Human Na­ture in its Fourfold State

Human Na­ture in its Fourfold State

If there is one book that stands out more than others as rep­re­sen­tati­ve of the best of the Scottish religious classics it is Human Na­ture in its Fourfold State. It met wide accept­ance not only in Scot­land, but also abroad. Already in the eighteenth cen­tury it was trans­lated into Dutch. In this work Thomas Boston (1676-1732) [...]

Christ Victorious: Selected Writings of Hugh Martin (1822-1885)

Christ Victorious: Selected Writings of Hugh Martin (1822-1885)

Hugh Martin (1822-1885) was one of the outstanding ministers of the Free Church of Scotland in the first decennia of her existence. According to C.H. Spurgeon no church so much resembled in the apostolic church as the Free Church of Scotland in her beginning years. Martin was born in Aberdeen on 11 August 1822. He [...]

An introduction to one of England’s greatest theologians

An introduction to one of England’s greatest theologians

John Owen (1613-1683) is rightly regarded as one of the greatest theologians Britain ever produced. A.F Mitchell said that he was a genius and learning only se­cond to Cal­vin. In him we see the not atypical combination of fervent puritan piety and reformed orthodoxy that uses scholastic termino-logy to clarify the message of the gospel. The last [...]

Campegius Vitringa (1659–1722) and his commentary on Isaiah

Campegius Vitringa (1659–1722) and his commentary on Isaiah

Campegius Vitringa was a leading scholar in 18th-century Biblical studies. He had a wide influence not only during his life but also afterwards, long into the 19th century. Franke, Bengel, Delitzsch, Gesenius and the Princeton theologians, among others, appreciated him greatly. In the 20th century Vitringa was largely overlooked. In the postmodern climate of recent [...]

Introducing William Tyndale (1490-1536)

Introducing William Tyndale (1490-1536)

English-speaking Christians owe a great debt of gratitude to William Tyndale (1490-1536). He was the first one who started to translate the Bible in English from the original languages. He translated the whole New Testament and several books of the Old Testament, A great deal of his translation survives in the King James Version. The [...]

The Glory of Grace: An Introduction to the Puritans

The Glory of Grace: An Introduction to the Puritans

Who were the Puritans? What did they seek to achieve? The Puritans were British preachers living in the second part of the sixteenth century and in the seventeenth century whose desire was to promote a God glorifying piety; a piety of the heart that sets us in flame for God and his glory; a practical [...]

Andrew Fuller: A Model for Faithfully Presenting Christ and for Love to World Mission

Andrew Fuller: A Model for Faithfully Presenting Christ and for Love to World Mission

Andrew Fuller (6 February 1754 - 7 May 1815) was an English Particular Baptist minister and theologian. In his funeral sermon John Ryland jr. described him as the perhaps the most judicious and able theological writer that ever belonged to our (Calvinistic Baptist; PdV) denomination. Charles Haddon Spurgeon acknowledged that he was greatly helped by [...]

Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Confession of Christ Today

Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Confession of Christ Today

Introduction On July 27, 1945—over 75 days after the surrender of Germany—an elderly couple in Berlin was listening to a BBC broadcast. One of their sons had perished in the First World War; the life of a second son, and those of two sons-in-law, had been claimed by the war just past. They were still [...]

The Life and Times of Arthur Hildersham. Prince among Puritans 

The Life and Times of Arthur Hildersham. Prince among Puritans 

Puritanism was a mighty movement of spiritual renewal in the Church of England. It arose among the Protestants who were critical of the Elizabethan Settle­ment of Religion. For con-science sake they could not confirm to certain ecclesiastically prescribed ceremonies as wearing the surplice, receiving the Lord’s Supper kneeling and making the sign of the cross at [...]