If you’ve followed this blog in the past, you know that I enjoy the little Banner of Truth book series called “The Puritan Paperbacks.” To be honest, the first time I read one of these Paperbacks (I forget which one), I didn’t really enjoy it or appreciate it. I thought it was too tedious, detailed, and old-school. That was over 15 years ago; now I have about twenty-five of them and have benefited from them in many ways. Nine years ago here on the blog I wrote a few things that have helped me read the Puritan Paperbacks with profit. I’ll repost my blog below. (This list also applies to other Puritan books, for sure, but to keep it shorter, I’m thinking primarily of the Paperbacks.)
- Puritan Paperback Set
To read the Puritan Paperbacks with profit,
1) Know your systematic theology. You don’t need a Ph.D. in systematics to benefit from them, but if you know your basic systematics (i.e. the attributes of God, the doctrine of man, the doctrine of Christ, the ordo salutis, etc.) it will be easier to read the Paperbacks. For example, if you know the Westminster Standards well, or study Louis Berkhof’s Manual of Christian Doctrine, it will make reading the Paperbacks more enjoyable – you’ll be able to see that when the Puritans do “go deep,” they’re staying in the Reformed categories. When I realized this, it made it easier and more edifying to read the Puritans on sanctification, because (just for one example) I knew that even when they were quite detailed, they were not blending it with justification.
2) Stick with it. The archaic language and grammar is tough at first (you may need a dictionary!), but after a few Paperbacks you get used to it. Remember that these authors wrote several hundred years ago, so the language and illustrations will be different (I still chuckle when I come across a word like “compunction”). And as with all books, don’t be surprised when there are a few sections here and there that are less helpful than others. Be patient and start by reading a chapter/section or two a week. One good Paperback to start with is Thomas Watson’s Repentance because it is short, clear, and very helpful – it won’t overwhelm you. Don’t read the longer and harder ones until later. For example, wait quite awhile until you read The Sinfulness of Sin, A Lifting Up for the Downcast, and others that are detailed and over 200 pages or so.
3) Take notes. When I read a Paperback, I have a pencil and highlighter in hand to mark the best sections. I also make my own index in the back cover so that when I study a certain topic later I can just pull the Paperback off my shelf, turn to the back cover, find the topic and page number that I wrote, and turn there to find it highlighted/underlined. You may want to do the same for certain Scripture references since the books don’t have scriptural indexes. Basically, you’ll profit from reading these books by making your own topical or scriptural index so you can use these books often in your future studies and devotions.
4) Approach reading the Paperbacks differently than you do other books. The genre of these books is quite different from other things we read from day-to-day, so read them when you’re in the mood for deeper subjects. If you approach the Paperbacks realizing that they are not newspaper articles or trendy Christian books filled with buzzwords and Christian-eze, you’ll be in the right frame of mind to read. I also find that I profit best from these books when I space them out a bit. For example, I read one last week (on my “vacation week”) and I won’t read another for over a month or so. Reading them too often can be something like too much of a good thing.
In summary, I think with some time and effort, most Christians who are “readers” will be able to understand these books, profit from them, and learn to appreciate the Puritans at least to some extent. Though I don’t elevate the Puritans above other writers/teachers, the Paperbacks have given me a deep respect for the Puritans.
By the way – one other great thing about these Paperbacks is that they are usually priced well under $10.
Shane Lems
Covenant Presbyterian (OPC)
Hammond, WI
The Reformed Reader Blog 