tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158711802024-03-14T00:02:34.997+00:00The ConventicleA space where scholars with an interest in the Puritans share encouragement, information and insightChris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.comBlogger349125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-83251750587747367022008-12-15T19:58:00.003+00:002008-12-15T20:01:33.935+00:00Joel Beeke: 'How to Read Thomas Goodwin'Courtesy of Michael DeWalt's blog, Gospel-Centered Musings:"How should a beginner proceed in reading Goodwin’s works? Here is a suggested plan. (Note: Books marked by * have been printed at least once since the 1950s.) 1. Begin by reading some of the shorter, more practical writings of Goodwin, such as Patience and Its Perfect Work,* which includes four sermons on James 1:1–5. This was Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-13205471545420703062008-12-15T18:14:00.006+00:002008-12-15T19:02:55.334+00:00This makes my day ...This won't seem like a big deal to many of you, but it struck me as a thing of beauty.Recently, a fellow named Keith Mathison posted a list of what he feels are the "Top 5 Commentaries on Ephesians" on the blog of Ligonier Ministries.In particular, I was very pleasantly surprised by how Mathison handled the work of Harold Hoehner, a scholar whose views are different from his own. To be specific, Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-9093030521936624272008-12-02T20:08:00.003+00:002008-12-02T20:17:53.029+00:00Audio on John MiltonCourtesy of the Andrew Fuller Center, which recently held an event "celebrating the life and thought of John Milton (1608–1674)."Complete mp3 download here."Let it profit thee to have heard,By terrible example, the rewardOf disobedience."Paradise Lost, Book 6, lines 909-11Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-8462600096103803022008-12-01T12:58:00.012+00:002008-12-01T14:01:36.071+00:00Guthrie: Conversion not one-size-fits-allRecently I started reading The Christian's Great Interest, by Scottish puritan William Guthrie (1620–1669). In it Guthrie attempts to answer two questions:How shall a man know if he has a true and special interest in Christ (if he is a genuine, or 'saved' Christian)?; andWhat shall they do who want (lack) the marks of a true and saving interest in Christ?Here I just want to call attention to Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-5011625131073928232008-11-18T21:53:00.005+00:002008-11-18T22:01:49.074+00:00"Pilgrims: The Next Generation"From the Sacred Sandwich, a humorous site I recommend visiting often:Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-25271558754577991322008-11-14T15:16:00.002+00:002008-11-14T15:18:54.408+00:00Good resource on the Federal Vision?I'm looking for a good book or website that covers the Federal Vision succinctly and objectively (as much as possible) -- the views associated, and perhaps also the controversy resulting.You can use the comments to answer ...Thanks!ChrisChris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-43227324759660546902008-11-11T03:13:00.013+00:002008-11-11T04:15:11.687+00:00A book suggestionRecently I found what looks to be a fun (but slightly irreverent) read on the New England puritans, called The Wordy Shipmates. Sarah Vowell, the author, has written a handful of similar works, and is a contributing editor for NPR's This American Life.I haven't made it far into the book yet, but I've enjoyed what I've read so far, and I suspect a lot of you who contribute to and visit this blog Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-59393664765526088122008-10-29T13:20:00.004+00:002008-10-29T13:41:04.634+00:00Point in CaseAfter reading a glut of modern folks examining the puritans, it is always interesting to read puritans talking about puritans. In this case, we see it in an explosive sermon preached by Thomas Case to 'sundry of the Honourable House of Commons' (The Long Parliament) in 1642. In this passage he offered his take on how Laudians and papists viewed puritans. Taking the tone of a satirist, Case Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17110283457841172630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-39815337547094392532008-10-14T21:51:00.006+01:002008-11-13T11:34:04.761+00:00Stick around (please)I want to thank all of you that have returned here from time to time to see what's happening at the Conventicle. We really appreciate it. Here's an update about me personally and about this site:I'm still above ground, as you've probably deduced by this point in your reading. I have moved back to Texas and finished my doctoral thesis (the pre-examination draft), the abstract to which I've Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-35290538271804931202008-09-01T16:13:00.002+01:002008-09-01T16:16:52.391+01:00Christ, the Fountain-Head of Christian DogmaticsI don’t read Dutch. I have little acquaintance with the Dutch Reformed tradition. Apart from occasional forays into Witsius, Voetius, and Cocceius, for my Owen thesis, and a little dose of Bavinck now and then to trace up the history of a certain doctrine, I’m really quite green to the Dutch trajectory of the Reformed tradition. This is an area I would like to work on more seriously in the long Edwin Tayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13124665601772667481noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-34809449195522495262008-08-06T18:03:00.005+01:002008-08-06T18:19:34.843+01:00The cry of English puritansThought I would share this, a classic expression of the puritan ethos, in a letter from two English clergy, Laurence Humphrey and Thomas Sampson, to Swiss reformer Heinrich Bullinger, in 1566:Why should we receive Christ rather maimed than entire, and pure, and perfect? Why should we look for precedents from our enemies, the papists, and not from you, our brethren of the reformation? We have the Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-23634517962155848652008-08-01T14:36:00.006+01:002008-08-02T15:15:08.855+01:00John Owen Today Conference: Latest UpdatesThe entire programme of the conference is now finalised and available here.Updates include the following:1. Carl Trueman is unable to present a paper (to the disappointment of many participants I'm sure!). John Coffey will be taking Trueman's place, with a paper entitled, "John Owen, the Reformed Tradition and Religious Toleration."2. Our very own Mr Tweeddale is now on board as well. He will be Edwin Tayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13124665601772667481noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-75227921489262035202008-07-18T13:51:00.001+01:002008-07-18T13:55:05.748+01:00Dave Walker knows my lifeCartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-86846613754344816882008-07-14T18:34:00.003+01:002008-07-14T18:43:54.389+01:00Take this, Chris!Here is my thesis thus far. I think I'll just hand this is at my viva.Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17110283457841172630noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-52590194478535476542008-07-14T04:24:00.003+01:002008-07-14T04:56:38.470+01:00I'm addicted to Wordle ...Jonathan Edwards's sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God":The Westminster Confession:and to renew the pride of my Scottish friends, the Falkirk speech that William Wallace delivered, in Braveheart:Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-69550043587716036812008-07-13T16:42:00.007+01:002008-07-14T00:09:37.642+01:00The Conventicle, 95 Theses, and (!) my dissertation 'Wordled'Is there any question which puritan gets the most coverage here? (Admittedly though, there's more than one puritan named 'John', not to mention that we also have a prolific contributor by that name).And just for fun, here's the English text of Luther's 95 Theses:And last--and yes, least--my doctoral dissertation. It may explain things a little to share the title, which is "Puritanism's Ascetic Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-71977794955033432332008-06-26T13:21:00.007+01:002008-12-09T10:27:18.588+00:00Conventicle Q&A with Dr Stephen YuilleDr Stephen Yuille is the preaching elder at Braidwood Bible Chapel in Peterborough, Ontario. He is also a part-time Professor of Biblical Studies with Toronto Baptist Seminary. His doctoral work on George Swinnock was undertaken at the London School of Theology.George Swinnock is a lesser-known Puritan. For the benefit of our readers, could you give us a very brief introduction to his life and Edwin Tayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13124665601772667481noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-24551534040976985952008-06-21T12:20:00.007+01:002008-06-21T22:06:44.554+01:00Christian Scholars, Please Write Plainly!Some thoughts from the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, writing in 1653 of his own writing:'With regard to our manner of writing, or Latin diction, as some are wont to acquire great praise from their sublimity of expression, allow me but a word or two. Know, then, reader, that you have to do with a person who, provided his words but clearly express the sentiments of his mind, entertains a Edwin Tayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13124665601772667481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-90404696296573053202008-06-16T22:38:00.006+01:002008-12-09T10:27:18.761+00:00New Book on Puritan PietyReformation Heritage Books has just published a new book by J. Stephen Yuille, entitled, "Trading and Thriving in Godliness: the Piety of George Swinnock".The book description reads:George Swinnock (1627–1673) was a gifted English Puritan, known for his vivid illustrations of biblical truth. In “Trading and Thriving in Godliness”, J. Stephen Yuille highlights Swinnock’s conviction that godliness Edwin Tayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13124665601772667481noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-55962890802924131252008-06-13T15:14:00.005+01:002008-06-13T15:23:31.503+01:00Historian George S. Stuart on Charles IFrom the series, 400 Years of English History. Stuart is a professional artist as well. The figurine you see at the beginning is his work.Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-49488137657210259572008-06-10T13:21:00.004+01:002008-12-09T10:27:19.018+00:00All right, fine - but did he really deserve decapitation?The votes are in from our scholarly opinion poll. Apparently our readership favours puritans. (Who knew?)Of 22 who weighed in:14 (66%!) thought Charles I bore the brunt of the responsibility for the Civil War.About one quarter (5 - 23%) believed responsibility was shared between him and the puritan/parliamentary party.2 (9%) thought there were other causes worth discussing.And none of you–no one!Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-71707119692079470062008-06-09T13:00:00.004+01:002008-06-09T13:10:58.497+01:00John Owen Today Conference: UpdateDetails of the papers to be presented are now available at John Owen Today.Main Papers:Willem van Asselt (Utrecht University, Holland), Covenant Theology as Relational Theology: The Contributions of Johannes Cocceius and John Owen to a Living Reformed Theology TodayMichael S. Horton (Westminster Seminary, California, USA), Sinai and Zion: The Mosaic Economy in Owen's Federal TheologySuzanne Edwin Tayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13124665601772667481noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-13644521772136942352008-06-06T13:21:00.004+01:002008-06-06T13:32:16.382+01:00Friday Free for All: George Will on Charlie Rose, 4 June '08Very little to do with puritanism, but highly entertaining (in my opinion). Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-90003863868394329012008-06-05T12:24:00.008+01:002008-12-09T10:27:19.182+00:00Take our quiz scholarly opinion poll ...C'mon. I know a lot of you know more about the Civil War than I do.Leave a comment on this post if you wish to "nuance" your answer.Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15871180.post-34454826025448831192008-06-03T03:27:00.004+01:002008-12-09T10:27:19.276+00:00Heads up! Great new blog!A good friend of the Conventicle, Andrew Tooley (PhD student, Univ. Stirling), has started what promises to be an excellent, enriching treatment on the study of religious history with Dr. David Bebbington (Stirling) . . . "Exploring the Study of Religious History".Andy writes, "This blog was established for those who are interested in the study of religious history and, in particular, for those Chris Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08832290458905110111noreply@blogger.com1