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All Things Made New: John Flavel for the Christian Life
Numerous stories are told from John Flavel’s life of how people ‘happened to meet him’ and came away deeply thankful to God, full of resolve to walk with Christ as a result. The same is true of encounters made with Flavel’s writings, as in All Things Made New.
Flavel spent almost his entire ministry in a busy town serving working people. He believed that the gospel impacts and shapes every thought, every feeling, every ambition, emotion, desire, success, tragedy and joy. Christ makes all things new for the believer, and teaches us to follow him with confidence, until that day when he truly renews all things. To read Flavel is to catch and to be changed by the same vision.
Selected and Edited by Lewis Allen.
Flavel spent almost his entire ministry in a busy town serving working people. He believed that the gospel impacts and shapes every thought, every feeling, every ambition, emotion, desire, success, tragedy and joy. Christ makes all things new for the believer, and teaches us to follow him with confidence, until that day when he truly renews all things. To read Flavel is to catch and to be changed by the same vision.
Selected and Edited by Lewis Allen.
- GenresTheologyChristian Living
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2017
14 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
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 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 5, 2023
This has immediately jumped into my top 5 favorite Puritan paperback ever. This is a collection of sermons from Flavel that touch on the person of Christ, the church, the Christian life, and much more. Flavel's style is immediately more readable than a majority of other Puritan writers and this book showcases that style.
"How wonderful a comfort it is, that he who dwells in our flesh is God! What joy may even the weakest believer make out of this! God and man in one person! As man, he is full of a felt sense of our infirmities, needs, and burdens, and as God he can support and supply them all. How relieving, how reviving, and how abundantly satisfying is our faith in this wonderful person! God will never divorce the believing soul, and its comfort, after he has married our nature to his own Son, by the hypostatical union, and our persons also, by the blessed mystical union."
"How wonderful a comfort it is, that he who dwells in our flesh is God! What joy may even the weakest believer make out of this! God and man in one person! As man, he is full of a felt sense of our infirmities, needs, and burdens, and as God he can support and supply them all. How relieving, how reviving, and how abundantly satisfying is our faith in this wonderful person! God will never divorce the believing soul, and its comfort, after he has married our nature to his own Son, by the hypostatical union, and our persons also, by the blessed mystical union."
February 23, 2019
This is not a very long book, but...it is deep and rich enough that I've been taking my time with it. Written by Flavel (a Puritan minister from mid-17th century England), this book contains so many invigorating and encouraging and (as always necessary!) convicting words about who God is and what our response to Him of necessity must be. Honestly, there are so many different different topics in this book (mostly composed of his sermons on various occasions) and so I shan't take the time to give a detailed summary of this book. Just know that it encouraged my soul. I need to read more Puritans.
February 5, 2021
Flavel never disappoints. The edits by Lewis Allen makes Flavel’s sermons immensely easy to read. More importantly, Flavel shows us Christ.
All the chapters in Part 2 of the book were excellent. I enjoyed also the chapter of “Guard your Heart”, where Flavel reminds us powerfully on such a need.
5 stars easily.
All the chapters in Part 2 of the book were excellent. I enjoyed also the chapter of “Guard your Heart”, where Flavel reminds us powerfully on such a need.
5 stars easily.
November 30, 2025
Blesses sermons!
“Never did any man lose at last by his faithfulness.”
“Woe to you, if you go on casually in the way in which you are, and meet with no hardship.”
“ Suffering is a pill which, when wrapped up in patience and quiet submission, may be easily swallowed; but discontentment chews the pill, and so embitters the soul.” - Flavel
“Never did any man lose at last by his faithfulness.”
“Woe to you, if you go on casually in the way in which you are, and meet with no hardship.”
“ Suffering is a pill which, when wrapped up in patience and quiet submission, may be easily swallowed; but discontentment chews the pill, and so embitters the soul.” - Flavel
March 22, 2021
a sampler of john flavel's 6 volume works, this book is a great introduction to john flavel, or the puritans in general. topics deal with the basics of christian faith, basically those the chrisitan will never get over.
November 16, 2019
Great selection of perhaps my favorite (and most accessible) Puritan.
July 24, 2025
Excellent collection of sermons by a Puritan divine. I particularly enjoyed the section on salvation in Jesus Christ and the final chapter. This book was full of solemn warnings, tender comforts and glorious truth. Some of it was slightly verbose which is to be expected from a man from this period!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews