John Flavel (–1691)

A collection of sermons that will ignite a craving for God’s word. John Flavel urges his congregation to deepen their understanding of scripture, which will improve their relationship with God, strengthen their faith against spiritual attacks and false teachings, and transform their lives. Stressing the importance of discernment grown from immersion in God’s word, the practical and concise advice contained here also serves as a useful and encouraging devotional tool for Christians at any point in their walk with God. This series, published by ONE audiobooks, seeks to produce Classic Christian titles read by well known and loved Christian audiobook narrators. ONE takes great care to cast these titles with readers who will provide an unmatched listening experience for these important works. Jonathan St. John brings his passion to every performance. The eldest son of the Rev. Richard Flavel, John Flavel was born at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, about 1630, and thus spent his childhood in the stormy years which led up to the Civil War in 1642. Following the defeat of the Royalist cause he “plied his studies hard’ as a servitor at University College, Oxford, and then, in 1650, entered the ministry to share in that sunny decade of spiritual reaping which preceded the restoration of Charles II. Flavel’s life and work was carried on in the county of Devon, first in the country parish of Diptford and from 1656 in the thriving sea-port of Dartmouth. Through the last years of the Protectorate and until that August day in 1662 when about 120 ministers in Devon and approaching 1,800 in England as a whole were turned out of their livings for failing to comply with the terms of the Act of Uniformity, Flavel preached every week at Townstall, the mother-church which stood on the hill outside the town, and fortnightly at the Wednesday Lecture in Dartmouth. Thereafter he took his place in the suffering ranks of the nonconformists and had a full share of the persecution which with greater or less intensity, and short intermissions, was to continue until James II fled the country in 1688. The repressive legislation which followed 1662, while it broke the evangelical ministry of England in a public sense, scattered Gospel light into new areas and led not infrequently to the use of strange pulpits. We hear of Flavel preaching at midnight in the great hall of a house at South Molton; on another occasion in a wood three miles from Exeter; and—the most colourful site of all (though it could not have been a comfortable one)—at Saltstone Rock, an island in the Salcombe Estuary which is submerged at high tide. But wherever Flavel was forced to wander he was never far from Dartmouth: “O that there were not a prayerless family in this town!’ was one of many petitions he offered for Dartmouth. Taking advantage of the Indulgence given by Charles II in 1672 (for which he and 163 of his congregation wrote an address of thanks to the King) Flavel obtained licence for a Nonconformist meeting-house in the town, and, when this was withdrawn, he stayed at his post until the summer of 1682 when his person was in such danger that he took ship to London on July 10. In London Flavel joined the congregation of his friend William Jenkyn and narrowly escaped arrest when the latter was seized in September 1684. Declining an invitation to succeed Jenkyn, Flavel again returned to Dartmouth where that same year he was burned in effigy by a mob—and, despite all hazards, maintained a ministry among his scattered flock until that November day in 1688 when the bells of Exeter, Plymouth, and no doubt of Dartmouth also, rang to welcome the coming of William of Orange—an event which led quickly to the flight of James II. By the time of this “Glorious Revolution’ Flavel’s work was approaching its end. Speaking for his fellow-ministers he wrote, “We have long borne the burden and heat of the day; we are veteran soldiers almost worn out.’ While visiting Exeter in order to preach he died suddenly of a massive stroke on June 26, 1691, in his 61st year.… (mais)

One of the worst things anyone can experience is the death of a loved one, and when it occurs, a state of mourning ensues since someone we value has been taken from us, creating a state of grieving deeply. While the act of mourning might be painful, I've learned in my journey of trying to be a good Christian woman that it's capable of bringing our hearts into line with that of the heart of our Lord, for according to MATTHEW 5:4 [NKJV]: "Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted."

Mourning is not supposed to be perpetual, and we're reminded of this in ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8 [NKJV]:

[1] To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
[2] A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
[3] A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up;
[4] A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
[5] A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
[6] A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
[7] A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
[8] A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.

As a Christian woman, I've found that when a loved one of a Christian dies, we have our own unique way of mourning, unlike the rest of the world, since we possess an everlasting hope of what is to come that they don't possess. According to Scripture, we're reminded in 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13 that death isn't the end since we're in Christ and that grieving is only a passing situation. As Christians, we realize that while our mourning isn't a pleasant situation, it's still a part of our existence; for with the relationship we have with the Lord, we know what we're told in REVELATION 7:17 [NKJV]:
"For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

The author, John Flavel, who lived from 1628-1691, wrote the following about mourning, which is part of the description for this book:

"To be above feelings and emotions is a condition equal to the angels and to be in a state of sorrow without the sense of sorrow is a disposition beneath the beasts. But to correctly regulate our sorrows and bind our passions under suffering is a Christian's wisdom, duty, and excellency.

Even though you and your afflictions had a sad meeting, I desire that you and they may have a comfortable parting. If your afflictions do the work in your hearts that God sent them for, I have no doubt you will give them a fair testimony when they leave. What you endured with fear, you will dismiss with praise. How sweet it is when God is losing his hands to hear the afflicted soul say, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted!"

While this book was written about 350 years ago, it is still a viable source of encouragement for any Christian going through their mourning period, which is why, as a voracious reviewer of nonfiction Christian books, I've given this book 5 STARS for its timeliness.… (mais)

I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I admit I didn't recognize the author, and I almost planned to write that the book seemed written for academics and had a tone that held the reader distant from the subject matter. It wasn't until I came online planning to write a review that I realized the book was not a modern-day nonfiction. In my mind, that accounted for the difference in the tone of the book, so I gave it a second chance.

The basic idea is that it is okay to mourn but we shouldn't wallow in our sorrow--either letting that sorrow go on indefinitely or allowing it to drag us down to the point that it is our entire life. That said, I do think mourning takes a varying amount of time depending on the person and the relationship, but as long as one is moving toward healing/wholeness then he/she is probably on the right track.

I think I found the last chapter more helpful than some of the earlier chapters.… (mais)