{Book Review} Puritan Reformed Spirituality

Evangelical Press (EP Books) has published a true gift for the church titled Puritan Reformed Spirituality: A Practical Theological Study from our Reformed and Puritan Heritage. This book is authored by Joel Beeke. 

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Puritan Reformed Spirituality: A Practical Biblical Study from Reformed and Puritan Heritage

I am personally a huge fan of Puritan writings. They have impacted me significantly in my understanding of God and His Word, and they have surely helped me grow in a passionate love for the Triune God. So it will come as no surprise to you when I say that you will be better off by reading this book. Perhaps I should say it stronger: you need to read this book! Here are just a few reasons why. 

1. This book offers one of the greatest surveys of Puritans and their writings! It’s a rather large book (nearly 500 pages), consisting of 19 chapters and covering 10 Puritan giants and 7 different topics related to Reformed spirituality. After reading just a few chapters, I was left asking myself, “How in the world could one man be so knowledgeable of this many different Puritans and Reformed spirituality topics?” I realize Beeke is the President of a seminary named after the Puritans, but it still remains very impressive to me. He not only provides biographical information about individual Puritans, Dutch Reformed theologians, and the Reformer John Calvin, but he is also able to provide in depth teaching about the writings of these individuals. 
2. This book will help the reader understand why reading the Puritans and Dutch Reformed is so rewarding. After reading an excellent guide such as this, it will only leave you wanting more, and it will hopefully lead you to read the original sources that Beeke is quoting from. The passion for God that the Puritans exude is greatly contagious! 
3. Not only will this book introduce the reader to individuals from the Reformation, Dutch Second Reformation, and the Puritans, but it will also discuss some really excellent reformed spirituality topics. Beeke has chapters on the practice of mediation, the didactic use of the law in the Christian life, the Puritan example of evangelism, cultivating holiness, and more. 

And just as a little cherry on top, the book also is sprinkled with beautiful pictures throughout its pages. 

I simply cannot recommend this book highly enough! It will serve those who desire to be introduced to the Puritans and Dutch Reformed and Calvin, but it will also serve those who are already quite familiar with this crowd. Regardless, the reader will be rewarded by a feast of excellent writing. Tolle lege, take up and read! 

Disclaimer: My thanks to Evangelical Press for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.