The Epistle To The Reader
Every creature, by the instinct of nature, or by the light of
reason, strives to avoid danger, and get out of harm's way. The
cattle in the fields presaging a storm at hand, fly to the hedges
and thickets for shelter. The fowls of heaven, by the same natural
instinct, perceiving the approach of winter, take their timely
flight to a warmer climate. This naturalists have observed of them,
and their observation is confirmed by scripture testimony. Of the
cattle it is said, Job 37: 6, 7, 8. "He saith to the snow, Be thou
on the earth, likewise the small rain, and the great rain of his
strength; then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places."
And of the fowls of the air it is said, Jer. 8: 7. "The stork in the
heavens knoweth her appointed times, and the turtle, and the crane,
and the swallow, observe the time of their coming."
But man being a prudent and prospecting creature has the
advantage of all other creatures in his foreseeing faculty: "For God
has taught him more than the beasts of the earth, and made him wiser
than the fowls of heaven," Job 35: 11. "And a wise man's heart
discerneth both time and judgement," Eccl. 8: 5. For as there are
natural signs of the change of the weather, Matt. 16: 3, so there
are moral signs of the changes of times and providence, yet such is
the supineness and inexcusable regardlessness of most men, that they
will not fear till they feel, nor think any danger very
considerable, till it become inevitable.
We of this nation have long enjoyed the light of the glorious
gospel among us; it has shone in much clearness upon this sinful
island, for more than a whole century of happy years: but the
longest day has an end, and we have cause to fear our bright sun is
going down upon us; for the shadows in England are grown greater
than the substance, which is one sign of approaching night, Jer. 6:
4. "The beasts of prey creep out of their dens and coverts," which
is another sign of night at hand, Psal. 104: 20. "And the workmen
come home apace from their labours, and go to rest," which is as sad
a sign as any of the rest, Job 7: 1, 2. Isa. 57: 1, 2. Happy were
it, if, in such a juncture as this, every man would make it his work
and business to secure himself in Christ from the storm of God's
indignation, which is ready to fall upon these sinful nations. It is
said of the Egyptians, when the storm of hail was coming upon the
land, Exod. 9: 20. "He that feared the word of the Lord made his
servants and cattle flee into the houses." It is but an odd sight to
see the prudence of an Egyptian out-vying the wisdom and
circumspection of a Christian.
God, who provides natural shelter and refuge for all creatures,
has not left his people unprovided with, and destitute of defence
and security, in the most tempestuous times of national judgements.
It is said, Mic. 5: 5. "This man (meaning the man Christ Jesus)
shall be the peace when the Assyrian shall come into our land, and
when he shall tread in our palaces." And Isa. 26: 20. "Come, my
people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee;
hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation
be overpast."
My friends, let me speak as freely, as I am sure I speak
seasonably. A sound of judgement is in our ears; "The Lord's voice
crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear
ye the rod, and who has appointed it," Mic. 6: 9. All things round
about us seem to posture themselves for trouble and distress. Where
is the man of wisdom that does not foresee a shower of wrath and
indignation coming? "We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear,
and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man does travail
with child? Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his
loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into
paleness? Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it; it
is even the day of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be delivered out of
it," Jer. 30: 5, 6, 7.
Many eyes are now opened to see the common danger, but some
foresaw it long ago; when they saw the general decay of godliness
every where, the notorious profanity and atheism that overspread the
nations; the spirit of enmity and bitterness against the power of
godliness wherever it appeared: and though there seemed to be a
present calm, and general quietness, yet those that were wise in
heart could not but discern the distress of nations, with great
perplexity, in these seeds of judgement and calamity: but as the
ephah fills more and more, so the determined wrath grows more and
more visible to every eye; and it is a fond thing to dream of
tranquillity in the midst of so much iniquity. Indeed, if these
nations were once swept with the besom of reformation, we might hope
God would not sweep them with the besom of destruction; but what
peace can be expected, whilst the highest provocations are
continued?
It is therefore the great and present concernment of all to
provide themselves of a refuge before the storm overtakes them; for,
as Augustin well observes, None facile inveniuntur praefidia in
adversitate, quae non fuerint in pace quaesita. O take up your
lodgings in the attributes and promises of God before the night
overtake you; view them often by faith, and clear up your interest
in them, that you may be able to go to them in the dark, when the
ministers and ordinances of Christ have taken their leave of you,
and bid you good night.
Whilst many are hastening on the wrath of God by profaneness,
and many by smiting their fellow servants; and multitudes resolve,
if trouble come, to fish in the troubled waters for safety and
preferment, not doubting, (whensoever the overflowing flood comes)
but they shall stand dry. O that you would be mourning for their
sins, and providing better for your own safety.
Reader, it is thy one thing necessary to get a cleared interest
in Jesus Christ; which being once obtained, thou mayest face the
storm with boldness, and say, come troubles and distresses, losses
and trials, prisons and death, I am provided for you; do your worst,
you can do me no harm: let the winds roar, the lightnings flash, the
rains and hail fall never so furiously, I have a good roof over my
head, a comfortable lodging provided for me; "My place of defence is
the munition of rocks, where bread shall be given me, and my waters
shall be sure," Isa. 33: 16.
The design of the ensuing treatise is to assist thee in this
great work; and though it was promised to the world many years past,
yet providence has reserved it for the fittest season, and brought
it to thy hand in a time of need.
It contains the method of grace in the application of the great
redemption to the souls of men, as the former part contains the
method of grace in the interpretation thereof by Jesus Christ. The
acceptation God has given the former part, signified by the desires
of many, for the publication of this, has at last prevailed with me
(notwithstanding the secret consciousness of my inequality to so
great an undertaking) to adventure this second part also upon the
ingenuity and candour of the reader.
And I consent the more willingly to the publication of this,
because the design I first aimed at, could not be entire and
complete without it; but especially, the quality of the subject
matter, which (through the blessing and concurrence of the Spirit)
may be useful both to rouse the drowsy consciences of this sleepy
generation, and to assist the upright in clearing the work of the
Spirit upon their own souls. These considerations have prevailed
with me against all discouragements.
And now, reader, it is impossible for me to speak particularly
and distinctly to the case of thy soul, which I am ignorant of,
except the Lord shall direct my discourse to it in some of the
following suppositions.
If thou be one that hast sincerely applied, and received Jesus
Christ by faith, this discourse (through the blessing of the Spirit)
may be useful to thee, to clear and confirm thy evidences, to melt
thy heart in the sense of thy mercies, and to engage and quicken
thee in the way of thy duties. Here thou wilt see what great things
the Lord has done for thy soul, and how these dignities, as thou art
his son or daughter, by the double title of regeneration and
adoption, do oblige thee to yield up thyself to God entirely, and to
say from thy heart, Lord, whatever I am, I am for thee, whatever I
can do, I will do for thee; and whatever I can suffer, I will suffer
for thee; and all that I am, or have, all that I can do or suffer,
is nothing to what thou hast done for my soul.
If thou be a stranger to regeneration and faith; a person that
makes a powerless profession of Christ; that has a name to live, but
are dead; here it is possible thou mayest meet with something that
will convince thee how dangerous a thing it is to be an old creature
in the new creature's dress and habit; and what is it that blinds
thy judgement, and is likeliest to prove thy ruin; a seasonable and
full conviction whereof will be the greatest mercy that can befall
thee in this world, if thereby at last God may help thee to put on
Christ, as well as the name of Christ.
If thou be in darkness about the state of thy own soul, and
willing to have it faithfully and impartially tried by the rule of
the word, which will not warp to any man's humour or interest, here
thou wilt find some weak assistance offered thee, to clear and
disentangle thy doubting thoughts, which, through thy prayer, and
the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, may lead thee to a
comfortable settlement and inward peace.
If thou be a proud, conceited, presumptuous soul, who has too
little knowledge, and too much pride and self-love, to admit any
doubts or scruples of thy state towards God, there are many things
in this treatise proper for thy conviction and better information;
for woe to thee, if thou shouldst not fear, till thou begin to feel
thy misery, if thy troubles do not come on till all thy hopes are
one off.
I know all these things are performed by me with much
infirmity; and that the whole management is quite below the dignity
of the subject. But when I consider that the success of sermons and
books in the world has but little relation to the elegancy of
language, and accuracy at method, and that many may be useful, who
cannot be excellent, I am willing, in all humility and sincerity to
commit it to the direction of Providence, and the blessing of the
Spirit.
One thing I shall earnestly request of all the people of God,
into whose hands this shall fall, that now at last they will be
persuaded to end all their unbrotherly quarrels and strifes among
themselves, which have wasted so much precious time, and decayed the
vital spirits of religion, hindered the conversion of multitudes,
and increased and confirmed the atheism of the times, and now at
last opened a breach, at which the common enemy is ready to enter
and end the quarrel to our cost. O put on, as the elect of God,
bowels of mercy, and a spirit of charity and forbearance, if not for
your own sakes, yet for the church's sake: Si non vis tibi parcere,
parce Carthagini.
I remember it is noted in our English history as a very
remarkable thing, that when the Severn overflowed part of
Somersetshire, it was observed that dogs and hares, cats and rats,
to avoid the common destruction, would swim to the next rising
ground, and abide quietly together in that common danger, without
the least discovery of their natural antipathy.
The story applies itself, and O that Christians would
everywhere depose their animosities, that the hearts of the fathers
might be turned to the children, and the children to the fathers,
lest God come and smite the earth with a curse.
O that you would dwell more in your closets, and be more
frequently and fervently upon your knees. O that you would search
your hearts more narrowly, and sift them more thoroughly than ever,
before the day pass as the chaff; and the Lord's fierce anger come
upon you: look into your Bibles, then into your hearts, and then to
heavens for a true discovery of your conditions; and if this poor
mite may contribute any thing to that end, it will be a great reward
of the unworthy labours of
Thy Servant in Christ,
John Flavel
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