PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Whole Works of John Flavel — Volume 4
Flavel, John, 1630?-1691 · 295,325 words · 248 reading sections
Section 121
Instance 1. And first, for convictions of ungodliness. There are many that call themselves Christians, whose consciences tell them God is to be daily and duly worshipped by them, both in family and closet-prayer. It sets before them tJoshua's pious practice, Joshua xxiv. 15. " As for me and my house, we will serve the …
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But, poor self-cozening hypocrite, these things must not pass so; thy conscience, as well as the word, tells thee that it is not the place of worship, but the spirituality of it that God regards, John iv. 23, 21. That they are hypocrites in scripture-account who have God in their mouths, but he is far from their reins,…
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Instance 2. The truth of God is held in unrighteousness, when men's lusts will not suiFer them to restore what they have sinfully, and unjustly gotten into their hands. This sin lies boking in the consciences of some men, makes them very uneasy, and yet they make a hard shift to rub along under these regrets of conscie…
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8. ]\Ien's own guilt stops their mouths and silences them. They are ashamed and afraid to reprove other men's sins, lest they should hear of theu' own. Fear or retortion keeps them from the duty of reprehension. Thus we fall into a new sin for fear of reviving an old one. '* He that reproveth a scorner getteth himself …
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naked and wholly without excuse or apology for his sin : in this case there is no plea left to extenuate the offence, Job xv. 22. " Now " they have no cloak for theii' sin." If a man sins ignorantly, his ignorance is some excuse for his sin, it excuses it at least a tanto, as Paul tells us, thus and thus I did, but I d…
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Infer. 2. What a singular and choice mercy is a tender con- science ! A conscience yielding obedience to conviction ! A drop of such tenderness in the conscience is better than a sea of specu- lative knowledge in the head, 1 Cor. xii. 31. Many poor Chris- tians are ashamed to see themselves so out-stripped and excelled…
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Infer. 6. How dreadful is the state and case of apostates, who have their eyes opened., their consciences awakened., their resolutions Jhr Christ seemingly fixed ; and yet , after all this, return again to their ^former course of sin ! You see, brethren, sin hath not only power to hold men in bondage to its lusts afte…
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Two things make you confederates with the devil against your own souls : (1.) Your consent to this project for your damnation ; for so your own consciences out of the scriptures inform you it is : consent makes you a party. (2.) Your concealment of this plot brings you in as a party with him. Confess thy sin, and bewai…
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Motive 10. Lastly, consider what a choice mercy it is to be under such calls and convictions of conscience as are yet capable of being obeyed : it is not so with men's convictions after this life. Conscience convinceth in hell as well as here, but all its convictions there are for torment, not recovery. O it is a choic…
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Demand 7. Lastly, Have none of you taken the vows of God upon you, to reform your course, and break off your iniquities by repentance, when you have been under dangerous sickness on shore, or dreadful tempests at sea ? Have you not said. Lord, if thou wilt but spare and save me this once, I will never live at the rate …
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stupid, and senseless, under guilt, Acts xvii. 30, 31. 5. It is si powerful antidote against formality in religion, the general, and dangerous disease of professors. Mat. vii. gS, 23. 6. It excites holy fear and watchfulness, in the whole course of life, 1 Pet. i. 17. 7. It puts us not only to our watch^ but to our kne…
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Direct. 7. Lastly, Beg of God, and labour to get more Christian courage and magnanimity ; for want of this, conscience is oft over- borne against its own light and conviction ; Christian magnanimity is conscience's security. It is excellent and becoming a Christian to be able to face any thing but the frowns of God and…
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J.T is the observation of a learned -t* man, that the revolution of a hundred years hath produced (especially in these latter times) new motions and alterations in the church, like unto those that fell out a hundred years before. So it was in Germany and Bohemia ; 5 •^'' Goodwin, in Apoc. p. 189. John Huss, at the st…
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2. He rests not there, but improves these beginnings of mercies, and pk'ads them in his argumentative prayer for the consummating and perfecting mercies yet to come ; q. d. Lord, thy works are perfect, thou dost not use to begin and not finish as men do ; to bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth ; the gods o…
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But it is a far grcater misery to be cut off from the wells of sal- vation, bari^d from the springs of ordinances; forced to creep thj-ough hy and obscure ways to get bread to relieve our souls ; to have, our teachers driven, inta coi-ners ; whiclx hath, been- the case of God's people for many years in England. Now to…
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* gels, the breadth and height of the wall, and the solid continent ^ of the whole city, are nothing else but a replication still of twelve ^ throughout ; That is to say, till that church appear which i§ * purely apostolical in doctrine and worship.' England is said to be the nrst kingdom that received the gospel wit…
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Mistake not here, I call you not to rejoice in the miseries or ca- lamities that are upon any this day, much less at the calamities c^ our late sovereign. He that searcheth my heart, knows I commi- serate his condition, and from my soul desire the Lord to bless his afflictions to his illumination and eternal salvation.…
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open their eyes, and observe what it is before them this day, they would see enough to stop the mouth of atheism for ever. Are these fortuitous hits and accidents, or the effects and prcxluctions of the wise and steady counsels of heaven ? " The Lord is known by the "judgments that he executeth." But when his hand is l…
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2. What the greater mercies were, he expected beyond Jor* dan ? 3. How the former strengthen faith in prayer for the latter ? 4. Why the completing of mercies begun is so desirable to the saints ? 1. What those mercies were which are here called the beginnings of mercy ? And they were great and manifold : In this ca…
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(1.) An abundant increase of the church, both extensively, in the number of converts ; and intensively, in the power of religion. The best ministers every where complain with the prophet, that they labour in vain, and spend their strength for nought. They now and then, at best, hear but of a single soul wrought upon : …
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(2.) God hath ordered the deliverances and mercies of his church to be birthed out by the cries and prayers of his people. When, therefore, mercies are come to the birth, it is a special season, and singular encouragement to prayer. Ezek. xxxvi. 36, 37. " I the *' Lord plant that that was destroyed, I have spoken it, a…
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Fourthly^ Love to ourselves will make us long for such a sight as this : for what is there in this world more pleasant to a Chris- tian than to see Christ walking amidst the golden candlesticks ^ The peaceful and sweet enjoyment of God in his pure ordinances, Psal. xxvii. 4. " One thing have I desired of the Lord, that…
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bles, all fears, all difficulties do owe you a safe passage through them : The covenant, yea, Christ, the Mediator of the covenant, stands in the midst of them all to secure you. (3.) Bless God for casting the lot of your nativity upon such a happy and extraordinary period of time as this is. Many saintg have desired …
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(3.) Take heed to order your conversation aright ; let not your irrehgious lives make the solemn religious duties of this day to blush, " AVhoso offereth praise, glorifieth me ; and to him that " ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of *' God,"' Psal. 1. ult. And thus your present mercies, how gre…
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Should I here recite the pleasures and advantages resulting from an humble and heedful eyeing of the methods of Providence, it would look more like a booh in an epistle, than an epistle in a book. One taste of spiritual sense will satisfy you better than all the ac- curate descriptions and high encomiums that the most …
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O what a world oP rarities are to be found in providence ! The blind, heedless world makes nothing of them : They cannot find one sicccf hit where a gracious soul would make aricfi fea.Hf. Plu- tarch relates very exactly, how Timoleon was miraculously deli- vered from the conspiracy of two murderers, by their meeting i…
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* Al taschith signifies, do not destroy, referring, 1 . Either to Saul, whom David kept his servants from destroying, though they would have had him to have cut him off. Or, 2. It may refer to David himself, destroy not (me), O God, Gerius on the place. Michtam signifies a golden ornament, or golden song, from Oni> whi…
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2. It displays the efficacy o£ p)'0vidential influences ; Providence doth not only undertake, but [performeth] and perfects what con- cerns us : it goes through with its designs, and accomplishes what it begins : no difficulty so clogs it, no cross accidents so falls in its way, but it carries its design through it ; i…
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O hpw ravishing and delightful a sight is that ! to behold, at one view the whole design of providence, and the proper place and use of every single act, which we could not understand in this world : For what Christ said to Peter, John xiii. 7. is as applicable to some proviilences in which we are now concerned, as it …
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But if it were indeed so, that the affairs of the world in general, and more especially those of the saints, were not conducted by divine providence, but (as they would persuade us) by the steady course of natural causes, besides which, if at any time we observe any event to fall out, it is merely casual and contingent…
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How is it (if the saints' concerns are not ordered by a special divine providence) that natural causes unite and associate them" selves for their relief and benefit, in so strange a manner as they are found to do P It is undeniably evident, that there are marvellous co-incidences of providence, confederating and agreei…
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On the contrary, how successful have weak and contemptible means been made for the good of the church ? Thus in the first planting of Christianity in the world, by what weak contemptible instruments was it done ? Christ did not chuse the eloquent orators^ or men of authority in the courts of kings and emperors^ but twe…
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Stephen Gardiner^ that burnt so many of God's dear servants to ashes^ was himself so scorched up by a terrible inflammation, that his very tongue was black, and hung out of his mouth ; and, in dreadful torments, ended his wretched days. Maximinus, that cruel emperor, who set forth his proclama- If we examine the hist…
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We find a multitude of providences so timed to a minute, that had they fallen out never so little sooner, or later, they had signified but little to what now they do. Certainly it cannot be casualty, but counsel that so exactly nicks the opportunity : contin- gencies keep to no rules *. How remarkable to this purpose …
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nerves and veins. O the curious workmanship that is in that one part, the eye ! how hath it forced some to acknowledge a God upon the examination of it ! Providence, when it went about this work, had its model or pattern before it, according to which it moulded every part, as it is, ver. 16. In thy hook were all mij me…
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Ah, friends ! Can you think it an indifferent thing, into what part of the world the womb of nature had cast you out ? Is there no odds, upon what spot of the creation, or what age of the world your lot had fallen ? It may be, you have not seriously bethought yourselves about this matter. And because this point is so s…
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• Bcrewood's Enquiries, chap. liii. p. US, Wk 368 DIVINE CO!n'D0CT ; 6R, • us what their fate must be, 2 Thess. ii. 11, 12, And for this " cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they shall be- <* lieve a lie, that they all might be damned who believed not the " truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.'"* …
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Whether these eventually prove blessings to your souls or no, certain I am, that in themselves they are singular mercies and helps to salvation that are denied to millions besides you. So that if Plato, when he was near his death, could bless God for three tilings, viz. That he was a man, and not a beast : That he was …
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Ah my friends ! let me beg you, that you will set special remarks iipon this providence, which so graciously wrought for you : And that your hearts may be more thoroughly ivarmed in tne sense of THE MYSTERY OF PRdVlDENCE. 373 it, compare your condition with others, and seriously bethink yourselves, (1.) How many chi…
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(2.) Your sin is greater than the sin of young heathens and In- Jidels ; and so will your account be also. O better (if a wicked child) that thou hadst been the off-spring of savage Indians, nay, of beasts, than of such parents ! So many counsels disobey- ed, hopes and prayers frustrated, will turn to sad aggravations.…
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It is noted by* Melchior Adams, in thehfe of Junius, how very an atheist he was grown in his younger years ; but in order to his conversion to God, first a wonderful preservation of his Hfe in a tumuk in Lyons in France must make way, which forces from him the acknowledgment of a Deity. Then his father sends for him ho…
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A servant running away from his master (likely upon no other design but to live an idle life) ; yet falling into such places and companies as providence ordered (in a design to him unknown) hath thereby been brought to be the servant of Christ. This was the very case of Onesimus, who ran away from his master Phile- mon…
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irteat, but not unpardonable ; and if the Lord gave him repentance unto Hfe, and faith to apply Jesus Christ, it should certainly be par- doned to him. And finding him unacquainted with these things, I opened to him the nature and necessity of faith and repentance ; which he greedily sucked in, and with great vehemency…
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Nor can we here forget that miraculous work of providence in a time of great extremity, which was wrought for that good gentle- woman Mrs. Honeywood (and is somewhere mentioned by the same author) ; who under a deep and sad desertion, refufed and put off all comfort, seeming to despair utterly of the grace and mercy of…
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1. In directing you to a calling in your youth, and not suffering you to live an idle, useless, and sinful life, as many do who are but burdens to the edtxXh^fruges consumere nati, the wens of the body pohtic ; serving only to disfigure and drain it, to eat what others earn. Sin brought in sweat. Gen. iii. 19. but now,…
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Sol. Though the wisdom of providence hath ordered you a lower and poorer condition than others, yet (1.) Consider how many there be that are lower than you in the world : You have but little of the world, yet others have less. Read the description of those persons, Job xxx. 4, &c. (2.) If God had given you but a small …
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(2.) There is much of providence seen in the harmony and agreeableness of tempers and dispositions ; from whence a very great part of the tranquillity and comforts of our lives result : Or at least, though natural tempers and educations did not so much harmonize before, yet they did so after they came under the or- din…
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VII. You have heard how well providence hath performed its part for you, in planting you into families, who once were solitary. Now let us in the next place view another gracious performance of providence for us, in making provision J'rom time to time for us and our families. I the rather put these providences together…
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(3.) The wisdom of providence is our provision. And this is dis- covered in two things : (1.) In proportioning the quantity, not satisfying our extravagant wishes^ but answering our real needs, con- sulting our zcants, not our wantonness, Phil. iv. 19. " My God ^' shall supply all our wants ;" and this hath exactly sui…
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And I find it recorded (as on another account was noted before) of that holy man, Mr. Dod, that being late at night in his study, he was strongly moved (though at an unseasonable hour) to visit a gentleman of his acquaintance ; and not knowing what might be the design of providence therein, he obeyed and went. When he …
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Thus )^ou see what care providence hath had over your souls iri preventing the spiritual dangers and miseries that else woidd have befallen you in the way of temptations : In the next place I wili shew you, that it hath been no less careful for your bodies, and with how great tenderness it Imth carried them in its arms…
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(1.) Consider what you owe to providence for your protection, by which your hfe hath been protected unto this day, with the usefulness and comfort thereof. Look abroad in the world, and you may daily see some in every place, who are objects of pity, be- reaved by sad accidents of all the comforts of life, whilst, in th…
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A question may be moved here. Whether it be the genius and 'property of a gracious sfirH^ to forbear sin because of' the rod of affliction ^ They have surely higher motives and nobler principles than these. This is the temper of a carnal and slavish spirit. Indeed it is so, when this is the sole or principal restraint…
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(4).) The strength of our unmortified corruption shews itself in our pride, and the swelhng vanity of our hearts when we have a name and esteem among men. When we are applauded and ho- noiu-ed, when we are admired for any gift or excellency that is in us, this draws forth the pride of the heart, and shews the vanity th…
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1. The immense and transcendent greatness of God, who is in- finitely above us and all our thoughts. Job xi. 7, 8, 9. " Canst " thou by searching find out God ? Canst thou find out the Al- *' mighty to perfection ? It is as high as heaven ; what canst thou " do ? deeper than hell, what canst thou know ? The measure ^' …
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1. This is our duty, because God hath expressly commanded it, and called his people to make the most serious reflections, and animadversions upon his works, whether of mercy or judgment. So when that dread fullest of all judgments was executed upon his professing people for their apostasy from God, and God had re- move…
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Let us next, (according to our method proposed) proceed to shew in what manner we are to reflect upon the performances of providence for us. And certainly it is not every slight and transi- ent glance, nor every cold, historical, unafFecting rehearsal, or re- cognition of his providences towards you, that will pass wit…
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(5.) The design and scope of providence must not escape our thorough consideration what the aim and level of providence is. And truly this, of all others, is the most warming and melting con- sideration. You have the general account of the aim of all pro- vidences, in Rom. viii. 28. " And we know that all things work *…
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It is an excellent note of Livy, ConsiUa callida, prim'd specie Iceta tradatu dura, eventu tristia. Sinful policies, in their first appear- ances, are pleasant and pt-omising, in their management difficult, in their event sad. Some by sinful ways have gotten wealth ; but that scripture hath been verified in their exper…
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Consult the various providences of your life to tliis point, and I doubt not but you will find the truth of these promises as often confirmed as you have been in trouble *. Ask your own hearts, where or when was it that your God forsook you, and left you to sink and perish under your burdens.^ I doubt not but most of y…
1,292 wordsSource & rights
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.