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The Works of John Flavel
The repeated editions of Flavel's Works bear their own witness to his popularity. He was a favourite with Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield (who ranked him with John Bunyan and Matthew Henry), and, a century later, with such Scottish evangelical leaders as R. M. M'Cheyne and Andrew Bonar. Flavel's complete works had long been unobtainable until we reprinted them in 1968. His six volumes are in themselves a library of the best Puritan divinity and a set will be a life-long treasure to those who possess it. He is one of that small number of evangelical writers who can by their lucidity and simplicity help those at the beginning of the Christian life and at the same time be a strong companion to those who near its end.
- GenresTheologyDevotional
561 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1968
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About the author
John Flavel
329 books87 followers"John Flavel (c.1627–1691) was an English Presbyterian clergyman, puritan, and author.
Flavel, the eldest son of the Rev. Richard Flavel, described as 'a painful and eminent minister,' who was incumbent successively of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Hasler and Willersey, Gloucestershire (from which last living he was ejected in 1662), was born in or about 1627 at Bromsgrove.
Having received his early education at the schools of the neighbourhood, he entered University College, Oxford, at an early age, and gained a good reputation for talent and diligence.
On 27 April 1650, he was sent by 'the standing committee of Devon' to Diptford, a parish on the Avon, five miles from Totnes, where the minister, Mr. Walplate, had become infirm. On 17 October 1650, after examination and the preaching of a 'trial sermon,' he was ordained Mr. Walplate's assistant by the classis at Salisbury. He continued to minister at Diptford for about six years, succeeding the senior minister when he died, and endearing himself greatly to the people, not only by his earnestness, but by his easy dealings with them in the matter of tithes.
In 1656 he removed to Dartmouth, though the Diptford emoluments were much greater. On the passing of the Act of Uniformity (1662) he was ejected, but continued to preach in private until the Five Mile Act drove him from Dartmouth. He kept as near it, however, as possible, removing to Slapton, five miles off, and there preached twice each Sunday to all who came, among whom were many of his old parishioners. On the granting of the indulgence of 1671 he returned to Dartmouth, and continued to officiate there even after the liberty to do so was withdrawn. In the end he found himself obliged to remove to London, travelling by sea and narrowly escaping shipwreck in a storm, which is said to have ceased in answer to his prayers. Finding that he would be safer at Dartmouth he returned there, and met with his people nightly in his own house, until in 1687, on the relaxation of the penal laws, they built a meeting-house for him. Just before his death he acted as moderator at a meeting of dissenting ministers held at Topsham. He died suddenly of paralysis at Exeter on 26 June 1691, and was buried in Dartmouth churchyard. Wood bitterly comments on the violence of his dissent."
-- Wikipedia
Flavel, the eldest son of the Rev. Richard Flavel, described as 'a painful and eminent minister,' who was incumbent successively of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Hasler and Willersey, Gloucestershire (from which last living he was ejected in 1662), was born in or about 1627 at Bromsgrove.
Having received his early education at the schools of the neighbourhood, he entered University College, Oxford, at an early age, and gained a good reputation for talent and diligence.
On 27 April 1650, he was sent by 'the standing committee of Devon' to Diptford, a parish on the Avon, five miles from Totnes, where the minister, Mr. Walplate, had become infirm. On 17 October 1650, after examination and the preaching of a 'trial sermon,' he was ordained Mr. Walplate's assistant by the classis at Salisbury. He continued to minister at Diptford for about six years, succeeding the senior minister when he died, and endearing himself greatly to the people, not only by his earnestness, but by his easy dealings with them in the matter of tithes.
In 1656 he removed to Dartmouth, though the Diptford emoluments were much greater. On the passing of the Act of Uniformity (1662) he was ejected, but continued to preach in private until the Five Mile Act drove him from Dartmouth. He kept as near it, however, as possible, removing to Slapton, five miles off, and there preached twice each Sunday to all who came, among whom were many of his old parishioners. On the granting of the indulgence of 1671 he returned to Dartmouth, and continued to officiate there even after the liberty to do so was withdrawn. In the end he found himself obliged to remove to London, travelling by sea and narrowly escaping shipwreck in a storm, which is said to have ceased in answer to his prayers. Finding that he would be safer at Dartmouth he returned there, and met with his people nightly in his own house, until in 1687, on the relaxation of the penal laws, they built a meeting-house for him. Just before his death he acted as moderator at a meeting of dissenting ministers held at Topsham. He died suddenly of paralysis at Exeter on 26 June 1691, and was buried in Dartmouth churchyard. Wood bitterly comments on the violence of his dissent."
-- Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 26, 2021
I started reading this volume for my paper on a comparison of Owen and Flavel's understanding of Christ's priestly office. Little did I know Flavel has so much more to offer. What I loved about this volume is that all of it (except his biography in the beginning) is his sermons to his church. They're meditative and filled with Christ-centered applications. Some are tedious (like when he has a whole sermon on Christ's burial!) but it's worth getting the book and reading it devotionally. Buy it and slowly work through it every day.
I've been encouraged, challenged, and convicted to look to Christ and his love and work for me. I'm confident Flavel's words will help you see Christ and love him more.
I've been encouraged, challenged, and convicted to look to Christ and his love and work for me. I'm confident Flavel's words will help you see Christ and love him more.
December 3, 2023
So many sentences to carry you for a week. Repeatedly. Flavel presents a glorious, affectionate, and omnipotent Christ in each sermon.
There’s a reason why his sermons are still in print over 300 years later. If I had to pull some of my few choice quotes it would be these:
“In parting with him [Christ], he [the Father] parted with his own heart…And yet our dearest children are but as strangers to us, in comparison of the unspeakable dearness that was betwixt the Father and Christ.”
“he gets out fresh pardons for new sins.”
“If [your sin] were a knife in your house that had been thrust to the heart of your father, you would not take pleasure to see that knife, much less to use it.”
“Patience never had a more glorious triumph, than it had upon the cross.”
“A grave with Christ is a comfortable place.”
“The enemy under his feet shall not destroy the children in his arms.”
“Is not every one of Christ’s wounds a mouth open to plead for more holiness, more service, more fruit from you?”
There’s a reason why his sermons are still in print over 300 years later. If I had to pull some of my few choice quotes it would be these:
“In parting with him [Christ], he [the Father] parted with his own heart…And yet our dearest children are but as strangers to us, in comparison of the unspeakable dearness that was betwixt the Father and Christ.”
“he gets out fresh pardons for new sins.”
“If [your sin] were a knife in your house that had been thrust to the heart of your father, you would not take pleasure to see that knife, much less to use it.”
“Patience never had a more glorious triumph, than it had upon the cross.”
“A grave with Christ is a comfortable place.”
“The enemy under his feet shall not destroy the children in his arms.”
“Is not every one of Christ’s wounds a mouth open to plead for more holiness, more service, more fruit from you?”
January 23, 2023
Who can match the eminent Puritan John Flavel for his heavenly preaching of Christ? In this volume, the first of six, Mr. Flavel uses all of his 561 pages to exalt Christ in His person and work, as well as apply these rich teachings of Christ to the believer's life. In addition, he evangelizes the unconverted reader and strongly exhorts the regenerate person. This Puritan father has not only pointed me to and show me more of Christ, but he has taught me, by way of example, how to refine my preaching. Highly recommended!
August 7, 2024
This volume of Flavel’s Works contains forty two sermons on the person and work of Christ. This the finest collection of sermons I have ever read. Filled with powerful, soul-penetrating exposition and application.
August 10, 2020
Flavel needs no introduction to those familiar with the puritans. He is one of the richest of them all, and in this volume he touches upon the richest facet of Christian theology, the mediatorial work of Jesus Christ. The "Fountain of life opened" is one of the greatest works of all time. Read it, love it, live it.
October 3, 2016
6 Volumes of the most under-rated and under-read Puritan out there. Like all Puritans, he's best read slowly. But unlike all other Puritans, he's got a geniune sense of humor...
October 23, 2024
"If thou wouldst indeed get a heart evangelically melted for sin, and broken with the kindly sense of the grace and love of Christ, thy way is not to force thy affections, nor to vex thyself, and go about complaining of a hard heart, but to set thyself to believe, realize, apply, infer, and compare by faith as you have been directed..." - John Flavel
It pains my heart to say it, but I could never really get into Flavel's sermons. I had heard rave reviews on The Fountain of Life, but I found the reading mostly tedious. I hasten to say that there certainly are gems of great worth to be found. But the work put in for the nuggets didn't pay off in my opinion. In reading Owen, Swinnock, and Manton, my heart has been stirred and edified on every page, but I just didn't find that here with Flavel. It could be in part that in these sermons, I do think he is reading a little into the text. I think Flavel was preaching the right doctrine, just possibly from the wrong text. Perhaps it is my season of life or something else, but I would point someone elsewhere besides reading Flavel; although my opinion might change after reading him more in the future!
It pains my heart to say it, but I could never really get into Flavel's sermons. I had heard rave reviews on The Fountain of Life, but I found the reading mostly tedious. I hasten to say that there certainly are gems of great worth to be found. But the work put in for the nuggets didn't pay off in my opinion. In reading Owen, Swinnock, and Manton, my heart has been stirred and edified on every page, but I just didn't find that here with Flavel. It could be in part that in these sermons, I do think he is reading a little into the text. I think Flavel was preaching the right doctrine, just possibly from the wrong text. Perhaps it is my season of life or something else, but I would point someone elsewhere besides reading Flavel; although my opinion might change after reading him more in the future!
May 7, 2019
It is a tragedy that not many Christians today are aware of the riches that are available to us in the Puritan literature. This volume by my favorite Puritan John Flavel (1627 - 1691) contains his work "The Fountain of Life" which is a collection of 42 sermons on Jesus Christ from the covenant of redemption to His second coming for judgement.
The sermons are plain, rich doctrinally, convicting in their application, masterful in illustrations.
With a many good exceptions, I've felt that most of the modern theologians are mainly void of the last two in their writings, only containing information without strong personal convictions or spiritual application. This is never the case with the Puritans.
The sermons are plain, rich doctrinally, convicting in their application, masterful in illustrations.
With a many good exceptions, I've felt that most of the modern theologians are mainly void of the last two in their writings, only containing information without strong personal convictions or spiritual application. This is never the case with the Puritans.
January 27, 2020
Volume 1 contains The Fountain of Life, 42 sermons on the doctrine of Christ. The puritans can be hard to read, but I found these sermons relatively short but jam-packed with rich devotional content. John Flavel stirred my mind to want to dwell more on the person and work of Christ. What greater tribute can I give to this man?
March 1, 2015
My favorite volume from my favorite of the English/Scottish Puritans. I've enjoyed re-reading this volume.
January 15, 2017
Volume one of John Flavel's works contains his treatise on the person and work of Christ, The Fountain of Life. Every page of it is pure gold.
December 6, 2023
These sermons are worth their weight in gold
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews