Joel Beeke and Michael Reeves. Following God Fully: An Introduction to the Puritans. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, April 27, 2020. 4 hours and 47 minutes.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Who are the Puritans, what did they believe as Christians and what are lessons for Christians for us today from their lives and teaching? In this audiobook two capable authors present to us an introduction to the Puritans. I have benefited from previous books written by Joel Beeke and Michael Reeves, two Reformed authors who are pastors that write theologically and yet still practically and the content of this audiobook fits the bill of how they write. It was really edifying to listen to this. Please don’t think that because it is about a historical Christian movement that it is going to be dry! I was encouraged, worshipped God, thankful and challenged and in all things I was blessed as I read this book! It is fascinating to see that the audiobook is out before the hardcover copy is published (going to come out in 2022). This seems like it would be great to read as an actual book! But I’m glad this is also in audiobook form for my edification while I drive!
The work consists of seven parts. Part One was on who the Puritans’ were in history, part two gave us chapters with biographical surveys of some of the Puritans we should know followed by part three through five covers Puritan theological doctrines with part three on God, Christ and Predestination and Providence, part four on doctrines of salvation and part five on the Church. Part six then looks at Puritans putting their faith into practice and part seven discusses Puritan shortcoming and what we can learn from them as contemporary Christians today.
I really appreciate the biographical sketches of the various Puritans; it was also helpful to not only know about their life but also an intro and suggestions of what to read from their work. The book made a good point that the Puritan movement is one of the longest Christian movement in Church history; it is amazing and an act of God’s grace the fact that it lasted as long as it did. For general readers I imagine many have heard of myths and caricatures of Puritans and this work was great to clear away some of those attacks on the Puritans. Yet this wasn’t a work promoting worship of Puritans, where they noted the flaws and blindspots of some Puritans. The richest contribution the Puritans gave us is their theology and the exposition of their beliefs was edifying.
I recommend this work.
Thank you for the review.
You are welcome and thanks for reading this Maw Maw! Trying to put up reviews of books I read this year but didn’t get around to reviewing it, the year is almost over! Grateful to God for His grace to go through this year. Hope you and your sisters are warm and safe in these times Bonnie
We are well in Christ Jesus. Thank you. Hope the same where you are.
Thanks for the great review. I need to learn more about the Puritans. Blessings as we approach a stunning new year.
Thank you, Jim. We need to read more from these dead men who speak about life as our Heavenly Father planned it. They knew and experienced it through struggles, trials. We may be writing as they did through the persecutions we are beginning to experience. Truth is revealed in its greatest moments in our times of testing. Blessings for your ministry in the coming year.
Amen Fran! A big amen! I just prayed God would also use your writings to encourage the saints with your books and writings Fran!
Thank you for bringing Joel Beeke and Michael Reeves to my attention. I have not heard of them before.
Brother Frank your appetite for learning is such a good encouragement and example! Thank you for introducing me to John Sanford brother!!
Thanks for this review, brother!
You’re welcome! Is it still snowing for you all???
No praise the Lord!! Are y’all getting rain still?!
Thanks for this review! I’m sure I would greatly enjoy this book. I’ve read two books about the Reformation and the dangers of ecumenism by Michael Reeves, “The Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation” and “Why the Reformation Still Matters.” Both were very good. I’d like to learn more about the Puritans some day. I read that biography about Puritan nonconformist, Anne Hutchinson, two years ago and it kindled my curiosity.
I have read Why the Reformation still matters and need to read the other one. Reeves won’t be one to compromise with Romanism in my opinion. I hope to read more puritans as the works that I have read were a blessing; how goes your day today Tom? Last night I tried to finish a booklet and had a massive writers block from being tired hence this late post and late with everything today lol
RE: Reeves won’t be one to compromise with Romanism in my opinion.
You’re right. I forgot to mention that Reeves is also on the leadership team of the excellent Reformanda Initiative along with Leonardo Di Chirico and Gregg Allison. I can’t think of any evangelical scholars who are doing more to educate evangelicals about Rome’s false gospel than those three.
Yeah, I noticed you were really late with your post today. Hope you can charge up your batteries at some point. I woke up at 2:30AM this morning, just OMS, so I’m in a fog myself. Don’t even feel like reading because I’m zombie tired.
I scarcely have time to sit down and read a book, so when one is recommended to me, my first question is, “Does it come in audio?” Thanks for answering that question right up front. I may be listening to this one of these days. 🙂
I use to Listen to more audio books before the pandemic since I drive in LA traffic for pastoral visitation but less now with the restrictions in LA. Are you listening to anything in particular at this time
My hat’s off (figuratively) to you for listening for over 4 hours! I have some difficulty learning aurally. I’ll take print any day!
I don’t doubt that this is a great book, but, tangentially, I have a bit of concern with how Michael Reeves describes the Trinity (Delighting in the Trinity, IVP, 2012). The way I read him, he supports “Social Trinitarianism”, which, in my view, cannot escape tritheism. Worse–again as I read him–this appears to be a model for humankind to emulate: God is a social community, so we should be in community, emulating Father, Son and Spirit. Now, perhaps I’m being hypercritical. And this need not necessarily have any negative bearing on the work you review here.
Wow. I’ll start reading A Puritan Theology by Joel Beeke and Mark Jones next year
Awesome! By the way the book I sent had an address error; I got the package back and will send it again
Oh. Do you still have the correct address brother?
I would like to get the print edition of this book
I’ll likely get this one. Thanks, Jim! I appreciate Beeke and Reeves. Michael Reeves’ “Rejoice & Tremble” was one of my favorite books of 2021. It’s always on my desk.
Wow thanks for letting me know! I’ll keep an eye out for the book. Happy New Year brother Alf and thanks for your friendship over the years!
Jim, thanks for sharing this review. Many of the Puritan principles are grounded in our Christian witness. There is much to learn and appreciate from their theology, even with its shortcomings.