Mr. Jenkins, abovementioned, dying in prison, his people gave Mr. Flavel a call to the pastoral office among them, and Mr. Reeve's people did the like. Mr. Flavel communicated these calls unto his flock, and kept a day of prayer with them to beg direction of God in this important affair ; he was graciously pleased to answer them by fixing Mr. Flavel's resolution to stay with his flock at Dartmouth. Many arguments were made use of to persuade him to come to London, as, that since he was turned out by the act of uniformity, he had had but very little maintenance from his church ; that those at Lon- don were rich and numerous congregations ; that he had a family and children to provide for ; and that the city was a theatre of honour and reputation. But none of these things could prevail with him to leave his poor people at Dartmouth.
In 1687, when it pleased God so to over-rule affairs, that King James II. thought it his interest to dispense with the penal laws against them, Mr. Flavel, who had formerly been confined to a cor- ner, shone brightly, as a flaming beacon upon the top of an hill. Plis affectionate people prepared a large place for him, where God blessed his labours to the conviction of many people, by his sermons on Rev. iii. 20. Behold I stand at the door and AiiocJc. This encouraged him to print those sermons, under the title of England's Duty, $c. hop- ing that it might do good abroad, as well as in his own congregation. He made a vow to the Lord under his confinement, that if lie should
X THE LIFE OF THE LATE
be once more entrusted with public liberty, he would improve it to the advantage of the gospel ; this he performed in a most conscien- tious manner, preached twice every Lord's-day, and lectured every Wednesdav, in which he went over most of the 3d chapter of St John's gospel, shewing the indispensible necessity of regeneration. He preach- ed likewise every Thursday before the sacrament, and then after exa- mination admitted communicants. He had no assistance on sacra- men t-davs, so that he was many times almost spent before he distri- buted the elements. "When the duty of the day was over, he would often complain of a sore breast, an aking head, and a pained back ; yet he would be early at study again next Monday. He allowed him- self very little recreation, accounting time a precious jewel that ought to be improved at any rate.
He was not only a zealous preacher in the pulpit, but a sincere Christian in his closet, frequent in self-examination, as well as in pressing it upon others ; being afraid, lest while he preached to others he himself should be a cast-away. To prove this, I shall transcribe what follows from his own diary.
" To make sure of eternal life, (said he) is the great business " which the sons of death have to do in this world. Whether a " man consider the immortality of his own soul, the ineffable joys " and glory of heaven, the extreme and endless torments of hell, " the inconceivable sweetness of peace of conscience, or the misery " of being subject to the terrors thereof; all these put a necessity, " a solemnity, a glory upon this work. But, Oh ! the difficulties " and dangers attending it ! How many, and how great are these ? " What judgment, faithfulness, resolution, and watchfulness doth " it require ? Such is the deceitfulness, darkness, and inconstancy of " our hearts, and such the malice, policy and diligence of Satan to " manage and improve it, that he who attempts this work had need ? both to watch his seasons for it, and frequently look up to God for " his guidance and illumination, and to spend many sad and serious " thoughts before he adventure upon a determination and conclusion " of the state of his soul.
" To the end therefore that this most important work may not " miscarry in my hands, I have collected, with all the care I can, " the best and soundest characters I can find in the writings of our " modern divines, taken out of the scripture, and by their labours " illustrated and prepared for use, that I might make a right appli- " cation of them.
" 1. I have earnestly sought the Lord for the assistance of his " Spirit, which can only manifest my own heart unto me, and shew " me the true state thereof, which is that thing my soul doth most ff earnestly disire to know ; and I hope the Lord will answer my de- " sire therein, according to his promises, Luke xi. 13. John xiv. 26.
" 2. I have endeavoured to cast out and lay aside self-love, lest
REVEREND MR. JOHN FLAVEL. XI
" ray heart being prepossessed therewith, my judgment sliould be « perverted, and become partial on passing sentence on my estate. " I have, in some measure, brought my heart to be willing to judge " and condemn myself for an hypocrite, if such I shall be found on " trial, as to approve myself for sincere and upright. Yea, I would " have it so far from being grievous to me so to do, that if I have " been all this while mistaken and deceived, I shall rejoice and bless ci the Lord with my soul, that now at last it may be discovered to me, " and I may be set right, though I lay the foundation new again. " This I have laboured to bring my heart to, knowing that thou- " sands have dashed and split to pieces upon this rock. And indeed " he that will own the person of a judge, must put off the person of " a friend.
" 3. It hath been my endeavour to keep upon my heart a deep " sense of that great judgment-day throughout this work; as know- <* ing by experience what a potent influence this hath on the con- " science, to make it deliberate, serious and faithful in its work ; and ** therefore I have demanded of my own conscience, before the reso- " lution of each question, O my conscience, deal faithfully with me *f in this particular, and say no more to me than thou wilt own and '• stand to in the great day, when the counsels of all hearts shall be " made manifest.
" 4. Having seriously weighed each mark, and considered where- " in the weight and substance of it lieth, I have gone to the Lord in " prayer for his assistance, ere I have drawn up the answer of my *-' conscience ; and as my heart hath been persuaded therein, so have '.' I determined and resolved : what hath been clear to my experience, f I have so set down ; and what hath been dubious, I have here left " it so.
" 5. I have made choice of the fittest seasons I had for this work, " and set to it when I have found my heart in the most quiet and " serious frame. For as he that would see his face in a glass, must " be fixed, not in motion, or in water, must make no commotion in i( it ; so it is in this case.