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The Need to be Converted
Chapin, Calvin – ‘The Sinner Warned: a Sermon’ in The Columbian Preacher… (Catskill, Nathan Elliot, 1808), pp. 47-65
Chapin was a pastor of a congregational church in CT.
Semple, Gabriel – Sermon IX, on ‘Seek Ye the Lord while He may be Found’ (1679) in Faithful Contendings Displayed… (Glasgow: John Bryce, 1780), pp. 122-31
Semple, one of the Scottish covenanters of the late 1600’s, preached this at one of the fugitive field meetings where attending Christians were at peril for their lives.
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Sin
Alexander, Archibald
‘The Deceitfulness of Sin’ no date or source info, 5 paragraphs
‘The Misery of the Lost’ no date or source info, 28 paragraphs
‘The Day of Judgment’ no date or source info, 21 paragraphs
Bavinck, Herman – ‘The Greatness and Miserableness of Man’ 1956 3 paragraphs from Our Reasonable Faith, pp. 22-23
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Repentance
Colquhoun, John
‘The Difference Between True & Counterfeit Repentance’ 8 points in 37 paragraphs, from his Evangelical Repentance
‘A Word to the Impenitent’ 7 points in 10 paragraphs, from his Evangelical Repentance
‘The Fruits & Evidences of True Repentance’ 10 points in 14 paragraphs, from his Evangelical Repentance
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Salvation
Dickson, David & James Durham – ‘The Sum of Saving Knowledge’ (1651)
Alexander, Archibald
‘The Cross’ no date or source info, 4 paragraphs
‘Christ Standing & Knocking at the Door’ no date or source info, 5 paragraphs
‘Sinners Welcome to Come to Jesus Christ’ no date or source info, 38 paragraphs
Dabney, Robert – ‘Christ our Substitute’ no date, 4 pp.
Buchanan, James – ‘Father, Son & Holy Spirit: Each Have a Part in Saving Sinners’ (1867) 6 paragraphs, from his Doctrine of Justification, pp. 388-92
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Conversion
Alexander, Archibald
‘The New Birth’ (1844) 27 short paragraphs, from Thoughts on Religious Experience
‘The Peace of God’ no date or source info, 5 paragraphs
Buchanan, James – ‘New Birth, Repentance & Faith’ 10 paragraphs, from The Office & Work of the Holy Spirit (1847)
Cunningham, William – ‘Faith Unites us to Christ’ Buy 8 paragraphs, from Sermons 1828-1860 (1872)
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Profiting from the Word
Pink, A.W. – Profiting from the Word 37 pp.
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Bible Commentary
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible: Abridged Buy
Here is a wonderful preface (1828, 8 pages) to the commentary by Archibald Alexander, the first professor at old Princeton Seminary.
Hall, Joseph d. 1656
Contemplations on the Historical Parts of the Old Testament
Contemplations on the Historical Parts of the New Testament The work only covers the life of Christ (not the whole N.T.).
Hall was an influential reformed Anglican bishop. These devotional and practical contemplations savor of deep spirituality and are very insightful. One of a kind and one of the best.
*** ‘Need I commend Bishop Hall’s Contemplations to your affectionate attention? What wit! What sound sense! What concealed learning! His style is as pithy and witty as that of Thomas Fuller, and it has a sacred unction about it to which Fuller has no pretension.’ ‘The work can be readily procured; but if its price were raised in proportion to its real value, it would become one of the most costly books extant.’ – Spurgeon
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Psalm Singing
God tells us in his Word to sing psalms with joy (1 Chron. 16:9; Ps. 95:2; 105:2; Jam. 5:13). Listen to the voice of God and begin singing them.
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Psalters
The Scottish Metrical Psalter, 1650 Buy
All the psalms are set to Common Meter, which means that if you know the tune to ‘Amazing Grace,’ you can sing the whole psalter. Here are several handful more tunes you may know to help you start singing the songs that Jesus sang. Once you get a little better, try the traditional tunes that the Scottish covenanters sang long ago!
The Book of Psalms for Singing Buy
This psalter put out by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America has set the psalms to many popular hymn tunes. The psalter is useful for that reason (that persons can often sing right away the tunes they already know or can easily pick them up), but the translation is paraphrastic, which is much less than ideal, and the tunes do not always fit the words of the psalm.
For those reasons (amongst others) the 1650 Scottish Psalter is to be preferred as it is a much more faithful and literal translation, though it is in old English.
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Help for Singing
Roberts, Francis – ‘Directions for the Right Singing of Scripture 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.
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Devotional
Puritan Daily Devotional Chronicles Buy
This is the best devotional the webmaster has come across!
Fraser, James of Brea – ‘Hungering & Thirsting after Christ’ (1721)
These meditations are the fruit of this Scottish covenanter’s experience being jailed at Bass Rock and Blackness Castle.
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Christ
Guthrie, William – Sermon on Gal. 2:20, ‘Who Loved Me & Gave Himself for Me…’ Buy 17 pp.
Brown, John of Wamphray – Christ: the Way, the Truth & the Life Buy 150 pp.
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The Teachings of Scripture
Hooker, Edward – ‘Love to the Doctrines of the Bible an Essential Element of Christian Character’ (1836) 18 pp.
On love for Divine truth.
Alexander, Archibald – A Brief Compend of Bible Truth Buy (1846) 224 pp.
Originally published for the blind, a winsome and easy to read summary of Bible truth. Great for beginners and young people.
Hodge, Charles
The Way of Life Buy (1842) 328 pp.
Popular treatments of the practical teachings of Christianity aimed to produce holiness.
‘Christianity Without Christ’ (1876) 10 pp. from the Princeton Review, Apr., 1876, vol. 5, issue 18, pp. 352-362
Berkhof, Louis – ‘Perversions of the Gospel’ in the early Church, 16 paragraphs, from his History of Christian Doctrine
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Sermons
Alexander, Archibald – Practical Sermons Buy (1850) 596 pp.
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Audio
Mattull, Jonathan – ‘The Knowing of the Love of Christ’ on Eph. 3:18-19, 2013
Rev. Mattull is a minister in the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing).
Eph. 3:16-19, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory… that ye… may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.”
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Bite-Size Puritan Works
The Pocket Puritan Series by Banner of Truth Buy
This is some of the best Christian literature that there is: easy to read, hitting many topics in the Christian life, and aimed at the heart.
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Love
Binning, Hugh – Christian Love Buy 112 pp.
If our eye is on loving God with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourself, we will fulfill the whole Law (Rom. 13:10). This classic treatise throughout the centuries by one of the Scottish covenanters will help us do just that.
While this short book will greatly soften our rough edges and endear our fellow brothers and sisters to us (a reward in itself), what is not always known is that this priceless and tender-hearted gem was written by one of the most doctrinally strict and uncompromising Christians ever to walk this earth. May this be an example to us, and may we find, as did Binning, where truth and mercy kiss (Ps. 85:10).
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Personal Godliness
Porter, E. – ‘Love to Christ’ (1808) 15 pp. in The Columbian Preacher
Alexander, Archibald
‘Prayer a Privilege’ no date or source info, 6 paragraphs
‘Love to an Unseen Savior’ (1863) 12 pp.
‘The Nature of Vital Piety’ (1843) 19 pp. being the introductory essay to Advice to a Young Christian, by J.B. Waterbury
The piece begins: “True religion not only enlightens the understanding, but rectifies the affections of the heart. All genuine feelings of piety are the effects of divine truth…”
Hodge, Charles – ‘Let Him who Boasts, Boast in the Lord’ from his Commentary on 1 Corinthians, 1:26-31
Brooks, Thomas – ‘The Secret Key of Heaven, a Discourse of Closet Prayer’ (d. 1680) 110 paragraphs This is an excerpt from his book of the same title.
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Holiness
Ryle, J.C.
Holiness 200 pp.
Practical Religion 500 pp.
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The Christian Life
Fenn, Stephen – ‘Christians Bound to Distinguish Themselves from the World’ on Mt. 5:47, ‘What do ye more than others?’ (1808) 13 pp. in The Columbian Preacher
Buchanan, James
‘Thoughts & Reflecting on the New Year’ no source info, 4 paragraphs
‘The Spirit as the Comforter’ 1843 7 pp. from his The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit, pp. 277-284
Alexander, Archibald
‘The Faithful Elder’ no date or source info, 6 paragraphs
May we be found as faithful as this elder.
‘Practical Directions on How to Grow in Grace and Make Progress in Piety’ no date or source info, 30 paragraphs
‘The Lord’s Day’ (1846) 16 paragraphs, from his Brief Compend of Bible Truth
‘Fasting’ no date or source info, 7 paragraphs
Letters to the Aged (1868) 84 pp. 7 letters, originally published as an Appendix to Thoughts on Religious Experience
Godly and wise advice on how to grow old well.
Hodge, Charles – The Nature & Necessity of a Public Profession of Religion Buy 1841 10 paragraphs from The Way of Life
All too often Christianity is thought to be a personal opinion that one can keep to themselves and requires nothing. Here is a Biblical corrective. Christ said, “whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Mt. 10:33
Kennedy, John – ‘Things to be Pondered: A Course of Twelve Lessons, which I have Begun to Learn & Should Not Cease to Remember’ no date, 2 pp. from The Life of John Kennedy, D.D. by Rev. Alexander Auld
Here is Biblical meditation and self-examination at its best. Read this five minute piece, and then do the same.
Hyde, Daniel – ‘Why Do Christians Worship on Sunday?’ (2014) 7 paragraphs
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The Christian Journey
Bunyan, John – Pilgrim’s Progress
Bunyan during the late-1600’s wrote this classic fictional allegory about the Christian life from prison. Through history it has been the 2nd most popular piece of Christian literature ever, next to the Bible.
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Self-Examination & Assurance
Guthrie, William – The Christian’s Great Interest Buy (†1665)
Fear not: while puritans such as Thomas Hooker in New England thundered against hardened hypocrites (rightly, as the town churches were filled with them), Guthrie handles the reader gently and winsomely in ‘a most homely and plain style’, not crushing the bruised reed but building up even the smallest babe in Christ to know how to attain an assurance of salvation, even ‘Heaven on earth’.
Thomas Chalmers, one of the fathers of the later Free Church of Scotland, who wrote an Introductory Essay to the work, said that ‘while it guides, it purifies,’ and that it ‘is the best book I ever read’. Be not fooled, though the book is sweetly simple, John Owen said of Guthrie and his work, ‘That author I take to have been one of the greatest divines that ever wrote… I have written several folios [there are 23 volumes in Owen’s Works], but there is more divinity in it than in them all.’
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Evangelism
Beeke, Joel – Puritan Evangelism Buy 78 pp.
The best and most Biblical work on how to share your faith with others.
Anonymous – ‘Do You Ever Attend the Missionary Prayer Meeting?’ (1845) 4 pp. starting on p. 101, appended to Samuel Miller’s Letters on the Observance of the Monthly Concert in Prayer
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Affliction
Buchanan, James
‘The Bible & Consolation’ no source info, three paragraphs
Comfort in Affliction: Meditations Buy (1851) 254 pp.
This is some of the dearest and most poignant Christian literature, filled with comfort for those suffering in affliction.
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Family
1600’s
Dod, John & Cleaver, Robert – ‘Duties of Husband & Wife’ (1603) 20 paragraphs, being excerpts from A Plain & Familiar Exposition of the Ten Commandments
Some of the best marital advice there is, from a standard English Puritan treatment of the Ten Commandments.
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1800’s
Alexander, Archibald
The Way of Salvation Familiarly Explained in a Conversation Between a Father & his Children (1800) 78 pp.
‘Counsels to Christian Mothers’ no date or source info, 27 paragraphs
‘Catechetical Instruction’ no date or source info, 15 paragraphs
On teaching your family and kids the truths of God.
‘Thoughts for Young People’ (1844) 19 paragraphs from his Thoughts on Religious Experience
Miller, Samuel – ‘The Appropriate Duty & Ornament of the Female Sex’ on Acts 9:36-41 (1808) 15 pp.
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Contemporary
McCurley, Rob – Biblical Marriage (2010) 55 pp. being notes to 4 linked hour-long audio messages
Here are Scriptural guidelines for a godly and spiritually fulfilling marriage, from a seasoned pastor. These warm audio messages and notes are filled with Biblical wisdom, to guide you into the richest blessings of the Lord. They are helpful for premarital counseling and any stage in marriage, whether one needs an encouraging check-up, or a wholesale turn around.
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Church
Miller, Samuel
‘Church Attachment & Sectarianism’ (1854) 6 pp. from The Presbyterian Magazine
“It is indeed, not only a misfortune, but a sin, that the Church of Christ which ought to be one in name, and in profession, as well as in fact, is divided into so many different denominations,” Miller rightly states.
Let us not be sectarians and forget that we are part of the One Body of Christ on earth. This is a very balanced treatment.
The Importance of the Gospel Ministry 1827 68 pp.
Breed, W.P. – ‘Jenny Geddes’ (1869) 15 paragraphs from Jenny Geddes: or Presbyterianism & its great Conflict with Despotism
How can one person reform the church? Throw your stool at the minister when he does things God has not prescribed by the Will of God in Scripture, just as this godly woman of old did, which started the Second Reformation in Scotland (1638).
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Worship
Watts, Malcom & David Silversides – The Worship of God: the Importance of Purity of Worship, the Westminster Directory of Public Worship & How Should Our Churches Worship Today Buy (1997) 71 pp.
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The Lord’s Supper
Hodge, Charles – ‘But What is it to Eat & Drink Unworthily?’ (1860) 3 paragraphs, from his Commentary on 1 Corinthians
Alexander, J.W. – ‘Self-Examination & Questions Before the Communion’ being chapters 18 & 19 of Plain Words to a Young Communicant, pp. 29-35
Swinnock, George – ‘A Good Wish About the Lord’s Supper’ in Works 1:218-222
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Scottish Church History
Collins, G.N.M. – The Heritage of our Fathers Buy
This stimulating story though Scottish Church history reads like an adventure story; you probably won’t be able to sleep until you finish it. This is the best short book on Scottish Church history there is.
Collins was a professor of Church History in the Free Church of Scotland in the mid-1900’s.
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Death
‘The Story of the Burning of Thomas Cranmer’ see the three paragraph caption under the picture
Hodge, Charles – ‘A Brief Account of the Last Hours of Albert B. Dod’ (1845) 13 pp. Albert Dod was a professor of mathematics, a presbyterian theologian, and a friend of many of the Princeton theologians. Here is a wiki article on him.
Here is an account of how to die well.
Alexander, Archibald – ‘A Prayer for One who Feels that he is Approaching the Borders of Another World’ 8 paragraphs from Thoughts on Religious Experience, pp. 259-262
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Heaven
Alexander, Archibald – ‘Heaven’ no date or source info, 4 paragraphs
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Other Websites
An excellent website collection of numerous quotes and resources on Experimental Religion.
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Related Pages