First published in 1678, John Flavel’s The Mystery of Providence is based on the words “God that performeth all things for me” (Psalm 57:2). It shows us how providence works for us in every stage and experience of our lives. The Mystery of Providence is richly illustrated from the lives of believers and from the author’s wide reading in church history.

The Puritans’ passion for God’s Word and deep insights into Scripture have continued to bless Christians for hundreds of years. Here are ten must-read beloved Puritan classics to strengthen and encourage the faith of every believer today.

Editor’s note: The below text is adapted from The Banner of Truth Trust and used with permission. If you’re looking for an outstanding curated list of Puritan writings, be sure to check out Banner of Truth’s website banneroftruth.org.

1. Communion with God by John Owen (1616-1683)

Communion with God was written in a time like our own when the doctrine of the Trinity was under attack and the Christian faith was being reduced to either rationalism on the one hand or mysticism on the other. John Owen believed that communion with God lies at the heart of the Christian life.

With the apostle Paul, Owen recognized that through the Son we have access by the Spirit to the Father. He never lost the sense of amazement expressed in the Gospel of John: “Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). In this outstanding book Owen explains the nature of this communion and describes its many privileges. Click here for Amazon link.

2. All Things for Good by Thomas Watson (1620-1686)

Seventeenth-century minister Thomas Watson’s book All Things for Good provides the biblical answer to the contemporary question: Why do bad things happen to good people? First published in 1663 (under the title A Divine Cordial), the year after Watson and some two thousand other ministers were ejected from the Church of England and exposed to hardship and suffering, All Things For Good contains the rich exposition of a man who lived when only faith in God’s word could lead him to such confidence.

Watson’s exposition is always simple, illuminating, and rich in practical application. He explains that both the best and the worst experiences work for the good of God’s people. He carefully analyses what it means to be someone who “loves God” and is “called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Click here for Amazon link.

3. The Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson (1620-1686)

A good case could be made out for believing that “repentance” is one of the least used words in the Christian church today. In a world that will not tolerate the mention of sin, and in churches where it has been defined only in sociological terms, the biblical teaching on repentance has inevitably been ignored. Knowing what repentance is and actually repenting are essential to true Christianity. Jesus Christ himself said that if we do not repent, we will perish! It is vital, therefore, to read and study what Scripture has to say about this theme.

Few better guides have existed in this or any other area of spiritual experience than Thomas Watson. In The Doctrine of Repentance, we can learn much from this godly preacher who was a master of both Scripture and the human heart and wrote with a simplicity and directness that keeps his work fresh and powerful for the twenty-first century. Click here for Amazon link.

4. The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes (1577-1635)

Richard Sibbes, one of the most influential figures in the Puritan movement during the earlier years of the seventeenth century, was renowned for the rich quality of his ministry. The Bruised Reed shows why he was known among his contemporaries as “the sweet dropper.”

Read More