{Book Review} The Works of John Flavel

The Works of John Flavel is a six-volume set published by the Banner of Truth. It is a great joy for me to provide this review of an outstanding set of Puritan works. May the reader be blessed by this review and encouraged to purchase this set and likewise be richly impacted by the words of John Flavel. 

This post may contain affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, we may receive a small commission if you purchase through our links. Thank you for supporting this ministry!

The Works of John Flavel

The Works of John Flavel is a six-volume set, consisting of 22 books and 116 sermons. Since the complete set is much more extensive than a single book, I am going to do something that I don’t normally do. Let me provide the contents of the six volumes to give you an idea of what this particular set is offering.

Volume 1

Contents:

• The Life of John Flavel
• The Fountain of Life: A Display of Christ in His Essential and Mediatorial Glory

Flavel’s sermons are extremely easy to understand. As the front flap mentions of Flavel:

“He attained to presence in his ability to combine both instruction and appeal to the heart. Some Puritans might be more learned than he, and some more quaint, but for all-around usefulness none was his superior.”

Flavel knew how to appeal to the hearts of his sheep from the holy, inspired Word of God. These sermons are an excellent showcase of that! 

Volume 2

Contents:

• The Method of Grace in the Gospel Redemption
• Pneumatologia: A Treatise of the Soul of Man

Volume two consists of two books: (1) The Method of Grace in the Gospel Redemption, and (2) Pneumatologia: A Treatise of the Soul of Man. This second volume continues to show forth Flavel’s masterful exegetical skills and his wonderful ability to apply God’s Word to the heart of man. A section called “Motives to Draw Sinners to Christ” is a beautiful section that gives the reader a glimpse into the heart of Flavel. 

Volume 3

Contents:

• Pneumatologia: A Treatise of the Soul of Man (continued)
• A Practical Treatise on Fear: Its Varieties, Uses, Causes, Effects and Remedies
• The Righteous Man’s Refuge
• The Occasions, Causes, Nature, Rise, Growth and Remedies of Mental Errors
• Appendices
• Gospel Unity Recommended to the Churches of Christ

Volume three discusses issues such as fear (its varieties, uses, causes, effects, and remedies), the hope that God’s children have in times of judgment and distress upon the world, and the importance of understanding theological error. Flavel writes a beautiful letter to the reader before getting into the section on the causes, nature, rise, growth, and remedies of mental errors. It again provides the reader with a glimpse of Flavel’s own heart to those whom he writes to. 

Volume 4

Contents:

• England’s Duty under the Present Gospel Liberty (1689)
• An Appendix to the Foregoing Treatise
• Mount Pisgah: A Sermon preached at the Public Thanksgiving, February 14, 1688-9, for England’s Delivery from Popery, etc. (Including an Epistle Dedicatory)
• Divine Conduct or the Mystery of Providence: A Treatise upon Psalm 57.2
• A Narrative of some late and wonderful Sea Deliverances
• Antipharmacum Saluberrimum : A Serious and Seasonable Caveat to all the Saints in This Hour of Temptation
• Tidings from Rome or England’s Alarm

Volume four consists of sermons that were delivered in response to the persecution that had been experienced in England due to preaching the Gospel. A part of this volume that I personally adore is the section on “The Mystery of Providence” (also a Puritan Paperback), which is a treatise upon Psalm 57:2. This has been considered by many to be the absolute greatest treatment on the topic of the providence of God!

Volume 5

Contents:

• Husbandry Spiritualized: The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things
• Navigation Spiritualized: A New Compass for Seamen
• A Caution to Seamen: A Dissuasive against Several Horrid and Detestable Sins
• The Seamen’s Companion: Six Sermons on the Mysteries of Providence as relating to Seamen; and the Sins, Dangers, Duties and Troubles of Seamen
• A Saint Indeed, or The Great Work of a Christian Explained and Applied
• The Touchstone of Sincerity, or The Signs of Grace and the Symptoms of Hypocrisy
• A Token for Mourners

Volume five consists of seven books, three of which are specifically applied to seamen. We again see Flavel apply the Word of God like a spiritual physician, showing how the Word directly applies to everyday life. 

Volume 6

Contents:

• Preparation for Suffering, or the Best Work in the Worst Times
• The Balm of the Covenant Applied to the Bleeding Wounds of Afflicted Saints: II Samuel 23.5
• A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of John Upton, of Lupton (Devon): II Chronicles 35.24-5
• An Exposition of the (Westminster) Assembly’s Shorter Catechism
• Vindiciae Legis et Foederis, or A Reply to M, Philip Cary’s Solemn Call in which He Contends Against the Right of Believers’ Infants to Baptism
• Twelve Sacramental Meditations
• A Familiar Conference between a Minister and a Doubting Christian Concerning the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
• A Hymn upon Romans 5. 6-11
• The Reasonableness of Personal Reformation and the Necessity of Conversion
• A Coronation Sermon
• The Character of an Evangelical Pastor drawn by Christ
• A Two-Column Table of the Sins and Duties attaching to Church Membership
• Index of Texts
• Index of Subjects

Lastly, volume six. This volume is perhaps my favorite of the set. This volume provides a wonderful section on suffering in the Christian life. This is also where we find an exposition of the Westminster Shorter Catechism (dare I say that this section is worth the price of the set?). Another section that is marvelous is the book entitled Twelve Sacramental Meditations Upon Select Places of Scripture, To Prepare Believers for the Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. 

Conclusion

There is so much more that could be highlighted in this six-volume set! Flavel is one of the clearest, easiest-to-understand Puritans that I’ve read. He is a physician of the soul who knows how to rightly handle the Word of God.

All six volumes are tremendously devotional in nature, leading to a joyful stirring of the affections as the truth is mediated upon. I cannot recommend this set highly enough!

I have many sets of the works of the Puritans, but this is perhaps my absolute favorite (apart from John Owen who has first place in my heart). Please consider reading John Flavel. If you are nervous about committing to an entire set, start with Banner of Truth’s Puritan Paperbacks that are authored by John Flavel. I believe that you will desire his entire set when you get a taste of his writing. It is so Christ-centered, devotional, and Scripture-saturated that you will be wanting more and more. Consider this excellent set by one of the giants of the faith that have gone before us, John Flavel.

Disclaimer: My thanks to The Banner of Truth Trust for providing me with a complimentary copy of this set on behalf of an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.