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After the Puritans: The Axminster Independent Church 1660-98Post-PuritanismAFTER THE PURITANS: This is a fascinating book, 'a minor classic of English evangelical Christianity', according to the editor's Introduction, a description with which the reviewer heartily concurs. It is the first-hand account of the trials, tribulations and providential survival of an Independent Church in the Axminster area during the years 1660 to 1698, when it was a crime to be a nonconformist. The record, written in the literary style of the time, details the church's secret meetings for worship, the pastoral oversight, the cases of discipline, and the various sufferings including imprisonments, seizure of personal possessions, and executions. It also includes some pages of heart-warming and challenging exhortations from the pastors of the Axminster church of those days. Although written so long ago, the book is extraordinarily relevant today, not only to Christians undergoing persecution in other countries, but as a preparation and warning to believers in this land, where the possibility of real persecution of Evangelicals in the not-too-distant future becomes increasingly likely. Any Christian would benefit from reading it, and would find it both challenging and inspiring. Those with little or no knowledge of the history of those times will find it a real eye-opener, while those with an interest in that period of history will find it especially valuable. Its usefulness may be summarised as follows: 1. It is informative, giving a real taste of what it was like to be a Reformed non-conformist in the late 17th century. 2. It is challenging, in that it presents a Christianity that is earnest, deep, sacrificial, devout and doctrinally sound in contrast with much that today is superficial, shallow, self-indulgent, flippant and doctrinally weak. 3. It is heart-warming as one reads of the commitment, sacrifices, and trenchant exhortations of the pastors. 4. It is encouraging as an illustration of the truth of the Saviour's words that the gates of hell shall not prevail against his church. The narrative itself covers 168 pages, but the editor has added 110 pages of extra material in the form of seven valuable Appendixes and four Indexes. Appendix B, an extract from Pastor Ashwood's book, Heavenly Trade is worth the price of the book in itself. The book also contains 20 illustrations and five maps. There are comprehensive footnotes throughout. Warmly recommended. Stanley Jebb,
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