An Outstanding Generation.

As many folks in our church have figured I have preference for old books (John Piper's being a noticeable exception). I also tend to have certain favorite old authors, yet there is an exception.

This would the movement and generation of leaders called the Puritans. They were in my opinion a most remarkable group of people. So while I look at other books and say that there is only so much time for reading and due to lack of time I have to say no to many books, I look at the Puritans and give them a blanket yes. There as not yet been a book by a Puritan that I did not benefit from reading (they also show a tendency to be shorter than most modern books, which is nice).

I said all that to say this, Timmy Brister (timmybrister.com) has organized what he is calling the Puritan reading challenge. Where we would read one Puritan book a month.

Here is the schedule.

January: The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes (128 pp)
February: The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel (221 pp)
March: The Godly Man’s Picture by Thomas Watson (252 pp)
April: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks (253 pp)
May: Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ by John Bunyan (225 pp)
June: The Mortification of Sin by John Owen (130 pp)
July: A Lifting Up for the Downcast by William Bridge (287 pp)
August: The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs (228 pp)
September: The True Bounds of Christian Freedom by Samuel Bolton (224 pp)
October: The Christian’s Great Interest by William Guthrie (207 pp)
November: The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter (256 pp)
December: A Sure Guide to Heaven by Joseph Alleine (148 pp)

This is a wonderful idea and I recommend it to anyone who might be interested. Timmy has a way on his website to order them all at once or you go to Amazon and get them month by month pretty inexpensively.

This is probably not practical for many, but if you have the time, finances, and inclination this generation would certainly be a means of growth for you.

God Bless