Summary
We read this as a focused meditation on Christ’s disposition toward His people, especially when they feel weak, sinful, and weary.
Goodwin’s aim is not sentiment. He wants us to know Christ truly, and to draw near with confidence and repentance.
Why Should We Read This Resource?
We are helped by the way Goodwin holds together holiness and tenderness. He does not minimise sin, yet he keeps pressing us to see that Christ’s mercy is not reluctant.
We also benefit from his careful reasoning. The book repeatedly asks us to consider what Scripture teaches about Christ’s priestly heart, and how that changes our prayer, our assurance, and our endurance.
For pastors, this is useful for counselling, and for preaching that aims at both conviction and comfort. We are given help in speaking to those who assume Christ must surely be tired of them.
Closing Recommendation
We strongly commend this as a rich and tender guide for cultivating confident, humble communion with Christ.
Thomas Goodwin
Thomas Goodwin was an English Puritan theologian of the seventeenth century, a convinced Reformed pastor and churchman with uncommon spiritual depth.
He served the church through preaching, theological writing, and leadership among the Independents, always aiming to unite careful doctrine with vibrant communion with Christ. Goodwin is particularly strong on union with Christ, assurance, and the Spirit’s work, and he helps readers follow the logic of grace without losing sight of the heart’s needs.
He remains valued because he is searching, tender, and theologically exact, making him a wise companion for pastors who want both precision and comfort. Recommended titles include The Heart of Christ, Christ Set Forth, and The Works of Thomas Goodwin.
Theological Perspective: Reformed