Preparations for Sufferings: The Best Work in the Worst Times

By John Flavel

We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance. – Romans 5:3

It is as much our interest as it is our duty to be awakened out of our pleasant but most pernicious drowsiness. Troubles will be so much more sinking and intolerable if they take us by surprise. Just as expectation spoils earthly comforts by sucking out much of its sweetness beforehand so that we find less in it when we come to the actual enjoyment, so the expectation of suffering eases much of the dread and terror by accustoming our thoughts beforehand and making preparation for them. If prepared, we do not find suffering so grievous, overwhelming, and intolerable when it does come.

It is not the design of this book to frighten anyone with imaginary dangers, much less to sow jealousies or stir up discontentment for the times. But, it is lamentable that the tokens of God’s anger produce in most of us no fruit other than bold censures and loud clamors rather than humiliation for our own sins and the due preparation to take up our own cross and follow Christ in His suffering. The only goal of this book is to provide a better understand of the purpose and function of suffering for the sake of Christ. Should we not be of those who sincerely resolve and prepare to be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12) and take them for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience (James 5:10)?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aneko Press
• Release date: Sep 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781622457939

John Flavel

John Flavel (c.1628-1691) was born into an England wracked by political, social, and religious upheaval. Two civil wars and unstable leadership framed the political landscape. Economic hardships and a resurgence of plague further distressed the nation. The church, too, was in turmoil. Flavel, a pastor of one of the many independent churches persecuted by the government, was forced from his church in Dartmouth. In secret and under stress, he continued preaching, writing, and shepherding his flock. He suffered the death of three of his four wives and at least one child. He continued preaching until his sudden death in 1691.

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Preparations

for

Sufferings

The Best Work in the Worst Times

John Flavel

Contents

Publisher’s Introduction

To the Reader

Ch. 1: I Am Ready

Ch. 2: God’s Glory and Our Happiness

Ch. 3: You Have Been Warned

Ch. 4: A Prepared Heart

Ch. 5: Grace

Ch. 6: The Change is Real

Ch. 7: Evidence

Ch. 8: Build Up Your Faith

Ch. 9: Christian Courage

Ch. 10: A Subdued Heart

Ch. 11: Thwarting Temptation

Ch. 12: Prayer

Ch. 13: Depend on the Spirit

Ch. 14: Many Are Not Ready

Ch. 15: Prepare Now

Ch. 16: Assurance and Comfort

John Flavel – A Brief Biography

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Publisher’s Introduction

The word martyrdom often brings to mind individuals being burned at the stake because they wouldn’t obey the authorities who ordered them to stop preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. These men and women, whose stories are told in Scripture, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs , and similar books, were brave, heroic, and true to Jesus until the very end, often singing or encouraging their loved ones to stay strong in the faith even while they were being burned to death.

As we read their stories, it stirs something in us – often a desire to be similarly strong, firm, and valiant for Christ. But is all martyrdom as radical as that suffered by these heroic men and women of yesterday? It has occurred to me that we think these valiant men and women of history who rejoiced to suffer and die for the name of Christ, and whom we remember especially because they praised God even while in terrible physical pain, must have possessed some wonderful, secret knowledge about how to live that most of us don’t understand.

I think that secret was simply deep, sincere faith and trust. Faith that God totally knew what He was doing, and trust that if He delighted to have them suffer anything, big or little, that it was according to His perfect will.

What about you? Do you believe that everything that happens in your life is according to God’s perfect will, even the suffering parts? Do you believe that God has ordained your life, from beginning to end, to bring Him glory? What if the situation in your own home requires you to suffer in some way – can you still praise God for this opportunity to suffer, or do you run and hide? What if your spouse or children are not always kind to you? Can you consider that an opportunity to rejoice, or do you bail out somehow? What if a brother or sister from church speaks ill of you? Can you rejoice and truly love that person, giving them good gifts and treating them with the kindness you wish they’d show to you? Christ commanded us to love our enemies, but somehow, I’m afraid we Christians today think of enemies only as the very worst of thieves and murders but forget that this principle of thankfulness, love, and forgiveness applies to much smaller doses of suffering as well.

For some reason, if someone is only mildly unkind to us, we tend to react terribly. While these close-to-home situations are certainly not death for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ, we still ought to see these as opportunities rather than difficulties. God wants you to love your enemies at all times, cheerfully accepting suffering of all kinds, even in the little things. It is for this reason that we think this book is especially important today. It is time to awaken in the church a thankfulness to God for all things, including suffering at the hands of fellow believers, family, coworkers, and acquaintances. That doesn’t mean we should invite difficulties and challenges, but rather, when we have an opportunity to suffer, we will find that being prepared for suffering, and even rejoicing for it, will produce the same joy, peace, and thankfulness that our heroes of the faith also had.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:43-48).

Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? (1 Corinthians 6:7)

To the Reader

It was the observation of the learned Gerson (when the world was not so old by as many years as it is now) that the aged world, like aged people, dotes and grows whimsical in its old age. ¹ Nothing confirms the truth of this observation more than the fond and groundless dreams and illusions of tranquility and continuing prosperity by which the multitudes please themselves even while the sins of the times are so great and the signs of the times are so sad and somber.

It is not the design of this book to frighten anyone with imaginary dangers, much less to sow jealousies or stir up the discontentment of the times, but it is a just matter of lamentation that all the tokens of God’s anger produce with many of us no better fruit than bold censures and loud clamors instead of humiliation for our own sins and the due preparation to take up our own cross and follow Christ in His suffering, which is the only goal of this book.

We read the histories of the early church sufferers but not with a spirit prepared to follow them. Some censure them as too liberal with their blood, and others commend their courage and constancy, but where are those who sincerely resolve and prepare to be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12) or take them for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience (James 5:10)?

It is as much our interest as it is our duty to be timely awakened out of our pleasant but most pernicious drowsiness. Troubles will be so much more sinking and intolerable if they take us by surprise. Just as expectation spoils any earthly comfort by sucking out much of its sweetness beforehand so that we find less in it when we come to the actual enjoyment, so the expectation of evils eases much of the dread and terror by accustoming our thoughts to them beforehand and making preparation for them. Then we do not find them so grievous, overwhelming, and intolerable when they do come.

This was vibrantly demonstrated to us by holy Mr. Bradford, the martyr, when the keeper’s wife came running into his chamber, saying, O Mr. Bradford, I bring you heavy tidings, for tomorrow you must be burned. Your chain is now bought, and presently you must go to Newgate.² He took off his hat and looking up to heaven, said, O Lord, I thank Thee for it. I have looked for this a long time. It comes not suddenly to me; the Lord make me worthy of it. You can see in this example the singular advantage of a prepared and ready soul.

Reader, the cup of sufferings is a very bitter cup, and it is necessary that we sweeten it somewhat so that we may be able to receive it with thanksgiving. You will have some direction and help with what those sweetening ingredients are and how to prepare them in the following discourse. This has already once been presented to the public view, and it is my hearty desire that it may at this time, when it is most appropriate and seasonable, be even more useful and helpful to the people of God in their present duties.

Yours and the church’s servant in Christ,

John Flavel

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1 Jean Gerson (1363-1429) was a French poet, scholar, and theologian.

2 John Bradford (1510-1555) was an English reformer martyred under the reign of Queen Mary I.

Chapter 1

I Am Ready

Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 21:13)

Divine providence is not more notably revealed in governing the motions of the clouds than it is in disposing and ordering the spirits and motions of the ministers of the gospel, who, in a mystical sense, are fruitful clouds to dispense the showers of gospel blessings to the world. The motion of the clouds is not spontaneous, but they move as they are moved by the winds; neither can gospel ministers choose their own stations and govern their own motions but must go when and where the Spirit and providence of God directs and guides them. This is evident in that dangerous voyage to Jerusalem in which the apostle was at this time engaged. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem (Acts 20:22). He is alluding to the watery vapors that are bound up in clouds and conveyed according to the motions of the wind. This journey was full of danger; Paul foresaw that his business was not only to plant the gospel in Jerusalem with his doctrine but also to water it with his blood. So effectually was his will determined by the will of God that he cheerfully complied with his duty in the will of God no matter what difficulties and dangers accompanied it.

It was to Paul’s great advantage that the will of God was so plainly and convincingly revealed to him touching this matter, for no sooner did he employ himself to obey this call of God than he was assaulted by many strong temptations to decline it.

The first obstacle he met in his way was from the disciples of Tyre, who, pretending to speak by the Spirit, told Paul that he should not go up to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4). By this, the Lord greatly tried the spirit of his apostle as he did the young prophet coming from Judea to Bethel (1 Kings 13:18) but not with the same success.

Paul’s next discouragement was at Caesarea where Agabus (whom the bishop Dorotheus affirms to be of the seventy-two disciples and had before correctly prophesied of the famine in the reign of Claudius) took Paul’s girdle, bound his own hands and feet with it, and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles (Acts 21:11). Surely Paul was not ignorant about what to expect whenever he should fall into their hands, yet neither could this frighten him from his duty.

But then, last of all, he met with the most severe trial from his dearest friends who fell on him with passionate pleas and many tears, begging him to not take that journey. They could not give up such a minister as Paul! This melted him down and almost broke his heart, which was still easier to do than to turn him out of the path of obedience. Here, by the way, we may note two things. First, divine precept, not providence, is to decide our way of duty, and second, no kind of hindrances or discouragements will justify our neglect of a known duty.

Paul moved past all these difficulties and overcame all these discouragements with this heroic and truly Christian resolution in the text: What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 21:13).

In these words, we have both a loving and gentle rebuke and a quieting and calming argument. First, he lovingly and gently rebukes their fond and inordinate sorrow for his departure in these words: What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? It is as if he is asking what all these passionate pleas and tempting tears mean. What is their purpose? They are but snares of Satan to turn my heart from the way of obedience. You are doing your best to break my heart. Let there be no more of this, I beg you.

Second, Paul labors to charm their unruly passions with a very quieting and calming argument:

Reviews for Preparations for Sufferings

[GraceAnneCarpiso · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A must read to every Christian. Beautifully written and edifying to me. Recommending this to my brethren.