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Christ Set Forth (Puritan Paperbacks) by Thomas Goodwin
In this work from the Puritan Thomas Goodwin, he walks the Christian through Romans 8:34 to explain how because Christ has died, risen, and now sits at the right hand of God he is the perfect mediator between God and man and there is none that can condemn the Christian. This work would be good for any Christian who doubts the works of Christ and their salvation.
- GenresTheology
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1642
45 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Goodwin
211 books49 followersThomas Goodwin known as 'the Elder', was an English Puritan theologian and preacher, and an important leader of religious Independents. He served as chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, and was imposed by Parliament as President of Magdalen College, Oxford in 1650. Christopher Hill places Goodwin in the ‘main stream of Puritan thought’.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 17, 2022
This book I really do not know how to review! I have been reading it on and off for a few months now and while it has greatly encouraged me at times, it has also challenged my reading comprehension skills to the utmost. Possibly I have tried to read this too quickly and have not given it the depth of attention that is required. Usually I do enjoy Puritan works and I figured this book by Thomas Goodwin would be no different. But I go too far. This is indeed a marvelous book about Christ, His work for us His saints, and why and how we should be encouraged and heartened as we rest in Him. The last chapter is marvelous and worth the read just on its own. There were parts of this book that I simply struggled with the flow and prose. But still? There was no error (that I could discern) or no faulty logic. This was simply a book about Christ. It would behoove us all to meditate more on the person of Christ and who He is and what He has done for us. This book did indeed encourage me towards that end, and for that? It was most beneficial and I'm very glad I read it. Possibly next time I will slow down a bit and really chew on the truths offered therein. Even this time, my soul was deeply encouraged and I worship God more and more as I consider who Christ is and what He has done for me!
December 3, 2023
I read it in the Works of Thomas Goodwin, volume 4, p.2-91, Soli Deo Gloria Publications, Hardcover.
Excellent and soul-lifting. Probably the best exposition/meditation of Romans 8.33-35 that I ever read. Do not mind the bad comments of some people about it : Goodwin is one of the most scholastic of the puritans and that's why I think some people find him hard to read and maybe even "dry" and "intellectual." But that can't be farthest from the reality. His thoughts and arguments are precise and well ordered, that's for sure (as for all reformed scholastics), but always experiential and deeply applicable. Not a classic for nothing.
"The promise is but the casket, and Christ the jewel in it ; the promise but the field, and Christ the pearl hid in it, and to be chiefly looked at. The promises are the means by which you believe, not the things on which you are to rest. And so, although you are to look at forgiveness as held forth in the promise, yet you are to believe in Christ in that promise to obtain this forgiveness." (P.14)
Excellent and soul-lifting. Probably the best exposition/meditation of Romans 8.33-35 that I ever read. Do not mind the bad comments of some people about it : Goodwin is one of the most scholastic of the puritans and that's why I think some people find him hard to read and maybe even "dry" and "intellectual." But that can't be farthest from the reality. His thoughts and arguments are precise and well ordered, that's for sure (as for all reformed scholastics), but always experiential and deeply applicable. Not a classic for nothing.
"The promise is but the casket, and Christ the jewel in it ; the promise but the field, and Christ the pearl hid in it, and to be chiefly looked at. The promises are the means by which you believe, not the things on which you are to rest. And so, although you are to look at forgiveness as held forth in the promise, yet you are to believe in Christ in that promise to obtain this forgiveness." (P.14)
June 9, 2025
Such a comforting and clarifying look at Romans 8:34!
Goodwin moves through the verse and expands the answer to its’ question “Who is to condemn?” By showing how the answer - Christ Jesus - is a comfort in the same four parts the verse identifies as the one who died, who was raised, who ascended, and who now intercedes for us.
Of the four parts, the sections on Christ’s death and intercession were definitely the strongest and are helpful in understanding what exactly Christ’s work means for us and why it offers total assurance of our justification and salvation.
Loved his closing exhortation -
“Let me speak a word to you for (Christ), so to stir up your love to him…you see you have the whole life of Christ, first and last, both here and in heaven, laid out for you… He makes your salvation his constant calling. O therefore let us love wholly unto him, for he hath and doth live wholly unto us… I conclude all with that of the apostle, ‘The love of Christ it should constrain us’, because we cannot ‘judge’ this to be the most equal, that ‘they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who dies for them, and rose again’, and ‘sits at God’s right hand’; yes, and there ‘lives for ever to make intercession for us’.”
Goodwin moves through the verse and expands the answer to its’ question “Who is to condemn?” By showing how the answer - Christ Jesus - is a comfort in the same four parts the verse identifies as the one who died, who was raised, who ascended, and who now intercedes for us.
Of the four parts, the sections on Christ’s death and intercession were definitely the strongest and are helpful in understanding what exactly Christ’s work means for us and why it offers total assurance of our justification and salvation.
Loved his closing exhortation -
“Let me speak a word to you for (Christ), so to stir up your love to him…you see you have the whole life of Christ, first and last, both here and in heaven, laid out for you… He makes your salvation his constant calling. O therefore let us love wholly unto him, for he hath and doth live wholly unto us… I conclude all with that of the apostle, ‘The love of Christ it should constrain us’, because we cannot ‘judge’ this to be the most equal, that ‘they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who dies for them, and rose again’, and ‘sits at God’s right hand’; yes, and there ‘lives for ever to make intercession for us’.”
May 1, 2019
There is, as has already been said, gold scattered throughout this book, though the effort to gather it is great. Thomas Goodwin is even more wordy than John Owen, and his train of thought if often hard to follow. There is a summing up in the last 2 chapters which if you are struggling to finish this book would be worth reading before you give up. The emphasis in this book of Christ's work is mainly on his ascension, intercession and priestly role, which is an area sorely lacking in today's understanding of the Christ's life, and for that I am grateful to have read this book.
February 21, 2019
Harder than many of the Puritans
There is some gold scattered throughout this book. He makes a break case for the sufficiency of Christ's ongoing intercession for believers. It is harder to read than many of his contemporaries.
There is some gold scattered throughout this book. He makes a break case for the sufficiency of Christ's ongoing intercession for believers. It is harder to read than many of his contemporaries.
January 13, 2024
What a wonderful comfort and encouragement it is for the Christian to know the great lengths Christ went through to secure their salvation! If Christ died for you, rose for you, ascended for you, and forever intercedes for you, your salvation and eternal blessedness is sure indeed. This knowledge is a strong prop to our faith, and clear reason for our unwavering worship and devotion to Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us.
I would like to add, though. As the matter within this book is deep and very precious to the Christian; and I would certainly recommend this work for others to read; yet there are some roadblocks present here. Goodwin's language and sentence structure are sometimes confusing. I don't often feel the need for Puritan works to be edited, but this one definitely needs it. Not only that, I would also love to see more scholarly annotations explaining hard to understand concepts and historical references.
If Puritan writings are to gain a wider reading audience, we need to make sure that the content is at least understandable.
I would like to add, though. As the matter within this book is deep and very precious to the Christian; and I would certainly recommend this work for others to read; yet there are some roadblocks present here. Goodwin's language and sentence structure are sometimes confusing. I don't often feel the need for Puritan works to be edited, but this one definitely needs it. Not only that, I would also love to see more scholarly annotations explaining hard to understand concepts and historical references.
If Puritan writings are to gain a wider reading audience, we need to make sure that the content is at least understandable.
June 16, 2016
I don't often give up on books, but I just couldn't get into this. Goodwin may have something valuable to say, but he's not the best communicator. There are far better Puritan writers.
March 7, 2018
Practical, devotional, and theological. One of the best books I've read in recent memory. I will be returning to this book regularly in the future.
February 11, 2019
Vintage Puritan! Read it to love Christ more.
April 4, 2017
As far as books go that I have read besides the bible, this one really helped me understand Christ more. Although, I felt it was a bit wordy-It was worth it to me to read it fully.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews