PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Whole Works of John Flavel — Volume 3
Flavel, John, 1630?-1691 · 303,410 words · 253 reading sections
Section 181
Thus the care of providence, in all ages, hath been as much displayed in protecting the church against the dangers that arose from false brethren within it, as from avowed, persecuting enemies without it ; and had it not been so, the rank weeds of heresies and errors had long since over-topt and choaked the corn, and m…
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Observ. 15. Errors, in the tender bud, and first spring of themy are comparativelij shy and modest, to what they prove after- wards, when they have spread and rooted themselves in the minds of multitudes, a7id when their Authors think it time to set up andjustlejhr themselves in the world *. They usually begin in mode…
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They dissolve the lovely union of the saints, and thereby scare off the world from coming into the church. This is evidently implied in that prayer of Christ, John xvii. " That all his people might be one, that the world might believe the Father had sent him." There is indeed no just cause for any to take offence at th…
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The occasion. The holy God, who is afGod of truth, Deut. xxxii. 4. and hateth errors. Rev. ii. 6. the God of order, and hates confusions and schisms in his church, 1 Cor. xiv. 33. is yet pleased to permit errors and heresies to arise, without whose per- mission they could never spring. And this he doth for the trial of…
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The proper remedies and preventives in this case, are an heedful attendance to, and practice of these rules. Rule I. Let all obscure and difficult texts of Scripture be con- stantly examined and expounded according to the analogy or pro- portion of faith, which is St. Paul's own rule, Rom. xii. 6. " Let " him that pro…
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And then Secondly, It is too frequently abused, by stretching it beyond Christ's allowance and intendment upon the other side ; ■when every ignorant and confident person shall, under pretence of liberty granted by Christ, rudely break in upon die sacred text, distort, violate, and abuse the scriptures at pleasure, bv p…
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It will require some strength of mind, and great sedulity to lay all parts of scripture before us, and to compare words with words and things with things, as the apostle speaks, 1 Cor. ii. 13. " Com- " paring spiritual things with spiritual." And though it be true that some important doctrines, as that of justification…
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And to sweeten our pains in this work, that will of God, for the discovery whereof we search, is presented to us under three illustrious and alluring properties : viz. good^ acceptable, and per- feet. Good it must needs be, because the mil and essence of God, the chief good, are not two things, but one and the same. An…
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And this instability of the judgment proceeds either from hypO' crisy or weakness. Sometimes from hypocrisy : All hypocrites are double-minded men. James iv. 8. " The double-minded man " (that is, the hypocrite) is unstable in all his ways :" one of that number was not ashamed to sav, ^S*^ duas habere animas in eodem c…
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Satan, who feels more of this in himself than any other creature in the world, and knows how ready poor ignorant, but distressed sinners are to catch at any thing that looks like ease or comfort, and being jealous what these troubles of conscience may issue into, pre- pares for them such erroneous doctrines and opinion…
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suspect no harm. It is said, Prov. xiv. 15. " The simple be- " lieveth every word."" Through this sluice, or flood-gate, what a multitude of errors in Popery have overflowed the people ! They are told, they are not able to judge for themselves, but must take the matters of their salvation upon trust from their spiritua…
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Satan is well aware of this humour in men, and how exceeding serviceable it is to his design : and therefore, having the very knack of clawing and pleasing itching ears with taking novelties, he is never wanting to feed their minds with a pleasing variety, and fresh succession of them ; new opinions are still invented,…
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THE CAUSES AND CURE OF MENTAL ERRORS. 465 and horses, as Ave have to baptize infants. Oh the madness of car- nal reason ! To take down the arrogance, and prevent the mischief of carnal reasonings, let us be convinced, Remedy 1. That it is the will of God that reason in all believers should resign to faith, and all r…
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The best defensat'ives against erroi;ieous contagions, in this case, are to be found in the following particulars. First Defensative. Reflect seriously and sadly upon the mani- fold mischiefs occasioned every where, and in all ages of the world, by rash zeal. Revolve church-histories and you shall find, that scarce a…
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Satan was a liar from the beginning, and abode not in the truth : * He hates it with deadly hatred, and all the children and friends of truth. Aud this hatred he manifesteth sometimes by raising furious storms of persecution against the sincere professors of it. Rev. iii. 10. and sometimes by clouds of heresies and err…
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The choice of instruments is a principal part of Satan's policy. Every one is not fit to be employed in such a service as this. All are not fit to be of the council of war, who yet take their places of service in the field. A rustic carried out of the field, on board a ship at sea, though he never learned his compass, …
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First, They usually seek to disgrace and blast the reputations of those truths, and ministers set for their defence, which they design afterwards to overthrow and ruin, and to beget credit and repu- tation to those errors which they have a mind to introduce. How THE CAUSES AND CURE OF MENTAL EllRORS. 47-5 many precio…
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What is there in the whole world more precious and excellent than the free-grace of God ? and yet you read, Jude 4. of some that turned the grace of our Lord into lasciviousness. What more desirable to Christians than the glorious liberty Christ hath pur- chased for them by his blood, and settled upon them in the gospe…
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* Ignorant and wicked men, not minding, that the same inrpired writer never ad- vances contrary assertions on one and the same subject ; and regarding only the sound of the words, do overlook the sense and scope of them; and observing that there is a diversify or seeming contrariety in the same scripture expressions, t…
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Much of the same spirit was Thomas Muntzer, John of Ijeyden, David George, Jacob Behemen, 4'c. whose cloudy nonsense, en- igmatical expressions, and wilful obscurity, drew many into a strange admiration of them ; they all pretend to an higher know- ledge of mysteries than what the gospel is acquainted with ; and yet gi…
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Becold, Warendrop, &c. with the efficacy of them on the deluded people, and fatal consequences of them hoth to the deceived, and deceivers. Sec Mr. Samuel Euther". ford's Survey of the Spiritual Ajitichrist, p. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. THE CAUSES AND CURE OF MENTAL ERRORS. 4iS5 Besides, these youlig converts or novices, have…
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Cause 16. There is yet another artifice of false teachers, to draw men into errors, and that is, by pressing the consciences of those they have made some impressions upon, unto all haste and speedy openly to declare their new opinions, and avow and own them be- fore the world ; as knowing that this will rivet and fix t…
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Remedy 5. Lastly, Suspect that opinion (as justly you may) for erroneous', that is too importunate, and pressing upon you, and will not allow you due time of consideration, and means of infor- mation : That which is a truth to-day will be a truth to-morrow ; but that which looks like a truth to-day, may be detected, an…
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I know the enemies of God's people aim at something else ; they strike at profession, yea, at religion itself; and according to their wicked intention, without timely repentance, will their reward be : But, whatever the intention of the agents be, the issues of persecu- tion are, upon this account, greatly beneficial t…
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When I received these sheets from him in vindication of his Solemn Call, I was at a stand, in my own resolutions, whether to let it pass (without any animadversions upon it) as a passionate clamour for a desperate cause ; or give a short and full answer to his con- fused and impertinent rejoinder. But considering that …
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free, the other wholly conditional : and though these two be, in their own natures, inconsistent and destructive of each other, yet so it was, that all the saints, for many ages, were absolutely under the one, and yet purely under the other: shall I then be censured for saying he speaks pure contradiction ? Possibly m…
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But, to cover the shame and nakedness of his assertion, which places believers absolutely under Adam's covenant, he is fain to make use o^ t^o Jig-leaves , as Adam did. (1.) And the first attempt he now makes, p. 4, 5, 6, 7. of his rcplij^ is by way of retortion, by telling us, ' That the same pre- * tended absurditi…
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I have stood tlie longer upon the clearing of this first point ; be- cause this being fully cleared, it runs through and clears the whole controversy betwixt us. For now it will be evident to all, that neither Abraham's, nor Moses's covenant (complexly taken, as Mr. Cary takes it) could possibly be, for this reason, an…
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It was added to the promise, (saith Dr. Reynolds f) by way of subserviency and attendance, the better to advance and make ef- fectual the covenant itself Mr. Strong, upon the two covenants, saith, the apostle's meaning is, that the law was added as an appen- dix to the promise ; but it may be you had rather hear Dr. C'…
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If Christ himself were the angel by whom the laws were delivered to Moses, which are there called the lively oracles of' God ; then the law cannot be a pure Adam's covenant of works : for it is never to be imagined that ever Jesus Christ himself should deliver to Moses such a covenant, directly opposite to all the ends…
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To conclude, Let the grave and learned Dr. Edw. Reynolds, in his excellent treatise of the Use of the Lau\ determine this con- troversy betwixt us, p. 371, c^c. where designedly handling this doctrine from Hom. vii. 13. ' That the law was revived and pro- ' mulgated anew on mount Sinai, hythe ministry of Moses, with no…
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It were easy for me to represent the sense of many otlier eminent divines m perfect harmony with the doctrine of this great and ex- VINDICIARUM VIXDEX. 513 cellent divine, who liave substantially proved the point I defend against you : But it is enough. II. Let us next examine what execution his rcph/hsith done upon…
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(2.) If it appear (as it clearly doth) that as there never was, is, or can be any more than one covenant of works, so whatsoever co- venant is distinguished from it by a IMediator, and dedication by the sprinkling of blood (as he saith the ceremonial law was) cannot possibly, for the reasons he gives, be any part or me…
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Replij. This is new and strange divinity with me, (1.) That God should become a people's God by way of special interest, l)y virtue of the broken covenant of works ; this wholly alters the na- ture of that covenant : for then it was a law that could give life, contrary to Gal. iii. 21. unless you can suppose a soul tha…
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Now I would soberly ask, (1.) What vouchers you have a- mongst expositors for this your rash and daring assertion ? I find not a man that hath trod this path before you, and I hope none will be hardy enough to follow : you certainly stand alone, and it is pity but you should. (2.) Where do you find the just parts of th…
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Reply. This argument or reason can never conclude ; because as God never required of Abraham and his children, personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience to the whole law for life, as he did of Adam; so the death, or cutting off, spoken of here, seems to be another thing from that threatened to Adam. Circumcision, as I…
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< with the house of Judah ; not according to the covenant I made ' with their fathers, when I took them by the hand to lead them « out of the land of Egypt ;"'"' and (as Jeremiah adds it, for the apos- ' tie takes all this out of Jer. xxxi. 31. (although I was an husband « to them, and in the close of all, your sins an…
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3. Establish my arguments for the conditionality of the new co- venant. And first, we grant, That neither our word [co^idition] nor your term [absohife,] are either of them found in scripture, with respect to God's covenanting with man ; so that we contend not about the signification of a scripture term. But though th…
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And thus our picus and learned divines generally affirm faith to be the condition of the covenant. So * Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs, ' Faith, (saith he) hath the honour above all other graces, to be ' the condition of the second covenant ; therefore it is certainly ' some great matter that faith enables us to do. Whatsoever…
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3"cars since at my ordination ; but for tliat learned and jiulicious treatise of his against ]\Ir. Eyre, wherein he hatli cast ^eat hght upon tliis controversy, as excellent Mr. Baxter and j\Ir. Wood- bridge have also done. But, alas ! what evidence is sufficient to satisfy ignorant and obstinate men ! Sir, It pities …
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in supposing their doctrine necessarily implies that Christ iMtli me^ rited that we might merit. And Judaism to the lieight in saying, their doctrine necessarily supposes that Christ hath not purchased a right of' life to any. What can a Jew say more ? Ah, Mr. C. can you read the words I have here recited out of blesse…
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Answer. The sum of your answer (without denying, distinguish- ing, or limiting one proposition) is this. That ' here faith is ' properly put into the room of perfect obedience, and is to do ' what perfect obedience was to do under the law : AVhereas (say ' you) faith is only appointed as an instrument to receive and ap…
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Reply. If I had a mind to learn the art of proving quidlibet a quolihet^ and make myself ridiculous to others, by such foolish at- tempts, I know no book in the world fitter to instruct me therein than yours. Certainly you have the knack of it, and give us an instance of it but now, in confuting the sequel of my major,…
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To your second answer. That we are to deliberate the terms and count the cost, with respect to those duties, which are in order to the participation of the full end of the covenant in glory : by which 1 suppose you mean self-denial, perseverance, &c. I have no con- troversy with you about that. Our question is. Whether…
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God might have dealt with us in a supreme way of mere sove- reignty and dominion, commanding what duties he pleased, and es- tablishing his commands by what penalties he pleased, and never have brought himself under the tie and obligation of a covenant to his own creatures : but he chuses to deal familiarly with his pe…
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And though it be true, thaf after the first edition of the covenant of grace, the matter of the first covenant was represented to the Israelites in the moral law ; yet that representation was intended and designed to be subservient, and added to the promise. Gal. iii. 19- and so (as an acute and learned divine * speaks…
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Our adversaries in this controversy do pitifully and apparently shuffle here, and invent many strange and unintelligible distinctions to be-cloud the light t)f this famous text. What they are, and how they are baffled, the reader will easily discern from what hath already past betwixt my antagonist and me, in p. 108, &…
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Had your answers been just, you would have observed the rules of a respondent, which you have not done ; and if they had been sober, you had never been so free in your reproaches, and sparing in your arguments, as you have been. Is this the man, of whom it is said in the Epistle to his Solemn Call, That his lines are J…
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In a word, I cannot but look upon it as a discovery of your great weakness, That when you meet with such a difficulty as poses your understanding, and you cannot possibly reconcile with your notion ; as that of PauPs circumcising Timothy, and you affirming that the very act of circumcision did, in its own nature, oblig…
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This perversion and abuse of free grace and Christian liberty, is justly chargeable (though upon different accounts) both upon wick- ed and good men. Wicked men corrupt it designedly, that by entitling God to their sins, they might sin the more quietly and securely. So the devil instigated the Heathens to sin against t…
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But let all good men beware of such opinions and expressions, as give an handle to wicked men to abuse the grace of God, which haply the author himself dare not do, and may strongly hope others may not do : but if the principle will yield it, it is in vain to think corrupt nature will not catch at it, and make a vile u…
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They give us a far different account of saving faith, and do not place it in a persuasion more or less of Christ's love to us, or a ma- nifestation in our consciences of the actual remission of our sins be- fore we had a being ; but in receiving Christ as the gospel offers him for righteousness and life. They frequent…
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1. Universally and in general, as to the state of the person. 2. Specifically and particularly, as to the acts of sin. As soon as we are received into communion with Christ, and his righteousness is imputed by God, and received by faith, immedi- ately we pass from a state of death and condemnation to a state of life …
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2. The scripture leaves all unbelievers, without distinction, under condemnation and wrath. The curse of^ the law lies upon them all till they believe, John iii. 18. " He that beHeveth in him is not " condemned ; but he that believeth not, is condemned already." And, Eph. ii. 3, 12, 13. The very elect themselves were h…
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Reason 1. Because there be multitudes of believing and justified persons in the world, who have no such manifestation, evidence, or assurance, that God laid their iniquities upon Christ, and that he died to put away their sins ; but daily conflict with strong fears and doubts, whether it be so or no. There are but fevv…
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Reascni 5. This doctrine is certainly unsouhd, because it con- founds the distinction betwixt dogmatical and saving faith ; and makes it all one, to believe an axiom or proposition, and to believe savingly in Christ to eternal life. What is it to believe that God laid our iniquities upon Christ, more than the mere asse…
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Reason 3. This doctrine cannot be true, because it supposes every persuasion, or strong conceit of a man's own heart, to be as infalli- bly sure and certain, as the very fundamental doctrines of Christia- nity. No truth in the world can be surer than this, that Jesus Christ died for sinners. " This is a faithful saying…
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(S.) He also enjoins it upon them, That they mourn for their sins, Isa. xxii. 12. expresses his great delight in contrition and brokenness of spirit for sin, Isa. Ixvi. 2. " To this man will I look, " even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit." ('hrist himself pronounces a blessing upon them that mourn, Mat. v…
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(4.) In a word, this opinion clashes with their other principles For they say, that though there was pardon and remission under the old covenant (which they allowed to be a covenant of grace) yet it was but greidatim, and successively, as they offered sacrifices. If a man had sinned ignorant ly, until he brought a sacr…
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1. God himself hath fully and plainly declared it to be so, 2 Sam. xii. 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 14. "" Wherefore hast thou despised the com- " mandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight ? Now therefore, "' the sword shall never depart from thy house," &c. Here is the sword, a terrible and painful evil upon David's house,…
1,319 wordsSource & rights
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.