John Flavel - Preparations for Sufferings: The Best Work in the Worst Times

Preparations
for
Sufferings

The Best Work in the Worst Times

John Flavel

Contents

Ch. 1:

Ch. 2:

Ch. 3:

Ch. 4:

Ch. 5:

Ch. 6:

Ch. 7:

Ch. 8:

Ch. 9:

Ch. 10:

Ch. 11:

Ch. 12:

Ch. 13:

Ch. 14:

Ch. 15:

Ch. 16:

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Publishers Introduction

T he word martyrdom often brings to mind individuals being burned at the stake because they wouldnt obey the authorities who ordered them to stop preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. These men and women, whose stories are told in Scripture, Foxes 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 dont 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 Gods 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 theyd show to you? Christ commanded us to love our enemies, but somehow, Im 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 doesnt 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

I t 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. 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 Gods 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 keepers 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. 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.