In a time of political turmoil and religious upheaval, Richard Sibbes sought to consistently apply the riches of Reformation theology to his hearers' lives. He emphasized the security of God's covenant, the call for assurance of salvation, and the place of the heart in the Christian life. In The Affectionate Theology of Richard Sibbes, Dr. Mark Dever gives readers a penetrating look into the life and theology of this fascinating figure.

Richard Sibbes ministered during a time when the identity of the Church of England was at stake. Parliament asserted once again that the English monarch would be head of the Anglican church. The use of the Book of Common Prayer in church services was now mandatory. Ministers faced important questions: Would they refuse to conform to the new order? Or would they remain within the church and try to continue to reform it from the inside? What was the right thing to do? As he navigated the fraught context of post-Reformation England, Sibbes sought to apply the theology of the Reformation to his hearers' lives. He emphasized the security of God's covenant, the call for assurance of salvation, and the place of the heart in the Christian life. In The Affectionate Theology of Richard Sibbes, Dr. Mark Dever gives readers a glimpse into the life and theology of this fascinating figure. This book is part of the Long Line of Godly Men Profile series, edited by Dr. Steven Lawson.

This book is a historical and theological study of Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), preacher of Gray's Inn, London, and master of Katharine Hall, Cambridge. In the first part of the study, Sibbes' life and ministry are explored, investigating particularly his family and education, and exploring his relationships with individuals, institutions, and the larger church. In the second half of the book, the author investigates Sibbes' theology. Contrary to what has sometimes been suggested, Sibbes was undeniably a Reformed, covenant theologian, and notes the congruity of this with his ecclesiology and with his experience of the Church. The book concludes that a greater historical understanding of Sibbes, and a more careful theological reading of his works cause him to appear more consistent, and less puzzling.

English Puritans of the Stuart era were divided by a number of questions. The greatest of these asked what constitutes salvation and restoration from sin. All agreed that it was by grace through faith. But few could agree on how to define sin, grace, and faith. Richard Sibbes consciously followed Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Calvin in defining sin as self-love and grace as God's redemptive love in Christ. His theology centered on the love of God expressed through Christ and offered by the Spirit; and faith as a response to that love. This produced a winsome and transforming theology of union with Christ and communion with God. In this he was a counterweight to the spread of moralistic Puritan theologies in his day.

Practical wisdom for dealing with depression. Depression—whether circumstantial and fleeting or persistent and long term—impacts most people at some point in their lives. Puritan pastor Richard Baxter spent most of his ministry caring for depressed and discouraged souls, and his timeless counsel still speaks to us today. In this book, psychiatrist Michael S. Lundy and theologian J. I. Packer present Baxter's writings in order to comfort, instruct, and strengthen all who struggle with depression.

Christians know that God loves them, but can easily feel that he is perpetually disappointed and frustrated, maybe even close to giving up on them. As a result, they focus a lot—and rightly so—on what Jesus has done to appease God’s wrath for sin. But how does Jesus Christ actually feel about his people amid all their sins and failures? This book draws us to Matthew 11, where Jesus describes himself as “gentle and lowly in heart,” longing for his people to find rest in him. The gospel flows from God’s deepest heart for his people, a heart of tender love for the sinful and suffering. These chapters take readers into the depths of Christ’s very heart for sinners, diving deep into Bible passages that speak of who Christ is and encouraging readers with the affections of Christ for his people. His longing heart for sinners comforts and sustains readers in their up-and-down lives.

This Companion offers an introduction to Reformed theology, one of the most historically important, ecumenically active, and currently generative traditions of doctrinal enquiry, by way of reflecting upon its origins, its development, and its significance. The first part, Theological Topics, indicates the distinct array of doctrinal concerns which gives coherence over time to the identity of this tradition in all its diversity. The second part, Theological Figures, explores the life and work of a small number of theologians who have not only worked within this tradition, but have constructively shaped and inspired it in vital ways. The final part, Theological Contexts, considers the ways in which the resultant Reformed sensibilities in theology have had a marked impact both upon theological and ecclesiastical landscapes in different places and upon the wider societal landscapes of history. The result is a fascinating and compelling guide to this dynamic and vibrant theological tradition.

During the Protestant Reformation, God awakened His church as His Word thundered from pulpits throughout Europe. One of the leading preachers during this time was Martin Luther, the man regarded as the father of the Reformation. Luther devoted his life to restoring the truth of the Bible to the heart of the church. He spent long hours writing commentaries and treatises explaining the Scriptures. He delivered countless lectures in the classroom and engaged in public debates to defend biblical teaching. But nowhere did the fire of Luther's zeal for the gospel blaze more boldly than from the pulpit. Through this man's preaching, God ignited a renewal in the church that left the world forever changed. This book is part of the Long Line of Godly Men Profile series, edited by Dr. Steven Lawson.