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The Christian's Daily Walk
Written by Henry Scudder Puritan work endorsed by Owen and Baxter. 342 pages.
342 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1826
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 10, 2024
Years ago I'd have given this a higher rating, but with age, and broader readings in both the puritan and theology, I'd say that while I cannot begin to judge Mr. Scudder's thoughts and mind, it might not be the right book for several types of believers. It reads as a book possibly written by someone with scrupulosity, and if not, I can say it would not be that well advised for someone with religious scrupulosity. I'm not sorry I read it, and it had a fairly strong influence on my Christian life at the time I read it (probably in the 80's, early 90's)
As someone who has watched so many different Christians and their struggles, ( mostly from those in the Reformed Theology world) I'd say many tender shoots would do better to read other Puritan books. Rutherford Letters, Richard Sibbes, Thomas Goodwin, Thomas Boston, Thomas Watson, and others. With these men, we can see a broader arc of their convictions and practices as well as get a sense of their theological mindsets. I'd put it way down one's reading list for the most part.
As someone who has watched so many different Christians and their struggles, ( mostly from those in the Reformed Theology world) I'd say many tender shoots would do better to read other Puritan books. Rutherford Letters, Richard Sibbes, Thomas Goodwin, Thomas Boston, Thomas Watson, and others. With these men, we can see a broader arc of their convictions and practices as well as get a sense of their theological mindsets. I'd put it way down one's reading list for the most part.
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September 17, 2026The Bible is not an instruction manual that gives step by step instructions on how to live the Christian life. Many Christians struggle in their walk with Christ but don’t know where the principles they read in the Bible meet their day to day living. This disconnect between the desire for holy living and the practical outworkings of it often leads to discouragement. In The Christian’s Daily Walk Henry Scudder, a Puritan author and Westminster Divine, offers helpful suggestions for Christian’s daily living. Accompanied by an abundance of Scripture references that root his suggestions in the Word, Scudder gives a detailed account of various spiritual disciplines Christians should engage in their everyday life and fears they should avoid. However, it does more than give a list of rules you should add to your to do list. This book offers benefit to any Christian’s sanctification by providing a clear, thorough, and grace filled outline of a Christian’s daily walk with God.
The Christian’s Daily Walk presents an all-encompassing approach to Christian living throughout the day and in all of life’s circumstances, and demonstrates our walk with Christ leads to peace with God. The first section suggests holy habits in the average day of a believer. After briefly defining what it means to walk with God in chapter one, chapter two begins with instructions on walking with God through prayer from the moment you wake up (29). The next four chapters explain how a Christian should engage in his vocation, how to fast, how to keep the Lord’s Day, and how to end the day with God. The second section, chapters seven through ten, focuses on walking with God in different circumstances of life like being alone or in company or when in prosperity or adversity. The latter half of the book explains the peace of God that accompanies our walk with Christ. In chapter eleven Scudder stresses the importance of being upright when walking with God. His lengthy definition of uprightness (155) explains the burning desire of the regenerate man to do everything in his power to please God and be like Him. The following two chapters remind the reader to trust in God when troubled by the cares of this world and of the peace of God that is given to us when we walk with Him in uprightness. The final third of the book is dedicated to false fears that prevent peace with God and the means of attaining that peace. The Christian’s Daily Walk’s exhaustive treatment of Christian living reminds readers of our need for Christ and the benefits He gives us.
Scudder’s clarity of thought makes this work accessible to Christian’s in early stages of their Chrisitan walk. Throughout the book the author carefully follows his outline found in the table of contents. In each section Scudder enumerates aspects one should consider during the day or circumstance. But the author does not provide vague ideas of what he thinks you should do. Instead, he provides detailed examples of activities, such as meditations while preparing for bed, that some readers may not be in the habit of doing (95). This clarity offers is a great benefit for new Christians.
Thoroughness is also a noteworthy aspect of this work. Aside from the vast range of Christian experience covered, Scudder demonstrates he has meditated deeply on how a Christians should behave in different areas of his life. In his section on religious fasting, he instructs the reader to examine, accuse, and judge himself based on the sins forbidden by and duties required of the ten commandments (57). This section gives detailed questions to ask oneself in self-examination. He also spends nearly a third of the book refuting false fears Christians encounter that hinder their peace with God. This thoroughness makes the book beneficial for any Christian’s sanctification.
A book full of detailed instruction on Christian living can leave a reader burdened by guilt. Rather than providing a legalistic checkbox for his readers, Scudder’s work is full of grace. Following his admonition to self-examination by the law of God, the author instructs his readers to return to the gospel in repentance and faith, asking God to assist in sanctification (77). He also acknowledges this confrontation with your sin can lead to doubts concerning salvation. This common doubt is addressed in the lengthy section on false doubts. In that section, Scudder comforts those who fear they have a hard heart that is unsaved because they keep on sinning by distinguishing a hard heart that does not care about sin, and a hard heart that is grieved by sin (298). He argues that grief over sin is a sure sign that God is at work in that person’s heart and encourages them to repent while they are able. While this book certainly challenges the reader to grow in holiness, he is encouraged in the gospel instead of being crushed by a legalistic set of rules.
Henry Scudder’s practical book on Christian living is a valuable tool for sanctification. Through his clarity, thoroughness, and gospel centeredness, Scudder calls all of us to a closer communion with God. The Christian’s Daily Walk is a must read for any Christian who seeks to better their walk with Christ
The Christian’s Daily Walk presents an all-encompassing approach to Christian living throughout the day and in all of life’s circumstances, and demonstrates our walk with Christ leads to peace with God. The first section suggests holy habits in the average day of a believer. After briefly defining what it means to walk with God in chapter one, chapter two begins with instructions on walking with God through prayer from the moment you wake up (29). The next four chapters explain how a Christian should engage in his vocation, how to fast, how to keep the Lord’s Day, and how to end the day with God. The second section, chapters seven through ten, focuses on walking with God in different circumstances of life like being alone or in company or when in prosperity or adversity. The latter half of the book explains the peace of God that accompanies our walk with Christ. In chapter eleven Scudder stresses the importance of being upright when walking with God. His lengthy definition of uprightness (155) explains the burning desire of the regenerate man to do everything in his power to please God and be like Him. The following two chapters remind the reader to trust in God when troubled by the cares of this world and of the peace of God that is given to us when we walk with Him in uprightness. The final third of the book is dedicated to false fears that prevent peace with God and the means of attaining that peace. The Christian’s Daily Walk’s exhaustive treatment of Christian living reminds readers of our need for Christ and the benefits He gives us.
Scudder’s clarity of thought makes this work accessible to Christian’s in early stages of their Chrisitan walk. Throughout the book the author carefully follows his outline found in the table of contents. In each section Scudder enumerates aspects one should consider during the day or circumstance. But the author does not provide vague ideas of what he thinks you should do. Instead, he provides detailed examples of activities, such as meditations while preparing for bed, that some readers may not be in the habit of doing (95). This clarity offers is a great benefit for new Christians.
Thoroughness is also a noteworthy aspect of this work. Aside from the vast range of Christian experience covered, Scudder demonstrates he has meditated deeply on how a Christians should behave in different areas of his life. In his section on religious fasting, he instructs the reader to examine, accuse, and judge himself based on the sins forbidden by and duties required of the ten commandments (57). This section gives detailed questions to ask oneself in self-examination. He also spends nearly a third of the book refuting false fears Christians encounter that hinder their peace with God. This thoroughness makes the book beneficial for any Christian’s sanctification.
A book full of detailed instruction on Christian living can leave a reader burdened by guilt. Rather than providing a legalistic checkbox for his readers, Scudder’s work is full of grace. Following his admonition to self-examination by the law of God, the author instructs his readers to return to the gospel in repentance and faith, asking God to assist in sanctification (77). He also acknowledges this confrontation with your sin can lead to doubts concerning salvation. This common doubt is addressed in the lengthy section on false doubts. In that section, Scudder comforts those who fear they have a hard heart that is unsaved because they keep on sinning by distinguishing a hard heart that does not care about sin, and a hard heart that is grieved by sin (298). He argues that grief over sin is a sure sign that God is at work in that person’s heart and encourages them to repent while they are able. While this book certainly challenges the reader to grow in holiness, he is encouraged in the gospel instead of being crushed by a legalistic set of rules.
Henry Scudder’s practical book on Christian living is a valuable tool for sanctification. Through his clarity, thoroughness, and gospel centeredness, Scudder calls all of us to a closer communion with God. The Christian’s Daily Walk is a must read for any Christian who seeks to better their walk with Christ
February 13, 2025
Extremely helpful guidebook for practically ordering one's life around the things of the Lord. One of the more influential books in my walk. John Owen penned the forward of the book if that tells you anything about its' contents. Extensive Biblical references throughout. Has served more as a reference book in my life opposed to a cover-to-cover read. I caution young believers against viewing Scudder's book as law in every instance - rather, the work is a helpful guide and framework for daily obedience.
August 1, 2020
Mr. Scudder does a fantastic job of walking through the various aspects of our walk with Christ. Drenched in Scripture. Easy to read and understand. Encouraging. Uplifting. Challenging. Written for both those young in the faith and those who have been believers for years. I would highly recommend using this as a daily devotional or as am exhortation to one who finds themselves struggling in the faith. This is a great read! I'll read it again Lord willing.
December 11, 2020
John Owen and Richard Baxter recommended this book, and I now know why.
Amazingly pastoral, gracious and practical. Half of the book deal with peace and the many fears someone may have of not being of God ; I never read such gracious and comforting treatment of the fear of not being a true Christian.
I highly recommend this Puritan book.
Amazingly pastoral, gracious and practical. Half of the book deal with peace and the many fears someone may have of not being of God ; I never read such gracious and comforting treatment of the fear of not being a true Christian.
I highly recommend this Puritan book.
October 10, 2015
Possibly worth five stars, at least in part. Because I'm used to reading John Angell James, who is very good on the practical side of Christianity, much of what is said here came as no great novelty, but it is still very useful for prescribing practical ways of living out our faith in the minutiae of everyday life. The problem (if it can be called a problem) is that it feels more like there are two books combined into one. There is the practical section which suits the title of 'The Christian's Daily Walk'. But the full title of the work is 'The Christian's Daily Walk in Holy Security and Peace', and while not divided into two distinct sections, the chapters in the latter half of the book focus more on the issue of Christian assurance, and what that peace is and from whence it is derived. In other words, it's about the true nature of conversion. And I think these two sections have to be treated separately.
But before I say anything else, I'll just state that the edition I have read is a reprint of the 1826 edition published by William Collins in Glasgow. It has 440 pages, has forewords by Richard Baxter and John Owen, and an introductory essay by Thomas Chalmers - so it comes highly commended!
The first section, dealing with the daily Christian life is excellent and it is the sort of thing every young Christian should be taught (or which every church-goer should be taught to help them to recognise the pervasive nature true Christianity, to help them recognise if their own ritualistic or minimalistic form of religion is not evidence of true faith). But in the form it is in, I think it is too much for them to take it all in effectively. The pages are packed full of good stuff within a very short space - and it should only really be taken and digested in small amounts at a time.
My feeling is that this is the perfect book for Christian fathers. It would be the perfect resource if searching for things to teaching during family worship, and for training up sons in the way they should go (or for mothers to train up their daughters). But it probably shouldn't be used in its pure form - it shouldn't just be read aloud. The father/head of the house himself needs to sit down and read a portion of book and meditate on it privately beforehand. He might want to summarise it, to present key points in a more simple and memorable manner. He might want to dwell on one small section one day and go into detail, and cover more ground another day with a general overview, as he deems it appropriate or necessary.
But fathers can say things to their sons in a private one-to-one conversation, and give more individual guidance, than they can do in the setting of family worship, so it would be useful for him to use this book for that purpose too, teaching his son, answering questions, sharing his own thoughts and experiences, and applying the teaching directly to his son's everyday life in the world today.
As a family they might all want to say, at the end of every session of teaching, 'this is how we will modify our family lifestyle and routine to make it more conducive to applying these things in our daily lives.' The family home is generally the greatest hindrance to godly living. It is all very well for a zealous young convert to resolve to live a holy and disciplined life, but more often than not the home environment extinguishes the blaze as lack of order and routine prevents the young convert implementing rigidly his grand scheme for how he will use his time efficiently and to God's glory. Bedtimes are erratic and he cannot get into a good routine for rising early for private prayer and devotion. Even when he does make the effort, there isn't sufficient peace and quiet for him to concentrate on these things because other goings-on in the house are disturbing him. It is the responsibility of parents to provide an environment suited to the spiritual needs of their children with a regularity and routine that will allow the children to get into good habits and use their time effectively for the purposes for which they intend.
With regards to the second part of the book, which will make everyone doubt of their salvation, it is probably all good, but is often just a bit overwhelming to the mind. Sometimes it felt like it kept saying the same things again and again, sometimes it felt like it was contradicting itself. But maybe I just read it too quickly and didn't meditate on it so as to really get to the heart of what each section was trying to convey. It is probably a section which I should seriously study again sometime, as it is such a vital issue for us to be able to distinguish true faith from false professions, and to be able to derive assurance in the correct way, rather than from self-deception and misconceptions.
All in all, a very worthwhile book, and while written by a Puritan and jam-packed full of good stuff, it is not heavy or difficult to read as such. The language is straight-forward enough. Teenagers might be able to get along with it. But as I say, it is meant to be read slowly, and many readers might not have the patience for such slow progress, hence why it might be better in the hands of the parent who can drip-feed its teachings in moderation.
But before I say anything else, I'll just state that the edition I have read is a reprint of the 1826 edition published by William Collins in Glasgow. It has 440 pages, has forewords by Richard Baxter and John Owen, and an introductory essay by Thomas Chalmers - so it comes highly commended!
The first section, dealing with the daily Christian life is excellent and it is the sort of thing every young Christian should be taught (or which every church-goer should be taught to help them to recognise the pervasive nature true Christianity, to help them recognise if their own ritualistic or minimalistic form of religion is not evidence of true faith). But in the form it is in, I think it is too much for them to take it all in effectively. The pages are packed full of good stuff within a very short space - and it should only really be taken and digested in small amounts at a time.
My feeling is that this is the perfect book for Christian fathers. It would be the perfect resource if searching for things to teaching during family worship, and for training up sons in the way they should go (or for mothers to train up their daughters). But it probably shouldn't be used in its pure form - it shouldn't just be read aloud. The father/head of the house himself needs to sit down and read a portion of book and meditate on it privately beforehand. He might want to summarise it, to present key points in a more simple and memorable manner. He might want to dwell on one small section one day and go into detail, and cover more ground another day with a general overview, as he deems it appropriate or necessary.
But fathers can say things to their sons in a private one-to-one conversation, and give more individual guidance, than they can do in the setting of family worship, so it would be useful for him to use this book for that purpose too, teaching his son, answering questions, sharing his own thoughts and experiences, and applying the teaching directly to his son's everyday life in the world today.
As a family they might all want to say, at the end of every session of teaching, 'this is how we will modify our family lifestyle and routine to make it more conducive to applying these things in our daily lives.' The family home is generally the greatest hindrance to godly living. It is all very well for a zealous young convert to resolve to live a holy and disciplined life, but more often than not the home environment extinguishes the blaze as lack of order and routine prevents the young convert implementing rigidly his grand scheme for how he will use his time efficiently and to God's glory. Bedtimes are erratic and he cannot get into a good routine for rising early for private prayer and devotion. Even when he does make the effort, there isn't sufficient peace and quiet for him to concentrate on these things because other goings-on in the house are disturbing him. It is the responsibility of parents to provide an environment suited to the spiritual needs of their children with a regularity and routine that will allow the children to get into good habits and use their time effectively for the purposes for which they intend.
With regards to the second part of the book, which will make everyone doubt of their salvation, it is probably all good, but is often just a bit overwhelming to the mind. Sometimes it felt like it kept saying the same things again and again, sometimes it felt like it was contradicting itself. But maybe I just read it too quickly and didn't meditate on it so as to really get to the heart of what each section was trying to convey. It is probably a section which I should seriously study again sometime, as it is such a vital issue for us to be able to distinguish true faith from false professions, and to be able to derive assurance in the correct way, rather than from self-deception and misconceptions.
All in all, a very worthwhile book, and while written by a Puritan and jam-packed full of good stuff, it is not heavy or difficult to read as such. The language is straight-forward enough. Teenagers might be able to get along with it. But as I say, it is meant to be read slowly, and many readers might not have the patience for such slow progress, hence why it might be better in the hands of the parent who can drip-feed its teachings in moderation.
August 9, 2017
The first half is superb: practical advice for walking with Christ throughout an average "hum-drum" day. The second half focuses more on conquering specific fears: which felt less applicable to me. Still, an excellent book.
November 4, 2020
I found the first half very helpful with the practical steps on how to begin the day, how to walk with God, how to end the day.
The last part on assurance was a bit drawn out and long, but it would be great as a reference when needed.
The last part on assurance was a bit drawn out and long, but it would be great as a reference when needed.
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