Just a recommendation -

I'm right at the start of recording my notes from my latest read,  A Lifting Up for the Downcast by William Bridge.  Written in 1649 it is still a powerful and valuable read.  sure, the language is a little rough to understand at times but after a while you begin to realize you "get it."

Cogently written and well documented with scripture this work is a "must read" for anyone ministering to th "downcast."  And - who among us isn't downcast at times?

Bold yet tender, Bridge deals with most of the afflictions and struggles we all face.  he even poses arguments concerning specific objections which are clear, kind but solid.

As a big time reader I find the offerings that are on the shelves today - well - offensive.  The doctrine in obscured if dealt with at all and there's just a little too much scripture tweeking for my tasted.  It's the difference between gruel and a good steak (or really good salad.  Today's offerings are shallow, narrow and barely scriptural.  They are indeed meant for, "itching ears."

It's a challenge to read the works of the Puritans and it's a challenge to get past the false view we have been presented concerning them.  They lived with a view of scripture, God and holiness that you will be hard pressed to find today.  And yet the were well aware, understood and were sympathetic to the struggles (large and small) that we all face - and they treat them with compassion and respect.

Here are a couple of examples:

"It is a sure rule, that God's promise of mercy supposes our misery; if He promise health, He supposes our sickness; if He promise grace, He supposes our sin."

"Thus, is the lack of assurance be not the same thing as damning unbelief, then a man has no reason to be quite discouraged."

Writing concerning our Christian duties:
"He (God)proclaims this unto them, that he will require no more than He gives; He will give what He requires and He will accept what He gives."

"Oh, that people would not measure God's eternal affection by some present dispensation; so they would never be much discouraged."

"No, for though the weakness of faith is usually accompanied with doubts and fears, and the strength of faith, with assurance, joy and comfort; yet it is possible, that a man may have a great deal of faith, yet may have no assurance; and a man may have assurance, not doubting God's love, and yet may have but little of His grace."

"No: for the spiritual battle is not always to the strong.  Our victory lies not in ourselves and our own habitual strength, but in Christ's fresh assistance."

These are just nuggets drawn from the main vein, the mother-load one will find in this work.  I have to say that I have discovered many things afresh - things I knew but that had grown dim in my rememberance of them.

There are a great number of works from the Puritans available today - we go amiss if we don't take advantage of them.  They are certainly much deeper, wider and more valuable than what we are offered today.