Books & Articles Exclusive to Reformed Books Online

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Subsection

AI Translations

Order of Contents

By Topic
By Author

By Topic

Prolegomena 2 Judicial Law 2
Gospel 4 Ecclesiology 8
Practical 6 Infant Baptism 2
Systematic Theology 8 Worship 6
Predestination 4 Psalm Singing 2
Covenant Theology 3 Lord’s Supper 1
Christ 1 Puritan Poetry 4
. Covenanting 3
Common Grace 2 Slavery 1
Natural Law 1 Family 1
Anthropology 1 Eschatology 1
Civil Magistracy 3

Prolegomena

Trelcatius, Jr., Lucas – ‘Of the Principles of Sacred Divinity’ (1610) 5 pp. from A Brief Institution of the Common Places of Sacred Divinity, pp. 1-11.

Trelcatius, Jr. (1573-1607) was a professor of theology at the University of Leiden, Netherlands and one of the key participants in a number of debates with Jacob Arminius.

Alting, Henry – ‘A Disputation on the Light of Nature’ trans. T. Fentiman (1628; RBO, 2022) 2 pp. 16 theses

Alting (1583-1644) was a German, reformed, professor of theology at Heidelberg (1613-1622) and a professor of historical theology at Groningen, Netherlands (1627-1644). He, with Abraham Scultetus,
represented the University of Heidelberg at the Synod of Dort in 1618.

This disputation is of special interest in understanding the background to Westminster’s affirmations regarding the light of nature: WCF 1.1; 1.6; 10.4; 20.4; 21.1; WLC 2, 60, 121, 151.

The Gospel

Rogers, Richard

Two Sermons on Conversion from Isaiah 55:1-2 (1612) 29 pp. including a Publisher’s Introduction and a Preface by Rogers

Rogers’ (1551-1618) famed reply to the scoffer, ‘I serve a precise God’, gave the occasion for the puritans to be called ‘precisionists’. These two very experientially rich sermons on conversion lay the entrance to God’s kingdom sweetly low: to any that thirst for it. Rogers, with a discerning and soft hand, reproves worldly minded persons who do not desire the best things (even their own salvation), shows that the way to be saved is to thirst for it (for those that desire what God offers), and assures those that do thirst that God will surely make good his end of the deal. It is in thirsting that the Christian continues in this life to receive the best spiritual graces from God for everything that he or she needs.

Two Sermons on Conversion from Deut. 5:28-29 1612 21 pp.

Deut. 5:29: ‘Oh! That there were such a heart in them to fear me, and to keep all my commandments always; that it might go well with them, and with their children forever!’

Rutherford, Samuel – The Gospel is Conditional (1648) 3 pp. being Part 2, Chapter 38, pp. 39-40 of his A Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist.

While the gospel is not conditional as respects any merit or power in us (contrary to Arminianism), yet it is equally wrong to say with the hyper-calvinists that the gospel has no conditions whatsoever. Rutherford here exposits (in congruity with Larger Catechism #32) how the gospel has evangelical conditions, without which we will never see everlasting life (Heb. 12:14).

Gib, Adam – ‘Concerning the Gospel Call & the Warrant of Faith’ (1747) 31 pp. from his The Present Truth: A Display of the Secession Testimony, vol. 2, Progression 5

This is the best piece that Christian history has bequeathed to us on God’s Call in the Gospel Offer in relation to the Atonement. Read it to find out why.

Practical

1500’s

Perez, Juan – The Epistle of Consolation to Those Imprisoned by the Inquisition 1560 130 pp. Translated from Spanish by Charles Johnson, with a biographical preface about Perez.

Perez (c.1500-1567) was a Spanish reformer who spent time in Geneva and translated the New Testament and Psalms into Spanish. Here he seeks to confirm and comfort protestants in heart-breaking circumstances, living under the fear of the Spanish Inquisition. This work will be especially beneficial to anyone going through difficult times.

“For there is no Jesus Christ without a cross,
nor a true and blessed cross without Jesus Christ.”

1600’s

Burgess, Anthony – ‘On Vain Disputing’ (1652) 13 pp. being an excerpt from Sermon 2 and the whole of Sermon 51 from his Spiritual Refining, in modern English

Burgess (†1664), one of the Westminster divines, shows the unprofitbleness of vain disputes in religion that edify none, but only pine away the soul as the lean kine of Pharaoh’s Egypt, at the expense of living grace in the soul.

Dickson, David – Sacred Therapeutics: Table of Contents (1656) with an Introduction by Travis Fentiman

Dickson’s Holy Therapeutics shows how to apply God’s covenants to our life in order to grow in assurance and resist temptation. It contains Dickson’s fullest contribution to covenant theology: his articulation of the Covenant of Redemption, of which he was one of the first systematic expositors for. Dickson’s work has long been neglected due to there being no easy way to peruse it. Here is an Introduction to this long work and a Table of Contents with links to make it accessible to all.

Dyke, Jeremiah – ‘Of Quenching & Not Quenching of the Spirit’ (d. 1620) 60 pp. a sermon on 1 Thess. 5:19

This is one of the best, most convicting, sobering and enlivening sermons the webmaster has come across. The message is deeply applicable to every person. Dyke (d. 1620) was a conforming, English, puritan minister and the brother of Daniel Dyke. For a brief bio see his entry in the Dictionary of National Biography.

Gouge, William – On Covetousness 18 pp. these sections are Gouge’s own summaries of his sermons on covetousness from his Commentary on Hebrews

Here is spiritual examination at its finest. Sift your heart upon the Tenth Commandment and purify yourself to be lovely in God’s sight through the purgings of repentance.

2000’s

Fentiman, Travis – Theses on the Ethics of Civil Voting (RBO, 2024) 39 pp.

Who may a Christian morally vote for in civil elections?

A booklet by a committee of the RPCNA, Christ Centered Voting (2019), maintains only a Christian “publicly committed to scriptural principles of civil government.” These 64 theses delineate the ethical foundation of voting and demonstrate that this restriction is contrary to Scripture and natural ethics. The theses defend the due extent of God-glorifying voting according to the will of God for the purpose of making further reformation in our land unto the standard held forth to us in Scripture and the glory of God.

Biblicism and a prominent doctrine of the Reformed Presbyterian family of denominations, the Universal Mediatorial Kingdom of Christ, are critiqued as well.

Systematic Theology

Articles

1600’s

Vermigli, Peter Martyr – The Common Places: Table of Contents 1583 19 pp., with an Editor’s Introduction

Vermigli (1499-1562) was an influential second generation reformer. His collected Common Places became a popular systematic theology through the early 1600’s. While the work still is not available in English on the internet or in a printed edition, here is the Table of Contents, which will wet your taste to read more of this sometimes neglected reformer.

Rutherford, Samuel

Rutherford’s Examination of Arminianism: the Tables of Contents with Excerpts from Every Chapter trans. Charles Johnson & Travis Fentiman 1668 / 2019 135 pp.

The closest thing Rutherford wrote to systematic theology was his Examination of Arminianism. As Arminians erred on nearly every point of theology, refuting their rising, popular system gave Rutherford the opportunity to survey the gamut of theology. Rutherford addresses topics here nowhere addressed in his books written in English.

For the first time, a substantial portion of this work has been translated into English. Learn theology from the greatest Scottish theologian in Church history.

Samuel Rutherford’s Treatise on Providence: the Table of Contents in English 2016 7 pp.

Rutherford tackles some of the hardest topics in theology in his Latin treatise on Providence, which has never been translated before. For the first time, peer into this intriguing and important work which seeks to keep the straight line, not departing into the errors on either side, of God’s mysterious ways with us.

Dury, John – A Summary Platform of the Heads of a Body of Practical Divinity 1654 12 pp. with a letter from Archbishop James Ussher recommending that such a body of practical divinity be written

John Dury (1596-1680) grew up with connections to the heads of state, and was advised by an eminent chaplain that to reconcile the divisions of the protestant churches would be the greatest work of peacemaking (Matt 5:9) that one could do. Dury subsequently devoted his entire adult life’s work to this end, with indefatigable journeys, letter writing and conferencing among the leading church figures of the day. The titles of his many writings also bear out this purpose.

This particular work is the first part of a brief summary outline of practical scriptural living and ethics, intended as an ecumenical effort to unite churches abroad. Previous to this work, a letter was written by William Gouge, Obadiah Sedgwick and others to James Ussher asking him to lead a joint project to write such a body of divinity. Ussher was favorable to the project but it was interrupted by the English Civil War. Other signers to this effort included: John Downame, George Walker, Adoniram Byfield, Sidrach Simpson, Richard Culverwell, George Hughes and Joseph Symonds. Dury ended up writing the desired outline of practical divinity. HT: Andrew Myers.

Polanus, Amandus – The Table of Contents to Polanus’ Syntagma, in English 1609-10 16 pp. With a collection of resources on Polanus and his works in the Introduction.

Have you ever desired to peer into an old, standard, Latin, Reformed systematic theology? Amandus Polanus’ (1561-1610) Syntagma, or System of Christian Theology (1609-10) is just that. Polanus was an early Reformed theologian in Germany. He had studied at Tübingen, Basel and Geneva and became the professor of Old Testament at Basel in 1596. Here is the Table of Contents to his 10 books in 2 volumes translated into English and made publicly available for the first time.

We have translated many other tables of contents from old reformed works on our Reformed Systematic Theologies in Latin page.

Roberts, Francis – A Synopsis of Theology, or Divinity Buy 1645, 10 pp., an outline of theological headings

2000’s

Fentiman, Travis – John L. Girardeau’s Doctrine of Adoption: a Systematic & Biblical Defense (2014) 20 pp.

This is a systematic exposition and Biblical defense of Girardeau’s doctrine of Adoption. It argues that Adoption is both distinct from Regeneration and Justification, that Adam was by creation naturally a son of God (Luke 3:38), and that unbelievers are as well (Acts 17:28, Lk. 15:24), though not spiritually (Jn. 8:44), as God is the Father of all people by creation (Heb. 12:9, Eph. 3:15).

Books

1700’s

Turretin, Jean-Alphonse – Discourse concerning Fundamental Articles (London: Darby, 1720) 95 pp.

1800’s

Alexander, Archibald – God, Creation & Human Rebellion: Lecture Notes of Archibald Alexander from the Hand of Charles Hodge (1818; RHB, 2019; RBO, 2023) 150 pp. Forward by Maurice Roberts; Intro by James Garretson

These lectures by Archibald Alexander (1772–1851), Princeton Seminary’s first professor, were transcribed by his student Charles Hodge (1797–1878) in Jan. 1818. They cover the first third of the subjects in a systematic theology, in catechetical form.

Besides the inherent interest in Alexander’s thought (a major father and influencer of American presbyterianism) and what was being taught at Princeton Seminary for the formation of ministers from its inception, this book is a great recommendation for someone who wants to read a systematic theology for the first time or get into Christian doctrine.

See the podcast about the book at Reformed Forum with Fentiman and Garretson.

Predestination

1500’s

Calvin, John & Theodore Beza – ‘Calvin & Beza on Providence: Translations by Knox’ trans. John Knox (1545, 1558, 1560; 2021)

These two valuable pieces on Providence by Calvin and Beza, though previously available in English, have lain in obscurity, so much so that most people likely do not know that they exist. They originally appeared, translated by John Knox from the French and Latin respectively, in the midst of Knox’s massive treatise on predestination. That treatise remains in old English, which is old enough and difficult enough that to many it is unreadable.

The Libertines, having such a high view of God’s eternal decree, held to what is known in philosophy as a form of Occasionalism, that all events that occur are directly and immediately worked by God. True secondary causation is eliminated. One main problem with this is that it makes God the Author of Sin, something that the Libertines expressly affirmed. Calvin here not only repudiates this blasphemy, but he also lays out three ways (and only three ways) in which God brings all things to pass through his providence, herein establishing true secondary causation.

Beza provides 29 propositions on providence from his work against Sebastian Castellio, touching upon similar themes as Calvin. Both Calvin and Beza’s pieces, while making some basic distinctions, expound the Lord’s providence in a way that is easy to grasp with illustrations from Scripture and human life.

Rollock, Robert – A Brief Instruction on the Eternal Approval & Disapproval of the Divine Mind 1593/4 6 pp. trans. Charles Johnson & Travis Fentiman

This short work of Rollock’s was left untranslated in his two volume Select Works, and, to our knowledge, has not been translated elsewhere.

Rollock, a fountain of reformed theology in Scotland, here treats of the important distinctions to be recognized within God’s decree of predestination, especially as it comes to be variously executed through time in providence. Of special interest is his formulations relating to what would be later known as the sincere free offer of the Gospel:

“Approval without the decree belongs to all good things with respect to themselves, though they are not at any time realized, of which sort are the conversion, faith, and salvation of reprobates; which God surely approves of simply, but does not decree to come about… 1 Tim. 2:4, ‘Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.'”

Rollock’s early paradigm appears to have been influential through later reformed thought as reflections of it occur in later reformed scholastics, including in the Metaphysical Disquisitions of Samuel Rutherford at the end of his Latin treatise on Providence. More about that may be explored on our page On God’s Revealed Will.

1600’s

Westminster Assembly – ‘A Short Declaration of the Westminster Assembly, by Way of Detestation of the Doctrine that God is the Author of Sin’ (London, 1645) 6 pp.

This may be the least known, most important, short document of the Westminster Assembly. A book was circulated in London arguing that God is the Author even of Sin, purportedly for the benefit of saints taking comfort in this in their trials.

The Westminster Assembly requested the English civil Parliament to suppress this blasphemous book. The Parliament ordered the burning of the book, and that the Westminster Assembly draw up a declaration in order “to declare to the people the abominableness of it.” The declaration, unanimously approved by the Assembly, with none dissenting, very helpfully and carefully condemns the sentiments of the book that go to far, as many today do, and precisely defines how God orders sin for good, while not being the efficient cause of it, it coming solely from the creature at God’s effective permission.

In this short piece, see how the civil government and the Church ought to cooperate between their distinct jurisdictions unto godly purposes, and how censorship of that which is immoral, it violating God’s Law, is good and necessary.

1800’s

Girardeau, John – The Will in its Theological Relations (1891) 485 pp.

Girardeau was an important, though now lesser known, American Sourthern presbyterian. This is his important contribution to the topic of the nature of Predestination, which includes a critique of Jonathan Edwards’ Freedom of the Will.

Covenant Theology

Burgess, Anthony – ‘Professing Christians are Externally in Covenant with God’ 1652 5 pp. being from his Spiritual Refining, Sermon 64, pp. 394-6, in modern English

Dickson, David – Sacred Therapeutics: Table of Contents (1656), with an Introduction by Travis Fentiman

Dickson’s Holy Therapeutics shows how to apply God’s covenants to our life in order to grow in assurance and resist temptation. It contains Dickson’s fullest contribution to covenant theology: his articulation of the Covenant of Redemption, of which he was one of the first systematic expositors for. Dickson’s work has long been neglected due to there being no easy way to peruse it. Here is an Introduction to this long work and a Table of Contents with links to make it accessible to all.

Roberts, Francis – ‘Of God’s Giving the Law on Mt. Sinai as a Covenant, and that of Faith’ 1657 90 pp., being Book 3, Chapter 4, Aphorism 2 of The Mystery and Marrow of the Bible: God’s Covenants with Man, with an Introduction and Extended Outline

This is the most detailed, full, and perhaps, most important, scriptural and theological treatment of the nature of the Mosaic Covenant that has been handed down to us from the Reformation and Puritan eras, given here for the first time in a contemporary and easily readable edition. Roberts argues at length that the Mosaic Covenant was not a covenant of works, but was a further unfolding of the Covenant of Grace, with a peculiar emphasis in its administration in order to drive sinners to Christ.

Fentiman, Travis – The Covenant of Redemption: a Covenant Distinct from the Covenant of Grace (2014) 18 pp.

Puritan theology used to teach that there is a Covenant of Grace in time with men and also a Covenant of Redemption in eternity between the Father and the Son. Much of contemporary reformed theology collapses the two covenants into one, following Thomas Boston of the early 1700’s and most of the Southern Presbyterians in the 1800’s. This article demonstrates that the majority puritan view is the most rigorously Biblical.

Christ

Fentiman, Travis – 1. “Christ’s Human Nature as Non-Personal” in ‘An Introduction to Peter van Mastricht on Christ’s Human Nature as Non-Personal, the Time of Ensoulment in the Womb & the Perpetual Virginity of Mary’ (RBO, 2024), pp. 1-9

It is exciting to read the seventeenth century reformed Dutch theologian Peter van Mastricht’s Theoretical-Practical Theology (RHB), the best systematic theology existent in English. Volume 4 is out, on Christ’s Person, filled with wonderful material.

Yet his extended treatment of Christ’s impersonal human nature may occasion some head scratching. In this new readable but scholarly article Fentiman introduces and contextualizes Mastricht’s view, showing that it was largely representative of Reformed Orthodoxy, and it is right. You will learn more about the metaphysics of Christ’s Person than you likely ever have and it will whet your palate for reading more of Mastricht!

Section 2 on the timing of ensoulment as being around 42 days after conception (the common view of Reformed Orthodocy in Mastricht’s time, and of his era at large), means that Christ’s personal union of his two natures also happened at that time. The article shows the philosophical and Scriptural coherency and plausibility of this view.

Common Grace

Gib, Adam – ‘Christ’s Mediatorial Kingdom & Common Benefits’ (1747) 7 pp. in The Present Truth: A Display of the Secession Testimony, vol. 2, Appendix 2, Section 4, pp. 299-302

Gib was an important Scottish Secession Church theologian. Gib discusses how common benefits to humanity flow from Christ on the throne in heaven. He distinguishes Christ’s relation as God, Creator and Preserver, from his office of redemptive Mediator and the benefits of his death for his people (in a Limited Atonement). Gib makes 7 helpful distinctions.

Gib’s general paradigm was previously taught by Rutherford, A Peaceable & Temperate Plea… (1642), ch. 19, p. 295.

Kuiper, Herman – Calvin on Common Grace Buy (1928)

Kuiper (1889-1963) was a minister in the Christian Reformed Church (C.R.C.) and a professor at Calvin Seminary. Kuiper studied under Louis Berkhof, A.A. Hodge, Geerhardus Vos and B.B. Warfield. This work of his was historically significant during the debates that followed the C.R.C.’s assertion of the 3 Points of Common Grace in 1924.

This is the most detailed, careful and definitive work (being an anthology of extended quotes with analysis) that demonstrates that Calvin explicitly, repeatedly and frequently taught throughout his Institutes and commentaries that:

(1) God gives common grace to all men,
(2) that God’s common grace in the Covenant extends to the reprobate, and
(3) that God desires all men to embrace the gospel and be saved.

Read Calvin for yourself and see what he says. The appendix to the book (p. 239) gives a survey of the doctrine of common grace in the theological writings (many of which remain in Latin or Dutch) of Peter van Mastricht, Johannes Marck, Wilhelmus a Brakel, Bernhardinus de Moor, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Hodge, A.A. Hodge, Herman Bavinck, Abraham Kuyper and V. Hepp.

Kuiper’s work is very hard to come buy on the used market, if it is available at all, and is very pricey if one can find it at all.

Natural Law

Roberts, Francis – ‘On the Moral Law and the Law of Nature’ 1675 3 pp. being Book 3, Chapter 4, Aphorism 1, Question 6 of his The Mystery & Marrow of the Bible: God’s Covenants with Man

Roberts distinguishes between the Moral Law revealed by God in special revelation and the Law of Nature written on man’s heart since creation. Roberts gives 4 evidences of how they are the same in their substance and 5 evidences of how they are different with regard to their particulars and circumstances.

Anthropology

Fentiman, Travis – ‘An Introduction to Peter van Mastricht on Christ’s Human Nature as Non-Personal, the Time of Ensoulment in the Womb & the Perpetual Virginity of Mary’ (RBO, 2024) 21 pp.

It is exciting to read the seventeenth century reformed Dutch theologian Peter van Mastricht’s Theoretical-Practical Theology (RHB), the best systematic theology existent in English. However his statements in vol. 4 about the timing of ensoulment in the womb, and hence human life starting at around 42 days after conception may cause some head scratching.

This new readable but scholarly article introduces and contextualizes the issue, showing the coherency and plausibility of it, both philosophically and Scripturally. It was was the common view of Mastricht’s era and of Reformed Orthodoxy in his time. Given that Christ’s gestation occured in accordance with regular human nature, it was also the timing of the personal union of his two natures in the incarnation.

Mastricht’s statements about Mary’s perpetual virginity in the same volume may also cause protestants some head scratching. The article documents that this was a historical belief of near all of Protestantism in the Post-Reformation (in contrast to Romanism holding Mary’s perpetual virginity to be formally of the faith itself). The article shows the ethical and Scriptural coherence of the view.

On the Civil Magistrate, his Power Circa Sacra & on the Establishment Principle

On the Magistrate’s Power & Duties

1500’s

von Ewich, Johann – The Duty of a Faithful & Wise Magistrate in Preserving & Delivering of the Commonwealth from Infection in the Time of the Plague or Pestilence tr. John Stockwood (London, 1583)

The advice of Johann von Ewich (1525-1588) is generally speaking really good. von Ewich was a reformed, German reformer, educated in law, and was a physician and professor of medicine. He came to hold the civil office of city-physician under the mayor of the increasingly reformed city of Bremen, Germany. He outlines in this work a plan for Bremen and other cities to implement upon an outbreak of a plague.

On Circa Sacra, “Around Sacred Things”

1600’s

Gillespie, George – All of Gillespie’s Writings on Christ’s Mediatorial Kingdom is the Church Only 110 pp. ed. Travis Fentiman

These writings (specifically his 111 Propositions) are the classic delineation of the Establishment Principle.

Rutherford, Samuel – “The Due Right of Presbyteries: Table of Contents and Subject Index” 1644 22 pp. ed. Travis Fentiman

See specifically Rutherford’s treatment of the Establishment Principle in the Appendix to Part 2.

Fentiman, Travis & London Presbyterians – The Civil Government’s Authority about Religion & the Church, Circa Sacra: An Extended Introduction & a Section from the English Presbyterians’ Divine Right (1646; ReformedBooksOnline, 2021) 123 pp.

The Reformation and puritan era’s teaching on the Church-State relationship, derived from the Word of God in accord with the light of Nature, has been all but lost today. The term for it was circa sacra; it means that the magistrate has authority, not in, but ‘around the sacred aspects’ of religion and the Church.

While the civil government does not have formal authority over the Church, as Christ is her only Head, yet the magistrate does have civil authority over the material Church in legitimate civil matters that pertain equally in principle to civil society.

As all people are to seek first the Kingdom of God with the natural power they have (Mt. 6:33), so likewise the civil government ought to use its natural, God-given, civil power for the good of Christ’s Kingdom, the Church (Isa. 49:23; 60:10,12,16), including in civilly professing, protecting and promoting the True Religion, and civilly establishing it in the land.

We need to reform ourselves and our nations to the Word of God. This newly written Extended Introduction to circa sacra outlines in detail the older view of the original Westminster Confession (1646) and reformed orthodoxy, and is a gateway into puritan literature on the subject. The paper also explains the differences between the Reformation view of circa sacra and the later ‘Establishment Principle’ of the 1800’s Free Church of Scotland.

Appended to the work is a section from the London presbyterian ministers’ Divine Right of Church Government (1646) on circa sacra: the most readable, systematic and brief setting forth of the older view of circa sacra (with most of its numerous necessary distinctions) from the Scriptures in English that the webmaster is aware of.

On the Establishment Principle

1800’s

Corimer, John – A Defense of Church Establishments (1833) 71 pp. published anonymously, being a second review of the speeches of the leading men of the Voluntary Church Association

This book was written at the beginning of the 10 year Intrusion Controversy in 1833 that led up to the birth of the Free Church of Scotland from the Church of Scotland in the Disruption of 1843. The Intrusion Controversy centered around the unlawful intrusion of the civil government into the jurisdiction of the Church. Many saw the abuses and hence argued for a complete disassociation between Church and State, otherwise known as the Voluntary Principle. Corimer here argues for the Biblical Establishment Principle against the Voluntary Principle. His book is a review of ‘Voluntary Lectures that were Lately Delivered’.

“Second” in the original title refers to the fact that he had previously responded to the ‘Voluntary Lectures’ before they were published in book form. Here he responds to the lectures more fully after their publication.

The Judicial Law

Roberts, Francis – ‘On the Moral Law and Judicial Law’ 1675 21 pp. being Book 3, Chapter 4, Aphorism 1, Question 2, Section 3 of his The Mystery and Marrow of the Bible: God’s Covenants with Man

Roberts (1609–1675) wrote the puritan magnum opus on Covenant Theology. This section from that work gives a window into the majority puritan view that the Moral Law in Moses (the Ten Commandments) continues to oblige in all ages, while the Judicial Law expired with the state of Israel (only the general equity therein continuing to oblige). Roberts enumerates five very helpful distinctions that demonstrate the Biblical priority of the Moral Law over the Judicial Law in this respect.

Samuel Rutherford on the Judicial Laws of Moses: Excerpts Arranged Topically 32 pp. ed. Travis Fentiman

How do the Judicial Laws of Moses apply today? Rutherford, one of the Westminster divines, expounds the majority, historic and confessionally Reformed view of General Equity in contrast to Christian pluralism and Theonomy. Let Rutherford take you to school and you will be thankful for the lesson.

Ecclesiology

English Puritans – A Refutation of the Errors of Separatists (1604; RBO, 2025) 300 pp. with an Extended Intro by Travis Fentiman: “Defending the Lawfulness of Partial-Conformity in Worship & Church Government (including under Civil Impositions) from Scripture, Westminster & the Scottish Indulgence Controversy, contra George Gillespie, while Driving against Denominationalism, for the Unifying of Christ’s Church”

The moderate puritans are often looked upon as compromisers in partially conforming to things not wholly right in the Church (and State); yet their reasons for this are little known.

This newly edited book from the archives is a one of a kind jewel. Written by a group of unnamed English reformed ministers (in the trajectory of divine-right presbyterianism), they defend their outlook from the Scriptures while arguing against both the Conformists and Separatists, while preserving the Church as one (Jn. 17:20–23) in the fundamentals of the Faith, without sacrificing principles.

The Extended Introduction by Travis Fentiman (MDiv) sets forth the Scriptural case for principled partial conformity in worship and Church government, against George Gillespie. It also documents that most of the Westminster divines were conformists to some degree under pain of ministerial deprivation, and shows how partial conformity is consistent with the Westminster standards. The surprising breadth of Westminster’s parameters on worship is historically brought to light in consideration of its original intent.

The fascinating untold story of the indulged covenanting ministers in Scotland during 1669-1688, those who partially conformed to the undue impositions of the civil government, is narrated and defended from Scripture, especially against the arguments of that ultra non-conformist, John Brown of Wamphray. The civil dethroning principles of the 1680’s Scottish Cameronians are shown to be erroneous and contrary to the reformed, puritan and covenanting tradition as especially summed up in Samuel Rutherford’s Lex Rex (1644).

An honest and not simplistic view the Solemn League and Covenant (1643) is surveyed, drawing on some of the latest historical research, supporting the partial conforming trajectory.

Lastly, the Extended Intro drives against denominationalism and the wrong-headedness of erecting denominational white towers, seeking the unifying of Christ’s Church through the catholic principles of Scripture, Westminster, the Scots and the London presbyterians. Church union in (at least) Christianity’s fundamentals will be seen to oblige from God’s Word, as many of the reformed, the London presbyterians and the Scottish covenanter James Durham taught. Separation for secondary matters that do not tend to overturn the fundamentals is seen to be schism (notwithstanding your denomination’s constitution, vows, covenants, etc.).

See the first several pages of the Extended Intro for what other things are treated of and argued in the book. Theological treasures are yours for the reaping; take up and read!

Gillespie, George – All of Gillespie’s Writings on Christ’s Mediatorial Kingdom is the Church Only 110 pp. ed. Travis Fentiman

Rutherford, Samuel

Ladies have the Right to Vote in Ecclesiastical Elections (1644) 2 pp. in The Due Right of Presbyteries, pp. 476-77, with a 3 page Introduction by Rev. Travis Fentiman

Rutherford argues that ladies have the right to vote in ecclesiastical election as the right of election of officers belongs to the Body of Christ, every member of it. Such voting is not an act of ruling. Rev. Fentiman compares Rutherford’s position to that of Thomas M’Crie’s justly famous letter arguing for head-of-household voting.

ch. 20, ‘A Defense of the Government of the Church of Scotland’ 20 pp. in A Peaceable and Temperate Plea for Paul’s Presbytery in Scotland (1642). An updated, easier to read edition.

Rutherford describes and defends from scripture the church government of the Church of Scotland in his day. It is an excellent, brief, overview of a four office view of church government, the calling and ordination of office bearers, and the Scottish practice of the administration of the Lord’s Supper. It also has helpful articulations of Biblical views of days of fasting, marriage, offering, church censures, private and family worship and spiritual conferencing.

Independent Churches do not have the Authority for Greater Excommunication 1644 53 pp. from Chapter 10, Section 10 of his The Due Right of Presbyteries, pp. 289-323

Conservative Presbyterianism has a black-side. In the last several decades heavy-handed, independent ‘presbyterian’ churches have torn apart people’s lives and families by excommunicating persons with little due process, who are left with no recourse of appeal. What is not always known is that the Bible and historic, reformed presbyterianism have never allowed local churches to wield greater excommunication as Christ gave the Keys of his Kingdom to the universal visible Church (Jn. 20:22-23; Mt. 28:16,18-20; 16:18-19; Eph. 4:11-12), not the local session. Rutherford defends this Biblical doctrine at length against the Independents.

A Congregation does not have the Whole Power of the Keys of Church Government from Christ (1642) 36 pp.

This article is on substantially the same topic as the one immediately above, but is from a work of Rutherford’s from two years earlier than that one.

“The Table of Contents & Subject Index to Samuel Rutherford’s The Due Right of Presbyteries“ 1644 22 pp. ed. Travis Fentiman

What is the definitive work in Church history arguing and delineating classic presbyterianism? Rutherford’s Due Right of Presbyteries. Rutherford answers every detailed point of ecclesiology that you ever thought of, and many, many more.

Baxter, Richard – “Exhortation to Church Union where Fundamentally Faithful Churches already Agree” in Christian Concord, or the Agreement of the Associated Pastors & Churches of Worcestershire, with Richard Baxter’s Explication & Defence of it, & his Exhortation to Unity (London: A.M., 1653), pp. 95-106 & 119-20

Fentiman, Travis – ‘An Analysis of Rutherford & M’Crie on whether Ladies have the Right to Vote for Church Officers’ (2015) 21 pp. with Rutherford and M’Crie appended on the subject

Fentiman analyzes the alternative positions of Rutherford and M’Crie on the question and comes to a third middle viewpoint in-between both. His conclusions are:

(1) The voting of ladies was defended and practiced during the best time of the Church of Scotland;
(2) Voting in elections for Church officers is not an act of ruling;
(3) The grammar and context of Acts 6 does not exclude ladies;
(4) The exegetical argument from ‘no male nor female’ (Gal. 3:28) for every-member-voting, grounded on church membership, is strained and inconclusive;
(5) There is a third, middle-view in-between the alternatives of every-church-member voting and head-of-household voting;
(6) The congregation’s consent to its rulers is necessary by natural law, and Scripture enforces this natural right;
(7) This is the substance of all that presbyterians have ever generally
desired to maintain from the pertinent passages of Scripture;
(8) The congregation holds this right of election in common, though this does not specifically stipulate that each member has the right of a particular vote;
(9) The method of election in discerning the will of the congregation is not clearly prescribed by scripture and is hence indifferent;
(10) This was essentially the view of M’Crie.

Thus, the election of officers, whether by the vote of every church member, the heads-of-households, the session of elders (in their representative capacity) or otherwise, is indifferent and adaptable.

This viewpoint (specifically points 7-9) are consistent with, and essentially that of the Church of Scotland during the Westminster era (see below on this page).

Infant Baptism & Covenant Theology

Samuel Rutherford

‘On the Baptism of the Children of Adherents’ 1642 29 pp. being ch. 12 of his A Peaceable and Temperate Plea for Paul’s Presbytery in Scotland. An updated, easier to read edition.

Adherents are persons who have been baptized but do not come to the Lord’s Table. Should their children be baptized? Rutherford argues from scripture: Yes.

On the Baptism of the Children of Adherents, Part 2 1644 16 pp. being the 2nd Part, Chapter 4, Section 6 of The Due Right of Presbyteries, pp. 256-66, with a 3 page extended outline

Rutherford further argues against the Independent John Cotton.

Worship

1600’s

Calderwood, David – Propositions on Indifferent Things & Ceremonies in Worship trans. T. Fentiman (1623; RBO, 2021)

Calderwood (1575–1650) was a Scottish minister and arch-presbyterian. This section of Calderwood is taken from his large Latin work refuting the polity of the Church of England being sought to be imposed on Scotland.

Specifically, these propositions were set against the Articles of Perth (1618) which had instituted in the Church of Scotland (1) kneeling in receiving Communion, (2) observing religious festival days (such as Christmas, Easter, etc.), (3) episcopal confirmation of youth, and (4 & 5) administering baptism and the Lord’s Supper in private places.

Calderwood’s propositions are solid, timeless and are pardigmatic of classical presbyterianism.

Burges, John – An Answer Rejoined anent Ceremonies to William Ames (Partial) (London: Matthewes, 1631)

Burges was a godly, partially conforming English puritan minister, who here defends the lawfulness of the Anglican ceremonies, though he considered them inconvenient, but tolerable, as per most of the Westminster divines after him.

Cheynell, Francis – The Grounds of Christ the Mediator Receiving Divine Worship 1650 20 pp. with an Introduction and Outline

We are to only worship God, and yet Jesus, a man, was worshipped in his earthly ministry. How is this so? The answer is that we worship Jesus, the God-man, not insofar as He is a creature, but insofar as his Person is God. Cheynell, a Westminster divine, argues this precious jewel of theology in a bit of detail in a way that will be clear to the simplest, and make the most knowledgeable cry out: ‘Oh! the depths and the riches! (Rom. 11:33)

Baxter, Richard – Richard Baxter on Worship & Catholicity against Separatism & John Owen (RBO, 2024) 87 pp.

Separatism is often heralded as the height of Christian virtue, that one must separate from nearly every church or worship error. Many Christians who would not go that far, may yet have latent separatistic tendencies. Richard Baxter, in this newly cleaned up piece, demolishes the principles of Separatism.

His opponent? John Owen. Owen had written a tract arguing for separation, at least for those who had “engaged unto reformation,” from ever attending the Anglican liturgy. In it Owen uses principles that may sound like the height of righteousness, but are separatist. Baxter (rightly) convicts him of 42 errors.

The article has an editor’s Introduction. If you have interest in worship issues, you will learn a lot. May it humble us and cause us to more greatly love the Lord, his worship and his people.

2000’s

Fentiman, Travis

Articles

Baptism for the Dead: Sermon Notes on 1 Cor. 15:29 (2015) 18 pp.

Fentiman gives an introduction to the subject of the ‘baptism for the dead’ (1 Cor. 15:29) and argues that it refers to the purification washing for touching dead bodies in Num. 19, which the Jews (rightly) held to be a picture of the Resurrection. R.L. Dabney, amongst others took this view, though Fentiman argues it in more detail.

2. “Principled Partial Conformity in Worship” in Editor’s Extended Introduction in English Puritans, A Refutation of the Errors of Separatists (1604; RBO, 2025), pp. 21-93

Books

The Biblical Sabbath is from Dawn to Dawn (2018) 100 pp.

When does the Sabbath begin? In the most comprehensive article to-date on the subject, Fentiman demonstrates from Scripture that the Sabbath has always been from dawn-to-dawn since Creation throughout Scripture, without exception.

‘Morning’ in Gen. 1 is more accurately translated as ‘dawn’, the phrase signifying that each day of Creation ended with dawn, with the next day beginning therefrom. The Old Testament speaks of days starting from the morning or dawn in over 30 verses. The Israelites kept the Sabbath morning to morning in Ex. 16 and the rest of Old Testament history is consistent with this reckoning.

The New Testament throughout its pages likewise reckons days to start in the morning. The Temple in the New Testament counted the hours of the day from 6 A.M. The disciples’ buying of spices in the evening after the death of Jesus is shown to be inconsistent with an evening-to-evening reckoning of the Sabbath. The Resurrection accounts assume continuity with the Old Testament reckoning, when Christ rose from the dead. Christ celebrates the Lord’s Day in Jn. 20:19 with the disciples in the evening of the 1st day of the week, which the apostles continued to practice in Acts 20:7-11.

The corruption of the Sabbath by Jewish traditionalism, keeping it from evening to evening, likely started in the inter-Testamental era and was preserved in their Talmuds. A very full survey of the inter-Testamental and extra-Biblical literature is surveyed on the issue, as well as reformed history. Make your heart assured on this Scriptural subject and make the Sabbath a delight (Isa. 58:13-14)!

1 Corinthians – Head Coverings are Not Perpetual & they were Hair-Buns, with or without Material: Proven (2022) 283 pp.

Should women wear head-coverings in public worship today? The far-and-away dominant view of the reformed in the Post-Reformation and of the Scottish covenanters was that Paul’s ordinance was relative to his culture. This readable but scholarly book proves that position from God’s Word and demonstrates from history that covering referred to women covering their heads with hair-buns, with or without cloth material. See the many pictures and links to collections of pictures from Corinth and the Greco-Roman world on pp. 188-98.

The footnotes are laden with, not only valuable references from all of Church history on the topic, but also many quotes translated from Latin from reformed divines. The most concise form of the book’s main argument is:

1. All instituted worship must be “expressly set down in Scripture” or “by good and necessary consequence… deduced” therefrom (WCF 1.6).

2. As head-coverings in Scripture had contrary meanings and were both accepted and not in worship, they were clearly cultural.

3. There is no necessary, Scriptural consequence head-coverings were universal, perpetual, a positively religious, unchangeable ordinance, had a different meaning or use than in society, bound in themselves or that every alternate practice was sinful.

4. All the Scriptural data is consistent with, and goes no farther than head-coverings possibly being a circumstance common to human society, to be ordered by nature’s light, Christian prudence and the Word’s general principles (WCF 1.6).

See a fuller and more detailed overview of this argument and that veiling was not historically necessary on pp. 14-16. The Summary Conclusions on pp. 258-73 set forth the main points, interpretations and arguments of the book. Invest the time to read through this work and you will be richly rewarded with a much deeper understanding of God’s Word.

Psalm Singing

Roberts, Francis – Directions for the Right Singing of Psalms (1675) 12 pp. being pp. 128-131 of his larger The Key of the Bible: Unlocking the Richest Treasury of the Holy Scriptures. This is an updated and easier to read edition than the original.

Roberts (1609–1675) was an influential puritan who wrote a very large introduction to the Bible, from which this work is taken. Roberts gives 8 very helpful directions on how to sing the psalms with the most spiritual profit. Print out these directions as a pamphlet to help fellow saints be encouraged in the Lord.

Wells, John – How We may make Melody in our Hearts to God in Singing of Psalms late-1600’s 32 pp. This is a sermon from Puritan Sermons, 1659-89, re-typeset, re-formatted and re-edited, with an Introduction and explanatory footnotes.

If the Lord loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7), how much more does He love a cheerful worshipper? Indeed, He tells us to sing psalms to Him with joy (Ps. 95:2)! Let us, with the psalmist, stir ourselves up to this pleasure; this sermon will help us. It is a treasure. You will not find anything like it in modern Christian literature.

The Lord’s Supper

Rutherford, Samuel – The Efficacy of the Sacraments (1644) 5 pp. being pp. 211-15 of his Due Right of Presbyteries

This is perhaps the best concise explanation of how the Sacraments work. Rutherford gives the standard, widely prevalent, vanilla reformed view of the Reformation. The Sacraments work:

(1) as signs,
(2) as seals,
(3) are instruments by which faith works, and
(4) they are means of grace to be used in obedience to Christ’s command.

What is noteworthy about these distinctions is that one could not fully explain the sacraments without all four distinctions (the distinctions are necessary). Nor does one need more distinctions than these four in order to explain the Biblical material (these distinctions are sufficient to account for all of the Biblical data). Thus, one may rest assuredly that here is the Biblical view of how the Sacraments are means of grace. May it stir us up to greater faith in our Savior as we see Him represented and sealed to us in baptism and the Lord’s Supper!

Puritan Poetry

David Dickson – True Christian Love – A Poem (1655) 30 pp.

Dickson was a colleague of Rutherford and Gillespie. His song is ravishing; it sets forth the loveliness of Christ in contrast to all other lovers. Only in Christ do all other loves find their pleasure.

Rogers, Richard – A Sweet Meditation: A Poem on the Benefit of Reading, Conference, Musing on Holy Things & Prayer: containing a Complaint that these holy exercises are neglected for that which is worse than nothing, even men’s sinful will (1603) 46 stanzas, from his Seven Treatises

Rogers’ (1551-1618) was called the Enoch of his age for how closely he walked with God. He also gave the occasion for the puritans to be called precisionists in his famed reply to the scoffer complaining that he was too precise. Rogers replied, ‘I serve a precise God.’

Johnson, Thomas – ‘Stand up to your Christian Belief: Combat between Satan Tempting & a Christian Triumphing in the Comfort of the Apostles’ Creed, a Poem’ (1640) 5 pp.

Refresh yourself in the faith with this brief poem on the Apostles’ Creed by an English minister in 1640. In this battling dialogue Satan shames and condemns the Christian, who rises up in spiritual warfare, taking faith in Christ and his Word at every point. May your heart well-up with and abide in this living, conquering faith in Christ.

Greene, John – A Brief Unveiling of God & Man’s Glory – A Poem (1641) 31 pp. with a 7 page Introduction to his life and work by Travis Fentiman.

Greene was a member of the Westminster Assembly. His poem is delightful and profound. As with all good poetry, read it aloud.

The Introduction needs to be revised. It has been discerned that the John Greene of the Assembly was not the same as John Greene the baptist during the same era.

Covenanting

1600’s

Ascham, Anthony – On the Expiring of the Solemn League & Covenant (1649)

Ascham (c. 1614 – 1650) was an English Independent.

2000’s

Fentiman, Travis

A Brief Summary of the Majority Opinion in the Free Church of Scotland on Covenanting, summarized in 13 concise points, 20 paragraphs

A Defense of the Majority Opinion in the Free Church of Scotland on Covenanting, 36 points, 135 paragraphs, with a select annotated bibliography

Slavery

This speech was given on account of the resignation of Robert Wickliffe from the office of Senator, in defense of his personal character, political principles and his religious connections. Breckinridge in the speech is also defending himself from accusations made to the same effect against himself.

Family

Fentiman, Travis – Qualified Headship: That the Father’s Authority Within His Proper Sphere is Qualified and Limited, as Respecting the Marriage of His Daughters (2014) 42 pp.

Does the Bible teach that a father may forbid the marriage of his daughter for any reason? Must the father’s will always be obeyed if he does not require one to sin, though he is acting in ignorance and sin himself? A rising tide in Christianity believes the Bible’s answer to these two questions is Yes. This paper demonstrates that the Bible’s answer, and the answer of the large part of historic, reformed Christianity, is No. Daughters and their suitors are justified before God in getting married against the father’s will in certain grievous situations where, there is not “just cause.”

Eschatology

Fentiman, Travis – Postmillennialism & the Imminent Return of Christ (2018) 22 pp.

A major share of the Reformation and puritan era held to post-millennialism, that only after the majority of the nations convert to Christianity (in the Millennium, Ps. 22:26-31; Isa. 2:2-5; Rev. 20:4; etc.) will Christ come again.

It is sometimes posed as an objection to this that Christ may come back at any time; therefore post-millennialism is not true. Yet most of Church history has recognized from Scripture that there are prophecies which must occur before Christ comes again; hence Christ cannot come at any time.

This article demonstrates from the Scriptures that the Lord’s standing at the door and coming quickly is consistent with a robust postmillennialism.

By Author

by Century, by Last Name

Century

1500’s
1600’s
. Poetry
1700’s
1800’s
1900’s
2000’s

1500’s

John Calvin & Theodore Beza

Calvin, John & Theodore Beza – ‘Calvin & Beza on Providence: Translations by Knox’ trans. John Knox (1545, 1558, 1560; 2021)

Juan Perez

The Epistle of Consolation to Those Imprisoned by the Inquisition 1560 130 pp. Translated from Spanish by Charles Johnson, with a biographical preface about Perez.

“For there is no Jesus Christ without a cross,
nor a true and blessed cross without Jesus Christ.”

Robert Rollock

A Brief Instruction on the Eternal Approval & Disapproval of the Divine Mind 1593/4 6 pp. trans. Charles Johnson & Travis Fentiman

This short work of Rollock’s was left untranslated in his two volume Select Works, and, to our knowledge, has not been translated elsewhere.

Peter Martyr Vermigli

The Common Places: Table of Contents (1583) 19 pp., with an Editor’s Introduction

Johann von Ewich

The Duty of a Faithful & Wise Magistrate in Preserving & Delivering of the Commonwealth from Infection in the Time of the Plague or Pestilence tr. John Stockwood (London, 1583)

1600’s

Henry Alting

‘A Disputation on the Light of Nature’ trans. T. Fentiman (1628; RBO, 2022) 2 pp. 16 theses

This disputation is of special interest in understanding the background to Westminster’s affirmations regarding the light of nature: WCF 1.1; 1.6; 10.4; 20.4; 21.1; WLC 2, 60, 121, 151.

Anthony Ascham

On the Expiring of the Solemn League & Covenant (1649)

Ascham (c. 1614 – 1650) was an English Independent.

Richard Baxter

“Exhortation to Church Union where Fundamentally Faithful Churches already Agree” in Christian Concord, or the Agreement of the Associated Pastors & Churches of Worcestershire, with Richard Baxter’s Explication & Defence of it, & his Exhortation to Unity (London: A.M., 1653), pp. 95-106 & 119-20

Richard Baxter on Worship & Catholicity against Separatism & John Owen (1683; RBO, 2024) 87 pp.

The article has an editor’s Introduction. If you have interest in worship issues, you will learn a lot. May it humble us and cause us to more greatly love the Lord, his worship and his people.

John Burges

An Answer Rejoined anent Ceremonies to William Ames (Partial) (London: Matthewes, 1631)

Anthony Burgess

‘On Vain Disputing’ (1652) 13 pp. being an excerpt from Sermon 2 and the whole of Sermon 51 from his Spiritual Refining, in modern English

‘Professing Christians are Externally in Covenant with God’ 1652 5 pp. being from his Spiritual Refining, Sermon 64, pp. 394-96, in modern English

Francis Cheynell

The Grounds of Christ the Mediator Receiving Divine Worship (1650) 20 pp. with an Introduction and Outline

David Dickson

Sacred Therapeutics: Table of Contents (1656) with an Introduction by Travis Fentiman

John Dury

A Summary Platform of the Heads of a Body of Practical Divinity (1654) 12 pp. with a letter from Archbishop James Ussher recommending that such a body of practical divinity be written

Jeremiah Dyke

‘Of Quenching and Not Quenching of the Spirit’ d. 1620 60 pp. a sermon on 1 Thess. 5:19

David Calderwood

Propositions on Indifferent Things & Ceremonies in Worship trans. T. Fentiman (1623; RBO, 2021)

Calderwood’s propositions are solid, timeless and are pardigmatic of classical presbyterianism.

George Gillespie

Gillespie, George – All of Gillespie’s Writings on Christ’s Mediatorial Kingdom is the Church Only 110 pp. ed. Travis Fentiman

William Gouge

On Covetousness 18 pp. These sections are Gouge’s own summaries of his sermons on covetousness from his Commentary on Hebrews.

Here is spiritual examination at its finest. Sift your heart upon the Tenth Commandment and purify yourself to be lovely in God’s sight through the purgings of repentance.

Thomas Johnson

‘Stand up to your Christian Belief: Combat between Satan Tempting & a Christian Triumphing in the Comfort of the Apostles’ Creed, a Poem’ (1640) 5 pp.

London Presbyterians

Travis Fentiman & London Presbyterians – The Civil Government’s Authority about Religion & the Church, Circa Sacra: An Extended Introduction & a Section from the English Presbyterians’ Divine Right (1646; ReformedBooksOnline, 2021) 123 pp.

Amandus Polanus

The Table of Contents to Polanus’ Syntagma, in English 1609-10 16 pp. With a collection of resources on Polanus and his works in the Introduction.

We have translated many other tables of contents from old reformed works on our Reformed Systematic Theologies in Latin page.

Francis Roberts (5)

Directions for the Right Singing of Psalms (1675) 12 pp. being pp. 128-131 of his larger The Key of the Bible: Unlocking the Richest Treasury of the Holy Scriptures. This is an updated and easier to read edition than the original.

A Synopsis of Theology, or Divinity Buy 1645, 10 pp., an outline of theological headings

‘On the Moral Law and Judicial Law’ 1675 21 pp. being Book 3, Chapter 4, Aphorism 1, Question 2, Section 3 of his The Mystery and Marrow of the Bible: God’s Covenants with Man

‘On the Moral Law and the Law of Nature’ 1675 3 pp. being Book 3, Chapter 4, Aphorism 1, Question 6 of his The Mystery and Marrow of the Bible: God’s Covenants with Man

‘Of God’s Giving the Law on Mt. Sinai as a Covenant, and that of Faith’ 1657 90 pp., being Book 3, Chapter 4, Aphorism 2 of The Mystery and Marrow of the Bible: God’s Covenants with Man, with an Introduction and Extended Outline

Richard Rogers (see also Puritan Poetry below)

Two Sermons on Conversion from Isaiah 55:1-2 1612 29 pp. including a Publisher’s Introduction and a Preface by Rogers

Two Sermons on Conversion from Deut. 5:28-29 1612 21 pp.

Deut. 5:29:

‘Oh! That there were such a heart in them to fear me, and to keep all my commandments always; that it might go well with them, and with their children forever!’

Samuel Rutherford (9)

Short Articles

The Gospel is Conditional (1648) 3 pp. being pt. 2, ch. 38, pp. 39-40 of his A Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist.

Ladies have the Right to Vote in Ecclesiastical Elections (1644) 2 pp. in The Due Right of Presbyteries, pp. 476-77, with a 3 page Introduction by Rev. Travis Fentiman

The Efficacy of the Sacraments (1644) 5 pp. being pp. 211-15 of his Due Right of Presbyteries

This is perhaps the best concise explanation of how the Sacraments work. Rutherford gives the standard, widely prevalent, vanilla reformed view of the Reformation. The Sacraments work: (1) as signs, (2) as seals, (3) are instruments by which faith works, and (4) they are means of grace to be used in obedience to Christ’s command. What is noteworthy about these distinctions is that one could not fully explain the sacraments without all four distinctions (the distinctions are necessary). Nor does one need more distinctions than these four in order to explain the Biblical material (these distinctions are sufficient to account for all of the Biblical data). Thus, one may rest assuredly that here is the Biblical view of how the Sacraments are means of grace. May it stir us up to greater faith in our Savior as we see Him represented and sealed to us in baptism and the Lord’s Supper!

Samuel Rutherford on the Judicial Laws of Moses: Excerpts Arranged Topically 32 pp. ed. Travis Fentiman

Samuel Rutherford’s Treatise on Providence: the Table of Contents in English (2016) 7 pp.

“The Table of Contents & Subject Index to Samuel Rutherford’s The Due Right of Presbyteries“ (1644) 22 pp. ed. Travis Fentiman

Longer Articles on Church Government

A Defense of the Government of the Church of Scotland (1642) 20 pp. being ch. 20 of his A Peaceable and Temperate Plea for Paul’s Presbytery in Scotland. An updated, easier to read edition.

Rutherford describes and defends from scripture the church government of the Church of Scotland in his day. It is an excellent, brief, overview and defense of a four office view of church government, the calling and ordination of office bearers, and the Scottish practice of the administration of the Lord’s Supper. It also has helpful articulations of Biblical views of days of fasting, marriage, offering, church censures, private and family worship and spiritual conferencing.

Independent Churches do not have the Authority for Greater Excommunication (1644) 53 pp. from ch. 10, Section 10 of his The Due Right of Presbyteries, pp. 289-323

A Congregation does not have the Whole Power of the Keys of Church Government from Christ (1642) 36 pp.

This article is on substantially the same topic as the one immediately above, but is from a work of Rutherford’s from two years earlier than that one.

‘On the Baptism of the Children of Adherents’ (1642) 29 pp. being ch. 12 of his A Peaceable and Temperate Plea for Paul’s Presbytery in Scotland. An updated, easier to read edition.

Adherents are persons who have been baptized but do not come to the Lord’s Table. Should their children be baptized? Rutherford argues from scripture: Yes.

On the Baptism of the Children of Adherents, Part 2 (1644) 16 pp. being the 2nd Part, Chapter 4, Section 6 of The Due Right of Presbyteries, pp. 256-66, with a 3 page extended outline

Rutherford further argues against the Independent John Cotton.

On Systematic Theology

Rutherford, Samuel – Rutherford’s Examination of Arminianism: the Tables of Contents with Excerpts from Every Chapter trans. Charles Johnson & Travis Fentiman (1668 / 2019) 135 pp.

For the first time, a substantial portion of this work has been translated into English. Learn theology from the greatest Scottish theologian in Church history.

Lucas Trelcatius Jr.

Trelcatius, Jr., Lucas – ‘Of the Principles of Sacred Divinity’ 1610 5 pp. from A Brief Institution of the Common Places of Sacred Divinity, pp. 1-11.

Trelcatius, Jr. (1573-1607) was a professor of theology at the University of Leiden, Netherlands and one of the key participants in a number of debates with Jacob Arminius.

Peter van Mastricht

Fentiman, Travis – ‘An Introduction to Peter van Mastricht on Christ’s Human Nature as Non-Personal, the Time of Ensoulment in the Womb & the Perpetual Virginity of Mary’ (RBO, 2024) 21 pp.

(1) His extended treatment of Christ’s human nature as being impersonal,
(2) That human life and the soul only start at around 42 days after conception; and so it was with Christ’s personal union of his natures in the Incarnation; and
(3) That Mary remained a perpetual virgin throughout her life.

This new readable but scholarly article by Fentiman introduces and contextualizes these issues and shows:

(1) Mastricht’s view on Christ’s impersonal human nature was largely representative of Reformed Orthodoxy, and is right;
(2) The coherency and plausibility of life starting at around 42 days after conception, philosophically and Scripturally, as was the common view of Mastricht’s era; and it
(3) Documents that Mary’s de facto perpetual virginity as a historical belief, in contrast to Romanism holding it to be formally of the faith itself, was the near-universal view of Protestantism in that era, and the article shows the ethical and Scriptural coherence of this view.

You will learn more about the metaphysics of Christ’s Person than you ever have, and that is just the beginning. May it wet your taste for reading more of Mastricht!

John Wells

How We may make Melody in our Hearts to God in Singing of Psalms late-1600’s, 32 pages, this is a sermon from Puritan Sermons, 1659-89, re-typeset, re-formatted and re-edited, with an Introduction and explanatory footnotes.

The Westminster Assembly

‘A Short Declaration of the Westminster Assembly, by Way of Detestation of the Doctrine that God is the Author of Sin’ (London, 1645) 6 pp.

Puritan Poetry

David Dickson – True Christian Love – A Poem 1655, 30 pages

Rogers, Richard – A Sweet Meditation: A poem on the benefit of reading, conference, musing on holy things, and prayer: containing a complaint that these holy exercises are neglected for that which is worse than nothing, even men’s sinful will 1603 46 stanzas, from his Seven Treatises

Greene, John – A Brief Unveiling of God and Man’s Glory – A Poem 1641 31 pp. with a 7 page Introduction to his life and work by Travis Fentiman.

Greene was a member of the Westminster Assembly. His poem is delightful and profound. As with all good poetry, read it aloud.

The Introduction needs to be revised. It has been discerned that the John Greene of the Assembly was not the same as John Greene the baptist during the same era.

1700’s

Gib, Adam

Concerning the Gospel Call & the Warrant of Faith 1747 31 pp. from his The Present Truth: A Display of the Secession Testimony, vol. 2, Progression 5

This is the best piece that Christian history has bequeathed to us on God’s Call in the Gospel Offer in relation to the Atonement. Read it to find out why.

‘Christ’s Mediatorial Kingdom & Common Benefits’ (1747) 7 pp. from his The Present Truth: A Display of the Secession Testimony, vol. 2, Appendix 2, Section 4, pp. 299-302

Gib’s general paradigm was previously taught by Rutherford, A Peaceable & Temperate Plea… (1642), ch. 19, p. 295.

Turretin, Jean-Alphonse – Discourse concerning Fundamental Articles (London: Darby, 1720) 95 pp.

1800’s Articles

Breckinridge, Robert – A Speech in regard to the Power of the Legislature on the subject of Slavery, of the Importation of Slaves, of Abolitionism, of British Influence, of Religious Liberty, etc. 1840 32 pp. This speech was given on account of the resignation of Robert Wickliffe from the office of Senator, in defense of his personal character, political principles and his religious connections. Breckinridge in the speech is also defending himself from accusations made to the same effect.

M’Crie, Thomas – On the Right of Females to Vote in the Election of Ministers and Elders 1822 8 pp. A letter, re-edited and with explanatory footnotes.

This is the classic, historic piece arguing that ladies do not have the right to vote for Church officers. M’Crie’s letter is a model of principle mixed with humility and charity. M’Crie was an early 1800’s Scottish presbyterian of the Seceder tradition, and a foremost historian of the Scottish Covenanters.

1800’s Books

Alexander, Archibald – God, Creation & Human Rebellion: Lecture Notes of Archibald Alexander from the Hand of Charles Hodge (1818; RHB, 2019; RBO, 2023) 150 pp. Foreward by Maurice Roberts; Intro by James Garretson

See the podcast about the book at Reformed Forum with Fentiman and Garretson.

Corimer, John – A Defense of Church Establishments (1833) 71 pp. published anonymously, being a second review of the speeches of the leading men of the Voluntary Church Association

Girardeau, John – The Will in its Theological Relations (1891) 485 pp.

This is Girardeau’s important contribution to the topic of the nature of Predestination, which includes a critique of Jonathan Edwards’ Freedom of the Will.

1900’s Book

Kuiper, Herman – Calvin on Common Grace Buy (1928)

(1) God gives common grace to all men,
(2) that God’s common grace in the Covenant extends to the reprobate, and
(3) that God desires all men to embrace the gospel and be saved.

Kuiper’s work is very hard to come buy on the used market, if it is available at all, and is very pricey if one can find it at all.

2000’s

Fentiman, Travis

For more writings see: ‘Fentiman, Travis’ (RBO).

The Biblical Sabbath is from Dawn to Dawn (2018) 100 pp.

The Civil Government’s Authority about Religion & the Church, Circa Sacra: An Extended Introduction & a Section from the English Presbyterians’ Divine Right (1646; ReformedBooksOnline, 2021) 123 pp.

‘Postmillennialism & the Imminent Return of Christ’ (2018) 22 pp.

This article demonstrates from the Scriptures that the Lord’s standing at the door and coming quickly is consistent with a robust postmillennialism.

1 Corinthians – Head Coverings are Not Perpetual & they were Hair-Buns, with or without Material: Proven (2022) 283 pp.

1. All instituted worship must be “expressly set down in Scripture” or “by good and necessary consequence… deduced” therefrom (WCF 1.6).

2. As head-coverings in Scripture had contrary meanings and were both accepted and not in worship, they were clearly cultural.

Theses on the Ethics of Civil Voting (RBO, 2024) 39 pp.

Who may a Christian morally vote for in civil elections?

Biblicism and a prominent doctrine of the Reformed Presbyterian family of denominations, the Universal Mediatorial Kingdom of Christ, are critiqued as well.