Hey brother
I am a pastor here in central Tennessee and have been following you on YouTube for a few months. I have been more interested in the Puritan writers lately and was wondering what you would recommend for a first book or first few books. The only material from that era I am really familiar with would be Pilgrim’s Progress and Edward’s “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God.”
Thanks in advance,
Ethan
Ethan,
Great idea! I do have a few suggestions. First, would be a good overall survey. Check out Worldly Saints, by Leland Ryken. This will give you a good overview of their times and ethos. Next, it would be good to have a nice reference manual as to who is who. Meet the Puritans is perfect for that. This will give you nice, short introductions to their biographies, including times, places, and major events. After that, you might want a larger work on their theology. A Puritan Theology is the best overview of what they believed. You can piecemeal this work by reading the chapters that interest you most, or go ahead and read it straight through.
Finally, I would suggest that you pick ONE puritan and really get to know him. Three good options would be 1. Thomas Watson (loveable, sweet, sincere, easy to understand, very quotable for sermons); He’s sort of the Spurgeon of the Puritans. 2. John Bunyan (his Pilgrim’s Progress and Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners are both “must read” in the Puritan genre), and of course…
Jonathan Edwards. Edwards is technically NOT a Puritan (too late, and wrong side of the ocean) but he exhibits the authentic Puritan vibe through and through, and so is commonly lumped in with his English predecessors. If you are interested in Edwards, I would have a lot more to say. Thankfully, everything Edwards wrote is FREE online at Edwards.yale.edu. I have created a beginner’s Edwards reading guide here.
Let me know how else I can help!
Yours in Christ,
Dr. Matthew Everhard D.MIN.
Jonathan Edwards Studies 