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Jun 14, 2023

John Flavel

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A man entered a bookstore in 1673 looking for play books (think Romeo and Juliet). The owner, Mr. Boulder, suggested the man read John Flavel’s book, Keeping the Heart. The man glanced at the title, thumbed through the pages, and handed the book back to Mr. Boulder. He remarked that he would rather burn the suggested book than read it. Mr. Boulder pressed him further saying that if he didn’t like the book, he will gladly refund him his money. The man bought the book and returned to the store a month later. “Sir, I thank you for putting this book into my hands. It has saved my soul; blessed be God that I ever came into your shop.” The man proceeded to buy a hundred more copies to give to friends.

The book’s author, John Flavel (ca. 1630-1691) was a Puritan preacher and noted author. Keeping the Heart takes its title from Proverbs 4.23: “Keep the heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life.” John wrote in the forward, “The greatest difficulty in conversion is to win the heart to God, and the greatest difficulty after conversion is to keep the heart with God.” His book teaches in practical terms how to develop the habit of daily communion with God. He wrote, “All I beg for is that you will step aside a little more often to talk with God and your own heart.”

Today’s prayer accompanies John Flavel’s sermon, “The Solemn Consecration of the Mediator,” published in 1671 in the compilation The Fountain of Life:

Lord, the condemnation was yours,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                that the justification might be mine.
The agony was yours,
that the victory might be mine.
The pain was yours,
and the ease mine.
The stripes were yours,
and the healing balm issuing from them mine.
The vinegar and gall were yours,
that the honey and sweet might be mine.
The curse was yours,
that the blessing might be mine.
The crown of thorns was yours,
that the crown of glory might be mine.
The death was yours,
that the life purchased by it mine.
You paid the price,
that I might enjoy the inheritance.

Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.