The Reformation of the Church
What can we learn from church history? In The Reformation of the Church, Banner of Truth presents a collection of reformed and puritan documents on church issues.
An Impressive Anthology
Originally published in 1964, with selections and introductions by Iain H. Murray, this anthology of documents is impressive and interesting. At just over 450 pages, it is a wealth of resources readily accessible for your high-level research and leisure reading.
The book is divided into five sections: (1) The Nature of the Church, (2) The Rule for Reformation – the Word of God, (3) The Need for Reformation, (4) New Testament Church Government, and (5) the Unity of the Church. I found all of these sections to be relevant reading for our modern times.
Civil War and Persecution
Because the selections are mainly from the period of 1550-1662, Civil War and persecution provide the troubled background of this book. This made the texts seem more urgent, more important, and more meaningful. I saw how important Christ’s Bride was to these saints, and how she is to be cherished for future generations.
What I was most interested in was how these documents brought context to writings I have grown to love. For instance, in The Cambridge Platform of 1648, you can see how “The Preface expresses the churches’ hearty assent to the newly published Westminster Confession of Faith.” It was fascinating to imagine how the church was changed during this time.
Healing and Unity
Towards the end of the book, a section is included on James Durham’s The Scandal of Division Among the Godly. It is a sadly fitting placement of a topic that is still needing to be addressed today. There is a call for healing and unity, and I was moved to see how God continues to purify and preserve his church.
Thomas Shephards’ treatise on The Church Membership of Children is included as an appendix. And while some may or may not disagree on where he stands, this much is clear: God cares for his children, and he has given them the church as a gift. We would do well to take care of her, and watch as she is sanctified, preparing for her wedding day.
I received a media copy of Reformation Of The Church and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.