Remains, Title page – To the reader
Mr. John Flavell's REMAINS: Being Two SERMONS, Composed by that Reverend and Learned Divine. The former Preached at Dartmouth in Devon, on the Day of the happy Coronation of Their Majesties King WILLIAM and Queen MARY. The latter intended to be Preached at Taunton in Somerset, at the Meeting of the United Ministers of several Counties to be held there, Semptember 2. 1691. With a brief Account of the Life and Death of the Revend Author.
LICENS'D, Septemb. 8. 1691.
By JOHN FLAVELL, Late Preacher of the Gospel at Dartmouth in Devon.
LONDON: Printed for Tho. Cockerill, at the Three Legs in the Poultrey. MDCXCI.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. GIVING A brief Acount of this Excellent, and now Triumphant and Glorified Author, his Character Life, Death, and Burial.
Christian Reader,
THOU hast here presented to thy view a Couple of Learned, Pious and Judicious Sermons, being some Remains of that precious Servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. John Flavell, late of Dartmouth, in the County of Devon, a faithful Labourer in the Lord's Harvest, and a Workman that need not be ashamed, to whom the Church is greatly beholding for several excellent Treatises of Divinity, put forth in his Life-time, which render him deservedly famous among the Writers of this Age. And seeing those intire Treatises of his, have been so acceptable and profitable to many Christians, it may not be amiss to gather up these Fragments also, that so little as may be of so Worthy an Author may be lost. These Sermons, though but small in Bulk, yet thou wilt find great in Worth and Value. And tho composed and fitted for different Occasions, yet they conspire in the same common End, which all the rest of his Writings center in, viz. The Glory of God, and the Good of his Church, and of the Souls of Men.
They need not my Recommendation, being far above any Encomiums I can bestow upon them.
And altho they may seem to be born out of due time; yet by their resemblance to the rest, thou wilt find them not to be spurious, but the genuine Offspring of the same Father; and that they wanted no Accomplishment from any other Hand, having been perfectly finish'd by his own.
The first of these Sermons was preached at Dartmouth, upon that joyful Day of the Coronation of Their Majesties, King WILLIAM and Queen MARY, which he did exceedingly bless the Lord for, and called upon the People heartily to concur with him in the same Work, and to joyn their Praises with his, to the Sovereign of the World, the great Disposer of Crowns and Kingdoms, for so rich and publick a Mercy to these three Nations.
As one of the former Books put forth by this blessed Author bears this Title in the Frontispiece, Husbandry Spiritualized, &c. So this Sermon may fitly be Entituled, The Coronation Spiritualized.
The second, as appears by the Title of it, was intended and prepared for a Solemn Assembly, and for a more than ordinary Occasion; and therefore no doubt but the Reverend Author spent the more Pains and Study in the composing of it. He much longed for the joyful time when he should meet so many of his Ʋnited Brethren of several Counties; converse with them about the Affairs of the Kingdom of God, impart his Mind (or rather the Mind of Christ) to them in this Sermon, which made him set about the studying of it so long before the time of that appointed Meeting came; neither had he any rest in his own Spirit, till he had finished and compleated it. But he is now a Member of a greater and higher Assembly, even of the General Assembly, and Church of the first-born, which are written in Heaven; to which he being so suddenly taken up, hath left this Excellent Discourse behind him, as once Elijah's Mantle fell from him. But tho he were by Death prevented from Preaching it in the Pulpit, his surviving Friends were willing to publish it from the Press, that such a Treasure might not be lost, tho the Earthen Vessel that contain'd it, be broken.
The last Words of dying Men are not soon forgotten, much less should the Words of dying Saints, and least of all of dying Ministers, be buried in Oblivion, tho their Bodies be in the Dust. The Spirit of God sets a special Remark upon some excellent Expressions uttered by the Prophet David, a little before his Death, and tells us, 2 Sam. 23.1. These are the last words of David.
Reader, I shall not detain thee long at the threshold, only give thee some brief Account of the Author's Character and Life, and of the manner of his Death and Burial.
As to his Character, all that knew him, or have seriously perused the Books he hath put forth, must needs suffrage with me, that he was a Man of choice and excellent Parts, both Natural and Acquired; of a sound and solid Judgment, of warm and lively Affections, of a quick and fruitful Invention, and of a ready Expression and Elocution; all which he had mightily improved by many years Study and Labours in the Word and Doctrine.
He was well acquainted with the Mysteries of the Gospel, and in special, with that admirable Mystery of Man's Redemption by Jesus Christ, which he hath so largely and so profitably handled in his excellent Treatise, Entituled, The Fountain of Life opened, &c. And that which crowns all the rest, he was a Man of a serious and gracious Spirit; so that both with respect to his Doctrine and Conversation, we may say of him, as our blessed Saviour said of John the Baptist, He was a burning, and a shining Light. For my part, having read his Books, I had a high esteem of him, before I had any acquaintance with his Person, which was much increased by my Intimacy with him for divers years last past; the more I knew him, the more I loved and valued him, for the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit of God which shone forth in him. Among many others, I observed these three things, which I shall set down, not so much for his Commendation, as for my own and others Imitation.
1. He was in Labours more abundant; he did spend himself, and was spent in the Work of God; as the Talents committed to him, were more and greater than many of his Brethrens, so was his diligence in laying them out in his Masters Service: He expected not to be courted to his Work by earnest importunity; but wheresoever he had any prospect of doing good by his Preaching, I never knew him to make excuses, or to spare his Pains. Besides Dartmouth, the place where his peculiar Charge lay, many other places far and near, have been partakers of his Labours, and received much Comfort and Benefit by them; in all which his Memory is exceeding precious, and his Death as much bewailed.
A Second thing I observed in this Worthy Minister, was a longing desire after the Conversion of Souls. He could say in some measure, as the Apostle Paul did to the Philippians, Phil. 1.8. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And to the Galatians, Chap. 4.19. My little children of whom I travel in birth again, till Christ be formed in you. That he might win Souls to Christ, and build them up in their most holy Faith, was next to the glorifying of God and our Redeemer, the Mark that he had in his Eye; it was for this that he studied, and laboured in the Gospel, and wrestled with God in Prayer; and when he perceived that the Spirit of God had been at work upon the Souls of any of his People, he did greatly rejoyce therein, and do his utmost both by his Counsels, and his Prayers, that the blessed Work might be carried on to Perfection. And indeed God was pleased to crown his Labours with great success this way: Many Souls have been given in as the Seal of his Ministry, who have owned him to be their Spiritual Father in Christ, by whom they have been begotten through the Gospel.
3. He was of a peaceable and healing spirit, becoming an Ambassador of the Prince of Peace. He did what lay in him to live peaceably with all Men, but especially to promote Peace and Love among Professors. If any difference did arise, either between Ministers or private Christians, he would do his utmost to compose them; divers painful Journies hath he taken about this Work. He had a real Love to, and kept a good Correspondence with those in whom he beheld the Image of Christ, tho in some controverted things, their Judgements and Practices differed from his; hoping at last, that he should meet them in the same Heaven, where all their Mistakes should be rectified, and their Differences adjusted and composed.
He was even transported with Joy, when by a Letter from a Reverend Minister in London, he received the good news of the happy Agreement of the Ministers in that City, who in some lesser Points were of different Apprehensions, and went under different Denominations; hoping that it would have a good Influence upon the whole Kingdom, who having so fair a Copy given them, would endeavour to write after it. He did frequently bless the Lord for that Mercy, both in publick and in private, and even melted into Tears of Joy at the mentioning of it, saying, God had herein answered the Prayers that his People had been putting up to him, these many years.
When he saw the Heads of Agreement, which had been assented to, and subscribed by the London Ministers; he told a Friend that was with him, That he could now take up the Words of Old Simeon, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. He zealously endeavoured to promote the same blessed Union and Agreement among the Ministers of this County; which was the last Work that God thought fit to employ him in, before he took him to himself.
He being at the General Meeting of the Ministers of this County at Topsham, was chosen Moderator of that Assembly; which Office he the more readily accepted of, that he might have the better opportunity to carry on that blessed uniting Work, which he brought to so good an issue, that the Ministers there declared their full satisfaction with the aforesaid Heads of Agreement, and their thankfulness to their Brethren in London, who had promoted this great and good Design. After which he concluded the day with Prayer and Praises to the Lord, in which his spirit was carried out with wonderful Enlargement and Affection.
He writ a Letter to an Eminent Minister in London, to give him an Account of these proceedings, the same Morning that he died at Night; tho we could not send it away till the day following. Providence so ordering it, that he should finish that good Work his heart was so much set upon, before he finisht his Course, and received his Crown.
Thus, Gentle Reader, I have given thee some brief Account of this Worthy Minister, in whose Commendation I might write much more, but his own Work's praise him in the Gate, and his Praise is in the Gospel throughout all the Churches. And tho some Detractors that envied his Reputation, may reflect upon him; yet those that heartily desire the Prosperity of the Church of Christ, and of the Souls of Men, do readily confess his worth, and greatly lament his loss.
As for the manner of his Death, it was very sudden and surprizing; he being as well that Day, in the Evening of which he died, as he had been for divers years before. Towards the end of Supper he complain'd of a deadness in his Hand, so that he could not lift it to his Head; at which his Wife and Friends about him, were struck with some astonishment, using what means they could to recover it to its former strength; but instead thereof, to their great Terror and Amazement, he was seized in his Thigh, and all one side of his Body; upon which, with what speed they could, they helped him to his Chamber and Bed, and sent for Physicians; but his Disease prevailed so fast upon him, that in a short time it deprived him of his Speech; while they were helping him up the Stairs, he told them, That he did believe it would be the last time that he should go up these Stairs; but, said he, I know that it will be well with me; which were some of the last words he uttered before he fell asleep. But as sudden as his Death was, having so good assurance of his Eternal welfare, it must needs be both comfortable and happy; and God was pleased so to order it, that he that had taken so much Pains in his Master's Work in his Life-time, should feel little or none at his Death, nor so much as utter one Groan.
'Tis true, sudden Death to careless Sinners, that have trifled away their Lives, and neglected the Salvation of their Souls, cannot but be sad and dismal; but for Godly Ministers or Christians, that have carefully redeem'd and improv'd their time, and abounded in the work of the Lord, to be taken on a sudden from their work, to their Rest and Reward, may be accounted a mercy, rather than an infelicity; several precious Saints, both Ministers and others, have been so suddenly taken hence.
This Reverend Author's Soul being taken up to the World of Spirits, even to the Spirits of just men made perfect; all that could be done for him, was solemnly to attend his Body to the Grave. When that Minister and Martyr Stephen was dead, we read, that Devout men carried him to his Burial, and made great Lamentation over him; so the surviving Friends of this precious deceased Minister of Christ, manifested their high esteem of him, and dear Affection to him this way. His Body being carried from Exon to Dartmouth, divers Ministers, and a great many other Persons of good Quality, accompanied it; and abundance from Dartmouth, Totnes, Newton, Ashburton, Bovey, and several other places rid forth to meet it. But when his Coffin was brought to the Waters side, taken out of the Hearse, and put into the Boat; I never saw so many weeping Eyes, nor heard so much bitter Lamentation in all my life; surely that place might rightly be called Bochim, a place of weeping; the Tears, the Sighs, the Cries, the Groans that were there seen and heard, were enough even to pierce an heart of Flint. His Body was interred the same Night it was brought from Exon, and an excellent Sermon on that sad but solemn Occasion, was preach'd the next day, on 2 Kings 2.12. by a Reverend Minister of that City.
Thus Reader, I have finisht in the close of this Epistle, what I promised thee at the beginning of it; whether thou canst read these things without Tears, or no, I know not; but assure thee, I could not behold them so, neither can I write these Lines without them. The Gifts, the Graces, the Labours of so well an accomplisht Minister of Christ, might have been very serviceable to his Church on Earth, had he thought fit to have continued him longer here; and the Death of such an one, is a loss which God only can repair; but that which is our loss, is his gain, who is triumphing in the Joy of his Lord, while we are grieving for his Removal; and our comfort surther is, That tho the servants, even the best and faithfullest of them dye, yet the Master ever lives, who is infinitely more tender of the concerns of his Church, and careful to provide for it, than we poor Mortals can be: Let us therefore turn our Lamentation into Supplication, to him that is the Lord of the Harvest; that he would send forth more such Labourers into his Harvest, who being the God of all Grace, and the Giver of every good and perfect Gift, can raise up others, and furnish them with such Gifts and Graces of his Spirit, as may make them shine as bright in the Firmament of his Church, as those stars have done, whom he hath taken hence, to shine in a higher Orb. Which is a mercy greatly desired by all sincere Christians, and in particular by him, who is
An unworthy Servant of Jesus Christ, and thy real Friend, JOHN GALPINE. Aug. 3. 1691.