Puritan Piety: Writings in Honor of Joel R. Beeke

by Michael A.G. Haykin, Paul M. Smalley

The puritan movement, its leading figures, and the resulting principles were not only pivotal in Church history, but remain greatly influential today. This work looks at the puritan doctrine of piety. Contributors such as Sinclair Ferguson, Michael Haykin, and Mark Jones explore the theology, history, and application of this doctrine, presenting concise biographies of individual Puritans alongside modern heirs who seek to mimic their example. Puritan Piety is written in honour of Dr. Joel Beeke, inspired by his writings and the passionate piety with which he has strived to live and rightly influence those around him.

Contributors include:

Michael A. G. Haykin, Paul M. Smalley, Sinclair B. Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey, Mark Jones, Ryan McGraw, Richard Muller, Robert Oliver, Randall Pederson, Joseph Pipa, Leland Ryken, Chad Van Dixhoorn, Stephen Yuille, and Esther (Beeke) Engelsma.

Genres: Christian Living, Theology

304 pages, Paperback

Published August 3, 2018

About the author

Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin is the Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality and Director of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He is also the editor of Eusebeia: The Bulletin of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies. His present areas of research include 18th-century British Baptist life and thought, as well as Patristic Trinitarianism and Baptist piety.

Haykin is a prolific writer having authored numerous books, over 250 articles and over 150 book reviews. He is also an accomplished editor with numerous editorial credits.

Reviews

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not only an interesting subject, but one worthy of focused attention: the piety of the Puritans, those 16th and 17th Century believers who wanted the purity of the church to be advanced. Was that piety superficial, self-righteous, sincere, substantive? What fueled their devotion, and gave them direction? Those are good questions to be asked and answered. So, very fittingly, this volume is dedicated to Joel R. Beeke, President and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, pastor of the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, editor of Puritan Reformed Journal and Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, president of Inheritance Publishers, and vice-president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society. "Puritan Piety: Writings in Honor of Joel R. Beeke" is a 304-page softback that delves into samples of Puritan reverence and zeal. It's a full-blooded historical study, written in a straightforward manner, easy to digest, and beneficial for thoughtful readers.

In this volume one will meet John Calvin, John Owen, John Cotton, Thomas Gouge, Daniel Dyke, Jonathan Edwards, and a host of others. Though much of the work has biographical content, the various authors take on each Puritan's primary thought regarding piety specifically. The authors include Michael Haykin, Paul Smalley, Ryan McGraw, Mark Jones, Joseph Pipa, Chad Van Dixhoorn, W. Robert Godfrey, Sinclair Ferguson, Richard Muller, Randall Pederson, Leland Rykan, J. Stephen Yuille, and Robert Oliver. Simply wading through the cast of contributors shows the breadth of Beeke's relationships, and the importance of this subject.

Most of the authors focus on specific pastors and writers, drawing the significant themes from their works, whether the subject is preaching, Psalm-singing, the Lord's Supper, or self-deception. Other of the authors cover larger topics and pile samples into their focused topic, tackling what theology is, Christology, or the Westminster Assembly and moral reform. In whichever chapter a reader strolls through, there is much here that will encourage, bring reflection and reorientation, and at times put one to the test. For example, as McGraw is answering the question "What is Theology" he points out how it is possible for "Reformed Christians to act like false teachers by the wake of strife, anger, rudeness, and division they leave behind them" and that therefore it is important "to hold our beliefs in the right way" as well "as to hold right beliefs" (31). Or when Chad Van Dixhoorn recounts the situation with the Westminster Assembly and moral reform and observes that for "moralists the current decade is always the worst" (93).

"Puritan Piety" will benefit any pastor or parishioner who works through the volume with intent and purpose. They will find themselves becoming more appreciative of the aims and desires of the Puritans, and better informed in their historical contexts. A reader will walk away glad they invested the time to peruse these pages. I highly recommend the book.

[Connor Longaphie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great. But with all the constant self examination to see if you truly believe, if you really appropriated Christ properly, if you're really living in sanctified enough way... Is there true faith in the cross? Either Christ is a perfect saviour and our complete salvation is found at the cross or it is not there at all. Thissomething one of the authors specifically addresses. I wouldn't say I would agree with him but this book is well executed. Almost all of the authors did a great job with only one of the essays being a little bit difficult to follow. I would recommend this as a good book on anyone wondering what a reformed "spirituality looks like". With all of the focus upon reformed theology one forgets that the very point of theology is to apply the knowledge of God to our practice. Out of our theology flows our doxology. This is a good picture as to what a Reformed Christian is supposed to look like.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of essays on historical theology.

[Timothy Denning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essays in tribute to Joel Beeke. Praise God for faithful men. All true piety is by the grace of God. The Puritans, in continuity with the broader reformed tradition. Set piety in the context of God's work of salvation. A central theme on the new testaments teaching about God's saving intervention is the kingdom of God. Mark 1 v 15. Quoted from the chapter on Jonsthan Edwards and the Kingdom of God. The essays are soul enriching and thought-provoking.

[Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen articles written by pastors, scholars, theologians. Fun to read and be introduced to more Puritan authors. Great resources.