Voices from the Past: Meditations on the Person and Work of Christ
John Flavel (1628–1691) was born into the home of a minister in Worcester, England. His father, Richard, who was imprisoned for his faith, died in the Great Plague of London in 1665. John Flavel was already a minister at the time of his father’s death, having been ordained in 1650. Flavel married four times: his first wife died while giving birth to their first child in 1655; his second and third wives also died prematurely. Flavel was put out of his pulpit in 1662 for nonconformity to the Established Church and was forced to worship in secret with thousands of others in the same plight. Numerous times in the later years of his ministry he was put from his pulpit, but he carried on a fruitful ministry from his home, where many would gather on the Lord’s Day and during the week to hear him preach. He was able also to carry on a prolific writing ministry for which we are very thankful today.
Reading “Yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend.” Song of Solomon 5:16
He is altogether lovely in his offices: let us consider for a moment the suitability, fullness, and comforting nature of them.
First, The suitability of the offices of Christ to the miseries of men. We cannot but adore the infinite wisdom of his receiving them. We are, by nature, blind and ignorant, at best but groping in the dim light of nature after God (Acts 17:27). Jesus Christ is a light to lighten the Gentiles, (Isaiah 49:6). When this great prophet came into the world, then did the day-spring from on high visit us, (Luke 1:78). By nature we are alienated from, and at enmity against God; Christ comes into the world to be an atoning sacrifice, making peace by the blood of his cross, (Col. 1:20). All the world, by nature, is in bondage and captivity to Satan, a miserable slavery. Christ comes with kingly power, to rescue sinners, as a prey from the mouth of the terrible one.
Secondly, Let the fullness of his offices be also considered, which make him able “to save to the uttermost, all that come to God by him,” (Hebrews 7:25). The three offices, comprising in them all that our souls need, become an universal relief to all our distresses.…
Thirdly, Unspeakably comforting must the offices of Christ be to the souls of sinners. If a pardon be sweet to a condemned criminal, how sweet must the sprinkling the blood of Jesus be to the trembling conscience of a law-condemned sinner? If a rescue from a cruel tyrant is sweet to a poor captive, how sweet must it be to the ears of enslaved sinners, to hear the voice of liberty and deliverance proclaimed by Jesus Christ? Out of the several offices of Christ all the promises of the new covenant flow, as so many soul-refreshing streams of peace and joy. All the promises of illumination, counsel and direction flow out of Christ’s prophetic office. All the promises of reconciliation, peace, pardon, and acceptation flow out of his priestly office, with the sweet streams of joy and spiritual comforts that accompany it. All the promises of converting, increasing, defending, directing, and supplying grace, flow out of the kingly office of Christ; indeed, all promises may be reduced to these three offices, so that Jesus Christ must be altogether lovely in his offices.
John Flavel, Christ Altogether Lovely
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