Authored by Rob Grunden
Kapic, Kelly and Gleason, Randall. The Devoted Life: An Invitation to the Puritan Classics. Westmont, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2004. 318 pp. $23.00.
Introduction
The amount of reading material in our world today, both from present and past, that is worth reading, particularly for the Christian, is staggering. In fact, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to quantify. The internet, as well as physical libraries, whether public, collegiate, or personal, are filled with works that are worthy, not only of reading, but of meditation and study. Christians need one another for spiritual growth, renewal, and perseverance in the faith. One of the clear ways we have one another is through reading material produced by another who, for example, may have had more years for deeper study in a subject. Sometimes simply reading material from different cultures or times can have a great impact on our own understanding of the Christian life and how to live it. Apart from the Scripture itself, there is perhaps no collection of writings from a particular people during a particular time more worthy of the Christian’s attention than that of the Puritans.
Randall C. Gleason earned his PhD from Dallas Theological Seminary and currently teaches theology for WorldVenture, a missions organization doing work in 65 nations on 6 continents. Kelly M. Kapic is the professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Together they have published multiple books, as well as articles for numerous theological journals and magazines, some of which have gone on to win awards, and more importantly, served the church of our Lord. Their experience and expertise in the subject of puritanism proves invaluable in this specific book.
Summary
Gleason and Kapic, editors of The Devoted Life: An Invitation to the Puritan Classics have put together a masterful collection of puritan works that should be on every shelf. The introduction alone is worth the purchase of the book. The book begins with an incredibly robust run through church history during the puritan era (mid-1500’s-1600’s). Given the short amount of time necessary to read it, this introductory chapter is an incredible primer for anyone who has yet to cut their teeth on this era of church history. They hit all of the important rulers, preachers, teachers, tensions, and moments in a way that would be daunting for any historian or writer to fit in so small a space.
Before the book moves into its main body, we receive the reason Gleason and Kapic have taken it upon themselves to compile such a book. They long to dispel from the minds of the reader any unflattering thoughts about puritanism that have been handed them by culture. They want to “introduce readers to real Puritans…by looking at what they really said” (16). This is done skillfully as they carefully select and introduce the reader to critical evaluations of 18 specific puritan works, all from different authors, written by varying Christian theologians and thinkers. The book closes with an Afterword written by Richard F. Lovelace (1930-2021) that sums up and highlights some defining traits of the puritan life.
Critical Evaluation
As stated above, the purpose of the book is to familiarize readers with true puritanism and they believe that by getting acquainted with a “sampling” of “key” puritan writings “they will begin to have a much healthier and more accurate view of the Puritans” and the editors long for the reader to hold this “healthier” view of the Puritans, not simply because they like the Puritans or because they are some distant relative, but because knowing the Puritans better “could positively influence and challenge contemporary understandings of the Christian life” (16). If their goal is to give introduction to the Puritans in such a way that the reader would walk away wanting more, they certainly succeeded in their efforts.
Gleason and Kapic begin by introducing the problem of the heavy-handed reputation of the Puritans. They point out at the start that even “the word Puritan typically conjures up images representing the worst sort of religious hypocrite” (15). This was a solid place to begin, as many might have heard the term puritanical used in everyday life with derogatory implications intended. However, the editors go on to demonstrate throughout the book that to be puritanical, if the Puritan is rightly understood, is actually a compliment of the highest Christian order.
They work through the times and a brief historical account of the Puritan era. They give the origins of the term itself (16-18) and then masterfully sketch specific portions of history from 1558 to 1700. This is a successful effort to put the reader into the times of the Puritans. It gives the reader an important context to sit in as they read the descriptions of each of the written works to follow. Scripture studied without historical, cultural, geographical, and other context is only barely studied and the works of Puritans are not different.
Though there are a few Puritans that are well-known enough to have made their way into the minds of most saints, such as John Bunyan, John Owen, and Jonathan Edwards, many of the Puritan authors found in this collection of books will likely be new names to a majority of readers. They include the likes of William Perkins who was a spiritual father (or grandfather) to many, some of which include Richard Sibbes, John Cotton, and Thomas Goodwin, all also Puritans whose works are represented in this book (41). Ironically (or perhaps not), one of Perkins’ contributions to the Church was his commitment to context when interpreting Scripture.
Other Puritans found in the book include William Ames who wrote The Marrow of Theology, Samuel Rutherford who penned a set of letters that have become “a classic of Protestant devotional literature” (92), Thomas Shepard, John Milton, and the famed Richard Baxter and his work in The Reformed Pastor. It includes John Owen, Thomas Watson, John Favel, and John Bunyan’s great work, The Pilgrim’s Progress, which is likely the most well-known Puritan book ever written, and others. Each introduction to one of these Puritan writings is successful in giving the reader facts about the Puritan author, historical and life context leading up to the writing, and the weighty, beautiful truths within the writing. Each is a well-done summary.
The close of the book is written in the form of an Afterword by the late Richard Lovelace and deals with appropriate closing points, application for the Christian life from the combined riches found in the previously evaluated written works.
Conclusion
This book will likely cost the reader much more in the long run because a longing to purchase each of these works and read them for oneself naturally arises as the pages are turned and digested. With the stories, writings, and truths of the godly character and practices of these saints comes a Christian aspiration to measure up to them. A longing surfaces, a deep desire to read like they read, to study like they studied, to share their level of passion for the Scriptures to be handled rightly, for worship to be done correctly, and for God to be honored always. Gleason and Kapic, as well as each contributing author, have given the Christian world an unmatched primer to Puritanism that will aid many believers in their pursuit of a godly life, a devoted life.
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