Stephen Charnock (1628–1680) was an English Puritan Presbyterian clergyman born at the St. Katherine Cree parish of London. Charnock studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, during which he was converted to the Christian faith, beginning his spiritual journey as a Puritan divine. After leaving the college, he possibly held a position as either a private teacher or tutor, then moving on to become a minister of the faith in Southwark for a short time, converting individuals to Christianity. He continued on to New College, Oxford, where he earned a fellowship and gained a position as senior proctor
He moved to Ireland in 1656 where he became a chaplain to Henry Cromwell, governor of Ireland. In Dublin, he began a regular ministry of preaching to other believers. Those who came to hear him were from different classes of society and differing denominations, and he became widely known for the skill by which he discharged his duties.
In 1660, the monarchy of England was restored after its brief time as the Commonwealth of England, and Charles II ascended the throne of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Due to new restrictions, Charnock was now legally prevented from practicing public ministry in Ireland, and in England where he returned. Nevertheless he continued to study and to minister in non-public ways.
Charnock began a co-pastorship at Crosby Hall in London in 1675; this was his last official place of ministry before his death in 1680. [More via Wikipedia] [William Symington’s biographical sketch of Charnock is here.]
The Works of Stephen Charnock:
The Complete Works of Stephen Charnock, Volume 1. (596 pages) [pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
This volume contains the following:
- An Introduction to Charnock’s Works – pdf, 42 pp.
- Discourses on Divine Providence. (2 Chronicles 16:9) – pdf, 119 pp.
- The Existence and Attributes of God (in part, continued in Volume 2):
- A Discourse Upon the Existence of God. (Psalm 14:1) – pdf, 57 pp.
- Practical Atheism. (Psalm 14:1) – pdf, 75 pp.
- A Discourse Upon God’s Being a Spirit. (John 4:24) – pdf, 25 pp.
- A Discourse Upon Spiritual Worship. (John 4:24) – pdf, 62 pp.
- A Discourse Upon the Eternity of God. (Psalm 90:2) – pdf, 29 pp.
- A Discourse Upon the Immutability of God. (Psalm 102:26-27) – pdf, 46 pp.
- A Discourse Upon God’s Omnipresence. (Jeremiah 23:24) – pdf, 37 pp.
- A Discourse Upon God’s Knowledge. (Psalm 147:5) – pdf, 80 pp.
The Complete Works of Stephen Charnock, Volume 2. (558 pages) [pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
This volume contains a continuation of The Existence and Attributes of God:
- A Discourse Upon the Wisdom of God. (Romans 16:27) – pdf, 96 pp.
- A Discourse Upon the Power of God. (Job 26:14) – pdf, 89 pp.
- A Discourse Upon the Holiness of God. (Exodus 15:11) – pdf, 87 pp.
- A Discourse Upon the Goodness of God. (Mark 10:18) – pdf, 125 pp.
- A Discourse Upon God’s Dominion. (Psalm 103:19) – pdf, 100 pp.
- A Discourse Upon God’s Patience. (Nahum 1:3) – pdf, 45 pp.
The Complete Works of Stephen Charnock, Volume 3. (550 pages) [pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
This volume contains the following:
- The Necessity of Regeneration. (John 3:3,5) – pdf, 75 pp.
- A Discourse of the Nature of Regeneration. (2 Corinthians 5:17) – pdf, 84 pp.
- A Discourse of the Efficient of Regeneration. (John 1:13) – pdf, 141, pp.
- A Discourse of the Word, the Instrument of Regeneration. (James 1:18) – pdf, 29 pp.
- A Discourse of God’s Being the Author of Reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) – pdf, 165 pp.
- A Discourse of the Cleansing Virtue of Christ’s Blood. (1 John 1:7) – pdf, 34 pp.
The Complete Works of Stephen Charnock, Volume 4. (616 pages) [pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
This volume contains the following:
- A Discourse of the Knowledge of God. (John 17:3) – pdf, 107 pp.
- A Discourse of the Knowledge of God in Christ. (John 17:3) – pdf, 54 pp.
- A Discourse of Conviction of Sin. (John 16:8-9) – pdf, 56 pp.
- A Discourse of Unbelief, Proving it is the Greatest Sin. (John 16:9) – pdf, 76 pp.
- A Discourse of the Misery of Unbelievers. (John 3:36) – pdf, 52 pp.
- A Discourse Shewing who are Unbelievers. (John 6:64) – pdf, 44 pp.
- A Discourse of the End of the Lord’s Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:26) – pdf, 35 pp.
- A Discourse of the Subjects of the Lord’s Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:28-29) – pdf, 45 pp.
- A Discourse of the Unworthy Receiving of the Lord’s Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:27,29) – pdf, 11 pp.
- A Discourse of Self-Examination. (2 Corinthians 13:5) – pdf, 11 pp.
- A Discourse of the Knowledge of Christ Crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2) – pdf, 13 pp.
- A Discourse of Christ our Passover. (1 Corinthians 5:7) – pdf, 33 pp.
- A Discourse of the Voluntariness of Christ’s Death. (Ephesians 5:2) – pdf, 12 pp.
- A Discourse of the Acceptableness of Christ’s Death. (Ephesians 5:2) – pdf, 35 pp.
- A Discourse of Obedience. (John 15:14) – pdf, 12 pp.
The Complete Works of Stephen Charnock, Volume 5. (608 pages) [pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
This volume contains the following:
- A Discourse of the Necessity of Christ’s Death. (Luke 24:26) – pdf, 46 pp.
- A Discourse of the Necessity of Christ’s Exaltation. (Luke 24:26) – pdf, 42 pp.
- A Discourse of Christ’s Intercession. (1 John 2:1) – pdf, 54 pp.
- A Discourse of the Object of Faith. (John 14:1) – pdf, 33 pp.
- A Discourse of Afflictions. (Hebrews 12:5-11) – pdf, 12 pp.
- A Discourse of the Removal of the Gospel. (Revelation 2:5) – pdf, 15 pp.
- A Discourse of Mercy Received. (Psalm 56:12-13) – pdf, 9 pp.
- A Discourse of Mortification. (Romans 8:13) – pdf, 11 pp.
- A Discourse Proving Weak Grace Victorious. (Matthew 12:20) – pdf, 63 pp.
- A Discourse of the Sinfulness and Cure of Thoughts. (Genesis 6:5) – pdf, 30 pp.
- A Discourse of the Church’s Stability. (Psalm 87:5) – pdf, 34 pp.
- A Discourse of the Fifth of November. (Exodus 15:9-10) – pdf, 20 pp.
- A Discourse of Delight in Prayer. (Psalm 37:4) – pdf, 11 pp.
- A Discourse of Mourning for Other Men’s Sins. (Ezekiel 9:4) – pdf, 19 pp.
- A Discourse for the Comfort of Child-Bearing Women. (1 Timothy 2:15) – pdf, 17 pp.
- A Discourse of the Sins of the Regenerate. (1 John 3:9) – pdf, 21 pp.
- A Discourse of the Pardon of Sin. (Psalm 32:1-2) – pdf, 25 pp.
- Man’s Enmity to God. (Romans 8:7) – pdf, 67 pp.
- The Chief Sinners Objects of the Choicest Mercy. (1 Timothy 1:15) – pdf, 40 pp.
Want to discuss something pertaining to Stephen Charnock? Leave a public comment below (subject to moderation), or send a private message to the webmaster.
The puritans especially Stephen Charnock were led by the Holy Spirit to interpret the His own work – the Holy Scripture
May God use me the more in His garden before the feast
Praise the Lord! I’ve been wanting to get a bigger print of The Existence and Attributes of God but the 800 pages are too small for me to read. I have AW Pink and AW Tozer’s and they are great but want more!
I have begun to read Charnock’s work “The Existence and Attributes of God” and I have finished the first section on the existence of God (very learned and helpful), and I am almost through his section on practical atheism. Having read many of the puritans and reformers for the past 25 plus years (which I thank the LORD for being able to do so), I have never seen any one open up the horrible depravity that is in man more than Charnock has in his discourse on practical atheism. This discourse is sure to further humble even the very strongest of Christians and drive them to greater love to our Lord Jesus Christ and His imputed righteousness, and also, holy desires and prayers for the sanctifying grace of the Spirit; while on the other hand, it is a most frightening alarm to the unconverted professing Christian, and I hope, a means blessed to their conversion.
This would be a book I would recommend every Christian to read; and I doubt not but they will be the better for it through the Lord’s blessing of His servants work.
It’s sad to say but the formal Christianity of today which so many people espouse do not want this Gospel. They only want a “god” god of their own making. I think the only conclusion one can come to is that the Apostasy has come and men love darkness more than Light.