Books published by publisher Curiosmith

Mary Jones was poor and illiterate. She learned to read and walked two miles to study a neighbor’s Bible. A resolution became fixed in her mind that she must have a Bible of her own. For six years she did odd jobs for halfpennies, until she had enough to buy a Bible. One bright morning she walked barefoot 25 miles to buy the Bible. When she reached Mr. Charles, he said that he did not have any Bibles for sale. Mary broke down and wept bitterly, and his heart was so touched that he could not deny her a Bible. Mr. Charles, deeply moved by Mary’s story, was taken by conviction to supply Bibles for all of Wales. He petitioned before the Religious Tract Society in London, and was warmly received. In March, 1804, the British and Foreign Bible Society was established for the purpose of Bible distribution worldwide and is still active today. “If but one heart is moved by the perusal of these pages to more earnest work Mary Jones, for the Master, to self-denial and loving service in the spread of His truth; to a more eager study of God’s Word, and a greater zeal in circulating and making it known among others—then indeed this little story of the poor Welsh girl and her Bible will not have been written in vain.”

Aunt Jane was a widow who was rich with wisdom and advice for everyone she knew. Horace was injured in the Civil War which helped turn his soul to God. Because of Aunt Jane’s advice, Horace courageously went ahead with his marriage plans while having little means to support a family. Horace and Maggie demonstrated a lifestyle that showed what is important in life: two hearts that loved each other and God. They did not have many material possessions, but they valued their riches in Christ. Aunt Jane said to Horace, “The truth is, I want you to set an example to the hosts of young men who are living unsatisfactory, bachelor, boarding-house lives. In nine cases out of ten pride lies at the bottom of these lives. Because they can’t begin where their fathers and mothers left off, they won’t begin at all. They dry up and stagnate for want of an object.”

Herman had an unfortunate injury and was forced to lay in bed and think. His grandmother told him to “ask our dear Lord why He spared his life on that terrible night, since surely it was to do something for Him.” Soon after that little Herman received a special gift from God. Herman’s father became very sick and “lay, day after day, night after night, in profound sleep.” Max realized “My long sickness has made me another man.” The story illustrates how God uses affliction to develop spiritual life in people.

Thomas Hooker (1586–1647) is known as the “Father of Connecticut.” He was born in Marfield, England and attended school in Cambridge. For four years he was a popular preacher at Chelmsford, England, but was eventually silenced for declining conformity to “superstitious externals.” He taught for a while and then left for Holland. After three years, in 1633, he sailed for New England with friends John Cotton and Samuel Stone. Initially he pastored in Newtown (Cambridge), then removed to Harford. This biography offers reasons to dispute the commonly held belief that Hooker left Massachusetts because he had a clash with John Cotton. He was formative in the governments of church and state of colonial New England. A chapter presents different selections illustrating Hooker’s writings. This book was previously published as “Lives of the Chief Fathers of New England,” Vol. 6., 324 pages, Boston, 1870. EDWARD WILLIAM HOOKER (1794–1875) was born at Goshen, Connecticut. He was a descendant of Thomas Hooker. He was educated at Middlebury College and Andover Theological Seminary. He was a pastor at Congregational Church Green’s Farm’s, Connecticut, 1821-1829; First Congregational Church at Bennington, Vermont, 1832-1844; Trustee of Middlebury College, 1834-1844; Professor rhetoric and ecclesiastical history at East Windsor Theological Seminary, 1844-1848; Ministered in South Windsor, Conn., 1849-1856; and Fair Haven, Vermont 1856-1862.

The book includes 28 devotions, with a focus of a heart-walk with God. Rev. Cuyler states that singing a great hymn has potential to significantly change a heart. Also affliction should be joined to prayer and then trust in God’s answer. Also where a Christian would be ashamed to have his Master find him, there he ought never to find himself. Rev. Cuyler offers “a few counsels for the right keeping of the heart and the right conduct of the Christian life.”

Ester endured life as a half-hearted Christian, unhappily going through the motions of her housework. “O, Ester was asleep! She went to church on the Sabbath, and to preparatory lecture on a week day; she read a few verses in her Bible, frequently, not every day; she knelt at her bedside every night, and said a few words of prayer—and this was all!” She traveled to New York and was excited to be in her cousin’s wedding. Abbie, a strong Christian, brought much reflection into Ester’s life. “Ester saw with wide, open eyes, and thoroughly awakened soul, that there was a something in this Christian religion that Abbie had and she had not.” This popular story by Pansy illustrates Ester’s journey to become a stronger, more committed Christian.

Captain Norcott talked Peter Blake into sailing on his ship, but Peter was concerned about the soundness of the vessel. After the launch it was determined not to be the real Dolphin ship and sailor’s lives were dependent upon a business owner whose only concern was to make money. This greediness resulted in many ships and crews being lost for the collection of their insurance, but how can restitution be made? What becomes of the women left behind? An important Bible verse is Isaiah 40:12—“Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?”

A proud Teddy tells the story behind a button taken from his father’s coat after he died in battle. The new neighborhood girl, Nancy, dressed in a sailor’s outfit brings challenges and trouble. Teddy loves all things related to soldiers and becomes a soldier in the Lord’s army. This story highlights the everyday inner battles that a Christian faces, such as contention. An important verse is “His banner over me was love.”—Song of Solomon 2:4.

The illustrative notes of Rev. Thomas Scott were compiled from the footnotes of an edition of "The Pilgrim’s Progress" published by John B. Perry in 1855. The notes of that two-part edition have been divided into chapters for easier reference. Each note is introduced with its anchor phrase from the text of the story. This edition also includes Thomas Scott’s Preface and Life of John Bunyan. "The Pilgrim’s Progress" was one of Scott’s favorite books and his extensive notes are sure to help anyone understand the symbolism and nuances of "The Pilgrim’s Progress."

The notes of Rev. Robert Maguire were compiled from the footnotes of John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress," an edition published by Cassell, Petter, and Galpin, c. 1863. This companion volume includes a short introduction to each chapter which is followed by notes, comments and symbolic meanings. All remarks are maintained in the same chapter and order they originally appeared. Explanations of names and events add depth and richness for any reader of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.

John Eliot (1604–1690) was born in Widford, England. He was educated at Cambridge and was assistant to Thomas Hooker. He moved to Boston in 1631. He was a pastor at Roxbury and ministered to the American Indians at Natick and Nonantun. He was called “The Apostle of the American Indian.” This biography has many testimonies of American Indians thoughts and questions during their spiritual growth. Eliot translated the Bible (Old and New Testament) into the Indian language and had it printed in Cambridge. Author Nehemiah Adams (1806–1878) was born in Salam, Massachusetts. He was educated at Harvard and Andover Theological Seminary. He was pastor of First Congregational Church of Cambridge (1829–1834) and in 1834 the Essex Street Church of Boston. He was an officer in the American Tract Society and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. For health reasons, he sailed around the world with his son Captain Robert Adams, on his ship, “Golden Fleece,” and wrote about the adventure in “Under the Mizzen Mast.”