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On Keeping the Heart

John Flavel

John Flavel (c. 1630-1691) was a Nonconformist preacher and theologian in England. He was born in Worcestershire and was given a religious education by his father before studying at Oxford. In 1650 he became curate (a kind of assistant pastor), and later rector (head of the parish), of Deptford. In 1656 he was called to the larger parish of Dartmouth, where he served before being deprived of his position by the Uniformity Act of 1662 (for "nonconformity" to the established Church of England). The Oxford "Five Mile Act" in 1665 drove him out of Dartmouth altogether (to Slapton, 5 miles away), though he continued to preach and to care for many in his parish. He returned to Dartmouth in 1671, but was not able to serve in complete safety until the penal laws were repealed by James II in 1687. Throughout his life Flavel preached, ministered and wrote voluminously, striving both for evangelical ideals and church unity.

An exposition of Proverbs 4:23.

This short work is a sermon of Flavel's, expounding Proverbs 4:23 ("Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life"). The heart of the sermon is threefold: (1) what the 'keeping of the heart' entails; (2) why it is of such great importance to the Christian's life; and (3) a description of twelve 'seasons' in a Christian's life; followed by an application of the subject. It is written very much in Flavel's methodical, yet engaging style.

Sermons

Proverbs 4:23