Turn and Live

Puritan Treasures for Today

by Nathaniel Vincent, Jonathan D. Beeke (Editor)

God's call to the sinner to turn and live is serious and demands a response. In a clear, compelling, and passionate way, Nathaniel Vincent explains the foolishness of continuing in the pathway of evil, the stubborn disposition of natural man to continue in this way, the gracious and repeated call of God to turn, and the wonderful remedy found in Christ. In typical Puritan fashion, Vincent also draws out the several applications, or uses, of this doctrine. Table of Contents:
Preface
1. God's Call to Turn
2. The Way of Evil is the Way of Death
3. Death as a Result of One's Choice
4. God's Repeated Call to Turn from Death to Life
5. Concluding Applications
Series Description Interest in the Puritans continues to grow, but many people find reading these giants of the faith a bit unnerving. This series seeks to overcome that barrier by presenting Puritan books that are convenient in size and unintimidating in length. Each book is carefully edited with modern readers in mind, smoothing out difficult language of a bygone era while retaining the meaning of the original authors. Books for the series are thoughtfully selected to provide some of the best counsel on important subjects that people continue to wrestle with today.

Genres: Christian Living, Christian

104 pages, Paperback

Published December 11, 2015

About the author

Nathaniel Vincent (1639-1697) was a nonconformist puritan divine. His colleagues called him “smart…brisk and well-rounded as a minister of the Gospel, holding a facetious and jolly humor, as well as being a considerable scholar.”

Reviews

[ValeReads Kyriosity]

This was an exposition of and call to conversion. I was really too sleepystupid for it today, so I didn't get as much out of it as it had to give, but I didn't want to start on a third light novel in a row. Here's one snippet that caught my attention: "'But men will deride and scorn me if I become a convert.' Those men are beside themselves, and sober people need not be concerned at the laughter of the insane." That's always a helpful thought for those who have been converted, too, when we are mocked by madmen.

I mentioned in my review of All Things for Good that they should give Simon Bubb a pile of Puritans to read. Well, I'm pretty sure Jacob Murray IS Simon Bubb, so I guess they did. Now if only we really could put things and the narrator of such a book would himself be converted, we'd really be cooking.

[Caleb Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich, convicting, devotional work on God's call to sinners to repent. Great for believers as well as unbelievers to meditate on. Helpfully condensed with modern language and short chapters. Highly recommended.

[Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

"God's call to the sinner to turn and live is serious and demands a response. In a clear, compelling, and passionate way, Nathaniel Vincent (1638-1697), in a 1669 sermon, explains the foolishness of continuing in the pathway of evil, the stubborn disposition of natural man to continue in this way, the gracious and repeated call of God to turn, and the wonderful remedy found in Christ. In typical Puritan fashion, Vincent also draws out the several applications, or uses, of this doctrine. Table of Contents:
Preface
1. God's Call to Turn
2. The Way of Evil is the Way of Death
3. Death as a Result of One's Choice
4. God's Repeated Call to Turn from Death to Life
5. Concluding Applications
Series Description Interest in the Puritans continues to grow, but many people find reading these giants of the faith a bit unnerving. This series seeks to overcome that barrier by presenting Puritan books that are convenient in size and unintimidating in length. Each book is carefully edited with modern readers in mind, smoothing out difficult language of a bygone era while retaining the meaning of the original authors. Books for the series are thoughtfully selected to provide some of the best counsel on important subjects that people continue to wrestle with today."

Based on Ezekiel 33:11: "... turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel."
- Those who enjoy the gospel's light but do not bow under it have often been informed it is God's will that they sorrow and repent of their sin. p10
- If you persist in your evil way you may gain a little of the world, something to be kept for a little while, but you lose your soul and eternal glory. p12
- An offender who refuses a pardon doubly deserves judgment, both because of the offense and because he scoffs mercy p21
- And if you are opposed to turning now, you will likely be even more averse to turning when God is further away from you, when Satan has a stronger foothold in you, when conscience is grown more stupid, and when the habits of sin have doubled your natural inclination to it. p23
- And if He causes your heart to desire grace and glory, He will satisfy them as He raised them in you. p 25
- Zechariah 1:3 (ESV)
3 Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. p31
- Acts 3:26 (ESV)
26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” p31
- the Lord calls sinners to turn in order to indicate that it is from Himself that we much have power and strength to turn in truth p41
- It is impossible that such guilty and polluted creatures, such we have made ourselves by sin, should ever be accepted before a just and holy God with a mediator. Thus it follows that we must look to Jesus... p57
- Everything besides God is either hurtful or helpless p75

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling arguments to turn from sin and to Christ.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this little book to our children each night at bed and it sparked so many great conversations and had them asking for more. Evangelistic in nature, it is a great sermon preservation.

[My Little Happy Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

Excellent listen overall.