Who were the Puritans, and why are they important? What can we learn from them today? The Puritan movement began in England during the sixteenth century and continued all the way into the early eighteenth century. Although the Church of England was formed as a result of the Reformation, the Puritans believed it needed much more reform. Puritan Heroes is a beautifully illustrated book that gives the reader an idea of what the Puritan movement was about and offers a glimpse into the lives of more than twenty of its most well-known leaders (among them William Perkins, Richard Sibbes, Thomas Goodwin, Anne Bradstreet, and Jonathan Edwards). The book concludes with ten important lessons readers can learn from the Puritans and study questions to help them retain these fascinating stories and assist them in applying the lessons to their lives. It also features a bibliography to encourage further study in greater depth, as well as a glossary and timeline to help readers understand historical context. Written for children and young people, it will prove a suitable introduction to the Puritans for adults as well.
Mrs. Glenda Mathes is an author and editor who lives with her husband near Pella, Iowa. They have four adult children, two of whom are married, and four grandsons.
This was an excellent collection of biographies aimed at children. I thought the author did a very good job setting up a "scene" at the beginning of each biography before going into the details. They were all about 15 to 20 minutes long which were perfect for Sabbath mornings. The last chapter on application (or "uses" as the Puritans would have said) from the biographies was also very good and challenging for young people.
Awesome book if you want a quick, high-level overview of the Puritans! I was helped by this book a lot since I didn't know much about the Puritans before.