Worldly Saints: The Puritans As They Really Were

Leland Ryken gives us an excellent book that looks at Puritanism from their own words. It is a fresh look at a group of ordinary people who strove to practically live out their faith. I will revisit this book again. Recommended.I highlighted a LOT in the book. Here are just a fraction of the noteworthy quotes."Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.""The preaching of the Word is that lattice where Christ looks forth and shows himself to his saints.""[Faith is] a persuasion of my heart that God hath given his son for me, and that he is mine, and I his.""By Christianity I intend that universal habit of grace which is wrought in a soul by the regenerating spirit of God, whereby the whole creature is resigned up into the divine will and love, and all its actions designed to the obedience of that for the glory of its maker.""The Puritans’ zestful approach to life in the world was fed by the spiritual springs of the new life—prayer, Christian fellowship, meditation, preaching, and contact with the Bible. In Puritanism, a theology of personal salvation was wedded to an active life in the world."

An excellent overview of the Puritans.

I needed some research materials on the early Puritans in America for a book I am writing. A friend recommended this book and I ordered it, thinking "Well, this won't exactly be a page-turner!" How wrong I was! What an excellent, readable, interesting book! I plan to order it for a friend for Christmas, just because the Puritans as described by this author have so much to teach us. Their influence on American life today is still incredibly strong and the author's ability to bring them to life with excerpts from their own writing amazed me. Far from being sour and straightlaced, the Puritan life had both humor and a hopeful outlook. I'm not usually surprised by something I read, especially when, as in this case, I've already done a good bit of research. But this book was a marvelous surprise and I'm delighted to recommend it. Besides its excellent content, the bibliography is crucial to any scholar of the time period. If you need to know something about the Puritans, this book makes an ideal place to start!

The information is great! The authors reporting on the subject is well done. It is only when he starts comparing them to his “enlightened” liberal view today. Gods Word is timeless and the puritans got that right! Their views on the family (Wife, children) were biblical so although Leland might consider that archaic, God has a role for each of us and that hasn’t changed. To bad they cannot defend themselves, I bet they would...passionately!

I'm looking fwd to reading this. It was in much better condition than expected Arrived faster than was posted as well

This book gave an excellent overview of the Puritan beliefs and teachings. It will aid the reader in their knowledge of Puritans and their theology without all the societal views that are not entirely correct.

You will read this book and wish it were required reading for all students in middle or high school. It scours away the cynical slime that has been slung on the Puritan era and gives a clear picture of how they really were. While "Worldly Saints" concedes that some of the stereotypes are true - in the areas of hard work, discipline, and strictness, for example - it goes on to show that they were not heartless, bloodless, sexless, lifeless, nor brainless. They loved life and living, loved thinking, as well as loving God, and worshipping and honoring God all seven days of the week.Their integrity, work ethic, and commitment to education - that mindset on how life is to be lived - produced the individuals who founded a great nation founded on great principles. That is why this should be read by all students. As Americans, they need to know from whence they have come.Moral issues are frequently discussed in the media, debating why something matters in a moral, social context in the present day. This book helps bring you back to why principles are important, why morality is important, what was the mindset that dominated our nation's founders.Expect a continued resurgence in [true] Puritanism based on the facts presented in this book and others like it. The men and women of the Puritan era lived their lives based on rock-solid beliefs and principles - the Solid Rock, if you will - and we would all do well to consider how we could improve ourselves by making those principles and beliefs the bedrock on which we base living our own lives.

This book helped me see that we can have much in common with our Puritan brothers and by rediscovering our heritage we find a group of mentors, friends, examples-good and bad, to help us on our own pilgrimage. Well written and researched. I’ve read quite a bit on the puritans and yet learned a ton from this book. Highly recommended.

For many years Ryken was the standard text on the puritans, he deserves this positon and I don't think he is in any danger of losing it, if you read this work alongside J.I.Packer's "Among God's gaints" I assure you that you will be very familiar with the puritans!