The following words from John Flavel have been a great comfort to me of late. Indeed, he is one of my favourite Puritans, and I would strongly recommend him to all readers.
'Salvation (as to the actual dispensation of it) is revealed by Christ as a Prophet, procured by him as a Priest, applied by him as a King. In vain it is revealed, if not purchased; in vain revealed and purchased, if not applied. How is it revealed, both to us, and in us, by our great Prophet, has been declared. And now, from the prophetical office, we pass on to the priestly office of Jesus Christ, who as our Priest, purchased our salvation. In this office is contained the grand relief for a soul distressed by the guilt of sin. When all other reliefs have been essayed, it is the blood of this great sacrifice, sprinkled by faith upon the trembling conscience, that must cool, refresh, and sweetly compose and settle it.'
'Now, seeing so great a weight hangs upon this office, the apostle industriously confirms and commends it in this epistle, and more especially in this ninth chapter; showing how it was figured to the world by the typical blood of the sacrifices, but infinitely excels them all: and as in many other most weighty respects, so principally in this, that the blood of these sacrifices did but purify the types or patterns of the heavenly things; but the blood of this sacrifice purified or consecrated the heavenly things themselves, signified by those types.'
Douglas, thank you for all the Works that you have Declared. Your post has been eagerly awaited each day. I know that from recent posts your health is declinig and I wanted to encourage you with a Hymn I came accross the other day. Maybe you know it, maybe not, but I hope it will be a blessing to you.------------------------------------- There is a land of pure delight, Where saints immortal reign, Infinite day excludes the night, And pleasures banish pain; --------------- There everlasting spring abides, And never-withering flowers, Death, like a narrow sea divides This heavenly land from ours. --------------- But timorous mortals start and shrink To cross this narrow sea, And linger shivering on the brink, And fear to launch away. --------------- O could we make our doubts remove, Those gloomy doubts that rise, And see the Canaan that we love, With unbeclouded eyes. --------------- Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood Stand dressed in living green; So to the Jews old Canann stood, While Jordan rolled between. --------------- Could we but climb where Moses stood, And view the landscape o'er, Not Jordan's stream, nor death's cold flood, Should fright us from the shore. ---------------- Praying for you and your family.
ReplyDelete"In this office is contained the grand relief for a soul distressed by the guilt of sin." Amen. Thanks for posting this helpful quotation. In the Lord's mercy, in Christ's blood, with my love and prayers.
ReplyDeleteTHanks for your faithfulness to Christ, and for all of your posts! Could you tell me where you found this Flavel material?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
David
Dear David,
ReplyDeleteThere are many sources on the web, you can easily find one. I first read it in an old Baker Book House edition. The quote I gave was under the heading "The nature and necessity of the Priesthood of Christ."
May the Lord bless you in all aspects of your ministry
With love in Christ
Douglas