The Works of Thomas Goodwin, vol. 8

by Thomas Goodwin

Publisher:

James Nichol

, 1864

Overview

Volume Eight includes Goodwin’s work on justification. He acknowledges the theological truth that we are saved by grace through faith—but how does that inform the life and thought of believers? Goodwin writes extensively the nature and object of faith, and the relationship between grace and faith. He also explores the ways in which faith is represented in the lives of believers, and concludes with an honest appraisal of faith’s challenges and difficulties.

Contents

Top Highlights

“We are united not on to Christ as good for us, but as given to us; now faith makes that union of receiving him as given, though love makes the other.” (Page 463)

“The first progress or step was at the first covenant-making and striking of the bargain from all eternity.” (Page 135)

“And faith, viewing merely what is in those promises, which specify no condition of faith itself, lays hold on God’s grace, and Christ as therein manifested. And thus absolute promises stand in a full opposition unto all conditional promises, as those absolute promises may be supposed, and objected first unto faith’s view, and as they are the raisers up of it thereupon, so as upon the sight thereof the soul is brought to apply the salvation made known in such promises.” (Page 205)

“If therefore a man were justified by any other faith than by faith throwing himself upon Christ for justification, he should be justified by sanctification.” (Page 300)

“subordinates reason to itself, restoreth, rectifies it, and then useth it, even as reason makes use of sense;” (Page 264)

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. 8
• Author: Thomas Goodwin
• Publisher: James Nichol
• Publication Date: 1863
• Pages: 593

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.