The Great Concern

by Edward Pearse

Publisher:

Digital Puritan Press

, 2021

Overview

Edward Pearse died at forty of tuberculosis, but during his final months, he wrote this book as a guide to his congregation, in order to direct them to life’s one ‘great concern,’ namely, “to have all things set right, well-ordered, and composed in the matters of the soul before leaving this world.” With wonderful clarity, the author shows how putting the spiritual concerns of the soul into the best posture possible for the hour of death is in actuality the key to living an abundant, God-honoring life.

Or as Pearse explains, “It is to fill up our time with duty, and our duties with grace; to use the time which is given to us in the pursuit of these ends—not to eat, drink, and please ourselves with creature comforts—but to serve and honor the Creator, to work out our salvation, to become acquainted with God and Christ, and to ensure ourselves of heaven and a blessed eternity.”

Edward Pearse (c.1633–1674) was a Puritan pastor in London during a period of immense political and social upheaval in England. He (along with nearly two thousand other pastors throughout England) chose to resign his pulpit in 1662, rather than comply with the Act of Uniformity.

Originally published in 1673, this classic work has been meticulously edited to benefit a new generation of Christian readers. Archaic language has been gently modernized, and helpful footnotes have been added to aid the reader. This edition includes a biographical preface, Scripture index, and review questions designed to facilitate group discussion or personal reflection.

Key Features

• Directs readers to life’s “great concern” of setting their souls right before leaving this world
• Shows how preparing the soul for death is the key to living an abundant, God-honoring life
• Presents a classic work in modernized language with helpful review questions

Contents

• Foreword
• Biographical Preface
• Author’s Preface
• Publisher’s Note
• Chapter 1. An introduction and explanation of the words of the text, and an implied point of doctrine: It is a very desirable thing to have all things set right before the hour of death
• Chapter 2. The hour of death is difficult
• Chapter 3. Consider the benefits of having everything set right in matters of the soul before the hour of death
• Chapter 4. Consider the state of man at the time of death
• Chapter 5. Six principles to motivate a person to make adequate preparation for death
• Chapter 6. A call to everyone, both good and bad, saints and sinners, to address themselves to the great work of making everything ready for the hour of death
• Chapter 7. General directions to aid the soul in making a thorough preparation for the hour of death
• Chapter 8. More particular helps and directions for setting things right and making everything ready for the hour of death
• Chapter 9. Several further directions for pressing toward the noblest strains of grace
• Chapter 10. Further directions
• Chapter 11. Conclusion
• Scripture Index

Product Details

• Title: The Great Concern
• Author: Edward Pearse
• Publisher: Digital Puritan Press
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Logos Release Date: 2025
• Pages: 164
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Death › Religious aspects--Christianity; Future life › Christianity
• ISBN: 9798578888908
• Resource ID: LLS:GREATCONCERN
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-09-09T18:14:35Z

About Edward Pearse

Edward Pearse (c.1633–1674) was a Puritan pastor in London during a period of immense political and social upheaval in England. He (along with nearly two thousand other pastors throughout England) chose to resign his pulpit in 1662, rather than comply with the Act of Uniformity.