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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Much Needed Rebuke,
By
This review is from: Gospel Fear (Puritan Writings) (Hardcover)
This book is an offering of seven classic Burroughs sermons on a heart that trembles at the Word of God. There is always a little something to be desired in a book of sermons. The sermon is different than a typical printed work. A book of sermons is like looking at a section of row homes. They are all going to look relatively the same, yet each will have a few things that make it stand out as different. A typical printed work looks like an exquisite mansion, with each piece building upon the other. Therefore, the book of sermons always leaves a little something to be desired. Yet, there is also something that a book of sermons can have that a typical work will not; a passionate preaching of God's Word. Burroughs offers that passionate preaching. In typical Puritan fashion, each sermon leaves the hearer either over the pits of hell or embraced in the arms of the Almighty.What I Liked: Burroughs preaching (and writing) style is very easy to follow. It is straightforward and easily outlined. Yet, it is not dull. Burroughs has a way of passionately encouraging the believer and pleading with the unbeliever in the same breath. Of all the Puritans Burroughs is one of the best at giving a visual picture and illustration of what he is discussing. Therefore, he is a very enjoyable read. At the same time, his work is not light. You will be convicted. If Burroughs words are heeded the saint will tremble at God's Word. Even the unbeliever is given reason for trembling. His writing style and communication of vital doctrine makes Burroughs stand head and shoulder above the rest. What I Disliked: Again, a book of sermons always leaves a little something to be desired. There are major topics that will not be addressed in this particular work. Another disadvantage of a book of sermons is that looking at row homes can get a little monotonous. Even though Burroughs is a phenomenal writer, the reader will still find himself getting a little bored at times because of the lack of novelty. The best way to read this book would be devotionally over a long period of time. Read one chapter (sermon) and then read another a month or two later. Let the truths sink in, and then come back to another chapter/sermon at a later date. Should You Buy It? If it has the name Jeremiah Burroughs on it, and you love Jesus, then it is worthy of your money. As mentioned earlier, Burroughs is a wonderful writer and is solid theologically. It may be a little monotonous at times, but if you space out the reading of each chapter you will find it a highly profitable work.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Puritan Gem,
This review is from: Gospel Fear (Puritan Writings) (Hardcover)
Jeremiah Burroughs has been one of my Puritan top drawers since I studied with joy his "Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment," a lengthy exposition on Phil 4:11. This volume contains two sermon series from Isa 66:2 and 2 Kings 22:9. In the first series, Burroughs highlights the preciousness and excellency of the Word of God, a proper response to which is a trembling heart. In the second part, the emphasis is about a tender heart in a strict sense which I argue is an eminent effect of a trembling heart; a heart that stands in an utmost reverence and awe to the Word of God; a broken (in the sense of repentant), serious and teachable heart (p. 42). What Burroughs does here is most necessary because I have not seen it much done in the church today, namely, teaching Christians to value the Bible dearly, and treat the words contained therein with an utmost respect. Such an attitude of the heart not only honors and pleases God who is the infallible author of the inerrant Bible, but also furthers the believer's sanctification. It is the characteristic of Puritan preachers in general to teach the Bible systematically and Burroughs is no exception. When expounding on a heart trembling at God's Word, he begins with what and why; by looking at the external and internal evidences of a trembling heart (p.5-8) and the reason why the Word of God has such an effect (p.6-18). It is important to note a trembling heart referred to in Isa 66:2 is a sanctified trembling. When such a heart comes as a result of the threats of the Word against sins, it is specifically directed toward the greatness of their evil and the fact that they are hard to overcome (p.28). Here I would argue they are not hard, but impossible to overcome apart from His grace through the regenerating and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 8:13). Furthermore, Burroughs identifies this trembling to be a type that justifies God and His Word in all things, the one that also fears the loss of the presence of God, the loss of the enjoyment of communion with Him, at the prospect of never to see His face or to enjoy any good in Him again, and instead of driving us from God, it drives us to God and it does so powerfully (p. 28-30). As if these weren't enough, Burroughs adds more characteristics of a trembling heart, a notable of which is that it strengthens a person against all other fears, yea not only strengthens, but also swallows up all other fears (p. 35)."If you will never fear man, nor losses, nor any affliction, nor trouble, then fear the Word of God and tremble at that. The more fear there is of God's Word, the less fear there will be of any creature in the world. It is the only way to free you from all fears whatsover" (p. 36). Despite an excellent treatment on the subject of a tender heart taken from the account of Josiah, Burroughs could have been better in categorizing the characteristics of a tender heart. Instead of having the second and third characteristics as separate (p. 99-100), it seems more appropriate to put them under one heading, namely a tender heart is one that is sensitive to (2a) God's displeasure, (2b) its own vileness, (2c) God's mercies, (2d) mercy to others. Burroughs also should have qualified his statement that God "seals up mercy in time of public calamity to those who have a tender heart" (p. 113), meaning God delivers them from seeing and experiencing a calamity before it comes, which is not always the case. I bet there were those tender-hearted Christians who witnessed St. Bartholomew's Day massacre. There were tender-hearted Christians who experienced and survived the earthquake in Haiti in January 2010. These are only a few among many other examples. In the applications department, without trying to diminish the labor of the present gospel ministers, I find the Puritans' insights are still some of the most excellent ones. Here Burroughs not only gives a test how to determine if one has a tender heart (120-124, 135-138, again these two sections could have been combined together), but also how to maintain a tender heart (p. 128), and the danger of the lack of it (p. 129-135). What specifically caught my attention is when Burroughs notes, "When Christians get together and are conversing of the goodness of God in Christ, of the great mysteries of the gospel, and of the work of God upon their hearts, everyone telling of the work of God upon their hearts and the dealings of God with them, it is a marvelous help to keep the heart in a gracious tenderness" (p. 126-127). My prideful tendency is to speak in terms of theological jargons to show off how advanced my theological knowledge is when talking to Christians, or to point out the errors of certain preachers, the superiority of a particular church denomination and worship style (usually my own) and of course not forgeting to expose how bad other churches are. What Burroughs writes in regards to what proper, wonderful and sanctifying Christian conversation topics serves as a rebuke to me. While it is not wrong to talk about doctrinal issues and errors or apologetics, I believe what Burroughs points out is much more beneficial to humble and sanctify the heart. I cherish all the Puritan texts I have read so far with a profound gratitude to God. When working with them, it is a good idea not only to study them prayerfully, but also make a summary of them afterwards. The summary is useful for future reference and to make important lessons you learned there stick better to your head and heart.
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