Is it possible to be content when life is painful and disappointing? The Art of Divine Contentment considers the implications of the Apostle Paul's claim that he had learned to be content in any situation (Phil 4:11). Our discontent is sinful when we murmur against God and accuse Him of injustice or cruelty. But by frequently beholding God's sovereignty, love, and grace, we can learn to be more content in all circumstances. Thomas Watson (1620-1686) was an English Puritan preacher and author. Watson originally published The Art of Divine Contentment around 1660. The source text for this ...

In this book, John Owen (1616-1683) conveys the importance of the glory of Christ in the life of a believer. Meditating and savoring the glory of Christ transforms us into His image and gives us joy and strength to follow Christ to the end. The Glory of Christ was published in 1684, one year after Owen's death. Throughout the book, you can hear his own longing for the perfect vision of Christ's glory in heaven. This edition attempts to make Owen's writing more accessible to modern readers. It includes the following updates: Complete and carefully updated text. Sentence-level rewriting and ...

How can we guard ourselves against becoming trapped and overcome by our besetting temptations? John Owen (1616-1683) shows how watching and praying before entering into temptation is key. Jesus gave this command to the disciples on the night he was betrayed (Matt 26:14). This book provides practical suggestions for this work, but it also emphasizes our utter dependence on God and the power of the gospel to keep us from the "hour of temptation." This book was originally published in 1658 as Of Temptation: The Nature and Power of it, The Danger of entering into it, and The Means of preventing...

In this book, Thomas Boston (1676-1732) challenges us to consider God’s hand in the trials (the crook) appointed to us in our lot in life. Watson encourages us to maintain humility, patience, and faith that God will lift us up. The Crook in the Lot is divided into three parts which were originally the contents of several sermons preached by Boston. Each part is an extended exposition of a different verse: 1. Faith in Suffering: “Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?” (Ecclesiastes 7:13) 2. Humility in Suffering: “Better it is to be of an humble ...

Rigorous, practical, and deeply reverent, Divine Providence speaks to the struggles of believers today as it tackles difficult questions with biblical truth. Does God govern the world-and how? Is he the author of sin? Why do good people suffer while bad people thrive? What does God's providence mean for how we should live our lives?

How can we guard ourselves against becoming trapped and overcome by our besetting temptations? John Owen (1616-1683) shows how watching and praying before entering into temptation is key. Jesus gave this command to the disciples on the night he was betrayed (Matt 26:14). This book provides practical suggestions for this work, but it also emphasizes our utter dependence on God and the power of the gospel to keep us from the "hour of temptation." This book was originally published in 1658 as Of Temptation: The Nature and Power of it, The Danger of entering into it, and The Means of preventing...

Is it possible to be content when life is painful and disappointing? The Art of Divine Contentment considers the implications of the Apostle Paul's claim that he had learned to be content in any situation (Phil 4:11). Our discontent is sinful when we murmur against God and accuse Him of injustice or cruelty. But by frequently beholding God's sovereignty, love, and grace, we can learn to be more content in all circumstances. Thomas Watson (1620-1686) was an English Puritan preacher and author. Watson originally published The Art of Divine Contentment around 1660. The source text for this ...

Puritan John Flavel (1630-1691) in Keeping the Heart (originally titled: A Saint Indeed or The Great Work of a Christian Opened and Pressed) has proven to be a steady and timely friend to many over the years. Using Proverbs 4:23 ("Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life."), Flavel creates a treatise designed for all professing Christians.

The heart of man is his worst part before it is regenerated, and the best part afterward. It is the seat of principles, and the fountain of actions. The greatest difficulty in conversion is to win the heart to God. The greatest difficulty after conversion is to keep the heart with God. For out of it [the heart] are the issues of life. In other words, the heart is the source of all vital operations; it is the origin of both good and evil, just as the spring in a watch that sets all the wheels in motion.

Samuel Rutherford, born in the early 1600s, faced many hardships throughout his personal and spiritual life. Despite the criticism of his faith, imprisonment for advocacy of the church, and his exile from his beloved hometown, Rutherford was still able to inspire the people of Scotland with his preaching. Rutherford is still an inspiration in the world of Christianity today through the letters he wrote, some of which can be found in The Loveliness of Christ.