times and were largely unsuccessful in their reforming efforts. But many elements of their work deserve recovery today.
The Puritans lived in hard times and were largely unsuccessful in their reforming efforts. But many elements of their work deserve recovery today.
- They kept their eye on great Gospel truths
- They valued learning, were highly trained in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, theology and philosophy, and taught their people.
- They furthered theological work begun a generation earlier, with more precise distinctions.
- They knew their Bibles well.
- They reformed the church with sincere and practical piety.
- They centered their work on the pulpit and press.
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