A Portrait of God: Stephen Charnock’s “Discourses Upon the Existence and Attributes of God” Summarized for the 21st Century

By Daniel Chamberlain

I had the joy a few years ago to preach at a Bible Conference where both the author of this book and the penman of the Foreword (Ron Crisp), were also present. It was the first time I had ever seen this book, and I bought it immediately. 

The first line of the Foreword is, “This book is a treasure,” but that is in reality an understatement. Chamberlain has penned not what can really be classified as an “abridgment,” but what is more accurately a “summary,” similar to what Banner of Truth Trust has done in their “Puritan Paperback” series. He has distilled 1,146 pages of 17^th-century English (in small print!) down to 177 pages of modern, easy to read and absorb English.

While several writers have penned excellent works on the attributes of God (Arthur W. Pink, A. W. Tozer, etc.), Stephen Charnock’s (1628–1680) work is consider without equal. The Puritans, however, are not easy reading (although the effort will be greatly rewarded). But for those who struggle or simply lack the required time, Chamberlain has penned his own classic as a result of his immersion in Charnock for several years.

You can read the entire first chapter, “The Existence of God,” on Amazon.com (https://goo.gl/oXL2Ib) but here’s an example of what Chamberlain has done so well. In “Discourse IV: On Spiritual Worship,” Charnock wrote in one of his “General Propositions”:

“The service and worship the gospel settles is spiritual, and the performance of it more spiritual. Spirituality is the genius of the gospel, as carnality was of the law; the gospel is therefore called spirit; we are abstracted from the employments of sense, and brought nearer to a heavenly state. The Jews had angels’ bread poured upon them; we have angels’ service prescribed to us, the praises of God, communion with God in spirit, through his Son Jesus Christ, and stronger foundations for spiritual affections. It is called a ‘reasonable service;’ it is suited to a rational nature, though it finds no friendship from the corruption of reason. It prescribes a service fit for the reasonable faculties of the soul, and advanceth them while it employs them. The word reasonable may be translated ‘word-service,’ as well as reasonable service; an evangelical service, in opposition to a law service. All evangelical service is reasonable, and all truly reasonable service is evangelical.”

Charnock actually goes on for another 319 words, but Chamberlain boils down the whole section (469 total words) to this (52 words):

“The New Covenant is more spiritual in its worship than the Old. It is a state of more grace and more truth (Jn. 1:17). The perfections of God are revealed more clearly. We worship Him through His Son. The Holy Spirit is more plentifully poured out. We engage in a reasonable service.”

This book makes an excellent daily devotional, or you can read it straight through. Once done, it might even encourage you to tackle “the real thing.” I cannot recommend Chamberlain’s little masterpiece highly enough. Thank you, Brother!