The Digital Puritan is a quarterly digest of carefully selected Puritan works which provides a steady diet of sound Puritan teaching. The language has been gently modernised to render it more readable, while still retaining much of the flavour and character of the original text. Hundreds of helpful notes and Scripture references (in the English Standard Version®) are included as end-notes; no internet connection is needed.

The following articles appear in this summer 2014 edition:

1. Self-Denial – in which Isaac Ambrose expounds Mark 8:34, showing that self-denial must be a cardinal feature of Christ’s true disciples.

2. The Almost Christian – George Whitefield shows from Acts 26:28 that having the trappings of religion is not the same thing as having true saving faith.

3. God’s Regard for His Own Glory, Seen in the Saving of Sinners – in which Stephen Charnock illustrates the rich glory of God as can only be seen in his redemption of sinful men.

4. Charity, in Respect of Other Men’s Sins – John Howe teaches from 1 Corinthians 13:6 that believers should never rejoice over the failings or misfortunes of others, and should be predisposed to grant them the benefit of the doubt.

5. A Word to the Aged – comforting and insightful teaching from William Bridge for those who have nearly run their course.

The Puritans in Verse: A Psalm of Praise – Richard Baxter.

"The Digital Puritan" is a quarterly digest of carefully selected Puritan works which are gently edited to render the text more readable, while still retaining much of the flavour and character of the originals. Helpful notes and Scripture references (in the English Standard Version®) are included as end-notes; no internet connection is needed.

Pull on your favourite sweater, pour yourself a hot mug of tea, and settle down by the fireplace to enjoy the following articles in this autumn edition:

1. An Exhortation to Peace and Unity - John Bunyan. In which Bunyan teaches us to leave aside bickering and petty divisiveness, and to pursue Christ-honouring unity while putting others ahead of ourselves.

2. Directions to Fearful, Troubled Christians - Richard Baxter. Ten practical instructions for the Christian who is plagued by doubts.

3. The Monster of Sinful Self-Seeking Anatomized - Edmund Calamy. Stand by as Calamy dissects this gruesome and ghastly monster known as self-seeking. First reprinting since it was originally published in 1655.

4. Thankfulness Required in Every Condition - William Bridge. Once again William Bridge shows us how to find light in the darkest dungeon, and return thanks with sincerity to our loving and wise heavenly Father.

5. The Sin and Folly of Depending on Future Time - Jonathan Edwards. In which Edwards pokes holes in many of our justifications to view time as "idle" or something to "pass" while putting off things of more urgent and eternal importance.

6. The Puritans in Verse: "The Reflection" by Edward Taylor. A private meditation on the Saviour's beauty (Song of Solomon 2:1). 

"The Digital Puritan" is a quarterly digest of helpful Puritan works. Each article is carefully edited and formatted to maximize readability. This edition contains the following articles:

1. Be Sober and Watchful - Hugh Binning. Binning answers the question, 'Given the shortness of time remaining before our Lord returns, how should we conduct ourselves?' (1 Peter 4:7).

2. Continuance in Sin is Dangerous - John Preston. Based on Ephesians 2:2, this discourse reveals the folly of continuing in sin, and how best to expose and expel it from our lives.

3. A Sermon of Repentance - Arthur Dent. Dent shows in this sermon (originally preached at Leigh-on-Sea in 1582) the nature of true repentance, and its role in the everyday life of the believer.

4. Advice to Young Converts - Jonathan Edwards. Nineteen practical starting points for the new believer, written in a letter just before he preached "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" in 1741.

5. The Moral Law, a Rule of Obedience - Samuel Bolton. Helpful teaching for the Christian who struggles to understand the relationship between the Law of Moses and the grace of Christ.

6. The Puritans in Verse: "Lord, It Belongs Not to My Care" by Richard Baxter.

Includes an end-note section which has over 500 Scripture references (in the ESV®) and helpful notes hyperlinked to the articles. No internet connection is required. Provided DRM-free; enjoy it on all your digital devices.

 Many Christians find private prayer a difficult duty, and thus they either totally neglect it, or are negligent in their performance of it. In Private Prayer: A Christian Duty, Puritan pastor Oliver Heywood illustrates the necessity of spending time in private prayer each day. Using Matthew 6:6 as his text (“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”), Heywood teaches how to cultivate a habit of daily prayer which is both refreshing and delightful. He reviews the time, place, and content appropriate for our private prayers, and answers several objections that are commonly used to excuse ourselves from praying regularly—including lack of time, cold-heartedness, wandering thoughts, and not knowing what to say. Several Scriptural instances of private prayer are explored, including the Lord’s Prayer and the mighty wrestling of Jacob in prayer (Genesis 32). Through this teaching, the believer will find resources and encouragement to help fulfill this beneficial obligation.

Out-of-print for nearly two hundred years, this classic treatise has been carefully prepared for the benefit of a new generation of Christian readers. Even those not accustomed to Puritan works will find Heywood’s warm and engaging style both eminently useful and Christ-exalting.

“Am I really a Christian?” At one time or another, all believers encounter periods of doubt regarding the genuineness of their faith. In this book, Puritan pastor Obadiah Sedgwick explores the kinds of doubt that commonly arise in the context of true saving faith, gently guiding the reader through fourteen circumstances likely to produce uncertainty. Using the Bible as a roadmap, the author helps us navigate away from the rocky shoals of doubt into the safe harbor of assurance.

Obadiah Sedgwick (c.1600–1658) was a Presbyterian pastor and member of the Westminster Assembly. Originally published in 1641, this classic treatise has been carefully prepared to benefit a new generation of Christian readers. Archaic language has been gently modernized, and helpful footnotes have been added to aid the reader. Hundreds of Scripture references are embedded in the text (using the English Standard Version®). This edition includes a foreword by Dr. Don Kistler, a biographical preface, and review questions designed to facilitate group discussion or personal reflection.

Despite the title, this book is equally informative to those in the pulpit and those in the pew. It was penned when Baxter was unable to attend a meeting of ministers, so he wrote this to them. It covers what it means to take heed to ourselves, to the flock, to spiritual things, to church discipline. He prays for unity and peace in the churches, for greater vigor on the part of everyone in expressing our life in Christ. He proves the importance of family worship and catechism, hope in and expectation of success in all our Christian endeavors, due to the mediatorship of Christ and the indwelling guidance of the Spirit.

The authors in this compilation address the issue of legalism from a variety of angles.

John MacArthur shows, first that obedience to God is not an issue of legalism, but an issue of love. In his second chapter, he deals with the inevitable response of people who are confronted with Biblical standards, "Judge not that ye be not judged." Here MacArthur shows what our Lord meant when He said that, and shows what biblical discernment really is, that there is a vast difference between judgmental and holding people accountable to God's standards.

Phil Johnson, in his first chapter, deals with Christian liberty. In his second chapter, he takes a critical look at two kinds of legalism, then explores the relationship of Christian love and Christian liberty.

Joel Beeke shows that enthusiasm for God's law is not necessarily legalism. One can be zealous without being legalistic. As David wrote: "Oh, how I love Thy Law!"

Bruce Bickel explains that legalism is due to a weak understanding of what Christ accomplished on the cross.

Jim Elliff makes clear that legalism is an attack on unity within the Body of Christ, particularly local congregations.

Ken Talbot helps us to see that legalism is inconsistent with and incompatible with the doctrine of justification by faith alone. He points out that the doctrine of "free will" leads to this dangerous position.

Rick Phillips explores the relationship to loving God and obeying His law. Some today believe that love is all that matters, and that the law as a guideline to love is extinct. Then this author shows that Biblical sanctification is the antidote to and the opposite of legalism.

Steven J. Lawson shows that legalism is the result of holding to man-made traditions over the truth of God's Word. Second, he points out how dangerous and deadly a thing legalism is and why.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction: What Legalism Is, What Legalism Does - Don Kistler
2. Truth Vs. Tradition - Stephen J. Lawson
3. Love and God's Law - Richard D. Philips
4. The Cross Is Enough - Bruce Bickel
5. The Danger of Legalism - Steven J. Lawson
6. Obedience: Love or Legalism? - John MacArthur
7. Zealous But not Legalistic - Joel Beeke
8. The Plague of Free-Will Moralism - Kenneth Talbot
9. Judging Vs. Biblical Discernment - John MacArthur
10. Stand Fast in Liberty - Phil Johnson
11. Real Love and Real Liberty - Phil Johnson
12. What Freedom From the Law Accomplishes For the Local Church - Jim Elliff
13. Biblical Sanctification: The Antidote to Legalism - Richard D. Philips

In twenty-first century America, at a time when the family structure is crumbling, divorce rates are at an all-time high, and respect for parents is diminishing, The Godly Home serves as a balm for those seeking God's plan for the family. With an introduction by J. I. Packer, this book includes topics for those passionate about families or those teaching on the characteristics of a godly family. Richard Baxter covers topics such as marriage, children, and family worship methodically and comprehensively through both hypothetical and real-life questions and concerns that arise in family dynamics. He uses arguments, objections, and frequent Scripture to help husbands, wives, and children to live godly lives.

More than three centuries ago, Puritan church leader Baxter compiled a 1,143-page tome entitled Christian Directory, which included a section on family life. The Godly Home is the only stand-alone version of that section of Christian Directory. Editor Randall Pederson has updated the language and syntax to make this seventeenth-century collection of words one that will continue on for generations to come.

There are two outstanding classics on the subject of conversion: A Call to the Unconverted, Richard Baxter; and, An Alarm to the Unconverted, Joseph Alleine.
Richard Baxter was a bright and shining light in the golden age of theology, the seventeenth century. Not only was he the most voluminous author of his day (72 volumes), but also his shepherding of his flock at Kidderminster was so phenomenal that it stands as a marker for all other pastors and evangelists. He practiced what he teaches in this book. The host of conversions under his preaching testifies to the power of the message in A Call.
Baxter was always plain spoken to sinners: "Whoever loves earth above Heaven, and fleshly prosperity more than God, is a wicked, unconverted man "
"We are commanded to beseech and entreat you to accept the offer and turn; to tell you what preparation is made by Christ; what mercy stays for you; what patience waits on you . . .how certainly and unspeakable happy you may be if you will. We have indeed a message of wrath and death; yea, of a twofold wrath and death; but neither of them is our principal message. We must tell you of the wrath that is on you already, and the death that you are born under for the breach of the law of works. But this is only to show you the need of mercy, and to provoke you to esteem the grace of the Redeemer. . . . Our telling you of your misery is not to make you miserable, but to drive you out to seek for mercy. It is you who have brought this death on yourselves. We tell you also of another death, one even remediless, and much greater torment that will fall on those who will not be converted. . . This is the last and saddest part of our message. We arefirst to offer you mercy, if you will turn." (Pp. 21, 22).

Another quality eBook from Chapel Library, including active contents and footnotes. The Free Grace Broadcaster is a digest of Christ-centered sermons and articles from prior centuries. Each issue focuses on a different theme. The FGB is useful for personal study, discipleship, family worship, and sermon preparation. Wilhelmus à Brakel (1635-1711): "Self-denial Defined" J. C. Ryle (1816-1900): "What It Costs to Be a Christian" A. W. Pink (1886-1952): "Cross-bearing" Richard Baxter (1615-1691): "Selfishness and Self-denial" Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892): "Learning Self-denial from Christ" John Calvin (1509-1564): "Christ’s Cross and Ours" Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892): "Family or Christ?" Thomas Manton (1620-1677): "Reasons for Self-denial" George Whitefield (1714-1770): "Motives to Self-denial"

Despite the title, this book is equally informative to those in the pulpit and those in the pew. It was penned when Baxter was unable to attend a meeting of ministers, so he wrote this to them. It covers what it means to take heed to ourselves, to the flock, to spiritual things, to church discipline. He prays for unity and peace in the churches, for greater vigor on the part of everyone in expressing our life in Christ. He proves the importance of family worship and catechism, hope in and expectation of success in all our Christian endeavors, due to the mediatorship of Christ and the indwelling guidance of the Spirit.

In twenty-first century America, at a time when the family structure is crumbling, divorce rates are at an all-time high, and respect for parents is diminishing, The Godly Home serves as a balm for those seeking God's plan for the family. With an introduction by J. I. Packer, this book includes topics for those passionate about families or those teaching on the characteristics of a godly family. Richard Baxter covers topics such as marriage, children, and family worship methodically and comprehensively through both hypothetical and real-life questions and concerns that arise in family dynamics. He uses arguments, objections, and frequent Scripture to help husbands, wives, and children to live godly lives.

More than three centuries ago, Puritan church leader Baxter compiled a 1,143-page tome entitled Christian Directory, which included a section on family life. The Godly Home is the only stand-alone version of that section of Christian Directory. Editor Randall Pederson has updated the language and syntax to make this seventeenth-century collection of words one that will continue on for generations to come.

There are two outstanding classics on the subject of conversion: A Call to the Unconverted, Richard Baxter; and, An Alarm to the Unconverted, Joseph Alleine.
Richard Baxter was a bright and shining light in the golden age of theology, the seventeenth century. Not only was he the most voluminous author of his day (72 volumes), but also his shepherding of his flock at Kidderminster was so phenomenal that it stands as a marker for all other pastors and evangelists. He practiced what he teaches in this book. The host of conversions under his preaching testifies to the power of the message in A Call.
Baxter was always plain spoken to sinners: "Whoever loves earth above Heaven, and fleshly prosperity more than God, is a wicked, unconverted man "
"We are commanded to beseech and entreat you to accept the offer and turn; to tell you what preparation is made by Christ; what mercy stays for you; what patience waits on you . . .how certainly and unspeakable happy you may be if you will. We have indeed a message of wrath and death; yea, of a twofold wrath and death; but neither of them is our principal message. We must tell you of the wrath that is on you already, and the death that you are born under for the breach of the law of works. But this is only to show you the need of mercy, and to provoke you to esteem the grace of the Redeemer. . . . Our telling you of your misery is not to make you miserable, but to drive you out to seek for mercy. It is you who have brought this death on yourselves. We tell you also of another death, one even remediless, and much greater torment that will fall on those who will not be converted. . . This is the last and saddest part of our message. We arefirst to offer you mercy, if you will turn." (Pp. 21, 22).

 Many Christians find private prayer a difficult duty, and thus they either totally neglect it, or are negligent in their performance of it. In Private Prayer: A Christian Duty, Puritan pastor Oliver Heywood illustrates the necessity of spending time in private prayer each day. Using Matthew 6:6 as his text (“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”), Heywood teaches how to cultivate a habit of daily prayer which is both refreshing and delightful. He reviews the time, place, and content appropriate for our private prayers, and answers several objections that are commonly used to excuse ourselves from praying regularly—including lack of time, cold-heartedness, wandering thoughts, and not knowing what to say. Several Scriptural instances of private prayer are explored, including the Lord’s Prayer and the mighty wrestling of Jacob in prayer (Genesis 32). Through this teaching, the believer will find resources and encouragement to help fulfill this beneficial obligation.

Out-of-print for nearly two hundred years, this classic treatise has been carefully prepared for the benefit of a new generation of Christian readers. Even those not accustomed to Puritan works will find Heywood’s warm and engaging style both eminently useful and Christ-exalting.