Light from the Word

Though we live in quite different times and the past is often referred to as a foreign country, the Christian faith and lives of the Reformers and Puritans still have much to teach modern Christians. Here, in this new volume from Courier Publishing, the lives of two Reformers (Hugh Latimer and Katharine Willoughby) and two Puritans (William Bridge and Hercules Collins) are sketched along with a key aspect of each of their lives. Latimer was a prophetic preacher in his day, calling England back to the gospel and biblical truth. His bravery is evident throughout his life and is a great challenge to us today to live boldly for Christ. Katharine Willoughby, the Duchess of Suffolk, was the second wealthiest woman in her day, after Queen Elizabeth II. She used her great wealth and influence for gospel advance. In her latter days, she found herself frustrated by the lack of biblical reformation in England and voiced her concerns to her relative, the queen. Her letters reveal a woman passionate about living for God wholly, and she is a great encouragement to us in our day to be fully committed to Christ and to what he has revealed in his Word.

The Puritan William Bridge found himself having to confront the challenge of the Quakers and their exaltation of the Spirit at the expense of His Word. His response to this challenge is helpful in our day when some charismatics argue for experiences and ideas at odds with the Word of God. We are not the first to have to confront the lure of relying upon extra-biblical "revelation." Finally, Hercules Collins, a Puritan Baptist (and no, that is not an oxymoron) who experienced severe persecution and imprisonment for his commitment to Baptist beliefs, reminds us of the importance of steady and regular teaching in the home and church through the means of a catechism. In this case, it was the Heidelberg Catechism adapted for a Baptist audience. A small study of John Milton, the author of the classic Puritan work, Paradise Lost, rounds out this attractive volume.