The PURITAN [History of the Bible] by W. J. Heaton. This actuall is part of a Trilogy of books on Bible, New Testament and Christian History. The 3 books are: Our Own English Bible by Heaton http://www.archive.org/details/OurOwnEnglishBiblehistoryOfTheBibleByW.J.Heaton The Puritan Bible and other contemporaneous Protestant versions by Heaton [This one - here below] The Bible of the Reformation - its translators and their work http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029272089 The Puritan Bible explains how the Earlier Christians in the 1500s and 1600s found themselves corrupted by a decaying society, corrupt politicians, entrenched BAD political power and Church Officials that did NOT have real answers. The history of their struggles and of their devotion to the Good Book (which was, most of the time, the Geneva Bible of Beza, also available here at: http://www.archive.org/details/GenevaBible-GenewaBiblii-GenfBibel-GinebraBiblia ) says good, encouraging, and positive things about those who came before. These were people who really loved life and adventure (want to risk your life crossing the ocean to live in the wilderness with no comfort of modern cilization around you ?...talk about the simple lifestyle...) And they wanted to leave the world a better place. Their struggles are a source of comfort and example to many today, who could do worse than to try to imitate their hard work, dedication and optimism in the face of dire circumstances. These Three books will serve you well. They show the positive impact of Christianity on the English Speaking world and the good work that Chrsitians have done over the Centuries. It is easy to confuse the small average nice people who are Christians, and instead attribute the bad actions of False Christians to the religion itself. But Christianity is not afraid of hard questions. These books (which contain historic information) help to provide some of the Answers. These are good books for those who are starting in their quest of True Christianity. (not quite as simple as the book Classic Christianity by Bob George, but they were written at a different time). These 3 books contain MANY illustrations. The work of Edward Arber on the Puritans is also helpful. THE STORY OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS. 1606-1623 A.D ; (1897) at: http://www.archive.org/details/storyofpilgrimfa00arbe --- (those who have a spanish-speaking heritage can find it in the Reina Valera Bible of 1602 [available online] and in the work of Reina, Valera, Erasmus and Juan De Valdes, and others who labored in Spain for Religious Freedom. These is much information available for who want to look).