During the Plague of London in 1665, a small group of dissenting Christians gathered illegally at a private house to pray. Without warning, soldiers entered and arrested a number of the participants. An old non-conformist minister, Richard Flavel, and his wife were among those arrested. Sadly, they contracted the plague while in prison, and died shortly after their release.

All knowledge of this godly couple would undoubtedly be lost to the pages of history if not for the birth of their son, John, in 1627. At some point during his youth, John Flavel was converted to Christ. By his own account, he had been “carried away so many years in the course of this world,” but God “roused” his soul “out of that deep oblivion and deadly slumber.” After completing grammar school, he studied at University College (Oxford). At age twenty-three, he entered his first pastorate at Diptford in the county of Devon. Six years later, he moved to Dartmouth in the same county. One of his church members provides the following account of his ministry:

“I could say much, though not enough, of the excellency of his preaching; of his seasonable, suitable and spiritual matter; of his plain expositions of scripture, his taking method, his genuine and natural deductions, his convincing arguments, his clear and powerful demonstrations, his heart-searching applications, and his comfortable supports to those that were afflicted in conscience. In short that person must have a very soft head, or a very hard heart, or both, that could sit under his ministry unaffected.”[i]

Regrettably, Flavel’s public ministry ceased for a time with the issuing of the Act of Uniformity in 1662. For several years, he continued to live in Dartmouth, meeting secretly with church members in order to preach the Scriptures and administer the sacraments. When the Oxford Act prohibited all nonconformist ministers from living within five miles of towns that sent representatives to Parliament, Flavel settled at a nearby village. His people ventured to hear him preach on the Lord’s Day in private homes or wooded areas. And he slipped regularly into Dartmouth to visit them. This clandestine ministry continued until the political indulgence of 1687 when the authorities permitted him to resume his public ministry. He enjoyed this liberty until his death four years later at age sixty-four.

Flavel was a prolific preacher and writer – his collected works filling six volumes. At times, he’s polemical and controversial. More often than not, however, he’s doctrinal and pastoral. This emphasis is seen in his twofold approach to preaching: exposition and application. Repeatedly, Flavel follows this simple method, deriving his doctrines from Scripture, and then encouraging his readers to pursue a heartfelt application of those doctrines to the soul.

I’m extremely thankful for this “prince” of Puritans (in my estimation, anyway). The Lord has used his writings at different points in my life over the past fifteen years. I particularly recommend the following four works to you.

The Fountain of Life

Text: “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).

Doctrine: “There is no doctrine more excellent in itself, or more necessary to be preached and studied, than the doctrine of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

Lesson: “But let me tell you, the whole world is not a theater large enough to show the glory of Christ, or unfold one half of the unsearchable riches that lie hid in Him.”

The Method of Grace

Text: “He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).

Doctrine: “The Lord Jesus Christ, with all His precious benefits, becomes ours, by God’s special and effectual application.”

Lesson: “The greatest glory of which our persons are capable is to be mystically united to this Lord of glory; to be bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. O what is this! Christian, do you know and believe all this, and does not your heart burn within you in love to Christ?”

Keeping the Heart

Text: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov. 4:23).

Doctrine: “The keeping and right managing of the heart in every condition is the great business of a Christian’s life.”

Lesson: Flavel unpacks six ways to keep the heart before God: (1) converse with your heart; (2) let the evils of your heart humble you; (3) pray for grace; (4) resolve to walk more carefully with God; (5) be jealous for holiness and afraid of sin; and (6) be aware of God’s omniscience.

The Mystery of Providence

Text: “I will cry unto God Most High, unto God that performs all things for me” (Ps. 57:2).

Doctrine: “That it is the duty of saints, especially in times of straits, to reflect upon the performances of providence for them in all the estates of their lives.”

Lesson: “How great a pleasure is it to discern how the most wise God is providentially steering all to the port of His own praise and His people’s happiness.”

[i] As quoted in John Flavel, The Works of John Flavel (London: W. Baynes and Son, 1820; rpt., London: Banner of Truth, 1968), 1:vi.