This is quite useful. This summer our church's formal activities (home groups, children's ministry, choir, etc.) all spin down, and we have organized an informal "Puritan Book Club". Our first selection, for the month of June, is Matthew Mead's The Almost Christian Discovered. James Kubecki talks about it on his blog as well.
Do you ever have the feeling you are being watched? That is the unsettling feeling you get when reading this book--you get the distinct sensation that the book is somehow reading you! After reading this book, I found the following (from Charles Spurgeon) helpful:
"When the Word of God converts a man,
it takes away from him his despair,
but it does not take from him his repentance.
True conversion gives a man pardon,
but it does not make him presumptuous.
True conversion gives a man perfect rest,
but it does not stop his progress.
True conversion gives a man security,
but it does not allow him to leave off being watchful.
True conversion gives a man strength and holiness,
but it never lets him boast.
True conversion gives harmony to all the duties of Christian life;
it balances all duties, emotions, hopes, and enjoyments.
True conversion brings a man to live for God.
He does everything for the glory of God,
whether he eats, drinks, or whatsoever he does.
True conversion makes a man live before God;
He desires to live as in God's sight at all times,
and he is glad to be there.
And such a man now comes to live with God.
He has blessed communion with him;
He talks with him as a man talks with his friend."
Why doesn't anyone write with this kind of 'studied plainness' today?
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