Keeping the Heart

A Puritan's View of How to Maintain Your Love For God

By: John Flavel

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Puritan John Flavel (1630-1691) in Keeping the Heart (originally titled: A Saint Indeed or The Great Work of a Christian Opened and Pressed) has proven to be a steady and timely friend to many over the years. Using Proverbs 4:23 ("Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life."), Flavel creates a treatise designed for all professing Christians. The aim is that the contents of the heart be laid bare, so that sin which is present is seen as sin and dealt with as a believer should and that the heart be guided to be pure in its devotion and affection for God. He does this, not with law, but by constantly pointing the believer to God's grace as the grounds and means for his sanctification. Flavel is not content to merely convey information, rather, with each point he carefully takes aim at your very soul and deftly fires shot after gospel-saturated, God-glorifying shot. Make sure you read this book slowly and prayerfully, allowing each purifying blow to have its full affect on your heart.

©2010 John Flavel (P)2011 christianaudio.com

A deep dive into motives and the heart

A great book on self examination and how the inner life of the heart shapes the whole of the faithful Christian.

Wonderful

Loved this book. So encouraging. This book is incredibly rich, comforting, challenging, and glorious. Brings me close to tears many times. A must read for believers.

good

It is puritanical and a little dry but worth it in its content and what it achieves.

Helped my weary heart

Good strategies for wavering hearts. Listen. I will be listening again. Take notes. I didn't the first listen. There are a few good bullet points to write down.

my depravity when compared to the Holy and Righteous GOD of all things.

When looking into a mirror and comparing myself to others I felt ok about myself. When looking into that same mirror and comparing my heart to that of Jesus I realized my complete depravity and need of Him. What a great book and so well written.

Even the Most Cursory Hearing Will Be Health to Your Soul

For true Christians who have been regenerated by God so as to become followers of Christ, all in the power of the Holy Spirit, this work will challenge you in a way rare among preachers and writers of evangelical and Reformed works of today. And in that challenge Flavel adds two more things: 1.) Eminently practical uses which will encourage you in this discipline, and 2.) Wonderfully warm and pastoral comfort to sensitive consciences. Though the thoroughness of the scriptural analysis of the heart and the depth of practical application may initially feel like trying to drink water from a fire hose, hang in there. Otherwise you will miss out on a joyful and assuring and strong walk with the Lord. As Flavel himself notes, “Heart work is hard work,” but nothing in our lives as Christians is more important than our hearts’ communion with God. If you don’t at a bare minimum have a daily exposure to Scripture and prayer, then you cannot benefit from what this book is aiming at. But now is as good a time as any to start and so you should! For there are untapped riches and medicine for wounded and downcast souls in hear! Tolle, lege both the scriptures and this book!

Heart Surgeon Indeed

Flavel is a an anointed surgeon who wields Gods word with such precision, as a surgeon with a scalpel as he opens the heart, and uses the word so masterfully to remove the sin that threatens our life. This book should be read by all who want to be holy!

Wow

Amazing read. Necessary truths here that should be listened to again and studied. Full of scripture and exhortation and grace! 10/10 recommend.

Excellent!!

This book challenges the serious student of God’s Word to guard their inner man and be quick to neglect the follies of your flesh and the world.

beautiful book

this is my favorite book by the puritan writers. absolutely wonderful. Almost no book can better equip you for practical devotion