A Habitual Sight of Him: The Christ-Centered Piety of Thomas Goodwin

Profiles in Reformed Spirituality

by Joel R. Beeke (Editor), Mark Jones (Editor), Thomas Goodwin

Thomas Goodwin (1600–1680) was a faithful pastor, Westminster divine, advisor to Oliver Cromwell, and president of Magdalen College, Oxford. In this book, Joel R. Beeke and Mark Jones acquaint the reader with Goodwin through an informative biographical introduction. The remainder of the book, 35 selections from across the works of Goodwin, displays Goodwin’s constant attention to Christ in his various theological engagements. You will learn much about the life and works of this influential Puritan, and perhaps, be strengthened with a habitual sight of Christ.
Seeking, then, both to honor the past and yet not idolize it, we are issuing these books in the series Profiles in Reformed Spirituality. The design is to introduce the spirituality and piety of the Reformed Profiles in Reformed Spirituality tradition by presenting descriptions of the lives of notable Christians with select passages from their works. This combination of biographical sketches and collected portions from primary sources gives a taste of the subjects’ contributions to our spiritual heritage and some direction as to how the reader can find further edification through their works. It is the hope of the publishers that this series will provide riches for those areas where we are poor and light of day where we are stumbling in the deepening twilight.

Genres: Theology, Biography, Christian, Christian Living, Church History

138 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

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

[Savanah Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book to read as a devotional. Filled with some absolute bars. I have and will continue to come back to many of the readings.

[Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thomas Goodwin (1600-1680) was a Puritan pastor. This little book begins with a biographical introduction followed by 35 selections of Goodwin’s writings. Goodwin is not the most accessible of the Puritans (like say Thomas Watson); his writing style at times might be dense. But in the end I think the reader will be amply rewarded. Here’s a little nugget to whet your appetite: “[Prayer] prevails, not because of the performance itself, but because of the name in which it is made, even Christ’s name. Therefore, as a weak faith justifies, so a weak prayer prevails as well as a stronger, and both for the same reason, for faith attributes all to God, and so does prayer. As faith is merely a receiving grace, so prayer is a begging grace.” Amen and amen!

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short biography on Thomas Goodwin. There are several short chapters of pure excerpts of Goodwin’s writings following the biography, as well as “How-to guide” on working your way through Goodwin’s corpus. Goodwin was an oddball, being one of the few Congregationalists at the Westminster Assembly, but from the minutes of the Assembly we see great respect and admiration for the piety and graveness that Goodwin exhibited to all those he interacted with at the Assembly and in his travels.

[curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic introduction to the thought of a woefully (indeed, criminally ) underrated Puritan. Mark Jones's introduction is a fine biographical essay highlighting the significance of Goodwin among the English Puritans, and the brief selections from Goodwin's work that follow are worth a thousand times their weight in devotional gold.

[Alan Yau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice biography and good excerpts from his works. Main takeaway: To keep your sight on Christ always, even if He isn't always on your mind, and know that there is great joy in having unity with Christ and with the Trinitarian Godhead.

[Luke Gorsett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meditations on Christ

A great intro to Goodwin! So fun to hear of his boasting in Christ and exposition of some of the riches of Christ in the Scriptures. Definitely accomplished the purpose of the book to get you excited to read more. Enjoy!

[Justin Feland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little sampling of the writings of Thomas Goodwin. It is motivating to me to go out and read some of his works.

[P.J. Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent primer on the works of Thomas Goodwin.

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

A theologically rich book about Christ, written in older English, which provides a challenge for modern readers, but still a great devotional read, exalting the wondrous Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Funnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this warmed my heart

Wonderful biographical information on TG as well.

[Valerie Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

biography for the year. so good

[Jonathan McIntosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was inspired by this short biography of and mini-selections from the works of little known English Puritan Thomas Goodwin.

Read this devotionally if you want your affections for Christ stirred.

My prayer is that I would be able to say what Goodwin said on his deathbed:

"I am going to the three Persons, with whom I have had communion: they have taken me; I did not take them... I could not have imagined I should ever have had such a measure of faith in this hour... Christ cannot love me better than he doth; I think I cannot love Christ better than I do; I am swallowed up in God."

[Michael Locklear · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Hibitual Sight of Him" gives one a wonderful and enriching view of Christ through the heart and writings of Thomas Goodwin. Thirty-five short selections of Goodwin's works plus a brief biography of his life makes for a great addition to one's daily devotions.

[Todd Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. I have really enjoyed working through it slowly and thoughtfully as part of my morning devotions.

[Brian Nicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to the Puritan and Westminster Divine. Good recommended reading at the end of the book for further study. I look forward to more encounters with Mr. Goodwin.