Best Books on Puritans & Puritanism
The Puritans were sixteenth and seventeenth century English and American Reformed Christians who sought to purify the church of unbiblical practices and cultivate deep, experiential godliness. Their sermons, treatises, and prayers remain a treasured wellspring of pastoral wisdom and heartfelt Reformed piety.
Start Here
basic
The Bruised Reed
Top pickRichard Sibbes · 1630
A tender, pastoral classic on Christ's gentleness toward weak and struggling believers.
The Valley of Vision
Arthur Bennett (ed.) · 1975
A beloved collection of Puritan prayers that models heartfelt, God-centered devotion.
Worldly Saints: The Puritans As They Really Were
Leland Ryken · 1990
Dispels the stereotypes and shows the Puritans as warm, full-blooded, joyful believers.
A Quest for Godliness
J.I. Packer · 1990
Packer's beloved introduction to why the Puritans still matter for Christian living today.
Puritan Portraits
J.I. Packer · 2012
Short biographical sketches of key Puritan pastors, ideal for readers new to the movement.
Go Deeper
intermediate
Meet the Puritans
Top pickJoel R. Beeke · 2006
An indispensable biographical and bibliographical guide to nearly 200 Puritan writers.
The Puritan Hope
Iain H. Murray · 1971
Explores the Puritans' confident, biblical hope for the triumph of the gospel in history.
All Things for Good
Thomas Watson · 1663
Watson's rich exposition of Romans 8:28 on how God works all things for His people's good.
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
Jeremiah Burroughs · 1648
A Puritan classic on learning quiet contentment amid life's hardships and losses.
Puritan Reformed Spirituality
Joel R. Beeke · 2004
A tour of Reformed and Puritan piety through figures such as Calvin, Ames, and the Erskines.
For Study
advanced
A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life
Top pickJoel R. Beeke · 2012
A massive, systematic survey of Puritan teaching across fifty major doctrines.
The Devoted Life: An Invitation to the Puritan Classics
Kelly M. Kapic and Randall C. Gleason (eds.) · 2004
Twenty scholarly essays introducing major Puritan writers and their key works.
Puritanism: A Very Short Introduction
Francis J. Bremer · 2009
A compact scholarly survey of Puritan theology, culture, and historical legacy.
The Puritans in America: A Narrative Anthology
Alan Heimert and Andrew Delbanco (eds.) · 1985
A rich primary-source anthology tracing Puritan thought from settlement to decline.
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A tiered reading guide of the best books on Puritans & Puritanism.