Evangelicals Now
<< September 2001 >>

Keeping the Heart

On guard

KEEPING THE HEART
By John Flavel (1630-1691)
Soli Deo Gloria Publications
170 pages
ISBN 1 57358 07705

With customary Puritan thoroughness, Flavel deals with the important subject of guarding the heart as if it was a fortress under attack.

The title is taken from Proverbs 4.23 (KJV) and is dealt with in four sections:
1. What it means to keep the heart;
2. Why keeping the heart is so important;
3. The identification of 12 'seasons' or times in a Christian's life when she/he needs to be very careful to guard the heart. These 'seasons' cover the whole spectrum of human experience (from prosperity to sickness before death);
4. Teaching on four means of guarding the heart.

This volume comes with a contemporary outline and study guide designed to help those unfamiliar with Puritan writings to profit from this work.

In an age in which spiritual self-examination is an almost forgotten discipline, this book meets a real need. A book like this well repays the effort required to understand the language and adjust to the style. However, its circulation and usefulness would be greatly increased if it was rewritten in contemporary English as has been done for other Puritan titles by Grace Publications.

Keith Stokes, Oxford