Joel Beeke and Brian Hedges. Thriving in Grace: Twelve Ways the Puritans Fuel Spiritual Growth. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, May 29th 2020. 220 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
Want to grow in your Christian life with deliberate meditation on God as He has revealed Himself in a way that is practical and worshipful? This book is a must read. It is a practical and spiritual introduction to the Puritans, but it isn’t done in a way that makes readers feel it is an academic historical theology lecture; rather it is quite devotional and made me want to yearn to read more of the Puritans to minister to my soul, to search my own heart and to grow in Christ with greater holiness and sanctification.
As the subtitle of the book indicates the book covers twelve ways reading the Puritan fuels spiritual growth and each chapter covers one of the ways. The book first look at the Purtian’s high view of the authority of the Scriptures with chapter two meditating on the Glory of the Triune God. Next is a chapter on the Puritan’s view of the sinfulness of sin, a chapter on the loveliness of Christ and a chapter titled “The Puritans Liberate Our Hearts with the Freedom and Power of Grace.” Chapter six is on engaging the will in pursuit of practical holiness, followed by a chapter on the spiritual battle against the flesh, the devil and the world. Chapters eight and nine is on pray and providence trailed by a chapter on the Puritan’s insight into human psychology. The last two chapters cover the Puritan’s sight of eternity and their zeal for God.
Beeke’s organization of the book is excellent and I like how the first chapter on the authority of God’s Word lays the foundation for what else is to follow. Furthermore I love how the book is laid out to give the Gospel with the bad news of sin first followed by the Good News of God’s grace for salvation and sanctification.
There’s a lot that warm my heart towards the Triune God as a result of reading this book. I thought the author gave a good analogy of how we need the right diagnosis of our problem with sin, just as his own son needed the right diagnosis of his health problems when he was young and the doctors at first didn’t realize he had diabetes. Classic Joel Beeke with his practical and everyday illustration from life. The discussion about the danger of small sins was also very good in the book and from the Puritans Beeke made the point that sometimes small sins makes us think we are ok and that we do not repent to God as we should compared to “big sins.” Morever Puritans have also noted how people sometime with dealing with small sins start having a warp view of God where they think God is strifling! The Puritans were truly insightful to our heart’s condition. There’s many books and authors I do want to read as a result of this book’s spiritual introduction to the readers, and this include the various works by John Own and also the book The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs, to name a few. There were many great pithy sayings in this book and I’m delighted to see how quotable the Puritans were and some of what they say I can see would go viral on social media today but without the superficiality often plaguing social media contents today. For example Thomas Watson beautifully stated “God’s rod is a pencil to draw Christ’s image more distinctly on us” which Beeke quoted in the book. How do one not like this book and grow to love God more and yearn to read more of the Puritans if one is a believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
The Domain for Truth 
I love the puritans!
Glad to hear that brother Jeff! Are there any Puritan books you have read and reviewed online? Feel free to share you blog links!
I have read them, but I haven’t reviewed any yet. Hopefully, this year. God willing!
The book is currently $11 at RHB.
https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/thriving-in-grace-twelve-ways-the-puritans-fuel-spiritual-growth-beeke-and-hedges.html
Awesome to hear that! Thanks for letting us know!!!
Thank you for that deal
Thanks for the great recommendation. I want to learn more about the Puritans.
Shalom!
Thanks for the review! This looks like a good book. I’m reminded of how “Puritan” is now a term of derision in Western culture. The Puritans certainly had some excesses, but people don’t want to hear they are sinners in need of the Savior.
Good point. When I started reading more Puritans the more I felt someof their writing are helpful in explaining how the Gospel and also attributes of God motivate holiness. It’s amazing how sound teachings have so many applications to our lives! Of course bad doctrines does the opposite. That might be a good idea of a post for you and I, I think!!!
I’ve obviously read many favorable mentions of Puritan authors, MLJ was a big “fan,” but I have a bias against reading them myself because I don’t want to deal with the 16th-17th century prose.
I’m not a church historian, but I get the idea that holiness was preached a lot more in the Puritan era and even afterwards up until the middle of the last century than it is now. Of course, the quest for holiness also led to legalism and excesses. Yup, you gave me a good idea for a post!
How timely! I have just begun reading the Jeremiah Burroughs book. Already it is a blessing. 😍
Providential! Would love to read posts of your reading journey through it!!
If I can do it justice, I will. 🤗👍
I like this quote of Thomas Watson from the book that you mentioned: “God’s rod is a pencil to draw Christ’s image more distinctly on us”
Love that quote too! Have a blessed day Frank!
Beeke has written a number of good books on Puritans
My favorite Puritan is John Owen
I found his mortification of sin helpful
That is a good one
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Thank you. Maranatha.
You are welcome Maw mAw
Love in Christ, MY Grand.
Pastor Jim, thanks for sharing this refreshing perspective from a Puritan point of view. The quote from Thomas Watson strikes home.
It does! Thanks for reading the review brother!
Free Puritan and other reformed resources. Link is in this post.
Jim, thank you again for a great review of a book that points to our reformed faith — getting back to the “old paths” revealed in God’s Word. Through tribulation such as the Puritans experienced, we are being sifted, sanctified, and understanding the antithesis; seeing clearer and clearer the battle to which we are called as His children. Our inheritance as joint-heirs with Christ must be defended, first by the examinations of our individual faith and lives, able to stand firmly in the truths of grace by which we are saved, sanctified, and called to holiness for His name’s sake. This is the power of His Word and Spirit to witness through us — as Light and Life — in a world of darkness and death. (Sorry to take so much room; I don’t have much time these days to post. 🙂
This is also timely because I was just thinking of asking you to read and review God’s Battle Plan for the Mind ~ The Puritans Teaching on Biblical Meditation. (Forward by Beeke and published by RHB. I hope to post on this subject soon.
Blessings for your continued ministry. Fran
So good to hear from you! I read and enjoyed and reviewed God’s battle plan for the Mind! It was so edifying! https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2015/03/10/review-gods-battle-plan-for-the-mind-by-david-w-saxton/
Thank you, Jim. I read your review. I started blogging in 2011 and thought I was reading your blog in 2015 and may have read this, but it just didn’t register then. We all need meditation (serious meditation) if we hope to stay and stand in the battle for the Kingdom. We all need to be trained and to train our children in preparation for persecution that is growing in this country and around the world.
Amen Frances; grateful for your presence in the blog world. Praying for all you are doing for God and also God using your writings