Charles Bridges Books: A Guide to All 6 and Where to Start
Charles Bridges (1794–1869) was an evangelical vicar in the Church of England who spent most of his ministry in a Suffolk village and wrote some of the most useful books a pastor or Bible reader can own. TheWay Library has six of them, all free to read: three Bible commentaries, his great book on the pastor's work, a short essay on family prayer, and a memoir of a young Christian woman. For his life story, see who was Charles Bridges.
Where to start
Choose by who you are:
- A pastor, elder or seminary student: start with The Christian Ministry.
- Anyone who wants devotional Bible reading: start with Exposition of Psalm CXIX and read one stanza a week.
- Someone studying a book of the Bible: Proverbs or Ecclesiastes.
- A parent or head of a home: the short Essay on Family Prayer, in one sitting.
Every quotation below is checked against the book it comes from. For many more, see our collection of Charles Bridges quotes.
Bible commentaries
Bridges wrote his commentaries for ordinary Christians, not scholars. He takes a verse, explains it, links it with the rest of Scripture, and then applies it to the heart and the home. He doesn't argue with other commentators. He points you to Christ.
Exposition of Psalm CXIX
A devotional walk through all twenty-two stanzas of Psalm 119, verse by verse. Bridges treats the psalm as a portrait of the believer's own experience: delight in God's Word, the young man cleansing his way, the soul cleaving to the dust, affliction that does us good, God as our portion, and love for His law. It was his first book and went through many editions in his lifetime. This is the best place to meet him.
The largest supply of Christian ordinances will fail to refresh us, except the heart be kept right with God in simplicity of faith, love, and diligence in the service of Christ.
Exposition of Psalm CXIX, Verses 41–48
Read Exposition of Psalm CXIX.
An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs
A full commentary on all thirty-one chapters of Proverbs. Bridges explains each proverb and draws its lessons for the heart, the home, speech, work, money and the fear of the Lord. He reads Wisdom in Proverbs 8 as pointing to Christ, and he has rich pages on trusting the Lord with all your heart, training up a child, and the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. Spurgeon thought it the best book on Proverbs. It's a book to keep beside your Bible as you read through Proverbs, a chapter a day.
Wisdom is proved, not by the quantum of knowledge, but by its right application.
An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs, Proverbs 15
Read An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs.
An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes
A verse-by-verse commentary on all twelve chapters. Bridges reads the Preacher's search for satisfaction "under the sun" as showing that everything is vanity apart from God. He draws out the book's lessons on true wisdom, contentment, reverence in worship, the right use of life, and remembering your Creator in youth. The preface deals honestly with the book's difficulty and authorship.
What he wishes is one thing; what he really needs is another.
An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes 2
Read An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes.
For pastors
The Christian Ministry
Bridges' best-known book, and one of the classic books on pastoral work. It asks why so much ministry bears so little fruit, and it answers in six parts:
- The ministry itself: its divine origin, dignity, uses, trials, comforts and the qualifications and preparation it needs.
- Causes of failure: the withholding of God's blessing, the enmity of the natural heart, the power of Satan, local hindrances, and the lack of a true call.
- The minister's own failings: half-heartedness, worldliness, fear of man, lack of self-denial, covetousness, neglect of private prayer, spiritual pride, lack of personal religion, a neglected home, and want of faith.
- Preaching: preparing for the pulpit, preaching the law, preaching the gospel, and the manner and spirit of preaching.
- Pastoral work: visiting, dealing with different kinds of people, the sick, the young, the sacraments, fellowship with other ministers, and helpers.
- Recollections of the ministry.
Part III is the heart of the book, and it searches the conscience of anyone in ministry.
Difficulties heaped upon difficulties can never rise to the level of the promise of God.
The Christian Ministry, Want of Faith
For the home
An Essay on Family Prayer
A short essay urging every Christian household to pray together daily. Bridges argues from Scripture and from the examples of Noah, Abraham, Job and others that there can be no family religion without family worship. He shows what the household gains by praying together, and he gives practical counsel on how and when to do it.
Just as the twisted rope is stronger than the single cords which compose it; so we may conceive the united prayer of the household to be of stronger efficacy than the individual supplications of the several members…
An Essay on Family Prayer, An Essay on Family Prayer
Read An Essay on Family Prayer. For more books on this subject, see our list of the best Christian books on marriage and family.
Biography
A Memoir of Miss Mary Jane Graham
The story of Mary Jane Graham, a gifted young Englishwoman born in London in 1803, told largely through her own writings and letters. Bridges traces her early faith, a frightening few months of unbelief at about seventeen and her return to Christ, her wide studies and devoted life in a quiet village, and her long illness and peaceful death. He adds his own reflections on what her life teaches, including why doubt so often begins in the heart rather than the head.
The natural bias of the heart is to sin, and consequently to infidelity, the excuse and covering for sin.
A Memoir of Miss Mary Jane Graham, Her Relapse into Infidelity
Read A Memoir of Miss Mary Jane Graham.
A note on these editions
Several of these books were restored from scans of old printings and are still being proofread. The Essay on Family Prayer has footnote markers and Scripture references run into its sentences in many places. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes have scattered misread words and stray footnote numbers. The text is readable throughout, but you'll notice the marks.
Why read Bridges today
Bridges is a pastor's writer. He knows the heart, he loves the Bible, and he always brings the two together. Start with The Christian Ministry if you serve in the church, or with Psalm 119 if you want to love God's Word more. All six books are on the Charles Bridges author page. For more commentaries like his, see our guide to the best classic Bible commentaries.