Calvinist, Reformed and Presbyterian Churches Books

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewStreams of scholarship flow together in Campagna-Pinto’s insightful and well-argued book: the reach of American philosophy beyond the classic pragmatists, and the significance of American religious traditions for shaping trunk lines of American thought and culture. For this enterprise, the author has well-chosen examples in Jonathan Edwards and William James, two prime intellectual engines of the American “quest or experiment,” as Campagna-Pinto puts it. Edwards and James shared an enriched empiricism, “stereoscopic” in its attention to the worlds of the heart and mind. And this book is comprehensive: it can appeal to students of religious studies, philosophy, and intellectual history; moreover, its careful reading of disparate topics, including rhetoric, suicide, art, the elusiveness of intimacy, and democracy suggests its ability to contribute to a variety of fields -- Paul Croce, Stetson University, former President of the William James SocietyIn The Workshop of Being, Campagna-Pinto brings together the two biggest intellectuals in American history—the Calvinist Christian Jonathan Edwards and the post-Christian liberal William James—and gets them singing in harmony. Campagna-Pinto's penetrating readings of both thinkers moves beyond the labels that divide their legacies and into a realm of 'heart religion,' where earnest examination of personal experience and social relations brings Edwards and James together in the pursuit of 'strenuous democracy.' -- Amy Kittelstrom, Sonoma State UniversityWorkshop of Being provides a searching, deeply conceived, and entirely compelling examination of the religious thought of Edwards and James, one that also sheds important new light on the origins and development of the tradition of American pragmatism. Through a series of penetratingly exact readings, Campagna-Pinto elucidates an abiding concern shared by these two thinkers with the affective ground of speculative thought, while at the same time showcasing the manifest complexity and originality of each body of work. In doing so, he shows how the apparently disparate intellectual projects of these two major American thinkers converge in counseling theologians and philosophers alike to think with the "heart" not only the head. -- Alan Hodder, Hapshire CollegeTable of ContentsList of Abbreviations Acknowledgments Chapter 1: The Sacred Trace Chapter 2: A New Reach of Freedom Chapter 3: Heart Religion and the Pragmatist Imagination Chapter 4: The Art of Expansiveness Chapter 5: Strenuous Democracy and the Workshop of Being Notes Bibliography About the Author

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Book SynopsisUsing the classic TULIP acronym (Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints), this primer on the five points of Calvinism is perfect for students and laypeople alike. Using the Scriptures from which they are drawn, Edwin H. Palmer analyzes each point and explains them in accessible language. Helpful discussion questions follow each chapter, making this book ideal for classes or study groups. This important resource also includes a new foreword by Michael Horton and relevant historic catechisms and confessions.

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Book SynopsisBorn into a noble Scottish family in the sixteenth century, Robert Bruce turned his back on earthly prestige and wealth to enter the ministry. He was Minister of Edinburgh for twelve years, preaching to the King and the court. These sermons on Hebrews 11 show a truly remarkable example of post–reformation preaching, heard in the Great Kirk of St Giles, in the heart of Scotland’s capital. David Searle has undertaken the huge task of putting these sermons into the English alphabet, translating them from the Braid Scots, so they can edify the church today.Trade ReviewWhat kind of preaching is needed in the churches? Today, as at all times, it is surely preaching which is direct, clear, truthful and appropriately simple. All these qualities are present in the preaching of Robert Bruce whose sincerity and passion break down the walls of the centuries separating our day from his, impressing on us both the nature and glory of faith. -- Stephen Williams (Professor of Systematic Theology, Union Theological College, Belfast, Northern Ireland)Robert Bruce, therefore, was no abstract theologian. He knew the pastoral and missional context of his people and is not afraid to apply the Word of God to their real and felt needs. What is even more striking is how relevant his applications are to us in the 21st century. -- Trevor W. J. Morrow (Minister Emeritus, Lucan Presbyterian Church, Ireland)Bruce’s understanding of the struggles of the as yet imperfectly sanctified believer, always leaves us with hope, and greater zeal to follow the Lord more fully. Read this excellent work, and you will find it will build your faith, and draw you closer to Christ. Your reading and meditation will more than compensate David Searle for the immense effort he has put in to this translation. -- Douglas F. Kelly (Professor of Theology Emeritus, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina)David Searle has done us a great service: making available a rich Biblical resource of potent evangelical conviction and powerful pastoral instruction which otherwise would have remained for ever illusive and inaccessible to the ordinary person. -- Frank Sellar (Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland)… allows the force of Bruce’s theology, whose training in rhetoric and scholastic organisation of material allows for a prose that is compelling as it is nourishing, to come right through. … a detailed Reformed treatment of a seminal biblical text brought to light. -- Mark Elliot (Professor of Historical and Biblical Theology, University of St Andrews, Scotland)The ‘lessons’ Bruce brings out from the text, appear to be relevant, courageous and specific for his original hearers. Valuable, also, for earnest Christians, who are eager to learn of and live out the enduring principles of faith expounded in Bruce’s searching sermons. -- Martin Allen (Retired minister of Chryston Church of Scotland and former chairman of The Crieff Ministers’ Fellowship) Bruce’s sermons are deeply theological, expounding among other themes the nature of faith and justification. At the same time, they are direct and personal, with amazing pastoral insight, graphic illustration and pithy application. -- A.T.B. McGowan (Director, Rutherford Centre for Reformed Theology, Edinburgh, Scotland)David Searle has performed a most valuable service in both transcribing and translating these materials, thus making them accessible to a contemporary audience. The publication of this work will do much to enhance our appreciation of Bruce as a distinguished preacher, scholar and spiritual leader of his time. -- David Fergusson (Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh)

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Book SynopsisA faithful examination of the role of John Calvin in the execution of Michael Servetus. The execution of Michael Servetus (1511–53) is one of the most debated events in the life of John Calvin (1509–1564). It has left an indelible stain on Calvin’s reputation, and unfortunately, the retelling of the story is often dependent on the historian’s relationship to Calvinism. Jonathan Moorhead here seeks to give a faithful narrative of the role of John Calvin in the execution of Michael Servetus. He examines the life of Servetus, with emphasis given to his education, publications, and relationship with John Calvin. Moorhead also gives attention to the role of Calvin in Servetus’ arrests, trials, and execution. Understanding the extent of Calvin’s power in Geneva at the time of the trial is critical to understanding the events, as is the context of executing heretics throughout history, and in particular, in the 16th Century. This book will challenge readers to think critically about the ethics of telling history, the standards of properly judging previous generations, and the benefits of this study for the building up of the Body of Christ. Servetus’ Education and Publications Servetus’ Arrest and Escape from Vienne The Authority of John Calvin Servtus’ Arrest, Trial and Execution in Geneva Final Considerations Conclusion Trade ReviewThis well researched study demonstrates the situation in Geneva and the Protestant Swiss cantons, forever exonerating John Calvin as the principal complainant and persecutor in the case. The book is a wonderful addition to our collective knowledge of both the times and of Calvin. I highly recommend it. -- John D. Hannah (Distinguished Professor of Historical Theology, Research Professor of Theological Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas)… an extremely helpful study of a significant event of the French Reformation and reveals how the history of such difficult and intricate events should be written. -- Michael A. G. Haykin (Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky)… demonstrates that Calvin’s primary concern was not his execution, but his conversion. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in finding out what exactly transpired, and the broader implications. -- John MacArthur (Chancellor Emeritus, The Master’s University and Seminary and Pastor–Teacher, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California)… confronts all those who for centuries have turned Servetus into an innocent martyr and a victim of Calvin’s cruel rule in Geneva. Here we have the whole story and the true one, and thus a different one. The book reads like a good movie, but there is no happy end and there are no winners, except for the historical truth. -- Herman Selderhuis (President, Theological University Apeldoorn, The Netherlands)… I literally could not put it down. Jonathan Moorhead writes in a fast–paced yet thorough style, bringing out key historical facts that not only help the reader grasp the vital background to the execution of Servetus in Geneva, but masterfully corrects some unfortunate erroneous suppositions about that sad event. -- John Glass (Author of ‘A Walking Guide to John Calvin’s Geneva’, and founder of Calvin Tours Geneva)

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Book SynopsisThis new edition of the Christian classic includes an introduction from Sinclair Ferguson From the introduction: Thomas Boston never sought a prominent congregation or pulpit. He knew that, at the end of the day, the only thing that makes a pulpit lastingly prominent is the manner in which God’s word is preached from it in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The Beauties of Boston is a book that has been treasured by many Christians in past generations. It is full of rich gospel truth and health–giving spiritual prescriptions. Part of its ‘beauty’ is that while a big book it is not really a long book, but a series of smaller and manageable passages that will – as The Marrow of Modern Divinity did for Boston himself – stimulate thought, enhance understanding of the gospel, point us to Christ, and strengthen both mind and spirit in the knowledge and service of God. Thomas Boston was born at Duns in Berwickshire in 1676. After studying in Edinburgh, he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Duns and Chirnside in 1697. Shortly afterwards, he published his first book, A Soliloquy on The Art of Man–fishing, based on the words of Jesus in Matthew 4:19, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ In 1699, he became the minister of the small congregation in a village called Simprin, located quite close to his birthplace. He was there until 1707 when he became minister in Ettrick, and he would serve there until his death in 1732. The collected writings of Boston are found in twelve volumes, and from them the selections in The Beauties of Boston were selected by the editor. Boston’s best–known book is Human Nature in Its Fourfold State. It was published in his lifetime, as were two others books by him: a Collection of Sermons and an edition of the Marrow of Modern Divinity which he annotated. After his death, several volumes of his writings were published, including his View of the Covenant of Works and of Grace, The Christian Life, A Body of Divinity, and The Crook in The Lot. Trade Review… wonderful treasure trove of theology … points us to the glorious and majestic beauty of our triune God that we might glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. -- Burk Parsons (Senior Pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel, Sanford, Florida and Editor of Tabletalk magazine)Thomas Boston rises to the top in any compilation of the best preacher–theologians worth reading. These selections from his writings will give you an hors d’oeuvre to whet your appetite for more of Boston’s gospel–centered reflections. A treasure. -- Derek W. H. Thomas (Senior Minister of Preaching and Teaching, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina)Anyone who thinks good theology clogs the arteries of experiential piety is in for a surprise with Thomas Boston. Many of us believe the right doctrines but experience something—or Someone—else. Let Boston’s wisdom on a variety of ‘hot’ topics blow you away. -- Michael Horton (J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California, Escondido, California)Thomas Boston’s sermons and treatises are full of the light of Christ and the fire of the Holy Spirit. Once you read this quotable and spiritually uplifting and convicting volume, I predict that you will want to press on to purchase and read the twelve capacious volumes of his complete works! -- Joel R. Beeke (Chancellor, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan)

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Book SynopsisJohn Knox spent his life with a sword in one hand and a Bible in the other and he wasn't afraid to use either.He began his theological life as a body guard to George Wishart - and it was when that young man was put to death by the religious authorities that John Knox was finally persuaded of the need to awaken his country from the death of injustice and spiritual poverty that afflicted it.He was never built for a quiet life and when he ran from one danger, he often found himself headed straight for another. Escaping from the authorities brought him straight into a castle siege and from there he ended up as a galley slave on a French frigate.No wonder he appreciated liberty when he had felt the grasp of slavery's chains and the cut of the enemy's whip.But his thirst for true freedom came from his longing for God's Word to be preached. John knew that true liberty only came from being in service to God and his Kingdom.Many stood against him and they still do today... but he gave much to his country and to his God and the church and Scotland owe John Knox - they owe him thanks as they owe the God he served thanks for calling such men to be his preachers.

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Book SynopsisJohn Calvin had a profound understanding of the atoning work of Christ. His writings are still one of the major sources scholars and others rely on to give insight into what was accomplished by Jesus on the cross.In this book Robert Peterson first examines what Calvin says regarding the love of God, the Incarnation, and Christ's offices of prophet, priest and king. He goes on to consider Calvin's comments on other aspects of Christ's work: he is the second Adam, the victor, the substitute, the sacrifice and the example.Trade Review"Rather than fall into the trap of insisting on one 'theory' of the atonement, John Calvin recognised that the biblical teaching presents us with a multi-faceted jewel. His brilliant exposition stressed the many-sidedness and the profundity of the work of Christ. The great strength of Dr Robert Peterson's work lies in his grasps of Calvin's biblical vision and the clarity and enthusiasm with which he expounds it. Sixteen years after its first publication this revised edition of Calvin and the Atonement will be welcomed by a new generation of readers." -- Sinclair B Ferguson (Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi)"This is a brilliant little book for preachers to read and re-read...Calvin's teaching on the atonement is rich and multi-faceted." -- Robert W. Oliver, The Banner of TruthCalvin and the Atonement will be of great value to those with an interest in reformation and theology or - not quite the same thing - with getting help on a thoroughgoing biblical spin on the work of Christ. -- Paul Helm, Themelios"Calvin dealt with Christ's saving ministry, as with all other biblical themes, in a different way.... Dr. Peterson's monograph lays out the elements of this synthesis in a way that Calvin himself would certainly have approved. The task has not been tackled in print before in so adequate a manner, and this essay is something of a milestone. I commend it heartily, both as a fine contribution to modern Calvin studies and as a worthy presentation of insights into a central theme of scripture from one of the greatest Bible expositors of all time." -- J. I. Packer, Regent College, Vancouver ((1926–2020), Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada)

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Book Synopsis Robert Murray McCheyne was born in 1813 and died in 1843. His life, was nothing short of extraordinary. Given the charge of St Peter's Church, Dundee at the age of 23, even his trial sermon was blessed, with two people being saved. The church saw astonishing growth, overflowing with 1,100 hearers.He stands today as one of the outstanding preachers in the history of Scotland. His spirituality, and focus on the work of Christ was immediately apparent - with hostile crowds melting as they realised the sincerity of the man and the power of his message. His life is a lesson to us all, that when we submit to our Sovereign Lord and his plan, he can and will use our bodies, no matter how weak, our gifts, no matter how limited and our lives, no matter how short. Trade Review"Finally - a definitive, contemporary biography on Robert Murray McCheyne abounding with historical detail, sterling illustrations, and spiritual warmth." -- Joel R. Beeke, President of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary & Pastor of Heritage Reformed Congregation, Michigan (Chancellor, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan)"He was an outstanding man of God, and his life story, here told in fullest detail and with fullest sympathy, should on no account be missed." -- "Dr J. I. Packer, Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Regent College, Vancouver ((1926–2020), Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada)"He has much to teach us about how to reach the cities and the modern industrialised world for Jesus Christ. Read and learn." -- David Robertson, St Peter's Free Church of Scotland, Dundee (Well–known pastor and apologist)... the sheer strength of the subject matter carries the reader along and we are thankful to the author for reminding us that God made Robert M'Cheyne so wonderfully fruitful in his life, ministry and death. -- Evangelical Times... the result is a spiritual testimony which is beautiful , delightful and deeply impacting. -- Tom Lennie (Well respected author on Scottish revival)"This book should be required reading for every pastor, desired reading for every believer, and inspiring reading for all who hunger after the things of God. The clear print and attractive presentation are a credit to the publisher." -- A. Ridge, Peace & Truth

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Book SynopsisThe free offer of the gospel has been a matter of significant debate within Reformed theology. However, despite this controversy, Reformed theologians such as James Durham preached a gospel offer which was a sincere and free invitation from God to all, to embrace Jesus Christ as Saviour. This gospel offer expressed God's grace and goodness to all. Donald MacLean argues that Durham's doctrinal position is representative of the Westminster Standards and embraced by his contemporaries and evidenced by the later disputes concerning the meaning of the teaching of the Westminster Confession of Faith.

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Book SynopsisThe Protestant Reformation has long had the reputation as being a movement of the Book, led by reformers like John Calvin who were men of the Book. The essays in this volume reveal many of the underlying complexities of these terms. Building on research and scholarly discussions of recent decades, these authors delve into a variety of topics related to John Calvin and the printed word, ranging from the physical changes in printed texts in the first decades of the Reformation to Calvins thinking about the relationship of two books the Bible and his own Institutes to Christian doctrine. Calvin remains a towering figure in the Protestant Reformation, whose theology and religious views are still often cast as rigid and unchanging. These essays emphasize, in contrast, the evolutions and transitions that were fundamental to Calvins own participation in the Reformation and to the ways that his leadership influenced developments in Reformed Christianity in the following centuries. The contributors, international experts on the history of Calvin and Reformed Protestantantism and on Calvins theology, bring a wide variety of historical and theological approaches to bear on the question of Calvins relationship to the printed word. Taken all together, these essays will push specialists and general readers to rethink standard assumptions about Calvins influence on Reformed Christianity and, in particular, about the interplay among theology, Reformed discipline, religious education efforts, and the printed word in early modern Europe.

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Book SynopsisThe question of how theology shapes a Christian historians reading of the past has been debated thoroughly in various academic periodicals. Should historians recognise the role of providence in their accounts of past events? Should they sympathise with their subjects theology? Can objectivity be lost due to theological bias? And, last but not least, is there a compromise of faith if one writes natural instead of supernatural history? Such questions are important for understanding the historians profession. Arnold Dallimore, who trained and specialised in pastoral ministry in Canada, wrote an influential biography of the revivalist George Whitefield, as well as others on Charles and Susanna Wesley, Edward Irving, and Charles Spurgeon. How did his Reformed theological perspective impact his historiography? How does his work fit into larger historiographical debates concerning the nature of Christian history? While other books look at Christian historiography using abstract and methodological approaches, this book examines the subject precisely by looking at the life and work of an individual historian. It does so by placing Dallimore in the context of being a minister in twentieth-century Canada as well as his role in the development of Reformed Theology in the Anglosphere. It also examines the quality of his various biographies focusing on key issues such as the nature of religious revival, the problem of Christianity and slavery, and the question of charismatic religious experience. His study concludes by examining the relationship between the discipline and profession of church history and asking what is required for one to be considered a church historian.

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Book SynopsisEven though it has always been widely debated, the theology of Jacob Arminius (1559-1609) has not received the scholarly attention one would expect. Given also its remarkable influence, it is surprising how little research has been devoted to it. Only since the 1980s has the world of scholarship seen some movement on this front. The present study by William den Boer offers a new contribution to the understanding of Arminius's theology by focusing on the theological motive that lay at its very foundation. Arminius has been characterized as a theologian of free will, of creation, or of freedom, and lately also as a theologian of the assurance of faith. The question as to Arminius's central concern in his theology has been answered in different ways, with each author focusing on aspects of differing degrees of importance. William den Boer defends the thesis that another characterization needs to be added, and designates Arminius as a theologian of the justice of God, or more precisely, as a theologian of the twofold love of God. He goes on to illustrate how these two characterizations are valid at one and the same time, and why they do not exclude but include all other characterizations that have been offered by placing them in their proper perspective. In Part 1 the author posits that the leading motif of Arminius's theology lay in a careful defense of the justice of God. Part 2 considers the reception of his theology in the discussions between Remonstrants and Counter-Remonstrants during the Hague Conference - Haagsche or Schriftelicke Conferentie - of 1611. Finally, Arminius's theology is placed within the context of sixteenth-century debates on the cause of sin and God's relationship to evil.

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Book SynopsisJohn Calvin had a keen interest in what the Scriptures teach about the nature and faculties, as well as the role and responsibilities, of human beings. For him, the proper way were created: in the image and likeness of God.Jason Van Vliet examines Calvins's explanation of the imago Dei within the times and ecclesiastical circumstances in which he lived. He aims at giving a satisfactory answer to the question of whether Calvins's teaching on the imago Dei can be considered one of the stronger or weaker points of his reformatory work.

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