The Works of Thomas Goodwin, vol. 1

by Thomas Goodwin

Publisher:

James Nichol

, 1861

Overview

Volume One contains Goodwin’s commentary on the first of two volumes on the book of Ephesians. Goodwin deeply valued the minutia of Ephesians, and devotes much of his commentary to portions of the epistle overlooked by other commentators. Throughout his commentary, Goodwin displays a humble awareness for the richness of Paul’s writings and for the grace of God working through the words of the apostle.

Contents

Top Highlights

“It is answered, first, It is true Justice had a satisfaction” (Page 125)

“No sins before, and I may add to it, nor yet after conversion, can hinder God’s free grace from using men in the highest employments in the Church, but magnify it the more. David, after his adultery, was a penman of Scripture, Psalm 51; Solomon, after his fall, of Ecclesiastes; Peter, after his conversion, denied Christ with oaths and curses, is a chief apostle, and converts three thousand fifty days after, with the same month he had denied Christ; and Paul, after he had been a blasphemer, was made an apostle.” (Page 8)

“as I shall open to you, I take it is in personal communion with God.” (Page 282)

“Hence therefore election, the first act, having thus singled us out from all things, and decreed us a representative being in Christ as members in a head, together with our being, predestination then further imports a second act of ordaining us to a glorious well-being in him, as the end God means to bring us to.” (Pages 84–85)

“Christ—the Scripture—your own hearts—and Satan’s devices,’ writes Thomas Brooks, ‘are the four things that should be first and most studied and searched; if any cast off the study of these, they can be neither safe here, nor happy hereafter.’^† His words are the key-note of Puritan theology.” (Page xvi)

Praise for the Print Edition

He speaks the intimacies of things from an inward sense and feeling of them in his own heart, to the particular cases and experiences of others.

—James Barron

Product Details

• Title: The Works of Thomas Goodwin, vol. 1
• Author: Thomas Goodwin
• Publisher: James Nichol
• Publication Date: 1861
• Pages: 563

About Thomas Goodwin

Thomas Goodwin (October 5, 1600–February 23, 1680) was an English Puritan theologian and preacher. He was born in Norfolk in England as the oldest son of Richard and Catherine Goodwin. At the age of six, Goodwin, in his own words, “began to have some slighter workings of the Holy Spirit.” He attended Christ’s College in Cambridge, and was ordained as a preacher in 1625 and as a lecturer at Trinity Church in 1633.

In 1634, he resigned and in 1639 was forced to flee to the Netherlands to escape persecution.

After Goodwin returned to England, he became a member of the Westminster Assembly, and frequently preached in Parliament. In 1656, he also became chaplain to Oliver Cromwell. Along with John Owen, Thomas Goodwin was instrumental in writing the Westminster Confession of 1658.

In 1660, Goodwin returned to London and served as pastor of Fetter Lane Independent Church, where he remained until his death.