On Tuesday afternoon Jeremy Walker gave us a very helpful introduction to the Puritan John Flavel. He took us through the life and works of Flavel and then focused on the sermon The character of a complete evangelical pastor based on Matthew 24:45-47. Despite audio problems Jeremy was able to helpfully enthuse us about Flavel (perhaps Jonathan Edwards favourite writer) in a very helpful way.
Flavel closes his sermon with these words
You have heard what a variety of duty lies upon us, and what difficulty in every part thereof; yet all our labours would be light, and our pains pleasant, might we see more fruits, and success of them amongst you.
Your barrenness and un persuadableness, your divisions and instability cost us more, than all our other pains in our studies and pulpits. How easily and sweetly would the plough go, would you but set both your hands of prayer and obedience to assist us in that work.
You have now as blessed an opportunity as your souls can desire, yea, that very season of mercy some of you have a long time anxiously desired. You have confessed to God, that you once sinned us out of our pulpits; God forbid you should next sin us into our graves.
If you be wanton children at a full table, our enemies are not so far off, but God can quickly call them in to cure your wantonness, by taking away the cloth.
The stewards of Christ provide choice dishes for you, even feasts of fat things full of marrow; and serve it into your souls upon the knee of prayer in due season: have a care of despising it, if at any time the dishes be not garnished as you expect, with curious figures, and flowers of rhetoric.
The Lord give you hungry appetites, sound digestions, and thriving souls; then shall ye be our crown of rejoicing, and we yours in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ: To the word of whose grace I commend you all, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified.
In the evening Terry Johnson spoke again on the church, this time on what the church looks like. This was quite an emotional address that for me rambled a little but his main point I believe was how we react to the troubles and thr triumphs of the people of God. He quoted Lloyd-Jones, including the line "Have you got a zeal for the glory of God? Does it grieve you to see his Church as she is? If not, why not? If this is a burden that can come to anybody, why has it not come to you?"
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