Quotes from John Flavel

Affliction is a pill, which, being wrapt up in patience and quiet submission, may be easily swallowed; but discontent chews the pill, and so embitters the soul.

The carnal person fears man, not God. The strong Christian fears God, not man. The weak Christian fears man too much, and God too little.

As God did not at first choose you because you were high, He will not now forsake you because you are low.

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

They that know God will be humble. They that know themselves cannot be proud.

The Providence of God is like Hebrew words-it can be read only backwards.

When God gives you comforts, it is your great evil not to observe His hand in them.

O my soul, I am now addressing myself to the greatest work that ever a creature was employed about - I am going into the solemn presence of God about business of everlasting importance!

Providence is like a curious piece of tapestry made of a thousand shreds, which, single, appear useless, but put together, they represent a beautiful history to the eye.

No doctrine is more excellent, or necessary to be preached and studied, than Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Christ comes with kingly power, to rescue sinners, as a prey from the mouth of the terrible one.

What a mercy was it to us to have parents that prayed for us before they had us, as well as in our infancy when we could not pray for ourselves!

Providence so orders the case, that faith and prayer come between our wants and supplies, and the goodness of God may be the more magnified in our eyes thereby.

That which begins not with prayer, seldom winds up with comfort.

No repentance, obedience, self-denial, prayers, tears, reformation or ordinances, without the new creation, avail any thing to the salvation of thy soul.

The Scriptures teach us the best way of living, the noblest way of suffering, and the most comfortable way of dying.

To keep the heart then, is carefully to preserve it from sin which disorders it; and maintain that spiritual and gracious frame, which fits it for a life of communion with God.

Observed duties maintain our credit; but secret duties maintain our life.

The more afflictions you have been under, the more assistance you have had for this life of holiness.

Brethren, it is easier to declaim against a thousand sins of others, than to mortify one sin in ourselves.

If time be a ring of gold, opportunity is the rich diamond that gives it both its value and glory.

Christ is so in love with holiness, that at the price of His blood He will buy it for us.

God's unspotted faithfulness never failed any soul that durst trust himself in its arms.

The Lord's supper is memorative, and so it has the nature and use of a pledge or token of love, left by a dying to a dear surviving friend.