JEREMIAH Burroughs (1599-1646), a member of the Westminster Assembly, was renowned for his piety, beloved for his gentle spirit, and famed as a preacher. He fled to Holland because of persecution, and ministered to an English congregation in Rotterdam. On his return to London he became a preacher to the large congregations of Stepney and Cripplegate. As a writer, “he is both evangelical and practical. He sacrifices not the truth of his subject to the splendour of composition. His style is homely but his subject is excellent.”
His aim in this book, Gospel Conversation, was to help professing Christians attain to the circumspect walk and adorning of the doctrine of God which characterised the godly of a previous generation. He would often say, “We seem to have more light now, but we have lost our heat and first love.” First published in 1648, this work is still as relevant as it was when it first appeared.
The editor of this edition explains, “Today the word ‘conversation’ refers to an exchange of opinions or ideas in speech. But in the 17th century it was commonly used to mean ‘conduct’ or ‘behaviour’, and this is how it is used in this book. Today, this book could well have been called Gospel Conduct. It addresses the foundational question: How should a person live under the gospel?”
The three parts of the book are: first, seven sermons on the text, “Only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ,” Phil 1:27. Secondly three sermons on John 18:36, “Jesus answered and said, My kingdom is not of this world.” These three sermons were preached shortly before his death and are very precious indeed. Thirdly, an “Appendix” with a sermon, “The Saints’ Duty in Times of Extremity”, on the text, “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord,” Ex 14:13.
Not much of the excellence of this work can be shown in a short review, but the following extract from the first part gives some idea of the doctrine. The author is dealing with the subject of love to the brethren, and says (on page 83), “Oh, but now those who profess the gospel of Christ, have one argument that is infinitely beyond all arguments that can be imagined, and that is in John 3:16, ‘For God so loved the world.’ He loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son. We hear how the love of God, that was in the heart of God from all eternity, is brought forth and revealed in the Gospel.
“Oh let this inflame our hearts with love! Oh that there might never be a Christian who professes the name of Christ but that it might appear in him that his heart is sweetened with love, and that he lives, as it were, in the very element of love, and is acted by love in all that he does! Oh this would beautify your Christian profession more than all your talking of this and the other things! Oh that it would come again: that this becoming conversation of Christians would come again in to the world!”
In warning believers against the love of the world he says, “Surely it is a very unbecoming disposition in one who is under the kingdom of Christ to be worldly,… and we find in Scripture that this is made an argument of apostasy, of one who is falling off from the profession of Christ to embrace the world. It is said of Demas in 2 Tim 4:10, ‘Demas hath forsaken me.’ But what is it that has made Demas to forsake Paul? ‘He hath embraced this present world?’ So look upon many of our professors of religion; such as have been very forward in former times and had ‘Oh, nothing but Christ!’ in their mouths, but afterward begin to decline, and become worse and worse. Observe them. They embrace this present world. It is because of some honours and esteem, some comforts, riches, estate, that they would have, or live at ease in this present world. They cannot endure the hatred of the world.”
In the third part (on page 263) the author, after opening the text (“Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord”), deals with four doctrines contained in it:
- “When God is in a way of mercy and salvation to His people, many times He brings them into great straits, even when He is in a way of salvation.
- “In time of these great straits, even the people of God are subject to having their hearts overwhelmed with trouble, distracting fears, and to be disquieted!
- “It is our duty to stand still, keep quiet, and look for God’s salvation in the time of the greatest straits.
- “The sight of God’s salvation coming after straits is a glorious sight to behold. Stand still and see the salvation of God.”
We are indebted to the publishers for making this work accessible in a more readable form than the original. They have divided it into paragraphs where these were wanting, and changed some antiquated spellings and outdated words, while striving to remain faithful to the author’s intentions, thoughts and words. However, in the process, several regrettable printing errors have crept in.
The book is recommended by such outstanding divines as Thomas Goodwin, William Greenhill and Philip Nye. This is sufficient recommendation!
(Rev.) L. M.