It is my hope that this book will help those who are already Calvinists to know, appreciate, and live the historical truths of Calvinism. If we do not know our Reformation heritage, ignorance will lead to indifference, and indifference to relinquishment. I urge you to study Reformed thinking. Immerse yourself in the writings of solid, renowned Calvinists. Read sixteenth-century classics such as Calvin’s Institutes. Try Henry Bullinger’s The Decades, which teaches the doctrines of the Bible in fifty messages on a somewhat simpler level than the Institutes. Read seventeenth-century classics, too, such as John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and John Flavel’s The Fountain of Life. Pick up eighteenth-century works such as Wilhelmus à Brakel’s The Christian’s Reasonable Service and Jonathan Edwards’ Religious Affections. From the nineteenth century, read Octavius Winslow’s Work of the Holy Spirit and Charles Spurgeon’s The Treasury of David. From the twentieth century, read D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ The Sermon on the Mount and John Murray’s systematic theology (Collected Writings, vol. 2). If we do not appreciate our Reformation heritage, our faith will lack authenticity. No one will be jealous of us, for we will be sorely lacking in true peace, joy, and humility. And if we don’t live our Reformation heritage, we will not be salt in the earth. When salt has lost its saltiness, it is good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men (Matt. 5:13).

If God uses this book to clear away some of the serious misrepresentations people have about Calvinism and to stir in many souls the faith and conviction to believe that all of life must be lived to His glory, my efforts will be more than amply rewarded.

—Joel R. Beeke

Grand Rapids, Mich.

February 2008

 Joel R. Beeke, Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism (Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2008), xv–xvi.