PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Whole Works of John Flavel — Volume 6
Flavel, John, 1630?-1691 · 329,010 words · 268 reading sections
Section 61
Well then, be convinced of the sin and danger of a discontented spirit under the hand of God, and instead of mourning over lost re- lations, now mourn for the loss of patience, the want of submission, and for the pride and arrogancy of your own reason, that presumes to correct the works of the Almighty ; and say to God…
1,335 wordsSECTION 62Section 62
As it was carried on in the Lord's Days Exercises in Dartraoutli,^ in the first Year of Liberty, 1688, JL HAT catechising is an ordinance of God, {ew will doubt, when they consider the apostles did first lay the fundamentals of religion ; Heb. vi. 1. And **fed babes with milk, teaching them the first prin- *^ ciples o…
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And now my soul bleeds to look on the dear flock of God, which are as sheep without a shepherd. The Lord Jesus, the great Shep- herd of the sheep, have compassion on them, and give them a shep- herd like to his blessed servant Flavel, who did for many years feed them with knowledge, and with understanding. Dartmouth, M…
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A. Their authority, and efficacy on the soul, consists in three things: First, In the power they have to search and discover the secrets of men ; Heb. xii. 4. The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marr…
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Q. 4. If God be a Spirit, in what sense are we to understand all those scriptures which speak of the eyes of the Lord, the ears and hands of God 't A. We are to understand them as expressions of God, in con- descension to the weakness of our understanding; even as the glory of heaven is expressed to us in scripture by…
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A. The last judgment is called eternal judgment, not because God judged men from eternity, or because the day of judgment shall last to eternity ; but because the consequences of it will be everlasting joy or misery to the souls of men ; therefore it is called eternal judgment ; Heb. vi. 2. Q. 7. What may wicked men l…
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Q. 9. What is the third instruction from it ? A. That the people of God have much reason to quiet and encou- rage themselves, when crafty and subtle enemies surround them ; for the foolishness of God is wiser than men, 1 Cor. i. 25. Q. 10. What is the fourth instruction from God's wisdom ? A. The fourth instruction …
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Q. 3. What is the second property of God^s justice ? A. That he is universally righteous in all his administrations in the world; Psal. cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Q. 4. What was the greatest demonstration of the justice of God, that ever was given to the world ? A. The…
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A. That therefore God is the fittest object of our delight and love, and of our trust and confidence, (1.) Of our delight and love ; Psal. cxvi. 1. I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice, and my supplications. (2.) Of our trust and confidence ; Psal. xxxiv. 8. O taste and see that the Lord is good ; blessed is…
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A. That our supreme love is due to God only, and it is very sinful to place it in any other ; Deut. vi. 4, 5. Hear, O Israel. The Lord our God is one Lord ; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Q. 9. What is the fourth inference from God's unity ? A. …
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Q. 7. What is the third property of God's decrees ? A, They are most firm and stable ; 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure ; having this seal, The Lord knovveth them that are his; Zech. vi. 1. Q. 8. What is the fourth property of God's decrees ? A. They are eternal, and before all time ;…
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A. The beauty of holiness, which is the image of God, and the ex- cellency of man ; Psalm xvi. 3. But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Q. 7. What is the third instruction from hence .'' A. We have infinite cause to bless God for Christ, who repairs this lost image …
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Q. 5. Did this covenant admit of no repentance, nor accept any shorter endeavours ? A. No, it did not ; but sentenceth and curseth the transgressors of it, for the least breach ; Gal. iii. 10. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Q. 6. How was this…
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A. It highly wrongs the sinner's soul by defacing, defiling, and damning it ; Prov. viii. 36. But he that sinneth against me, wrong- eth his own soul : all they that hate me, love death. Q. 8. Wherein is the evil of sin manifested ? A. It is manifested in the death of Christ, the terrors of conscience, and torments o…
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A. The siirfulness of that estate where? nto manjell^ consists in the- guilt of Adam^s first sin, the want of original righUousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin, together with all actucd transgressions which proceed from it. Q. 1. How many sorts of sins are all men und…
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A. No : God's choice was not on foreseen works, but merely of his grace, and good pleasure of his will ; Eph. i. 5, 6. Having pre- destinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to him- self, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace. Q. 3. Is this election of God…
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A. A twofold misery, viz. Sin and hell. First, Sin ; Matth. i. 21. Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Secondly, Hell ; 1 Thess. i. 10. Even Jesus, who deli- vered us from the wrath to come. Q. 3. How did Christ deliver us from this misery.'* A. First, by price; Secondly, l^y…
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A. Yes, it was a true and real body, not the appearance and shape of a body only ; Luke xxv. 38. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts ? Ver. 39- Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have.…
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A. Very much; for Christ hath instituted ministers as instruments, by whom he will teach us; Eph. iv. 11, 12. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists and some pastors, and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the mi- nistry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Acts …
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Q. 4. How else is it exercised ? A. In protecting his church amidst all enemies ; Exod. iii. 3. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. Q. 5. What instruments doth Christ use.^ Af Angels are ministring spirits to him ; Heb. i. 14. Are they not all ministring spirit…
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A. It was substantially the same ; John xx. 27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands ; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing. Q. 6. What doth Christ's resurrection teach us ? A. The certainty of our resurrection after death ; 1 Cor.…
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Q. 4. What means doth the Spirit use in applying Christ ? A. The external means he makes use of, is the ministry of the gospel ; 1 Cor. iii. 5. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed ? Q. 5. Is this sufficient of itself .? -/. No, the blessing and power of the Spirit must accompan}^ …
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Q. 2. What is the first act of the Spirit in effectual calling ? A. Conviction of sin ; John xvi. 8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin. Q. 3. Do the called of God hear any voice from heaven ? A. Ordinarily it is a call without sound, yet as efficacious as an audible voice from heaven. Q. 4. What…
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A. It consists of two parts. First, The pardon of sin ; Acts xiiio -39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Secondly^ The acceptation of our persons as righteous; Rom. v. 1, 2, 3. There- fore being justified by faith, we have peace with Go…
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A. The assistance of the Spirit in prayer ; Rom. viii. 15. For wo have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have re- ceived the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. And God's audience of their prayers ; 1 John v. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, That if we ask any thi…
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A. Joy unspeakable amidst outward troubles; Rom. v. 11. And not only so, but we also joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Q. 10. What sins usually eclipse our assurance ? A. Negligence in duty starves it ; 2 Pet. i. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election s…
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A. To maintain his joy in God to the last ; Acts xx. 24*. But none of these things move me ; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy. Q. 11. Have not hypocrites their joys as well as real Christians ? A, Yes; but the joy of the hypocrite is not grounded upon scrip- ture-war…
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A. The immortal nature of sanctifying grace ; John iv. 14. But whosoever drinkethof the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life, 1 John iii. 9. For his seed remain- eth in him. Q. 6. What is the third ground …
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A. Because there is the same reason for all, as for any one : But some are immediately glorified ; Luke xxiii. 43. To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. Q. 6. What is the fifth reason for it ? A. Because Christ longs for their coming to him, and they for his enjoyment ; and these longings are in vain, if not sati…
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212 AN EXPOSITION 01" THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. some to everlasting life, and some to shame, and everlasting con* tempt. Q. 7. What is the glory to which saints bodies shall be raised ? A. In the likeness of Christ's glorious body; Phil. iii. 21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like to his g…
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A. They differ in point of consolation : this way always bears pro- portion to the certainty of it. Hence that day is called the time of refreshing ; when Christ blots out their sins by sentencial justification; Acts iii. 19. Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of r…
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A. It is unquestionably the duty of every man to obey the will of God, so far as he hath made it known to him; Micah vi. 8. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with, thy God. Q. 2. On what account is man's obedience d…
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A. Because much more is included in every command than is ex- prest, as our Saviour shews in his exposition of it ; Mat. xxii. 40. On tliese two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Q. 5. Doth the moral law bind Christians under the gospel ? A. Yes, it doth, as a rule to order their conversations by ; Jam.…
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A. It is the exact observation and practice of the golden rule of Christ; Matth. vii. 12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them ; for this is the law and the prophets. Q. 8. Are all men to be loved alike, and with the same degree of love ? j4. No ; though we must lo…
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A. That God's expectations are greater, where his mercies and fa- vours have been so ; Isa. v. 4. AVhat could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it ? Wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes. Q. 12. What is the last inference from hence ? A. That…
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J, That an high and full condition in the world, is a dangerous condition, and lies most exposed to the danger of heart-idolatry ; Prov. XXX. 9. Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, who is the Lord? Mark x, 24. How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of heaven ? Q. 14. What is the las…
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A. That it is highly sinful and dangerous to innovate and prescribe by human authority such symbolical rites in the worship of God, as he never appointed or allowed in his word ; Matth. xv. 9. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Q. 12. What is the fourth instruction hence? …
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A. That God is to be justified in the severest of his judgments, by which at any time he manifests his displeasure against the profaneness of the world ; Hosea iv. 1, 2, 3. Hear the word of the Lord, ye chil- dren of Israel : For the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no tru :h, …
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A. Though Christians must walk every day with God, yet every day cannot be a Sabbath, because God calls us to other duties on those days, but will have this to be a solemn and entire day to him- self. Q. 11. But if a man scruple the change of the Sabbath, may he not keep both days weekly .'' A. No ; for then, by doin…
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Q. 10. What is the third reason annexed to this command ? A. The third reason is God's own example, who rested the seventh day from all his works, and blessed this day, by virtue of which blessing we are encouraged to sanctify it. Q. 11. Is it not enough to sanctify this day in our own persons ? A. No ; if God hath …
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Q. 4. What are the duties of ministers to their people ? A. Their duty is, (1.) To feed their flock constantly with whole- some food ; 2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word, be instant in season, and out of season ; rebuke, reprove, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine. (2.) To be full of bowels of tender affection to …
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A. It is their duty, (1.) To be faithful in all things committed to their charge ; Tit. ii. 10. Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity, <^c. (2.) To honour them in all respectful words and carriages ; 1 Tim. vi. 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count their own masters worthy of all honour, ^c. (5.)…
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A. Yes there is : Innocents may be murdered under the forms and solemnities both of justice and religion. So Naboth v/as mur- dered by Jezebel : 1 Kings xxi. 12, 13. They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him : And the men of Belial…
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A. Prayer; Psalm cxix. 37. Turn away mine eyes from behold- ing vanity, &c. And, to evidence our sincerity in prayer, we must study to shun all occasions of this sin ; Psal. xviii. 23. I was also up- right before him ; and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Q. 11. What is the first inference from hence '^ 246 AX EXPOS…
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A. Let all that are guilty of this sin repent, and restore, as they expect mercy from God ; JEph. iv. 28. Let him that stole, steal no more, c^r. Luke xix. 8. And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken away any thing from any man by fake accusa…
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Q. 12. What is the first inference from hence ? A. That the best Christians have cause to be humbled for the sins of the tongue whereby God is dishonoured, and others are injured ; James iii. 2. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. And verse 5, 6. Even so the…
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Jf. It forbids the detaining of the hirelings wages, when it is due ; Hab. ii. 9, 10, 11» Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on higli, that he may be de- livered from the power of evil. Thou hast consulted sliame to thy house, by cutting off many people, and hast sinned…
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A. That justification by our own works is utterly impossible to the holiest of men; Gal. ii. 16. For by the works of the law no flesh can be justified ; Psalm ciii. 3. If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities ; O Lord, who shall stand ?i Q. 10. What is the second inference from hence .^^ A. Hence we learn what an infi…
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A. That there are different degrees of torments in hell, propor- tioned to the different degrees of sins on earth ; Mat. xl. 21, 22. Wo unto thee, Chorazih, wo unto thee, Bethsaida : For if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes…
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Q. 3. But if men be in Christ, and justified from eternity, what need of this ? A. Though God from eternity decreed, and Christ long since pur- chased the salvation of the elect ; yet have they no union with Christ till they believe; Eph. iii. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by failh, that ye being rooted and…
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Q. 5. But is not the assent of the understanding true faith ? A. The mere assent of the understanding to the truths of scrip- ture, is not such a faith as will save the soul ; James ii. 19. Thou believest that there is one God ; thou doit well : the devils also be- lieve, and tremble. Q. 6. AVhat is the act of faith …
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A. When a new temptation makes us easily let go our former confidence; Luke xxiv. 21. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel : And besides all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. Q. 10. What is the fifth sign of a weak faith ? A. The prevalence of carnal fears, in…
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Quest. 88. W HAT are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.^ A. The outzvard and ordinary means whereby Christ communis cateth to us the benefits of redemption^ are his ordinances ; especi- ally the word, sacraments, and prayer ; all which are made effec- tual to the elect for…
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A. Yes, it is; Deut. xvii. 19- And it shall be with him, and he shall feed therein all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep aii the words of this law, and these statutes to do them. And in reading of it, God sometimes comes in by his Spirit to men's conversion ; Acts viii. ^7, 28, 2…
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A. Longing after the word for further communications of grace by it ; 1 Pet. ii. 2. As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. Isa. ii. 3. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us…
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A. This serves to reprove our formal and dead hearing the word, and excites us all to evidence and exercise more faith, love, and obe- dience, in hearing it. Cff Sacraments as Means of Salvation. Quest. 91. JrlOAV do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation ? A, The sacraraents become effectual means of sa…
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Q. 2. How many things are to be considered in every sacrament ? A. In every sacrament five things must be considered ; (1.) The author. (2.) The parts. (3.) The union of those parts. (4.) The subjects. (5.) The ends and uses of it. Q. 3. Who is the author of the sacraments ? A. The Lord Jesus Christ as King of the c…
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Q. 8. What is their fit\h superadded sacrament ? A. Extreme unction, or anointing the sick, near death, with con- secrated oil, grounded on Mark vi. 13. And anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. And James v. 14. Is any sick among you ? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over…
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Q. 1. Who are to be baptized ? A. Believers, and their infant-offspring; Acts ii. 39. For the pro- mise is to you, and your children, and to all that are afar off, even many as the Lord our God shall call. Q. 2. How doth it appear, that the infant-seed of believers ought to be baptized ? A. It appears by this, that …
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A. He instituted it in the same night he was betrayed ; 1 Cor. xi. 23. The Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. It could not be sooner, because the passover must be first celebrated, and, by the institution of this, abrogated ; not later, for soon after he was apprehended. Q. 5. AVhat doth …
1,258 wordsSource & rights
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.