Letters of Samuel Rutherford

Doctrinal basis. Seventeenth-century pastoral letters reprinted by Banner of Truth, which publishes Reformed and Puritan works.

Points to weigh

• 744 pages with 365 letters; a large, reference-style book better read a letter at a time than straight through.
• Some letters address church controversies of his day rather than personal struggles.
• If your doubts come as repeated, intrusive thoughts that you cannot stop, see the OCD and Religious Scrupulosity topic: sources there (for example the International OCD Foundation’s packet for faith leaders) warn that extra reassurance and self-checking can feed the cycle, and recommend a qualified clinician.
• This is pastoral encouragement, not medical care. If you or someone you know is in crisis or danger, call your local emergency number or, in the U.S., call or text 988.

Classification and points to weigh are reformededucation.org's judgments from the sources listed below. They describe and do not endorse; confirm current details with the institution.