Helpful Truth in Past Places: The Puritan Practice of Biblical Counseling

by Mark A. Deckard

Puritan writers-theologians were masters at understanding the nature of human beings and applying Scripture in practical ways to help people. Looking to Scripture as the final authority, the Puritans grounded their own counselling practices in a proper view of the sovereignty of God and the underlying heart issues of people. By understanding why people struggle and the provision God makes for our struggles, counsellors today will be better equipped to guide those they counsel toward God-appointed solutions.

Genres: Theology, Counselling, Christian, School

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2010

Reviews

[Mary Hodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really helpful book, though one I feel I need to return to in order to make notes. Particularly found the chapters on contentment and spiritual warfare helpful. Book is well written and relevant to our needs today.

[Paul Pease · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very helpful, but it takes some concentration!

[The Book Man · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a “psychological” and “how to” book ….
How to comfort and counsel those who are struggling with difficulties each day!
I loved it! Especially two last chapters. I highly recommend it to you, dear readers! :)

[Zach Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Deckard provides us with a “readers digest” version of seven Puritan classics. Along the way, he shows us how these timeless truths function within various counseling scenarios. He excels in demonstrating how biblical wisdom speaks into a wide range of issues, ranging from anxiety, depression, addiction, suffering, and so forth.

Aside from the counseling application, this book would be a fantastic introduction into Puritan writings, for he often provides a block quote or summary of a key theme with his explanation afterwards. Deckard serves as a tour guide through rich, pastoral mines. However, as one who has read six of the seven works referenced, I found this to be a little wearisome. I would rather read them myself! I imagine that anyone unfamiliar with the Puritans will be saying the same thing by the end of the book.

[Chloe Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provides great introduction to the puritans!

[Heidi Leatherland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good info, well done!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm only into chapter two of this book and it is excellent! In each chapter, Mr. Deckard takes a specific Puritan writer (for example Jeremiah Burroughs to explore Christian contentment) and works through one of their books with an emphasis on counseling. There is so much we get wrong about the Christian life today that the Puritans understood far better than us (not the least of which is our emphasis on easy steps to victory!!—which neither the Puritans, nor the Psalmists followed, which should perhaps tell us something about our own approach to spiritual maturity).

I finished it and I still love the unique aim of this book: to bring the Puritan writers to bear on counseling issues. A great idea, and the author carries it off well. The Puritans have much to teach us about life issues.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Deckard takes the reader through a small sampling of Puritan writings to show and illustrate that not only were these men steeped in deep theology, they were also incredibly practical in their teaching. Sometimes we think that our troubles are worse than at any time in history, but we don't have to think for very long before we realize that life in England during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was no walk in the park. If you are not familiar with Puritan writers and/or you are interested in counseling, this is a good book to get you started in gleaning wisdom from the ages.

[Mitch Majeski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great treatment of the contribution of the Puritans to our understanding of the soul and how the Christian changes. Be prepared to purchase 8 more books after reading this one (although they, being old classics, will be much cheaper).

[Anthony Alvarado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book that made me want to read all the Puritans he references - especially Burroughs and Edwards. Good practicals and demonstration of how relevant the Puritans really are.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gold! Love this book, highly theological and extremely practical! Very thankful for this work