English Puritanism and Scottish Presbyterian ism in the seventeenth century had many bright and shining lights. Of these, James Durham (1622-1658) ranks alongside the greatest of his generation, for his theological depth, faithful preaching, and particularly for his moderate spirit at a time when such was in scarce supply. While he could have been a professor of theology in any university, Durham instead spent a brief ten-year ministry preaching and lecturing for the most part in the Inner-Kirk of Glasgow Cathedral. It was thought that he poured so much of himself into his studies for sermons and lectures that it brought about his early death at the age of thirty-six. His works were often reprinted and left an impression that lasted for centuries. Recently, all his sermons in two volumes and his lectures on the book of Job and on the Ten Commandments have been published in new critical editions. Continuing with his lectures, the publishers are pleased to offer now a new critical edition of James Durham's largest book, which, while it is his most theologically intense work, retains the same practical uses and applications of his sermons and other lectures. Volume 1, Lectures on Chapters 1-3, the first of three projected volumes, comprises a third of the lectures and fully half of the theological essays. The text covers chapter 1 in nine lectures (the most on any chapter) and the letters to the seven churches in Asia (2-3). The theological lectures interspersed cover such subjects as the doctrine of the Trinity, a call to the ministry and qualifications for it, church government and church discipline, repentance, the difference between common and saving grace, and preaching and application. The text has been collated with a 1653 manuscript and an appendix contains texts and full lectures that are significantly different from the published edition of 1658. A new biography will appear in volume 2. Volume 3 will contain a bibliographical essay covering Durham's works and manuscripts, as well as the indices, including an index of errata of prior editions. Book jacket.