Hope that Endures – How Puritan Wisdom Challenges the Modern Soul, by Emily Lucas

If you think the Puritans have nothing relevant to say about life today, this book will challenge that assumption! Emily starts by recounting in an honest way her own struggles with the busyness of modern life and how she has found some of the Puritan writers to be a balm to her harried mind and troubled soul. She begins by helpfully placing the Puritans in their historical context and then uses each chapter to highlight common modern-day challenges and digs into the wisdom of a specific Puritan to help address each one.

So we begin with Jeremiah Burroughs and the challenge of contentment in life. Using Burroughs’ Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Emily walks us through Burroughs’ sermon on Philippians 4:11 (‘Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.’) to show the necessity of humility, self-denial and submission for true contentment of the heart.

We then move on to the challenge of dealing with shame and the felt need to pretend that we are something we are not (Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed), through to the sense that our worth is in our busyness and accomplishments (Thomas Watson, The Great Gain of Godliness). The pressure to conform is addressed through wise counsel from William Gurnall’s The Christian in Complete Armour, and finally the struggle with making right decisions is illustrated through John Bunyan’s character Christian in The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Each chapter also includes a very brief bio of each Puritan being quoted and a little of their life and circumstances. This adds to the helpfulness of the book and shows that much of their wisdom came out of their daily experiences and a close walk and communion with God.

This is a useful and practical introduction to Puritan writings, particularly for women who will resonate with many of the challenges and the illustrations used.

Hope that Endures – How Puritan Wisdom Challenges the Modern Soul by Emily Lucas, published by Christian Focus Publications

Plus… all the books mentioned are available from us in a variety of editions, both new and secondhand – bonus!

Lorna