Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs on “What Is the Gospel?”

I’m reading through A Life of Gospel Peace: A Biography of Jeremiah Burroughs by Phillip L. Simpson, recently published by Reformation Heritage Books. This is actually the first full-length biography written about the Puritan preacher Jeremiah Burroughs. Burroughs is perhaps most remembered for his book The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.

Simpson points out that Burroughs’s preaching was noted for its gospel-centeredness. Six of his books were published posthumously with the word “gospel” in their title (i.e., Gospel Fear, Gospel Remission, and Gospel Reconciliation). Burroughs took the time to respond to the question “What is the gospel?” in his work Gospel Conversation (originally a series of sermons preached in 1646).

I wanted to post Burroughs’s thoughts on the Gospel here for my readers as I found them particularly helpful. As we get ready for a new year, this celebration of the Gospel may serve to orient our thinking and shape our priorities. Having been blessed with this glorious Gospel, may we be encouraged to serve Christ more faithfully in 2012.

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In response to the question, “What is the gospel?” [Burroughs] said:

“It is the good tidings that God has revealed concerning Christ…. All mankind was lost in Adam and became the children of wrath, and was put under the sentence of death. God, though He left His fallen angels and has reserved them in the chains of eternal darkness, has… provided a way of atonement to reconcile them to Himself again. Namely, the Second Person in the Trinity takes man’s nature upon Him and becomes the Head of a second covenant, standing charged with man’s sin, and answering for it by suffering what the Law and Divine Justice required. He made satisfaction and kept the Law perfectly, which satisfaction and righteousness He offered up unto the Father as a sweet savor of rest for the souls of those that are given to Him.

“And now this mediation of Christ is, by the appointment of the Father, preached to the children of men, of whatever nation or rank, freely offering this unto sinners for atonement for them, requiring them to believe in Him and, upon believing, promising not only a discharge of all their former sins, but that they shall not enter into condemnation, that none of their sins or unworthiness shall ever hinder the peace of God with them, but that they shall, through Him, be received into the number of sons. They shall have the image of God renewed again in them, and they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. These souls and bodies shall be raised to the height of glory that such creatures are capable of. They shall live forever, enjoying the presence of God and Christ in the fullness of all good. This is the gospel of Christ.” [pg. 151-152]

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You can pick up a copy of this book at any of the following online retailers: Westminster Bookstore, Christianbook.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or direct from Reformation Heritage.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by Reformation Heritage Books for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.