The Fountain of Life: A Display of Christ in His Essential and Mediatorial Glory (Flavel)

There is no doctrine more excellent in itself or more necessary to be preached and studied than the doctrine of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. All other knowledge, how much so ever it be magnified in the world, is to be esteemed but dross in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The knowledge of Jesus Christ is the very marrow and kernel of all the Scriptures, and the scope and center of all divine revelations. The right knowledge of Jesus Christ, like a clue, leads you through the whole labyrinth of the Scriptures.

The study of Jesus Christ is the most noble subject that ever a soul spent itself upon. Those that rack and torture their brains upon other studies, like children, weary themselves at a low game. The angels study this doctrine, and stoop down to look into this deep abyss. What are the truths discovered in Christ, but the very secrets that from eternity lay hid in the bosom of God? (Eph. 3:8-9). God's heart is opened to men in Christ (John 1:18). This makes the gospel such a glorious dispensation, because Christ is so gloriously revealed therein (2 Cor. 3:9) and the studying of Christ in the gospel stamps such a heavenly glory upon the contemplating soul. It is the most sweet and comfortable knowledge to be studying Jesus Christ. What is it but to be digging among all the veins and springs of comfort? And the deeper you dig, the more do these springs flow upon you. How are hearts ravished with the discoveries of Christ in the gospel! What ecstasies, meltings, transports, do gracious souls meet there! A believer could sit from morning to night to hear discourses of Christ, for "His mouth is most sweet" (Song of Solomon 5:16).

Let all that mind the honor of religion or the peace and comfort of their own souls, wholly sequester and apply themselves to the study of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The things which singly ravish and delight the souls of men are all found conjunctly in Christ. From the knowledge of Jesus Christ do bud forth all the fruits of comfort, and that for all seasons and conditions. Study to know Christ more intensively, to get the experimental taste and lively power of his knowledge upon your hearts and affections. This is the knowledge that carries all the sweetness and comfort in it. O then separate, devote, and wholly give yourself, your time, your strength to this most sweet transcendent study. 

Table of Contents:

1. The Excellency of the Subject
2. Christ in His Essential and Primeval Glory
3. The Covenant of Redemption Between the Father and the Son
4. The Admirable Love of God in Giving His own Son for Us
5. Christ’s Wonderful Person
6. The Authority by which Christ, as Mediator, Acted
7. The Solemn Consecration of the Redeemer
8. The Nature of Christ’s Mediation
9. The First Branch of Christ’s Prophetical Office
10. The Second Branch of Christ’s Prophetical Office
11. The Nature and Necessity of the Priesthood of Christ
12. The Excellency of Our High Priest’s Oblation
13. The Intercession of Christ our high Priest
14. A Vindication of the Satisfaction of Christ
15. The Blessed Inheritance Purchased by the Oblation of Christ
16. The Kingly Office of Christ as it is Executed Spiritually
17. The Kingly Office of Christ as it is Executed Providentially
18. The Necessity of Christ’s Humiliation
19. Christ’s Humiliation in His Life
20. Christ’s Humiliation in His life
21. Christ’s Humiliation unto Death in His First Preparative Act
22. The Second Preparative Act of Christ for His Own Death
23. The Third Preparative Act of Christ for His Own Death
24. The First Preparation for Christ’s Death on His Enemies’ Part
25. The Second and Third Preparatives for the Death of Christ
26. Christ’s Memorable Address to the Daughters of Jerusalem
27. The Nature and Quality of Christ’s Death
28. The Signal Providence
29. The Manner of Christ’s Death in Respect of the Solitariness Thereof
30. The manner of Christ’s Death in Respect of the Patience Thereof
31. The Instructives of the Death of Christ in His Seven Last Words
32. The Second Excellent Word of Christ upon the Cross
33. The Third of Christ’s Last Words upon the Cross
34. The Fourth Excellent Saying of Christ upon the Cross
35. The Fifth Excellent Saying of Christ upon the Cross
36. The Sixth Excellent Saying of Christ upon the Cross
37. The Seventh and Last Word
38. Christ’s Funeral
39. Four Weighty Ends of Christ’s Humiliation
40. The Resurrection of Christ
41. The Ascension of Christ
42. The Session of Christ at God’s Right Hand
43. Christ’s Advent to Judgment
44. General Use, Exhortation, and Application

Author 

John Flavel (1628–1691) was an English Puritan who became a non-conformist after the ‘Great Ejection’ of 1662. It was 10 years before he was licenced to preach again, and then only in his own home. His writings, when collected in the 19th century, filled 6 volumes. Flavel’s writings are known for their practical nature. He was instrumental in promoting the ‘Happy Union’ of Presbyterians and Congregationalists.