Instruments of God's Providence

The instruments employed by Providence for you are of special consideration, and the finger of God is clearly seen by us when we persue that meditation. For sometimes great mercies are conveyed to us by very improbably means, and more probable ones laid aside. A stranger is stirred up to do that for you which near relations in nature had no power or will to do for you. Johnathan, a mere stranger to David, clave closer to him, and was more friendly and useful to him than his own brethren, who despised and slighted him. Ministers have found more kindness and respect from strangers than from their own people that are more obliged to them. "A prophet," said Christ, "is not without honour in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.’ [John Flavel]

Perfect Providence

It is the duty of the saints, especially in times of straits, to reflect upon the performances of Providence for them in all in all the states and through all the stages of their lives. [John Flavel]

Call to diligence

What reason have you, why you should not presently embrace the Call of God, and thankfully lay hold on the first opportunity and season of salvation? Have you any greater matters in hand than the salvation of your precious souls? Is there anything in the world that more concerns you? If the affairs of this life be so indispensibly necessary, and those of the world to come to indfferent; if you think Meat and drink. Trade and business, wife and children, be so great things and Christ, soul and Eternity so little things; or you thnk Salvation of the greatst neccessity, yet it may safely enough be put off to an uncertain time, I may assure you, you will not long be of this mind,. How soon are all the mistakes of men in these matters rectified, in a few moments after death. Rectified, I say, but not remedied; your opinion will be cfhanged, but not your condition

Do you not every day, easily and readily obey the calls of satan and your lusts, whilst God and conscience are suffered to call and strive in vain? If satan or your lusts call you to the tavern, to the world, and sinful pleasures, you speedily comply with their call and yield a ready obedience; if pride, covetousness, or passion and revenge call, they need not cfall twice; Lord, what a creature man is become! If a vain companion call, you have no power to deny him; if God call you, you have no ear to hear him.

You cannot but observe the obedience and diligence of many others, how seriously, painfully and assiduously they ply and follow the work of their own salvation, and yet are no more concerned in the Events and Consequences of these things than you are. Doth it not trouble you when you compare yourselves with them? Do not such thoughts as these sometimes arise upon such observations? Lord what a difference is there like to be betwixt their end and mine, when there is no apparent difference in our course and conversation? Doth not God distinguish persons in this world by the frames of their hearts, and tenor of their lives, in order to the great distinction he will make betwixt one and another in the day of judgement? Have not I as precious a soul to save or lose as any of them? What is the matter that I sit with folded arms, whilst they are working out their salvation with fear and trembling? Why should any man or woman in the world be more careful for their souls than I for mine? Surely its capacity and excellency is equal with theirs, though my care and diligence be so unequal. [John Flavel]

 

Resurrection Day–Flavel Poem

Bare seeds have no great beauty but inhum’d
That which they had is lost, and quite consumed;
They soon corrupt and grow  more base by odds,
when dead and buried underneath the clods
It falls in baseness but at length doth rise,
In glory which delights the beholders eyes;
How great a difference hath a few days made
Betwixt it, in the bushel and the blade!
This lovely lively emblem aptly may
Type out the glorious  resurrection day.
Wherein the saints that in dust do lie
Shall rise in glory, vigour, dignity.
With singing in that morning they arise
And dazzling glory; such as  mortal eyes
Never viewed on Earth; The sparkling beauties here,
No more can equalize their splendour there
Than glimmering glow worms do the  fairest star
That shines in Heaven, or the Stones that are
In every street,  may competition hold
With glittering diamonds in rings of gold.
For unto Christ’s most glorious body they
Shall be conformed in glory at that day;
Whose lustre would should it on mortals fall
Transport a Stephen, and  confound a Paul.
Tis now a course, a crazy house of clay?
But O! How dear do souls for lodging pay!
Few more than I, for thou, my soul hast been,
Within these tens of Kedar, cooped in.
Where with distempers clogged, thou makest thou moans,
And for deliverance, with tears and groans
Hast often said: cheer up, the time will be
When thou from all these troubles shall be free.
No jarring humours, cloudy vapours, Rheums,
Pains aches or whatever else consumes.
My days in greif while in the Christian race
Flesh lags behind and can’t keep equal pace
With the more equal spirit; none of these
Shall thencefore clogg thee or disturb thy ease. [John Flavel

Resurrection Day–Flavel Poem

Bare seeds have no great beauty but inhum’d
That which they had is lost, and quite consumed;
They soon corrupt and grow  more base by odds,
when dead and buried underneath the clods
It falls in baseness but at length doth rise,
In glory which delights the beholders eyes;
How great a difference hath a few days made
Betwixt it, in the bushel and the blade!
This lovely lively emblem aptly may
Type out the glorious  resurrection day.
Wherein the saints that in dust do lie
Shall rise in glory, vigour, dignity.
With singing in that morning they arise
And dazzling glory; such as  mortal eyes
Never viewed on Earth; The sparkling beauties here,
No more can equalize their splendour there
Than glimmering glow worms do the  fairest star
That shines in Heaven, or the Stones that are
In every street,  may competition hold
With glittering diamonds in rings of gold.
For unto Christ’s most glorious body they
Shall be conformed in glory at that day;
Whose lustre would should it on mortals fall
Transport a Stephen, and  confound a Paul.
Tis now a course, a crazy house of clay?
But O! How dear do souls for lodging pay!
Few more than I, for thou, my soul hast been,
Within these tens of Kedar, cooped in.
Where with distempers clogged, thou makest thou moans,
And for deliverance, with tears and groans
Hast often said: cheer up, the time will be
When thou from all these troubles shall be free.
No jarring humours, cloudy vapours, Rheums,
Pains aches or whatever else consumes.
My days in greif while in the Christian race
Flesh lags behind and can’t keep equal pace
With the more equal spirit; none of these
Shall thencefore clogg thee or disturb thy ease. [John Flavel

Learning from the Scriptures

”The Scriptures teach us the best way of living, the noblest way of suffering and the most comfortable way of dying,” [John Flavel]

 

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