William Perkins, Architect of Puritanism

by Joel R. Beeke (Editor), Greg Salazar (Editor)

Once a highly influential preacher in the Elizabethan Church and the international Reformed world, William Perkins (1558-1602) has become a rather surprisingly neglected figure in the history of the church. In this book, Joel Beeke, Sinclair Ferguson, Greg Salazar, Geoff Thomas, and Stephen Yuille seek to recover the importance of Perkins by situating his life, priorities, ministry challenges, and influence within their original seventeenth-century context. They help readers 'to peer behind the veil' to see the real Perkins as he contended for the faith and attempted to shepherd God's people in the midst of profound challenges. In this way, this volume will be both a reservoir of theological and practical truth and will foster a greater experiential knowledge of and love for the great God who William Perkins proclaimed and served. Table of
1. Preface -- Joel R. Beeke and Greg Salazar
2. Life and Ministry -- Sinclair B. Ferguson
3. Pursuit of Godliness -- Geoffrey Thomas
4. The Greatest Case of Conscience -- Joel R. Beeke
5. The Wholesome Doctrine of Faith and Love -- Stephen Yuille
6. The Primacy of Scripture, Preaching, and Piety -- Greg Salazar
7. Conclusion -- Joel R. Beeke and Greg Salazar

Genres: Theology

192 pages, Paperback

Published July 31, 2019

About the author

Joel R. Beeke (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is the chancellor and professor of homiletics and systematic theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He has served as a pastor since 1978 and currently ministers at the Heritage Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the editor of the Puritan Reformed Journal and The Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth magazine, the board chairman of Reformation Heritage Books, the president of Inheritance Publishers, and the vice president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society.

Beeke has written and coauthored 120 books, edited 120 books, and contributed 2,500 articles to Reformed books, journals, periodicals, and encyclopedias. He frequently lectures at seminaries and speaks at Reformed conferences around the world. The Lord has blessed him and his wife Mary with three children and eleven grandchildren.

Reviews

[Heather Gorsett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book was absolute perfection. Far from giving all the details of William Perkins’ life (I only learned that he was married and had 7 children in the conclusion) this book was dedicated to establishing his role as the architect of Puritanism, examining his influence on Puritan thought and Reformed theology in the ensuing century.

Perkins had so many names and titles given throughout the book, here are a few of my favorite:

the principal architect of Elizabethan Puritanism

the prince of Puritan theologians

the father of Puritanism

the Homer of practical Englishmen

Perkins has been classed with Calvin and Beza as third in “the Trinity of the orthodox.” This little book did everything it set out to do and now I must go read some Perkins!

[Pat Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

“William Perkins, Architect of Puritanism”, is a short read, yet full of great information about the man. Beeke and Salazar did an outstanding job of giving us relevant facts on Perkins, yet making it short, and interesting, enough to be a very easy and enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Puritans. If you don’t have an interest in the Puritans, or never read any of the Puritans, I recommend this book to you as an introduction to see how submersed they were in the Scriptures. We can learn from their love for the Bible.

“Take up and read” - Saint Augustine

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a series of essays highlighting the writings of William Perkins, a Puritan I was not familiar with. His writings and printed sermons were very practical. It is amazing how edifying they are even for 21st century readers. It reminds us that God’s Word is eternal and never changing.

I was definitely “built up in righteousness” (Acts 9:31).

[Kyle Huber · Rating 3 out of 5]

The material is solid and important biblical truth, however this is not a biography on Perkins as the title seems to indicate. The chapters are messages from a conference. I purchased the book thinking is was a biography on this important figure in Church history

[Luke Rasmussen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and so much fun. I loved the introduction to Perkins writing but also all the contributors too.