Posted in books, theology

Sale! Sale! Sale! All things Puritan

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Here are a couple of sales to alert you to right now. They are too good to pass up.

I love the Puritans. I grew up in Rhode Island, founded by exiled Puritan Roger Williams, and Anne Hutchinson, exiled Puritan woman who founded Portsmouth RI (next to Newport). Our 4th grade field trip was to Plymouth to visit the replica Mayflower, the ship that transported the Puritans to New England in 1620. Some of my friends lived in homes built in the 1600s. Others attended Harvard, founded by Puritans. You couldn’t get away from the Puritan shadow of these mysterious and incredible people (to me, growing up). I have long been interested in them!

Only God knew that He would save me from His wrath and bring me into the faith of these selfsame Puritans, and how great is the grace that He gives me to learn about them with Christ’s mind. And, someday to be with them in glory.

Here are some good, solid resources for you if you’re interested in learning about these particular forefathers and mothers.

The American Puritans, by Perry Miller (Editor). Published in 1956, this book was the standard until interest very recently revived and modern books and anthologies have been published looking at the Puritans again, at long last! (see below). Yet still recommended, it stands the test of time.

Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, Arthur Bennett. One way to get to know the Puritans is to read their collected prayers and devotions, giving insight into their love and fervor for the Lord. They way they thought about Christ, their Christian Life, and others is amazing to read.

The Puritan Paperbacks Series at Banner of Truth includes some of the most classic Puritan works published by the Banner of Truth. These books are selections of larger works from the Puritans, published in small paperbacks to make them more accessible and affordable. Notable titles include The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes, The Mortification of Sin by John Owen, and The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs. Other notable Puritan writers in this series include Thomas Goodwin, Thomas Watson, John Flavel, Richard Baxter, and John Bunyan, et al.

The Pocket Puritan Series is a collection of short, accessible writings from the Puritan, again offered by Banner of Truth. Small enough to fit in your pocket, these books cover topics ranging from sin, to heaven, to growing one’s love for Christ. These are great works of ‘spiritual theology,’ and can go with you as you travel. Some notable titles include a collection of Prayers on the Psalms and selections of the writings of John Flavel, titled None but Jesus.

The Pilgrim’s Progress (Penguin Classics), John Bunyan, Roger Pooley edition. In continuous print since first published in 1678, it is considered a masterpiece of the English Puritan tradition. After The Bible, Valley of Vision and The Pilgrim’s Progress are two most loved books by Christians and are definitely the top two Christian books in the English Language.

Sale! Sale! Sale!

If you were excited about the documentary Puritan, but sad at the price (I totally understand) then this is the sale for you! The deluxe edition of Puritan: All of Life to the Glory of God, is half off at Ligonier today (I don’t know for how long, it’s part of the Friday Sale).

This feature-length documentary (6 DVDs) and hours of accompanying teaching sessions feature several of our Teaching Fellows and other gifted scholars and leaders. The Deluxe Edition includes a special, decorative, exclusive hardback book by Dr. Joel Beeke and Dr. Michael Reeves and the Workbook. The DVDs, Book, and Workbook are offered for $75. That’s less than $10 per item in the bundle.

The Puritan Combo: Puritan Theology and Meet The Puritans is on sale at Reformation Heritage Books! These two hardcovers are bundled to include A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life, a systematic theology by Dr. Joel Beeke a professor at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary; and Meet the Puritans, a collection of mini-biographies and book reviews that also includes helps on which reprinted editions are best. The two together are on sale where you save $58. You can also buy either of them separately on sale too. I bought Meet the Puritans.

The American Puritans by Nate Pickowicz is a new book out by this Gilmanton NH pastor and writer of Why We’re Protestant: An Introduction to the Five Solas of the Reformation, Reviving New England: The Key to Revitalizing Post-Christian America, John Cotton: Patriarch of New England

(The American Puritans Book 1) and others, recently published The American Puritans with Dustin Benge. This book tells the story of the first hundred years of Reformed Protestantism in New England through the lives of nine key figures: William Bradford, John Winthrop, John Cotton, Thomas Hooker, Thomas Shepard, Anne Bradstreet, John Eliot, Samuel Willard, and Cotton Mather. It is on sale at Reformation Heritage Books.

The super saving sales are at Ligonier’s $5 Friday sale, Reformation Heritage Books. You can also find these items at Banner of Truth Books, and of course Amazon. Enjoy!

 

Posted in theology

If Tuscany is THIS beautiful, then…

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

…Just think, the New Earth (Revelation 21:1) will be so much MORE beautiful than this-

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San Quirico d’Orcia, Italy. Photo from unsplash by Giuseppe Mondi

Peace in the valley! Remember, any person can be with Jesus in the gorgeous New Earth. He wishes for all to join Him there. (1 Timothy 2:4). All one must do is repent and believe- “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

Posted in theology

Discernment sources, including a webinar scheduled for Thursday, May 14

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Discernment is so important. The original New Testament Bible authors wrote about its importance and urged its honing, in every NT book except Philemon. The Old Testament dealt with the failure to listen to Prophets and the Wisdom literature is rife with warnings about being wise regarding God’s word and ways.

Yet it seems that Christians are falling for any old doctrine, teacher, or faddish movement these days. The failure in discernment is a failure in biblical literacy. And Christians who are weak in biblical literacy ire targets for satan’s wiles, schemes, and traps. The result is that one loses their effectiveness for Christ and worse, are drawn away into myths and then, sin. Continue reading “Discernment sources, including a webinar scheduled for Thursday, May 14” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

How is doing good to widows and orphans a pure & undefiled religion?

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

orphan1

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)

How does pure and undefiled religion have anything to do with widows and orphans?

This is the section in Chapter 1 where James is explaining being a doer of the word and not just a hearer. The Bible urges us to always be doing good. In Bible times, widows and orphans were often destitute and without any sort of societal safety net, help, or support. In many cases today, it is the same. Widows and orphans need help. Continue reading “How is doing good to widows and orphans a pure & undefiled religion?” →

Posted in potpourri, theology

Prata Potpourri: How to spot a conspiracy, top ten preaching pastors today, good cheap eats, Dr. Lori, more

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

blog flowers
I absolutely love fresh cut flowers. I think they are so pretty. But they fade quickly, so usually I admire them in the grocery store aisle and leave them where they are. At Kroger they have a marked down section for cut flowers that are a bit wilted. Once in a while I see a bouquet in the sale aisle that aren’t TOO far gone and I buy a bunch, like I did last Wednesday.

For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. (James 1:11a) Continue reading “Prata Potpourri: How to spot a conspiracy, top ten preaching pastors today, good cheap eats, Dr. Lori, more” →

Posted in mothers, theology

Motherhood

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

When we think of mothers in the Bible, no doubt Jesus’ mother Mary comes to mind. Rachel and Rebekah, matriarchs of the tribes. Eve, who lost her son Abel. Sarah, who waited so long after the promise of a son.

Does Hannah come to mind?

Hannah, who yearned for a child so much.

Hannah, who was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. Continue reading “Motherhood” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

It’s hard work to rest, part 2

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. (Ecclesiastes 7:14a).

Yesterday I related a story of how I turned from anxiety and discontent, to contentment and peace in the Lord. In a nutshell, I prayed, turned to the Word, cast my anxieties at His feet, and asked the Spirit to take it from there. He did.

My reasons for getting personal were that I wanted to share that I’m not Mrs Perfect Spiritual, that I do worry and I have to work hard to return to a restful state. Also to be transparent once in a while, and confess my sins as the Bible says to do. Thank you to the many people who responded! Continue reading “It’s hard work to rest, part 2” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

It’s hard work to rest

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

It’s hard work to rest part 2 here

Yesterday I wrote on my various social media platforms,

The Savior who conquered the grave can handle your budget. The God who sustains the universe every moment by a single word can help your anxiety. Focus on how powerful and perfect Jesus is, not how minuscule your budget is or how empty the streets are. Lift your eyes to see a heavenly scene of Jesus interceding for us, providing for us, rejoicing over us with singing, preparing a place for us. The future is bright.

And a little while later I wrote, Continue reading “It’s hard work to rest” →

Posted in encouragement, theology

Keep running the race!

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata*

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul talks about running the race. In 2 Timothy 4:7 Paul talks about finishing the race well. The race, or the course, is referred to several other times,

1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us Continue reading “Keep running the race!” →

Posted in prophecy, theology

Mailbag question: Is COVID-19 a foreshadowing of things to come?

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

prophecy

This week’s blog essay, Why conspiracy theories shouldn’t matter to the Christian, sparked a question from a reader. I love this, because it means people are reading and thinking about the material I publish. It’s all I ask; read, think, consult the Bible, think some more. Here is the question:

[Some believe] Covid-19 (virus) is being used by government officials to be a foreshadowing of things to come. How does this play in your most recent column?

My answer:

As for the COVID-19 issue, I think it IS a shadow of things to come, no doubt. And we were given insight into what is to come in the Bible and the balm to endure it- Jesus blood and grace of salvation.

I think the whole pandemic was directly sent by God. He has done so many times before, as we read in Exodus 9:15, Deuteronomy 28:21, Chronicles-1 21:14, Jeremiah 21:6, and even in 1 Corinthians 11:30 Paul says “many of you” have gotten sick and even died because of abuse of the Lord’s Table.

So it’s sent by the Lord and He is doing something through it, because the Father is always working even as Jesus is working. (John 5:17). Perhaps to warn, perhaps to winnow our attachment to the world, perhaps to make us turn to Him, perhaps to expose the church, or a thousand other reasons we can’t know.

Whatever His reasons, I also believe it is a massive lurch forward in His prophetic plan. Ever since Adam and Eve fell, God has worked everything, every moment, to advance His plan to give His Son a bride and make His kingdom pure and holy. Sometimes in history it may have seemed like the advancement of His plan was slow or even stopped. Other times, massively moving forward, (WWII anyone?) all toward the Day when His plan concludes. In fact, every day is a foreshadowing of things to come. It’s just that sometimes we can see or sense His Hand in it more than others, like a worldwide pandemic, or 9/11. It’s times like those where the lost perk up and begin facing the truths they suppress. (Romans 1:18). So, it’s an opportunity.

Ultimately it doesn’t matter what happens in culture. There is now another pandemic on earth, reminding us of man’s sin and His sovereignty. People died, but people always die. No one died who wasn’t supposed to die. And no one promised America an eternally thriving economy, a permanently viable Constitution, and endless freedom of religion. In fact, the Bible promises the opposite. We’ve already outlasted every other empire with those boons and have been insulated from the instability of the rest of the world’s political and civic problems for so long despite our national sins, it’s amazing we haven’t been judged already like Sodom and Gomorrah were.

If our way of life here in the US continues, great. If it doesn’t great- because maybe there will be even more fertile ground for people to come to Christ as they seek answers. America is a huge mission field. No, I personally wouldn’t be looking forward to a decrease in standard of living, or jail time for worshiping Christ, who would? But it is but a vapor of a breath of time compared to the glory to come. That’s why ultimately the ins and outs of the pandemic, who made the flu happen, which governors are tyrants and which are good…doesn’t matter. The political stability of the world has never been stable. Only Christ is the Rock.

If this is a sign of a worsening of the world, that should cause two reactions in Christians – joy that our true home is closer than ever, and fervor to do our ambassadorial work for Jesus because of the huge numbers of the lost who would not only miss out on the graces we have been given but spend an eternity gnashing their teeth.

Hope this helps 🙂 and thanks for asking.