When Augustine handed over the leadership of his church in A.D. 426, his successor was so overwhelmed by a sense of inadequacy that he declared, "The swan is silent," fearing the spiritual giant's voice would be lost in time. But for 1,600 years Augustine has not been silent-and neither have the men who faithfully trumpeted the cause of Christ after him. Their lives have inspired every generation of believers and should compel us to a greater passion for God.
In this noteworthy Swans Are Not Silent book, now in paperback, John Piper invites you into the lives of John Bunyan, William Copwer, and David Brainerd to discover how God takes the privilege of faith and strengthens it with trials so that we experience a greater hunger for him.
The perseverance of these godly servants exemplifies the essential fruit that affliction can produce in your own life. Their enduring faith will fortify you in your suffering, reminding you that "behind a frowning providence, God hides a smiling face." And their stories and witness will inspire in you a similar passion for the supremacy of God in your life.
About the Author:
John Piper is pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota
