Episode
The Puritans: Physicians of the Soul — J. Stephen Yuille
- Podcast
- The Will Spencer Podcast
- Published
- Feb 20, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3501
- Processing state
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Summary
Dr. J. Stephen Yuille joins Will Spencer for a conversation on one of the most misunderstood traditions in Christian history: the Puritans. Often caricatured as cold moralists, the Puritans were in fact pastors of the heart — “physicians of the soul” who endured suffering, cultivated the affections, and pursued holiness with seriousness that still challenges believers today. In this episode we explore Puritan spirituality, the role of suffering in spiritual formation, mentorship across generations, and the importance of devotional reading from past centuries. We also discuss why many modern Christians instinctively sense something missing in contemporary faith and how the Puritan tradition offers a deeper inheritance. If you are seeking a faith that is thoughtful, lived, and capable of bearing the weight of suffering, this conversation offers a rich introduction to Puritan theology and spirituality. Mentorship and clarity for men: https://willspencer.co/mentorship Topics Discussed The Puritans and the life of the affections Pastors as “physicians of the soul” Suffering and spiritual formation Mentorship across generations Devotional reading and learning from “dead men” GUEST LINKS Reformation Heritage Books — https://www.rhb.org The Heart Taken Up - BUY HERE Holy Meditation by Thomas Manton - BUY HERE RESOURCES MENTIONED George Swinnock — The Blessed and Boundless God Puritan Treasures for Today Bundle The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men." EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSE I spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out. 13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography. A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price…