THE

FOUNTAIN OF LIFE

OPENED;

OR

A DISPLAY OF CHRIST

IN HIS ESSENTIAL AND MEDIATORIAL GLORY.

BY JOHN FLAVEL.

A. D. 1671.

LONDON:

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY,

Instituted 1799.

SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY, 56, PATERNOSTER-ROW;

AND BY THE BOOKSELLERS.

MDCCCXXXVI.

[This edition has been carefully revised and slightly abridged.]

CONTENTS.

SERMON I.

THE EXCELLENCY OF THE SUBJECT.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus

Christ, and him crucified.-1 Cor. ii. 2.

SERMON II.

CHRIST IN HIS ESSENTIAL AND PRIMEVAL GLORY.

Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily

his delight, rejoicing always before him.-Prov. viii. 30.

SERMON III.

PAGE

1

THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE

REDEEMER.

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall

divide the spoil with the strong, because he hath poured out

his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgres-

sors, and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for

the transgressors.-Isa. liii. 12.

SERMON IV.

THE ADMIRABLE LOVE OF GOD IN GIVING HIS OWN SON FOR US.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.

-John iii. 16.

11

18

25

SERMON V.

OF CHRIST'S WONDERFUL PERSON.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.-John i. 14. 33

SERMON VI.

OF THE AUTHORITY BY WHICH CHRIST, AS MEDIATOR, ACTED.

For him hath God the Father sealed.-John vi. 27.

.

42

SERMON VII.

OF THE SOLEMN CONSECRATION OF THE MEDIATOR.

And for their sakes I sanctify myself.-John xvii. 19.

SERMON VIII.

OF THE NATURE OF CHRIST'S MEDIATION.

And one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

-1 Tim. ii. 5.

PAGE

SERMON IX.

THE FIRST BRANCH OF CHRIST'S PROPHETICAL OFFICE, CONSISTING

IN THE REVELATION OF THE WILL OF GOD.

A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your

brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things what-

soever he shall say unto you.-Acts iii. 22.

SERMON X.

. 71

THE SECOND BRANCH OF CHRIST'S PROPHETICAL OFFICE, CONSISTING

IN THE ILLUMINATION OF THE UNDERSTANDING.

Then opened he their understandings, that they might understand

the scriptures.-Luke xxiv. 45.

83

SERMON XI.

THE NATURE AND NECESSITY OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST.

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the

heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things

themselves with better sacrifices than these.-Heb. ix. 23.

SERMON XII.

94

OF THE EXCELLENCY OF OUR HIGH PRIEST'S OBLATION, BEING THE

FIRST ACT OR PART OF HIS PRIESTLY OFFICE.

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are

sanctified.-Heb. x. 14.

SERMON XIII.

104

OF THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST OUR HIGH PRIEST, BEING THE

SECOND ACT OR PART OF HIS PRIESTLY OFFICE.

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come

unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for

them.-Heb. vii. 25.

113

SERMON XIV.

A VINDICATION OF THE SATISFACTION OF CHRIST, AS THE FIRST

·

EFFECT OR FRUIT OF HIS PRIESTHOOD.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a

curse for us.— -Gal. iii. 13.

122

SERMON XV.

OF THE BLESSED INHERITANCE PURCHASED BY THE OBLATION OF

CHRIST, BEING THE SECOND EFFECT OR FRUIT OF HIS PRIEST-

HOOD.

But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son

made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that

were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of

sons. Gal. iv. 4, 5.

. 131

SERMON XVI.

PAGE

OF THE KINGLY OFFICE OF CHRIST, AS IT IS EXECUTED SPIRITUALLY

UPON THE SOULS OF THE REDEEMED.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth

itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into cap-

tivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.-2 Cor. x. 5. 138

SERMON XVII.

OF THE KINGLY OFFICE OF CHRIST, AS IT IS PROVIDENTIALLY

EXECUTED IN THE WORLD, FOR THE REDEEMED.

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the

head over all things to the church.-Eph. i. 22.

SERMON XVIII.

150

OF THE NECESSITY OF CHRIST'S HUMILIATION, IN ORDER ΤΟ THE

EXECUTION OF ALL THESE HIS BLESSED OFFICES FOR US; AND

PARTICULARLY OF HIS HUMILIATION BY INCARNATION.

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and

became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.-]

ii. 8.

-Phil.

161

SERMON XIX.

OF CHRIST'S HUMILIATION IN HIS LIFE.

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and be-
came obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.- -Phil.
ii. 8.

SERMON XX.

171

OF CHRIST'S HUMILIATION UNTO DEATH, IN HIS FIRST PREPARATIVE

ACT FOR IT.

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world,

and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own

name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one,

-John xvii. 11.

as we are.-

181

SERMON XXI.

THE SECOND PREPARATIVE ACT OF CHRIST FOR HIS OWN DEATH.

The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took

bread and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said,

Take, eat this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in

remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the

cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testa-

ment in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remem-

brance of me.-1 Cor. xi. 23–25.

SERMON XXII.

192

THE THIRD PREPARATIVE ACT OF CHRIST FOR HIS OWN DEATH.

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and

kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing,

remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine,