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Gospel Fear
Gospel fear, or, The heart trembling at the word of God evidences a blessed frame of spirit : delivered in several sermons from Isaiah 66:2 and 2 Kings 22:19
147 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
19 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Jeremiah Burroughs
127 books88 followersJeremiah Burroughs (or Burroughes) was baptized in 1601 and admitted as a pensioner at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1617. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1621 and a Master of Arts degree in 1624. His tutor was Thomas Hooker.
Burroughs’s ministry falls into four periods, all of which reveal him as a zealous and faithful pastor. First, from about 1627 until 1631, he was assistant to Edmund Calamy at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Both men became members of the Westminster Assembly. Both men strongly opposed King James’s Book of Sports. Both refused to read the king’s proclamation in church that dancing, archery, vaulting, and other games were lawful recreations on the Lord’s Day.
Second, from 1631 to 1636, Burroughs was rector of Tivetshall, Norfolk, a church that still stands today. Despite the best efforts of his patron, Burroughs was suspended in 1636 and deprived in 1637 for refusing to obey the injunctions of Bishop Matthew Wren, especially regarding the reading of the Book of Sports, and the requirements to bow at the name of Jesus and to read prayers rather than speak them extemporaneously.
Third, from 1638 to 1640, Burroughs lived in the Netherlands, where he was teacher of a congregation of English Independents at Rotterdam, formerly ministered by William Ames. William Bridge was the pastor and Sidrach Simpson had established a second like-minded church in the city. Thus, three future dissenting brethren were brought together, all of whom would serve as propagandists for congregationalism later in the 1640s.
In the final period from 1640 to his death in 1646, Burroughs achieved great recognition as a popular preacher and a leading Puritan in London. He returned to England during the Commonwealth period and became pastor of two of the largest congregations in London: Stepney and St. Giles, Cripplegate. At Stepney, he preached early in the morning and became known as “the morning star of Stepney.” He was invited to preach before the House of Commons and the House of Lords several times. Thomas Brooks called him “a prince of preachers.”
As a member of the Westminster Assembly, Burroughs sided with the Independents, but he remained moderate in tone, acting in accord with the motto on his study door: Opinionum varietas et opinantium unitas non sunt ασυστατα (“variety of opinion and unity of opinion are not incompatible”). Richard Baxter said, “If all the Episcopalians had been like Archbishop Ussher, all the Presbyterians like Stephen Marshall, and all the Independents like Jeremiah Burroughs, the breaches of the church would soon have been healed.”
In 1644, Burroughs and several colleagues presented to Parliament their Apologetical Narration, which defended Independency. It attempted to steer a middle course between Presbyterianism, which they regarded as too authoritarian, and Brownism, which they regarded as too democratic. This led to division between the Presbyterians and Independents. Burroughs served on the committee of accommodation, which tried to reconcile the differences, but on March 9, 1646, he declared on behalf of the Independents that presbyteries were “coercive institutions.” Burroughs said he would rather suffer or emigrate than submit to presbyteries. Ultimately, the division between Presbyterians and Independents helped promote the cause of prelacy after the death of Oliver Cromwell.
Burroughs pursued peace to the end. He died in 1646, two weeks after a fall from his horse. The last subject on which he preached became his Irenicum to the Lovers of Truth and Peace, an attempt to heal divisions between believers. Many of his friends believed that church troubles hastened his death.
Burroughs was a prolific writer, highly esteemed by Puritan leaders of his day, some of whom published his writings after his death. Nearly all of his books are compilations of sermons.
Burroughs’s ministry falls into four periods, all of which reveal him as a zealous and faithful pastor. First, from about 1627 until 1631, he was assistant to Edmund Calamy at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Both men became members of the Westminster Assembly. Both men strongly opposed King James’s Book of Sports. Both refused to read the king’s proclamation in church that dancing, archery, vaulting, and other games were lawful recreations on the Lord’s Day.
Second, from 1631 to 1636, Burroughs was rector of Tivetshall, Norfolk, a church that still stands today. Despite the best efforts of his patron, Burroughs was suspended in 1636 and deprived in 1637 for refusing to obey the injunctions of Bishop Matthew Wren, especially regarding the reading of the Book of Sports, and the requirements to bow at the name of Jesus and to read prayers rather than speak them extemporaneously.
Third, from 1638 to 1640, Burroughs lived in the Netherlands, where he was teacher of a congregation of English Independents at Rotterdam, formerly ministered by William Ames. William Bridge was the pastor and Sidrach Simpson had established a second like-minded church in the city. Thus, three future dissenting brethren were brought together, all of whom would serve as propagandists for congregationalism later in the 1640s.
In the final period from 1640 to his death in 1646, Burroughs achieved great recognition as a popular preacher and a leading Puritan in London. He returned to England during the Commonwealth period and became pastor of two of the largest congregations in London: Stepney and St. Giles, Cripplegate. At Stepney, he preached early in the morning and became known as “the morning star of Stepney.” He was invited to preach before the House of Commons and the House of Lords several times. Thomas Brooks called him “a prince of preachers.”
As a member of the Westminster Assembly, Burroughs sided with the Independents, but he remained moderate in tone, acting in accord with the motto on his study door: Opinionum varietas et opinantium unitas non sunt ασυστατα (“variety of opinion and unity of opinion are not incompatible”). Richard Baxter said, “If all the Episcopalians had been like Archbishop Ussher, all the Presbyterians like Stephen Marshall, and all the Independents like Jeremiah Burroughs, the breaches of the church would soon have been healed.”
In 1644, Burroughs and several colleagues presented to Parliament their Apologetical Narration, which defended Independency. It attempted to steer a middle course between Presbyterianism, which they regarded as too authoritarian, and Brownism, which they regarded as too democratic. This led to division between the Presbyterians and Independents. Burroughs served on the committee of accommodation, which tried to reconcile the differences, but on March 9, 1646, he declared on behalf of the Independents that presbyteries were “coercive institutions.” Burroughs said he would rather suffer or emigrate than submit to presbyteries. Ultimately, the division between Presbyterians and Independents helped promote the cause of prelacy after the death of Oliver Cromwell.
Burroughs pursued peace to the end. He died in 1646, two weeks after a fall from his horse. The last subject on which he preached became his Irenicum to the Lovers of Truth and Peace, an attempt to heal divisions between believers. Many of his friends believed that church troubles hastened his death.
Burroughs was a prolific writer, highly esteemed by Puritan leaders of his day, some of whom published his writings after his death. Nearly all of his books are compilations of sermons.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 7, 2015
I read a third of the book but took a very long break due to its seeming irrelevance to the spiritual state I was in at the time. Recently started all over again and realized that I couldn't have been more wrong.
I would give this book 6 stars if I could.
"There may be a softness of heart that may come from softness of nature. There may be some flashy workings of heart by hearing the Word. There may be some sensibleness of the heart by the knowledge of the Law.
As for the first, a plum or a cherry may be soft without, but hard within. Second, we know that ice may be thawed in the day and frozen again in the night. And, third, for the terrors of the Law, we know that the marblestone may melt in wet weather and, as it were, trickle down with tears, but be a stone still."
I would give this book 6 stars if I could.
"There may be a softness of heart that may come from softness of nature. There may be some flashy workings of heart by hearing the Word. There may be some sensibleness of the heart by the knowledge of the Law.
As for the first, a plum or a cherry may be soft without, but hard within. Second, we know that ice may be thawed in the day and frozen again in the night. And, third, for the terrors of the Law, we know that the marblestone may melt in wet weather and, as it were, trickle down with tears, but be a stone still."
June 6, 2022
I give this one three stars because, while it is good, it is not as good as the author's other books. It is very strong, however, on tender-heartedness being a fruit of the covenant of grace.
December 16, 2016
Really enjoyed the first three sermons from Isaiah 66:2, but the last four from 2 Kings were not as good but still better than most of the teachings out there today.
August 7, 2019
Jeremiah Burroughs was a 17th century English pastor persecuted for his non-conformity. He delivered a series of sermons on Isaiah 66:2 and 2 Kings 22:19 entitled, "The Heart Trembling at the Word of God Evidences a Blessed Frame of Spirit". This book is the collection of those sermons.
As the author says, "True fear and trembling at the Word is that which will settle the heart and strengthen the heart against all other fears." In his introduction, the great Puritan, Thomas Brooks, provides a summary of the work: "The design of the worthy author in this little piece is to win and work the reader to submit to the Word, to be guided by the Word, and to live out the Word in a conduct becoming the gospel."
Personally, Burroughs is my favorite Puritan author. I enjoyed this book very much and have greatly benefited from the author's exposition. However, the reader should be warned that the writing, common for the 17th century, will, from time to time, present a challenge to the 21st century reader.
Nevertheless, if you are interested in the subject of sanctification and would like some solid, Biblical teaching on the subject, I recommend Burroughs' "Gospel Fear".
As the author says, "True fear and trembling at the Word is that which will settle the heart and strengthen the heart against all other fears." In his introduction, the great Puritan, Thomas Brooks, provides a summary of the work: "The design of the worthy author in this little piece is to win and work the reader to submit to the Word, to be guided by the Word, and to live out the Word in a conduct becoming the gospel."
Personally, Burroughs is my favorite Puritan author. I enjoyed this book very much and have greatly benefited from the author's exposition. However, the reader should be warned that the writing, common for the 17th century, will, from time to time, present a challenge to the 21st century reader.
Nevertheless, if you are interested in the subject of sanctification and would like some solid, Biblical teaching on the subject, I recommend Burroughs' "Gospel Fear".
January 14, 2018
In 2018, Jeremiah Burroughs (one of the most well-known Puritan scholars) is too often overlooked. This is one of the most convicting, powerful books I’ve ever read. The Puritans had an amazing way of getting the “heart” of spiritual matters. This is an A+ example of their dedication and analysis of written word.
February 23, 2024
Tremble oh Christian. You reek of Christ. To those on the path of life you bring the sweet scent of our saviour. To those on the path of destruction you stink like a rotting corpse, revealing their own death.
Do not dilute the gospel and sell it on the street corner. Tremble before the Lord’s holiness at the cost to all else. Your home is in Eternity.
Do not dilute the gospel and sell it on the street corner. Tremble before the Lord’s holiness at the cost to all else. Your home is in Eternity.
June 15, 2022
Life-changing. Scripture is inspired, inerrant, infallible, and sufficient. But even that's not good enough. Scripture is authoritative! It is to be obeyed, revered, and honored. The pulpit is a throne for the Book! and nothing else.
February 21, 2016
John Frame recently was asked what the single most important thing for the present-day church was and he replied 'fidelity to the scriptures as the Word of God'. Burroughs in this book is at pains to show how, in part, you do this. How do you become tender toward the Word of God? What does a tender heart look like? How do you maintain it?
These questions are crucial for all Christians of all ages, and all the more today in our pluralistic society. Will we be tender toward God or no? For those who desire to be, Burroughs is a faithful guide into the subject.
These questions are crucial for all Christians of all ages, and all the more today in our pluralistic society. Will we be tender toward God or no? For those who desire to be, Burroughs is a faithful guide into the subject.
Want to read
May 29, 2009GOSPEL FEAR - JEREMIAH BURROUGHS by Jeremiah Burroughs (1997)
June 2, 2023
Excellent collection of 7 of Burroughs’ sermons from 1640s on fear and trembling before God. It was heart-wrenching, Soul-searing, and conscience-smiting.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews