In John Flavel's Method of Grace he says this, "How humble and lowly in spirit should you be under your great advancement. It is true, God that magnified you greatly by this union; but yet do not boast. You bear not the root, but the root you. You shine, but with a borrowed light".

Flavel points to the foundation of this website. One, that because of our union with Christ we have all the light, that such men as Edwards, Spurgeon, McCheyne, Paul, Peter, etc. have. Their light is also borrowed. Two, it serves to humble us. Any light which we might bring forth does not come from us. We are never the source of light. Therefore, we must always make certain that Jesus Christ is the only boast. Thus leading to my mandate:

"So live and so study and so serve and so preach and so write that Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen God, be the only boast of this generation". Quoted from Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper.

In the first chapter, Flavel concerns himself with piling evidence upon us in the hopes that all will surrender to the truth that the lives of saints are directed by the provedential care of God. He does this by asking eight questions (of which I will paraphrase):

1. Why is it that so often the natural course of things is changed to make way for the mercies and deliverances of the people of God?
2. Why does it seem that the affairs of the saints are so ordered as to put them in a place of benefit?
3. Why is it that powerful forces cannot destroy the church, yet it is held up by such weak things?
4. How do you explain such radical conversions?
5. Why is good to God's people rewarded and evil, likewise, retributed?
6. If all of this is accidental, how do you account for there explanation in Scripture?
7. Why does it seem that quite frequently things come through "just in the nick of time"?
8. How would you explain things happening in answer to prayers? Can you really say that it is just coincidental given all of the evidence to the contrary?

Discussion:

At first I was a little disappointed in this chapter. Then, I began reflecting upon the mounting evidence that Flavel is giving us and it stunned me. It is seldom that I view every action in view of providence. But if Flavel is correct, and I believe he is, then we should see every moment as a divine appointment. Certainly, some will be "less significant" than others, but appointments, nonetheless.

If Flavel is correct in saying, "how succesful have weak and contemptible means been made for the good of the Church!", why do we often esteem the best of men at the expense of those that are "weak and contemptible"? Is it possible that the church should be less triumphalistic?

At the end of the chapter Flavel comments that he will not labor any longer to give us stories of providence because, "most Christians have a stock of experience of their own". What are some of your stories? When have you seen God's providence? Do you remember a time when God came through in the "nick of time"?

Stories Flavel Uses:

On page 40 of The Mystery of Providence, John Flavel makes mention of a Mr. Dod. The story is told that he was agitated and moved to visit a neighbor. Upon his arrival he learned the man was about to hang himself. Here is the account:

From
The Christian's penny magazine, and friend of the people [ed. by J. Campbell ... By Congregational union of England and Wales

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On page 31 of The Mystery of Providence, Flavel makes reference to "images [being] pulled down in Holland". What is this a reference to? In 1566 a group of Reformers were moved by zeal to pull down every image of a saint they met on the road. You can read the account here:


History of Holland, from the Beginning of the Tenth to the End of the ... By Charles Maurice Davies

On page 30 of Flavel's Mystery of Providence we encounter the names of Polycarp and Dionysius the Areopagite. We are told that the fire would not touch them. A longer account is given of Polycarp's martyrdom by John Foxe in his classic Foxes Book of Martyrs. That account can be read here. A much more concise account is given by William Howitt:


From The History of the Supernatural in All Ages and Nations: And in All Churches ... By William Howitt

If you are reading the Mystery of Providence you perhaps came across an unfamiliar name. On page 34 Flavel says, "A spider, by weaving her web over the mouth of an oven, shall hide a servant of Christ, Du Moulin, from his enemies, who took refuge there in that bloody Parisian massacre". John Young gives a more detailed description of the account:

C.J. Mahaney has a wonderful article on preaching in view of the Cross. Here is one helpful quote within the article: "We must never assume the gospel. We must always assume that those we serve need to hear the gospel yet again. Any sermon we preach is incomplete and insufficient until we explicitly reference Christ and him crucified."

Dr. Mohler lists the Top 10 books every preacher needs to read in 2008. (Looks like I need to update my list again).

Frank Turk has entered the discussion on total abstinence from alcohol. See his thoughtful comments here.

Greg Gilbert gives a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that all churches fast from all forms of instrumental music. He has some wonderful thoughts in this article. Here is an excerpt: "I am really afraid that we’ve managed to create a generation of anemic Christians who are spiritually dependent on excellent music. Their sense of spiritual well-being is based on feeling “close to God,” their feeling close to God is based on their “ability to worship,” and being able to worship depends on big crowds singing great music.

Brian, at Voice of the Sheep, has interesting question; "Are Any Called Who Do Not Come?"

Purgatorio has posted a very thought provoking picture. It is of Jesus washing Bin Laden's feet. It asks, Is this a biblical picture.

MacArthur's What Doctrines Are Essential series concludes with part 2 and 3.