PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Whole Works of John Flavel — Volume 5
Flavel, John, 1630?-1691 · 343,909 words · 285 reading sections
Section 1
BX 8915 .F58 1820 v. 5 Flavel, John, 16307-1691 ine whole works of John Flavel REV. MR. JOHN FLAVEL, LATE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT DARTMOUTH, DEVON. AN ALPHABETICAL TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE WHOLE. PRINTED FOR W. BAYNES AND SON, 23 & 54, PATERNOSTER-ROWj WAUGH AND INNES, EDINBURGH, AND M. KE…
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The motives inducing me to this undertaking, were the Lord's owning with some success, my labours of a like nature *, together with the desire and inclination (stirred up in me, I hope by the Spirit of the Lord) to devote my vacant hours to his service in this kind. I considered, that if the Pharisees, in a blind zeal …
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That of Herhjert is experimentally true : A verse may find him that a sermon flies, And turn delight into a sacrifice. I should never have been persuaded (especially in tliis scribbling age, wherein we may complain with the poet, Scrihimus indocti, doctique poeir\ata passim) A3 TO THE CIIUISTIAN READER. to have set…
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Let me add one word more to the reader. This book of Hus- bandry Spiritualized, is not calculated only for the common hus- bandman ; persons of any calling, or condition, may find the author working out such searching reflections and strong convictions, from almost every part and particular of the husbandman's work, as…
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from the society of many clear friends, into a solitary country-dwelling'. I hope none will envy me these innocent delights, which I madeout of my lonely walks, whereby the Lord sweetened my solitudes there. It is like thou wilt find some passages here, that are harmlessly plea- sant ; yet, I assure thee, I know of non…
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What are ye, but a field or plot of ground, to be manured and cultivated for God ? And what are Paul, Apollos, and Cephas, but so many workmen and labourers, employed by God, the great Hus- bandman, to plant and water you all ? If, then, you shall glory in some, and despise others, you take the ready way to deprive yo…
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5. Prop. The husbandman builds his house, where he makes his purchase, dwells upon his land, and frequently visits it ; he knows that such as dwell far from their lands, are not far from loss. Reddit So doth God ; wherever he plants a church, there dotli he fix his habitation, intending there to dwell. Psalm xlvi. 5. …
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Reddit. The scope and end of the ministry is for the church's be- nefit and advantage. They must not lord it over God's heritage, as if the church were for them, and not they for the church ; nor serve themselves of it, but be the church's servants for Jesus sake, 2 Cor. iv. 6. The power they have received being for ed…
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Reddit. The first entertainment of the gospel is commonly the best ; and what good is done by the ministry is often done at its first entrance. New things are pretty, and very taking. *' John at first " was to the Jews a burning and shining light, and they were willing " [for a season] to rejoice in his light," John v.…
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ry. Should husbandman employ ignoraut persons, that neither un- derstand the rules nor proper seasons of husbandry ; how much would such workmen damnify and prejudice him? He will not em- ploy such to weed his fields, as know not wheat from tares ; or to prune his trees, that think midsummer as fit for that work as Dec…
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2. The husbandman's work is confessed to be spending work, but not like the Christian's. What Augustus said of the young Roman, ig verified in the true Christian, Cliiicqiikl vulf^ valde vitlt. AVhat- soever he doth in religion, he doth to purpose. Under the law, God rejected the snail and the ass^ Lev. xi. 30. Exod. x…
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now in hell, perished for want of serious diligence in religion, Luke xiii. 34. nor doth my diligence for God, answer to that which Christ hath done and suffered, to purchase my happiness : or to the pre- parations he hath made in heaven for me ? Or dost thou forget that thy Master's eye is always upon thee, whilst tho…
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5. Your pains and diligence in the fields, make your bed sweet to you at night, Eccles. v. 12. " Rest is sweet to a labouring man, w^he- '* ther he eat little or much.'" But the dihgent life of a Christian makes the clods of the valley, his grave, sweet unto him, 2 Cor. i, 12. 2 Kings XX. 3. " Remember now, O Lord, how…
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J-^ ONE will deny but those are blessed pains Which are attended with the richest gains. Grant this, and then most clearly 'tis inferr'd, Soul- work to all deserves to be preferr'd. This is an unknown trade : O who can count To what the gains of godliness amount ? For one poor shilling, O what risks some run ? Some toi…
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How am I cast and condemned by this, may I say, who never sa- voured tliis spiritual delight in holy duties ! ^,^^ ^^^^^j When I am about my earthly employments, 1 n .• can go on unweariedly from day to day ; all the ^ way is down-hill to my nature, and the wheels of my affections being oiled with carnal delight, run s…
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dition, as a suit is to the body that sits close and neat, neitiier too short, nor too long ; we cannot desire a better condition in this world. This was it that wise Agur requested of God, Prov. xxx. 8, 9- ** Give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me with food conve- *' nient for me, lest I be full and deny thee…
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* income thereof, I have many times observed so much of his peculiar ' providence, thai thereby they have been very much sweetened, and ' my heart hath been raised to admire his grace. When of late under * an hard dispensation (which I judge not meet to mention, wherein ' I suffered with inward peace conscientiously) …
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Qiiest. 3. Is not this a sad symptom of a declining state of soul, to be so hot, eager, and anxious about the superfluous trifles of thig life ? Thinkest thou, O mv soul ? that one who walks in the views of that glory above, and maintains a conversation in heaven, can be much taken with these vanities.'^ Do not the -vi…
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To saints he may say, turn away from me, labour not to comfort me, O do not spill your precious ointment of consolation upon my head ; for what have I to do with comfort ? To former e.vperiences, he may say in his haste, you are all liars. To the light of Gods coun- Unance he may say, farewell sweet light, I shall beho…
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How restless and impatient wast thou in his absense ! divine with- drawments were to thee as the hell of hell ; what a burden was the w^orld to me in those days ! Had it not been for conscience of my duty, I could have been willing to let all lie, that communion with Christ might suffer no interruption. When I awaked i…
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My fragrant branches blasted be. No fruits like those that I can sec. Some canker-worm lies at my root, Which fades my leaves, destroys my fruit. My soul is banish'd from thy sight, For this it mourneth day and night. Yet why dost thou desponding lie ? With Jonah cast a backward eye. Sure in thy God help may be had, Th…
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(2.) It is the severest stroke God can inflict upon the soul in this life to give it up to barrenness ; because it cuts oif all hopes, frus- trates all means, nothing can be a blessing to him. If one comes from the dead, if angels should descend from heaven to preach to him, there is no hope of him. If God shut up a ma…
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1, Well then, blessed be God that made me feel the saving power of the gospel. O, let God be exalted for ever The sincere souTs for this mercy ! that how defective soever I am reflection, in common gifts, though I have a dull under- standing, a leaking memory, a stammering tongue ; yet I have felt, and do feel the pow…
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XT requires not only strength, but much skill and judgment, to manage and guide the plow. The Hebrew word irii which we translate to plow, signifies to be intent, as an artificer is about some curious piece of work. The plow must neither go too shallow, nor too deep in the eailh ; it must not indent the ground, by maki…
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(5.) The work of the plow is but opus oi'dinabile^ a preparative work in order to fruit. Should the husbandman plow his ground ever so often, yet if the seed be not cast in, and quickened, in vain is the harvest expected. Thus conviction also is but a preparative to a farther work upon the soul of a sinner ; if it stic…
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mine ! that never yet was wounded, and savingly The stubborn pierced for sin by the terrors of the law, or melt- hearfs reflection, ingvoice of the gospel ! long have I sat under the word, but when did I feel a relenting pang ? O my soul ? my stu- pified soul ! thou hast got an antidote against repentance, but hast tho…
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4. When the seed is cast into the earth, it must be covered up by the harrow, the use whereof in husbandry, is not only to lay a plain floor (as they speak) but to open and let in the corn to the bosom of the earth, and there cover it up for its security from birds that would devour it. Thus doth the most wise God prov…
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tremble to think in what a forlorn case a soul may be, though set off and accomplished with the rarest endowments of this kind ! Mat. vii. 22. We read, that many shall say to Christ in *' that day. Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and ^' in thy name cast out devils," &c. and yet themselves at last cast o…
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Pause a while, my soul, upon this point : With The deceived souTs what seed is my heart sown, and of what kind rejlection. are those things wherein I excel others.'' Are they indeed special seeds of grace, or common gifts and natural excellencies.'^ If the latter, little cause have I to pride myself in them, were they…
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,A-S impossible it is (in an ordinary way) for souls to be made fruitful in grace and holiness, without the dews and influences of ordinances, and the blessing of God upon them, as for the earth to yield her fruit without the natural influences of heaven : for look, what dews, showers, and clear shinings after rain are…
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6. Rain is necessary at seed-time, to make ready the earth to receive the seed, Psal. Ixv. 9, 10. " Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it ; " thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of wa- '* ter ; thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it ; " thou waterest the ridges thereof…
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3. Once more, lift up thine eyes to the clouds, and behold, to )iow great an height the sun hath mounted them, for by reason of their sublimity it is that they are called the clouds of heaven, Matth. xxiv. 30. Lord, let me be a cloud of heaven too : Let my heart and conversation be both there ! Who is more advantaged f…
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x%.ND, truly as mucli cause have they to weep 'and tremble over whose souls God shuts up the sph'itual clouds of the gospel, and thereby sends a spiritual famine upon their souls. Such a judg- ment the Lord threatens in Amos viii. 11. " Behold the day is come, *' saith the Lord, that I will send a famine in the land, n…
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" that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants 6f " the countries, and nation was destroyed of nation, and city of " city ; for God did vex them with all adversity.'" How long did Jerusalem remain after that voice was heard in the temple, Migre^ Ttiiishinc? Let us be gone. (4.) AVith the gospel, we l…
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6. Lastly, In time of famine there is nothing so costly or precious, but the people will part with it to purchase bread. " They have " given their pleasant things for meat to relieve their souls," Lam. i. 11. And, doubtless, when a spiritual famine shall pinch hard, those that have been close-handed to maintain a gospe…
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God's heritage is now laid waste. Our pining souls no bread can get ; With wantons God has justly met. AVhen we were fed unto the full, This man was tedious, that was dull : But they are gone, and there remain No such occasions to complain. Stai's are not now for lights, but signs, God knows of what heart-breaking time…
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out food, raiment, sleep, know no lassitude, weariness or pain ; sq our bodies, after the resurrection, shall be above these necessities and distempers ; for we shall be as the angels of God, Matth. xxii. 30. Yea, our vile bodies shall be changed, and made like unto Christ's glorious body ; which is the highest pitch a…
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encourage himself against the fears of death by this refreshing consideration. Let him say with holy dying Muscu- lus, why tremblest thou, O my soul, to go forth of this tabernacle to the land of rest ? Hath thy body been such a pleasant habitation to thee, that thou shouldest be so loth to part with it, though but for…
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96 HUSBAXDllY SPlillTUALIZED ; Oil, " himself believed also." Luke viii. 13. '' These are they whicli " for a Avhile believe, and in time of temptation fall away." Doth the precious eye of faith, discovering the transcendent excel- lencies that are in Christ, enflamc the affections of the believing soul with vehement…
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Come then, my soul, set the Lord before thee, to whom the secrets of all hearts are manifest : and in the awful sense of that great day make true answer to these heart-discovering queries : For though thou canst not discern the diiferencc betv.ixt these things in another, yet thou mayest and oughtest to discern it in t…
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desiring the mutual ruin and destruction of each other ; for even Avhen they are not acting, yet then they are lusting; there is an op- posite disposition against each other ; which opposition is both 2i for- mal and an effective opposition. There are two contrary forms ; two men in every saint, Col. iii. 9, 10. From h…
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carelessness, but provoke the soul to an industrious use of means to preserve it ; so it is in itself an irrational and senseless conclusion, which \nll never follow from any scripture-promise ; for although it is readily granted, that God hath made many comfortable and sweet promises to the grace of his people, yet we…
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V^AN a little corn cause men to digest so many difficult labours, and make them wait with invincible patience till the reaping time come .'' Much more should the expectation of eternal glory steel and fortify my spirit against all intercurrent hardships and difficul- ties. It least of all becomes a Christian to be of a…
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3. Husbandmen know, though they cannot yet gather in the precious fruits of the earth, yet all this while they are ripening and preparing for the harvest ! they would not house it green, or take it before its time. And is not this also my preparation-time for glory? As God prepared heaven for his people by an eternal d…
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Upon the Harvest-Season. Corn^ fully ripe^ is reajid, and gather'' d in: So must yourselves, when ripe in grace, or sin. V V HEN the fields are -white to harvest, then husbandmen walk through them, rub the ears ; and finding the grain full and solid, they presently prepare their scythes and sickles; send for their ha…
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It is worth remarking, that the measure of the sin, and the end of the sinner, come together. So Joel iii. 13. " Put ye in the sickle, *' for the harvest of the earth is ripe ; for the press is full, the fats *' overflow : for their wickedness is great.*" Where, note, sinners are not cut down till they be ripe and read…
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You see now what are the signs of a full ripe sinner ; and when it comes to this, either with a nation, or with a single person, then ruin is near, Joel iii. 13. Gen. xv. 16. It is in the filling up of the measure of sin, as in the filling up of a vessel cast into the sea which rolls from side to side, taking in the wa…
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fjrOOD husbancls are careful in summer to provide for winter. Then tliey gather in their winter store ; food and fuel for themselves, and fodder for their cattle. " He that gathers in summer, is a wise " son : but he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causeth shame," Prov. X. 5. A well chosen season is the greatest a…
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6. Those husbandmen that are careful and laborious in the summer, Jiave the comfort and benefit of it in winter : he that then provides fuel, shall sit warm in his habitation, when others blow their fingers. He that provides food for his family, and fodder for his cattle, in the harvest, shall eat the fruit of it, and …
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Soul-food in time to gather. Days of affliction and distress Are hasting on apace ; If now I live in carelessness. How sad will be my case ? Unworthy of the name of man. Who for that soul of thine, Wilt not do that which others can Do for their very kine. Think, frugal farmers, when you see Your mows of corn and h…
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_,, „ ,1. This meditation may be tome what the The profane persons hand-writingupon the wall was to that profane rejiectton, prince, Dan. v. 5, 6. and a like effect it should have upon me ; for if all the actions of this life be seed sown for the next. Lord, what a crop, what a dreadful harvest am I like to have ! Ho…
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X HUS, and unspeakably more than thus, do saints rejoice and shout for joy, when they reap the favour and love of God, for which they laboured in many a weary duty. This joy of har- vest, as great as it is, and as much as carnal hearts are lifted up with it, is but a trifle, a thing of nought, compared with yours; afte…
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Lo ! here I have given thee (with Ishmael) the fatness of the earth ? Thou shalt not say but thou hast tasted of thy Creator's bounty ; but make the most of it, for this is all that ever thou shalt have from me; there be others in the world, to whom I have denied these things, but for them 1 have reserved better ; …
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xlUSBANDMEN having to do with divers sorts of grain, some more tough and stubborn, others more free and tender, do not beat all alike on the threshing-floor ; but as they have threshals of several sizes, so they bestow on some grain more, on others fewer strokes, according to the different qualities of the grain to be …
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(3.) In taking off the affliction when they can bear it no longer ; 1 Cor. x. 13. " He makes a way to escape, that they may be able to " bear it ;" Psal. cxxv. 3. The rod is taken off, " when the righ- " teous is even ready to put forth his hand to iniquity." It is a JcAvish proverb, When the bricks are doubled, then c…
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godly wlio shall be held ii]) to the wind ; but only the wicked shall be driven away by it. Such a day Ciod hath in this world, wherein he winnows his wheat, and separates the cliafK There is a double f'annini^ or winnowint^ of men here in this world ; one is doctrrnally^ m which sense I understand that scripture, Matt…
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the pith and substance of real godliness ? Then A reflection for a am I but chaff in God's account, though I grow close hypocrite. among his corn ; the eye of man cannot discern my hvpocrisy ; but when lie comes, whose fan is in his hand, then how plainly will it be detected ? Angels and men shall discern it, and say, …
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1. The root that bears this wild fruit is a degenerate root, and that is the cause of all this sourness and harshness in the fruit it bears ; it is the seed of some better tree accidentally blown, or cast into some waste and bad soil, where not being manured and ordered aright, it is turn- ed wild : So all the fruits o…
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God makes no account ol". O cunning tliouolit. ! that llic unlearned shall riise and take heaven, when 1 witli all my excellent gifts shall descend into hell. Heaven was not made lor scholars, as such, but for believers ; as one said, when they coniiorted him upon his deatli- bed, that he was a knowing man, a doctor of…
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Even so it is in the removing or transplanting of a soul by con- version ; it leaves many behind it in the state of nature, as likely and promising as itself ; but so it pleaseth God to take this soul, and leave many others ; yea, often such as grew upon the same root ; I mean, the immediate parent, Mai. i. 2. " Was no…
1,393 wordsSource & rights
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.