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Keeping the Heart: Lessons on Maintaining a Pure Heart in All Seasons of Life
In “Keep thy Heart: Puritan Reflections on the Christian Life,” John Flavel delves into the importance of guarding and nurturing the heart, as it is the source of both good and evil. With exhortations and motivations, Flavel provides guidance on how to keep the heart with all diligence, drawing on his own experiences in a tumultuous England to offer timeless wisdom.$0.00$0.99 -
Preparations for Sufferings: the Best Work in the Worst Times [updated and Annotated]
We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance. – Romans 5:3 It is as much our interest as it is our duty to be awakened out of our pleasant but most pernicious drowsiness. Troubles will be so much more sinking and intolerable if they take us by surprise. Just as expectation spoils earthly comforts by sucking out much of its sweetness beforehand so that we find less in it when we come to the actual enjoyment, so the expectation of suffering eases much of the dread and terror by accustoming our thoughts beforehand and making preparation for them. If prepared, we do not find suffering so grievous, overwhelming, and intolerable when it does come. It is not the design of this book to frighten anyone with imaginary dangers, much less to sow jealousies or stir up discontentment for the times. But, it is lamentable that the tokens of God’s anger produce in most of us no fruit other than bold censures and loud clamors rather than humiliation for our own sins and the due preparation to take up our own cross and follow Christ in His suffering. The only goal of this book is to provide a better understand of the purpose and function of suffering for the sake of Christ. Should we not be of those who sincerely resolve and prepare to be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12) and take them for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience (James 5:10)? About the AuthorJohn Flavel (c.1628-1691) was born into an England wracked by political, social, and religious upheaval. Two civil wars and unstable leadership framed the political landscape. Economic hardships and a resurgence of plague further distressed the nation. The church, too, was in turmoil. Flavel, a pastor of one of the many independent churches persecuted by the government, was forced from his church in Dartmouth. In secret and under stress, he continued preaching, writing, and shepherding his flock. He suffered the death of three of his four wives and at least one child. He continued preaching until his sudden death in 1691. Read more$0.00$16.99 -
Biblical Mourning: Encouragement for Those Who Lost Loved Ones [Annotated, Updated]
It is not my purpose to exasperate your troubles, but to heal them. For that purpose, I have written these chapters and I hope they will be of use to you, since they are the product of my own troubles. These are not things that I have recommended to you from another hand, but things that I have, in some measure, proved and tasted in my own trials. To be above feelings and emotions is a condition equal to the angels and to be in a state of sorrow without the sense of sorrow is a disposition beneath the beasts. But to correctly regulate our sorrows and bind our passions under suffering is the wisdom, duty, and excellency of a Christian. Even though you and your afflictions had a sad meeting, I desire that you and they may have a comfortable parting. If your afflictions do the work in your hearts that God sent them for, I have no doubt you will give them a fair testimony when they leave. What you endured with fear, you will dismiss with praise. How sweet it is, when God is loosing his hands, to hear the afflicted soul say, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted!”– John Flavel About the AuthorJohn Flavel’s life began sometime between 1627 and 1630 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. He was the older son of Richard Flavel, a Nonconformist minister. He was educated at home, in local grammar schools, and at University College in Oxford. He was married four times, with all four wives preceding him in death. John preached in churches in Diptford and Dartmouth, and in later years during “The Great Persecution,” he preached under the cover of darkness in the woods and in people’s homes. He died suddenly of a stroke on June 26, 1691 and was returned to Dartmouth to be buried in the churchyard. Read more$0.00$0.99