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Christ Humbled yet Exalted

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John Flavel shows Christ as our fountain of true secured for his people by his humiliation and his exaltation. By humiliation, Flavel means the incarnation - Christ’s birth, ministry, and death - by exaltation he means the four stages of resurrection, ascension, intercession, and His return in judgment.

Flavel shows this twofold act (humiliation and exaltation) is the foundation of our joy because through them Christ has removed our debt and secured our inheritance. “The believer knows,” says Flavel, “that however sweet his communion with Christ is in this world, yet that communion he will have with Christ in heaven will far excel it.”



Table of

Christ’s HumiliationA Humble LifeA Prayer of CommendationA Commemorative SignChrist’s AgonyThe Nature of Christ’s DeathA Lonely DeathA Lowly DeathA Prayer for ForgivenessA Promise of SalvationA Cry of ForsakennessA Cry of AnguishThe Completion of Christ’s WorkChrist’s BurialThe Blessed Ends of Christ’s HumiliationChrist’s ExaltationChrist’s ResurrectionChrist’s AscensionChrist’s Present SessionChrist’s Triumphant Return

Author

JOHN FLAVEL (1628–1691) was an English Puritan who became a non-conformist after the ‘Great Ejection’ of 1662. It was 10 years before he was licensed to preach again, and then only in his own home. His writings, when collected in the 19th century, filled 6 volumes. Flavel’s writings are known for their practical nature. He was instrumental in promoting the ‘Happy Union’ of Presbyterians and Congregationalists.



Endorsement

“For years I’ve benefited from the writings of John Flavel and the Puritans, and I’ve often done that through the labors of Stephen Yuille. In this volume, Yuille takes us to Flavel, who guides us on a Christological journey that addresses some of our most pressing theological issues a Christology that begins in eternity past in the covenant of redemption; ministry set within the biblical framework of prophet, priest, and king; and the example of Christ’s humiliation that results in His exaltation and ours. Yuille’s hope for us is that we digest Flavel’s sermons and ‘get them deeply fixed upon [our souls] by the Spirit of the Lord, turning them into life and power’ within us.” — Adam Embry, author and editor of An Honest, Well Experienced The Piety of John Flavel

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 26, 2021

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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

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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
93 reviews2 followers
December 22, 2021
Easy read by John Flavel, and of course the content is great. Unlike other Puritan writings, this book doesn’t have a ton of flowery language and long sentences.
It reads more like a series of sermons.
However, it IS like other Puritan writings in that Flavel writes carefully and accurately. His focus is on Christ’s work and His exaltation in heaven. He quotes liberally from the Bible, both Old and New Testaments.
I highly recommend if you want something to read about Jesus that is accurate and not fluff. One of the most important things we can do is reflect on Jesus, His attributes, His work, and how we can follow in His example. Flavor does all of that. He gets to the point succinctly.
Profile Image for Matthew Bloomquist.
62 reviews4 followers
July 23, 2025
What blessed redeemer we serve! This book alongside Flavel’s “Christ and his threefold office” is such a great intro to Christology. Every Christian needs to understands the threefold offices of Christ and his state of humiliation and exaltation first for their own beholding of and glorying in the Lord Jesus Christ, secondly for its application to the Christian life as we imitate Christ’s offices and follow his pattern of humiliation and exaltation. Thirdly, these categories are essential for Biblical theology and Christological interpretation. We read Christ concealed in the Old Testament and revealed in the new in light of his offices, natures, and states.
Profile Image for Rachel Ekberg.
117 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2025
Flavel surveys the work of Christ through his humiliation in his earthly life and death and through his exultation in his resurrection, ascension, place at God’s right hand, and future judgement. The bulk of the book was on Christ’s humiliation in his crucifixion.

He writes very clearly and has some beautiful parts but something about the book just never quite clicked for me.

I preferred Flavel’s work on the threefold offices of Christ, and probably my favorite insight from the book was him tying in Christ’s humiliation in the crucifixion to each of his offices.

“Contempt was poured upon all His offices. They mocked His kingly office when they crowned Him with thorns, arrayed Him with purple, bowed the knee to Him, and cried, "Hail, King of the Jews." They mocked His prophetical office when they blindfolded Him and bid Him prophesy who smote Him. They mocked His priestly office when they reviled Him on the cross, saying, "He saved others; himself he cannot save."”
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews

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