Non-Conformist John Flavel's Last Sermon; ________________________________________________The life of Reverend John Flavel is representative of the best of England's seventeenth century non-conformists. Realizing that his university education had done little to prepare him for a pastorate, he studied hard on his own. To avoid any bias owing to unpaid tithes, he commissioned an honest and kindly man to handle them for him. Driven from his pulpit in Dartmouth by laws against non-conformist preachers (those who disagreed with the Church of England), he taught in homes and in the woods, much as John Bunyan did. Given a choice between prosperity in London and poverty in Dartmouth, he chose poverty. He was known for his passion at prayer. For instance, learning that a sea battle was inprogress, and knowing that many Dartmouth boys were in the navy, he led his people in prayer and fasting. Not one of Dartmouth's many sailors died. John's books also impressed on readers the need for full commitment to Christ. The godly man preached his last sermon on this day, June 21, 1691, taking as his text 1 Corinthians 10: 12. "Wherefore let him that stands take heed lest he fall," urging those who were careless about their Christian profession to show a deeper concern for their souls. He died unexpectedly of a stroke a few days later. http://www.chinstitute.org
