"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

Acts 17:11

Read Christian, Puritan, Reformed and Protestant exhortational works, Catholic and Protestant polemical & apologetical works, histories, and martyrologies, online:   Hail & Fire Library

MP3 AUDIOBOOKS:

Download or listen online to mp3 audiobooks of Puritan and Reformed works and more in the Hail & Fire Audio Library.

SERMONS APPOINTED TO BE READ IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH I QUOTE: "How necessary it is, that the Word of God, which is the only food of the soul, and that most excellent light that we must walk by, in this our most dangerous pilgrimage, should at all convenient times be preached unto the people" 1562 Preface

JOHN NEWTON QUOTES ON SOFTENING AND WATERING DOWN THE GOSPEL: "The Bible is the grand repository ... It is the complete system of divine truth, to which nothing can be added, and from which nothing can be taken, with impunity. Every attempt to disguise or soften any branch of this truth, in order to accommodate it to the prevailing taste around us, either to avoid the displeasure, or to court the favour, of our fellow mortals, must be an affront to the majesty of God, and an act of treachery to men." READ MORE QUOTES >>

St. John Chrysostom: ON SCRIPTURE "But some one will say, 'it is to the priests that these charges are given' ... But that the apostle gives the same charge to the laity, hear what he says in another epistle to other than the priesthood: 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.'" CLICK TO READ >>

WILLIAM TYNDALE: AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE "God careth for his elect; and therefore hath provided them of scripture, to try all things, and to defend them from all false prophets." CLICK TO READ >>

"To pretend to preach the truth without offending carnal men, is to pretend to be able to do what Jesus Christ could not do."

Thomas Wilson

John Flavel Quotes

JOHN FLAVEL (1627-1691), English Puritan Preacher and Minister of the Gospel.

Unbelief Causes Distrust of God's Providence in Times of Distress:

“Unbelief queries the will of God, and questions whether He will now be gracious, though He has been so formerly. If troubles or dangers grow to a height and we see nothing but ruin and misery in the eye of reason before us, now unbelief becomes importunate and troublesome to the soul. Now where are your prayers, your hopes, yea, where is now your God?” "Unbelief maintains the impossibility of relief in deep distresses. 'Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? ... Can he give bread also? Can he provide flesh for his people?' Psalm 78:19-20. Oh vile and unworthy thoughts of God which proceed from our measuring the immense and boundless power of God by our own line and measure ... because we do not see which way relief should come." - John Flavel

"Mystery of Providence" by John Flavel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hypocricy: Appearance vs. Predominance:

"Every appearance of hypocrisy, does not prove the person who manifests it to be a hypocrite. You should carefully distinguish between the appearance and the predominance of hypocricy. There are remains of deceitfulness in the best hearts; this was examplified in David and Peter; but the prevailing frame of their hearts being upright, they were not denominated hypocrites for their conduct." - John Flavel

read online: Exhortation on "Times of Doubting, Spiritual Darkness and Self-Condemnation" an excerpt from the book "Keeping the Heart" by John Flavel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Distress:

"Whatever be the ground of one's distress, it should drive him to, not from God." - John Flavel

read online: Exhortation on "Times of Doubting, Spiritual Darkness and Self-Condemnation" an excerpt from the book "Keeping the Heart" by John Flavel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lack of and Neglect of Inward Religion Causing Emptiness and Unprofitableness in Christian Fellowship and Just Separation by the Sincere:

"If the people of God would diligently keep their hearts, their communion with each other would be unspeakably more inviting and profitable. ... It is the fellowship which the people of God have with the Father and with the Son, that kindles the desires of others to have communion with them. I tell you, that if saints would be persuaded to spend more time and take more pains about their hearts, there would soon be such a divine excellence in their conversation, that others would account it no small privilege to be with or near them. It is the pride, passion and earthliness of our hearts, that has spoiled Christian fellowship. ... Whence come their uncharitable censures of their brethren, but from their ignorance of themselves? Why are they so rigid and unfeeling towards those who have fallen; but because they do not feel their own weakness and liability to temptation? (Galatians 6:1).Why is their discourse so light and unprofitable when they meet; but because their hearts are earthly and vain? My brethren, these and similar things are what have spoiled Christian fellowship, and made it so dry and disgusting, that even many Christians are weary of it; and therefore they seek in retirement, that happiness, which the society of saints was designed to afford." - John Flavel

read online: "Keeping the Heart" by John Flavel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Self-Condemnation:

"We ought to regard what can be said in our favour, as well as what may be said against us. It is the sin of upright persons sometimes, to exercise an unreasonable severity against themselves." - John Flavel

read online: Exhortation on "Times of Doubting, Spiritual Darkness and Self-Condemnation" an excerpt from the book "Keeping the Heart" by John Flavel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Self-Condemnation:

"Why read over the evidences of God's love to your soul, as a man does a book which he intends to confute? Why do you study evasions, and turn off those comforts which are due to you?" - John Flavel

read online: Exhortation on "Times of Doubting, Spiritual Darkness and Self-Condemnation" an excerpt from the book "Keeping the Heart" by John Flavel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Unreliablity of Feelings:

"Are sense and feelings suitable to judge of the dispensations and designs of God by? Can their testimony be safely relied on? Is it safe to argue thus: 'If God had any love for my soul, I should feel it now, as well as in former times; but I cannot feel it, therefore it is gone? May you not as well conclude, when the sun is invisible to you, that he has ceased to exist?" - John Flavel

read online: Exhortation on "Times of Doubting, Spiritual Darkness and Self-Condemnation" an excerpt from the book "Keeping the Heart" by John Flavel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Judging One's Faith:

"As rooted malice indicates a stronger hatred, than a sudden though more violent passion; so we must judge, of our love, not by a violent motion of it, now and then, but by the depth of its root, and the constancy of its exercise." - John Flavel

read online: Exhortation on "Times of Doubting, Spiritual Darkness and Self-Condemnation" an excerpt from the book "Keeping the Heart" by John Flavel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Trembling Saints & Presumptious Sinners:

"It is lamentable, that when we give saints and sinners their proper portions, each is so prone to take up the other's part." - John Flavel

read online: Exhortation on "Times of Doubting, Spiritual Darkness and Self-Condemnation" an excerpt from the book "Keeping the Heart" by John Flavel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

True Christianity is inward as well as outward:

"Heart-work is hard work indeed. To shuffle over religious duties with a loose and heedless spirit will cost no great pains; but to set yourself before the Lord and tie up your loose and vain thoughts to a constant and serious attendance upon him; this will cost you something. To attain a facility and dexterity of language in prayer and put your meaning into apt and decent expressions is easy; but to get your heart broken for sin, while you are confessing it; melted with free grace, while you are blessing God for it; to be really ashamed and humbled through the apprehensions of God's infinite holiness and to keep your heart in this frame, not only in but after duty, will surely cost you some groans and pains of soul. To repress the outward acts of sin and compose the external part of your life in a laudable manner is no great matter; even carnal persons by the force of common principles can do this: but to kill the root of corruption within, to set and keep up an holy government over your thoughts, to have all things lie straight and orderly in the heart, this is not easy." - John Flavel

read online: "Keeping the Heart" by John Flavel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Blessedness of Trials, Afflictions & Chastisements:

"Is it indeed for the saints' advantage, to be weaned from love of and delight in ensnaring earthly vanities; to be quickened and urged forward with more haste to heaven; to have clearer discoveries of their own hearts; to be taught to pray more fervently, frequently, spiritually; to look and long for the rest to come, more ardently? If these be for their advantage, experience teaches us that no condition is ordinarily blessed with such fruits as these, like an afflicted condition. Is it well then to repine and droop because your Father consults the advantage of your soul rather than the gratification of your humors? Because he will bring you to heaven by a nearer way than you are willing to go? Is this a due requital of his love, who is pleased so much to concern himself in your welfare? Who does more for you than he will do for thousands in the world upon whom he will not lay a rod or dispense an affliction to them for their good? (Hosea 4:17). But alas! We judge by sense and reckon things good or evil according to our present taste. Take heed that you overlook not the many precious mercies which the people of God enjoy amidst all their trouble. It is a pity that our tears on account of our troubles, should so blind our eyes, that we should not see our mercies. I will not insist upon the mercy of having your life given you “for a prey,” (Jeremiah 39:18); nor upon the many outward comforts which you enjoy, even above what were enjoyed by Christ and his precious servants, of whom the world was not worthy. But what say you to pardon of sin; interest in Christ; the covenant of promise; and an eternity of happiness in the presence of God, after a few days are over?" - John Flavel

read online: "Keeping the Heart" by John Flavel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

On Children: "if you neglect to instruct them ... will the devil":

“For you that are parents, or to whom the education of children is comitted, I beseech you mind the duty which lies on you. ... For to what purpose do we desire them before we have them, rejoice in them when we have them, value them so highly, sympathize with them so tenderly, grieve for their death so excessively, if in the meantime no care be taken what shall become of them to eternity? ... If you neglect to instruct them in the way of holiness, will the devil neglect to instruct them in the way of wickedness? No, no, if you will not teach them to pray, he will teach them to curse, swear and lie. If ground be uncultivated, weeds will spring up.” - John Flavel

"Mystery of Providence" by John Flavel

"Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old." Matthew 13:52 KJV
Copyright © HAIL and FIRE
www.hailandfire.com