This book was Mark Dever's dissertation from Cambridge. It is not a leisurely read. It is an academic book.The book adds much to the historiography of Richard Sibbes. While Sibbes is often seen as a radical non-conforming Puritan who stayed in the Church of England against his conscience, Dever disagrees. He sees Sibbes as a conforming Puritan. He was in the Church of England by choice. Sibbes was able to both be Calvinistic and in the Church of England because, during his younger years, there was a middle ground. This middle ground between the Laudian Church of England and the Puritans was quickly disappearing, but Sibbes taught his conscience to yield to authorities while not agreeing.This book is well written and worth reading. It, however, is not for the casual reader. If you like Dever's preaching and want a book to edify your soul, look elsewhere. If you are interested in church history and want to see how this Puritan giant can speak to your soul, buy this book.