Book Review: The Puritans: Their Origins and Sucessors

Title:  The Puritans:  Their Origins and Sucessors

Author:  Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Publisher:  The Banner of Truth Trust

First Copyright:  1987

Pages:  411

Type of Book:  Hardback

General Subject Matter:  Historical, Theological

Special Features:  None

Price:  $28.00

ISBN:  0-85151-496-0

This book is a collection of messages that were delivered by the now deceased Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Lloyd-Jones was a former pastor of Westminster Chapel and the key-note speaker of the Puritan and Westminster Conferences. These conferences ran from 1959-1978. This volume consists of nineteen messages.

The Conference began as interest in the writings of the English Puritans gained popularity amongst a group of students who were members of the Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union. These students developed an interest in the writings of the Puritans, particularly John Owen and Richard Baxter.

There is no particular theme to this book. Therefore  there is also no particular thesis to this book. Each message has its own theme and thesis.

There is no means or method of development as such since this again is not a book, but a collection of messages.

I found each message to be interesting and informative. I enjoyed reading them and actually learned quite a bit. Lloyd-Jones chose topics of interest, value, and historical significance to speak on during these conferences. The publishers chose nineteen of the best of these addresses for this collection.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (20 December 1899 – 1 March 1981) was a Welsh Protestant minister, preacher and medical doctor who was influential in the Reformed wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London.

I heartily recommend this book to any reader. The wide variety, careful preparation, intelligence, and wit of Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes this a great read for anyone.