This treatise was written in 1663 during John Bunyan's incarceration in the Bedford prison and it was first published as a pocket edition in 1674 after his release from prison. Noted in his own "Epistle to the Reader," Mr. Bunyan's desire for Christians to have a pocket reader of very practical Christianity is, perhaps, something quite needed for Christians today. Among his contemporaries, and even among those following him, were very devout and pious men of God, who had written "Bodies" of practical divinity or practical Christianity that were hundreds, even thousands, of pages long. This splendid work is concise, yet full of practical, Biblical wisdom. Our edition of this work, as well as the editor's advertisement, come from a three volume collection edited by George Offor, Esq., and entitled, The Whole Works of John Bunyan. George Offor's edition of Bunyan's works was published in Glasgow in 1862. Readable 11 pt. font places this work in the large print category.
Christian Behavior
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle.
Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Author
When symptoms of my illness caused us to have to leave Scammon Bay, Alaska, though I trusted implicitly in the sovereign grace of God, I still felt that there were things that needed to be done; still sensed some work not finished. As I reflect upon it even now, I realize that most of that comes from the fact that God was working more things together for the good of my own life as much as He was doing in the lives of the others we were ministering to, by His grace.
One particular burden on my heart, both then and now, was for the congregation I ministered unto to have resources that could help in living out the doctrines that we have learned as our understandings are enlightened through of study of scripture. Of the works that have been written in the past, and there are several wonderful ones, it seems that most of them, if not all of them were so huge (and we're speaking of thousands of pages in at least two to several volumes), that it would take quite a bit of money to purchase them, and a big chunk of time to sit down to read them. There are some writings that deal with the source of our practical Christianity, while others deal primarily with the manifestations of true Christian life; yet as is so often the case, there is a great emphasis on the one to the neglect of the other.
This is why I most highly recommend John Bunyan's classic, Christian Behavior. Mr. Bunyan's work is concise, readable, and very, very practical. From the beginning of his treatise, he explains the basis for the fruit of the Christian life as being the truth that every good work flows forth from justification by grace through faith. John Bunyan writes, "Good works must flow from faith, or not at all; because that alone carries in it an argument sufficiently prevalent to win over our natures, to make our natures comply with holiness."
Is the gospel message clearly defined in this book? No. It wasn't written for unbelievers, but for believers; just as the scripture in Titus 3:8 states that "those who believe God will be careful to engage in good deeds." Yet, throughout its exhortations to behave christianly, there are constant reminders of and references to the heart and soul of all our good works: justification by grace through faith.
The edited work we have made available is less than one hundred pages long in very easy-to-read 12-point font. In editing Mr. Bunyan's treatise, I hoped to make it as accessible as possible to the youngest convert in our congregation, as well as make it edifying to the most mature of saints; and all the while, attempting to maintain the heart, essence, and even the voice, of John Bunyan's original words.
--Jon Cardwell, Editor
One particular burden on my heart, both then and now, was for the congregation I ministered unto to have resources that could help in living out the doctrines that we have learned as our understandings are enlightened through of study of scripture. Of the works that have been written in the past, and there are several wonderful ones, it seems that most of them, if not all of them were so huge (and we're speaking of thousands of pages in at least two to several volumes), that it would take quite a bit of money to purchase them, and a big chunk of time to sit down to read them. There are some writings that deal with the source of our practical Christianity, while others deal primarily with the manifestations of true Christian life; yet as is so often the case, there is a great emphasis on the one to the neglect of the other.
This is why I most highly recommend John Bunyan's classic, Christian Behavior. Mr. Bunyan's work is concise, readable, and very, very practical. From the beginning of his treatise, he explains the basis for the fruit of the Christian life as being the truth that every good work flows forth from justification by grace through faith. John Bunyan writes, "Good works must flow from faith, or not at all; because that alone carries in it an argument sufficiently prevalent to win over our natures, to make our natures comply with holiness."
Is the gospel message clearly defined in this book? No. It wasn't written for unbelievers, but for believers; just as the scripture in Titus 3:8 states that "those who believe God will be careful to engage in good deeds." Yet, throughout its exhortations to behave christianly, there are constant reminders of and references to the heart and soul of all our good works: justification by grace through faith.
The edited work we have made available is less than one hundred pages long in very easy-to-read 12-point font. In editing Mr. Bunyan's treatise, I hoped to make it as accessible as possible to the youngest convert in our congregation, as well as make it edifying to the most mature of saints; and all the while, attempting to maintain the heart, essence, and even the voice, of John Bunyan's original words.
--Jon Cardwell, Editor
About the Author
John Bunyan was born in Elstow, England, near Bedford, on November 28, 1628. After squandering much of his life away in worldly wantonness, Bunyan was converted to the Christian faith and soon afterward, became an excellent expositor of the Holy Scriptures. During the reign of Charles II, he was imprisoned in November 1660 for the crime of preaching without a license from the state church, a violation of anit-Puritan "Clarendon Code." John Bunyan is considered one of the greatest of the Puritan writers and is most noted for his alegorical classic, THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. The editor, Jon Cardwell, has served the Lord as a missionary to the Philippines, as a pastor in California, and as a missionary-pastor in remote "bush" Alaska, to the Aleut people of King Cove and to the Yup'ik people of Scammon Bay. He has been ministering as pastor of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Anniston, Alabama since January 2009.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Jon has recently been blessed and privileged to have been called in December 2008 by Sovereign Grace Baptist Church as the congregation's pastor. He has been the pastor there since January 2009.
After fruitful pastoral ministries to the Aleut people of the remote Alaskan fishing village of King Cove and to the Yup'ik Eskimos of the remote Alaskan fishing village of Scammon Bay, he and his family left Alaska on January 23, 2008 when symptoms that were once thought to be Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (aka ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease) began to manifest in 2006.
After extensive testing at Loma Linda University Medical Center, and continued testing at Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center, a diagnosis was slow to come. When it did, it was rescinded. Although the symptoms are just like those of ALS, his ailments remain "unidentified." There is still a possibility that his ailments may be ultimately diagnosed as Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS).
JON'S PERSONAL TESTIMONY
Jon was born in San Diego, California on August 25, 1960. His father, a navy man, passed away in 1963 while in military service and his mother married another sailor three years later. As a result, his family moved all over the country... and as Jon often jokes, "My family moved several times between 1966 and 1971, and I found them every time." By the time he graduated from high school, he longed to travel again. After a semester of college, he dropped out and joined the US Navy with hopes of being a "frogman."
Climbing the ranks quickly, Jon found favor with his superiors in the navy diving community; yet, he was empty and troubled. Assigned as a 2nd Class Diver onboard the U.S.S. McKee in 1984, "God surrounded me with Christians who loved me, prayed for me, and answered any questions that I had," says Cardwell. For the entire month of May 1985 he was under conviction as a hopeless sinner doomed to eternal punishment. On June 3, 1985, after nine months of Christian witness and conviction from the Holy Spirit, he went to one of the Christians. He found Vincent Lawrence and asked Vince to pray for him because, as Jon relates, "I somehow knew that if I didn't repent before God, I knew that I was utterly and eternally lost; yet, I also knew that I couldn't possibly repent until God changed me and made me capable of repenting." Vince invited Jon to kneel and pray with him. As they knelt together in the divers' berthing compartment, again Jon describes it this way:
"I supposed that I repeated Vince's words; however, I know I didn't hear a word Vince said until the very last 'amen.' While kneeling with closed eyes, I KNEW that I was a totally depraved sinner with no hope; yet because God poured out His just and holy wrath upon Jesus Christ for my sins, and that Jesus lovingly and willingly paid that price for my sins, that God made me right with Himself by what He accomplished on the Cross of Calvary. From the depth of my soul I groaned for forgiveness by His atoning blood, and in a moment, an indescribable peace came to me. I remembered saying, 'amen,' and opening my eyes. I stood up as a new man. I was different. I was transformed. It was noticeable to the other divers I worked with. Although I couldn't understand all of it, I had a love for God's Word and couldn't stop reading it. I also had a love for God's people and wanted to be around them whenever I could."
JON'S PREVIOUS PASTORATES
Scammon Bay Covenant Church, Scammon Bay, Alaska
King Cove Bible Chapel, King Cove, Alaska
First Filipino Methodist Church, Riverside, California
JON'S STATEMENT OF FAITH
Jon and his family are in general agreement with the early English Baptist confessions, such as the 1st London Baptist Confession of Faith (1644/1646) and the 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith (1677/1689), as well as the early American Baptist confessions, such as the Philadelphia Confession of Faith (1742) and the New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1833).
Additionally, by God's grace, in his faith he strives to be Reformed in theology but not exclusive; Calvinistic in bibliology but not fatalistic; evangelistic in soteriology but not pragmatic; amillennial in eschatology but not dogmatic; puritanical in praxeology but not legalistic.
JON'S FAVORITE AUTHORS
John Bunyan; Jonathan Edwards; Charles Spurgeon
JON'S FAVORITE BOOK
"Other than the Bible, my favorite book is John Bunyan's classic allegory, THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS," Jon confides. "I've read that book at least once per year every year since the Lord has saved me, and sometimes more than that."
After fruitful pastoral ministries to the Aleut people of the remote Alaskan fishing village of King Cove and to the Yup'ik Eskimos of the remote Alaskan fishing village of Scammon Bay, he and his family left Alaska on January 23, 2008 when symptoms that were once thought to be Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (aka ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease) began to manifest in 2006.
After extensive testing at Loma Linda University Medical Center, and continued testing at Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center, a diagnosis was slow to come. When it did, it was rescinded. Although the symptoms are just like those of ALS, his ailments remain "unidentified." There is still a possibility that his ailments may be ultimately diagnosed as Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS).
JON'S PERSONAL TESTIMONY
Jon was born in San Diego, California on August 25, 1960. His father, a navy man, passed away in 1963 while in military service and his mother married another sailor three years later. As a result, his family moved all over the country... and as Jon often jokes, "My family moved several times between 1966 and 1971, and I found them every time." By the time he graduated from high school, he longed to travel again. After a semester of college, he dropped out and joined the US Navy with hopes of being a "frogman."
Climbing the ranks quickly, Jon found favor with his superiors in the navy diving community; yet, he was empty and troubled. Assigned as a 2nd Class Diver onboard the U.S.S. McKee in 1984, "God surrounded me with Christians who loved me, prayed for me, and answered any questions that I had," says Cardwell. For the entire month of May 1985 he was under conviction as a hopeless sinner doomed to eternal punishment. On June 3, 1985, after nine months of Christian witness and conviction from the Holy Spirit, he went to one of the Christians. He found Vincent Lawrence and asked Vince to pray for him because, as Jon relates, "I somehow knew that if I didn't repent before God, I knew that I was utterly and eternally lost; yet, I also knew that I couldn't possibly repent until God changed me and made me capable of repenting." Vince invited Jon to kneel and pray with him. As they knelt together in the divers' berthing compartment, again Jon describes it this way:
"I supposed that I repeated Vince's words; however, I know I didn't hear a word Vince said until the very last 'amen.' While kneeling with closed eyes, I KNEW that I was a totally depraved sinner with no hope; yet because God poured out His just and holy wrath upon Jesus Christ for my sins, and that Jesus lovingly and willingly paid that price for my sins, that God made me right with Himself by what He accomplished on the Cross of Calvary. From the depth of my soul I groaned for forgiveness by His atoning blood, and in a moment, an indescribable peace came to me. I remembered saying, 'amen,' and opening my eyes. I stood up as a new man. I was different. I was transformed. It was noticeable to the other divers I worked with. Although I couldn't understand all of it, I had a love for God's Word and couldn't stop reading it. I also had a love for God's people and wanted to be around them whenever I could."
JON'S PREVIOUS PASTORATES
Scammon Bay Covenant Church, Scammon Bay, Alaska
King Cove Bible Chapel, King Cove, Alaska
First Filipino Methodist Church, Riverside, California
JON'S STATEMENT OF FAITH
Jon and his family are in general agreement with the early English Baptist confessions, such as the 1st London Baptist Confession of Faith (1644/1646) and the 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith (1677/1689), as well as the early American Baptist confessions, such as the Philadelphia Confession of Faith (1742) and the New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1833).
Additionally, by God's grace, in his faith he strives to be Reformed in theology but not exclusive; Calvinistic in bibliology but not fatalistic; evangelistic in soteriology but not pragmatic; amillennial in eschatology but not dogmatic; puritanical in praxeology but not legalistic.
JON'S FAVORITE AUTHORS
John Bunyan; Jonathan Edwards; Charles Spurgeon
JON'S FAVORITE BOOK
"Other than the Bible, my favorite book is John Bunyan's classic allegory, THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS," Jon confides. "I've read that book at least once per year every year since the Lord has saved me, and sometimes more than that."
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet.
|
|||
|
Video reviews
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
