Comments on: The Works of John Flavel

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 22:21:48 +0000

I purchased the 6 volumes of John Flavel’s ‘Works’ a few months back and I’ve just started to read the first book. It’s been a great read due to his passion for Christ Jesus.

By: Richard C Ross

Richard C Ross — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 09:02:49 +0000

Even among the very best of Puritan authors John Flavel stands out for his all-round usefulness. This is in part due to his easy style: brevity, clarity, apt illustration and complete absence of artifice. It is also due to the fact that all the attributes we associate with Puritan theology at its best – and there is none better! – are most conspicuous in his writings: Scriptural permeation, theological perception, practical astuteness and perennial relevance. These qualities are the direct consequence of his passionate commitment to the proclamation of a gospel of universal application, infinite grace, mercy and stability. And that in turn is the direct consequence of the greatest of all the Puritan virtues: an obsession and pre-occupation with a Trinitarian theology that is specifically and explicitly Christ-centred, Christ-glorifying and Christ-exalting.

It may seem at a casual glance that these six volumes contain material that is hardly relevant to our age and situation. That is a response that merely reveals ignorance of the contents of such material. I would, for example, single out, in volume 4, ‘England’s Duty under the Present Gospel Liberty (1689)’. This series of eleven sermons on Revelation 3.20 could not be more relevant, whether to our times or the personal spiritual state of any individual: ‘the finest of the wheat’!

I have the clearest memory, as a youth of 17 in 1968, of collecting the just published six volumes of Flavel’s Works, pre-ordered from my little local Christian bookshop, and happily parting with £6.6s! Subsequently I was deprived of that set – and am delighted to have been able now to replace it. Maybe we’re too casual in our appreciation of the gold mine that is the Banner of Truth.

By: John Kim

John Kim — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 13:17:58 +0000

I was inspired to read the great John Flavel (1628-1691) by what I read about him in “Meet the Puritans” by Joel Beeke and Randall Pederson. In their introduction of Flavel, they wrote the following: “We know a pastor who has profited greatly from reading a sermon or chapter of Flavel every morning for decades. When he finishes vol 6, the pastor begins again with vol 1.” Having read Flavel for myself, I can attest to the goldmine that is the writings of this heartwarming pastor.
Flavel is a lucid and thoughtful writer. He brings lively metaphors and illustrative language to bear upon the readers’ imagination. He is also intensely fixated on heaven, as were many other puritans. He frequently urges the reader to stake their lives on the world to come, not on the present age that is passing and evil. One of the ways he does this is to help believers prepare for suffering. For example, in vol 6, he teaches the reader how to prepare for suffering since it sure to come to every believer in this life. He warns, “Beloved, in a suffering hour the interest of Christ and self meet like two men upon a narrow bridge, one must of necessity go back, or the other cannot pass on: if you cannot deny self you must deny Christ.” Flavel will challenge you to face the hard questions of discipleship. Just like you must either serve money or Christ, in times of suffering, you will resort to serving self or Jesus.
Flavel is not just full of warnings, however. His writing exudes an evangelical (gospel) tone, assuring those who have an interest Christ of all the benefits of the covenant of grace. One can readily sense his pastoral heart, prodding the sheep unto further godliness and pursuit of holiness, all from the basis of our union with Christ.
I encourage any pastor or layman to pick up Flavel’s works and work through them slowly, meditatively, and prayerfully. He is sure to reward those who befriend him, even those who choose to read him every morning for decades to come.

By: Matt C

Matt C — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:49:28 +0000

The Works of John Flavel is a six-volume set published by the Banner of Truth. It is a great joy for me to provide this review of an outstanding set of Puritan works. May the reader be blessed by this review and encouraged to purchase this set and likewise be richly impacted by the words of John Flavel. The six volume set consists of 22 books and 116 sermons. Volume one consists of a brief biography of John Flavel which is followed by 42 sermons about the display of Jesus Christ in His essential and mediatorial glory. These sermons are sure to stir one up to worship the Triune God! Flavel’s sermons are extremely easy to understand. As the front flap mentions of Flavel, he “attained to premeince in his ability to combine both instruction and appeal to the heart. Some Puritans might be more learned than he, and some more quaint, but for all-around usefulness none was his superior.” Flavel knew how to appeal to the hearts of his sheep from the holy, inspired Word of God. These sermons are an excellent showcase of that! Volume two consists of two books: (1) The Method of Grace in the Gospel Redemption, and (2) Pneumatologia: A Treatise of the Soul of Man. This second volume continues to show forth Flavel’s masterful exegetical skills and his wonderful ability to apply God’s Word to the heart of man. A section called “Motives to Draw Sinners to Christ” is a beautiful section that gives the reader a glimpse into the heart of Flavel. Volume three discusses issues such as fear (its varieties, uses, causes, effects, and remedies), the hope that God’s children have in times of judgment and distress upon the world, and the importance of understanding theological error. Flavel writes a beautiful letter to the reader before getting into the section on the causes, nature, rise, growth, and remedies of mental errors. It again provides the reader with a glimpse of Flavel’s own heart to those whom he writes to. Volume four consists of sermons that were delivered in response to the persecution that had been experienced in England due to preaching the Gospel. A part of this volume that I personally adore is the section on The Mystery of Providence (also a Puritan Paperback), which is a treatise upon Psalm 57:2. This has been considered by many to be the absolute greatest treatment on the topic of the providence of God! Volume five consists of seven books, three of which are specifically applied to seamen. We again see Flavel apply the Word of God like a spiritual physician, showing how the Word directly applies to everyday life. Lastly, volume six. This volume is perhaps my favorite of the set. This volume provides a wonderful section on suffering in the Christian life. This is also where we find an exposition of the Westminster Shorter Catechism (dare I say that this section is worth the price of the set?). Another section that is marvelous is the book entitled Twelve Sacramental Meditations Upon Select Places of Scripture, To Prepare Believers for the Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. There is so much more that could be highlighted in this six volume set! Flavel is one of the clearest, easiest-to-understand Puritans that I’ve read. He is a physician of the soul who knows how to rightly handle the Word of God. All six volumes are tremendously devotional in nature, leading to a joyful stirring of the affections as the truth is mediated upon. I cannot recommend this set highly enough! I have many sets of the works of the Puritans, but this is perhaps my absolute favorite (apart from John Owen who has first place in my heart). Please consider reading John Flavel. If you are nervous about committing to an entire set, start with Banner of Truth’s Puritan Paperbacks that are authored by John Flavel. I believe that you will desire his entire set when you get a taste of his writing. It is so Christ-centered, devotional, and Scripture-saturated that you will be wanting more and more. Consider this excellent set by one of the giants of the faith that have gone before us, John Flavel. Disclaimer: My thanks to The Banner of Truth Trust for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.

By: Arthur Fox

Arthur Fox — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 12:02:09 +0000

In 2017 I lost my copy of the Works of John Flavel in a flash flood. This Christmas my wife surprised me by replacing the set. I have begun with the first volume. I am not sure if it is because I have matured spiritually, but he is clearer now than when I first tried to read him years ago. The new format has organized the text in a comfortable format, and I am sure to grow.

By: Ojoje Daniel Adeyi

Ojoje Daniel Adeyi — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 12:04:54 +0000

I had read the mystery of Providence by Brother Flavel; the effect is great. I cannot get access to his complete works. How I long to have this six volumes of Brother Fravel’s!

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 18:15:55 +0000

A very kind man (whom I’ve never met) purchased this collection for me as the result of an informal Twitter contest…little did he know, that the works of John Flavel would change my life forever. I can honestly say that Flavel’s writings have had the single greatest impact on my personal sanctification and growth in grace…and I owe it all to a stranger on Twitter.