A review done by David R. McCrory over The Inner Sanctum of Puritan Piety:John Flavel’s Doctrine of Mystical Union with Christ, by J. Stephen Yuille. You can purchase this by clicking here.
In the opening pages of The Inner Sanctum of Puritan Piety the author introduces his readers to one of the many not as commonly well-known Puritan’s, John Flavel. Yuille attributes his attraction to Flavel based upon his “theological precision and pastoral fervor”. This small treatment (around 120 pgs.) of John Flavel’s work concentrates on the emphasis of the Christian’s vital yet mystical union with Christ.
Stephen Yuille seeks to capture the essence of this mighty Puritan’s thought concerning the believer’s union with Christ having “arranged his insights according to eleven themes, taking the reader from the foundation through the implications to the culmination of the believer’s mystical union with Christ” (from the Preface). According to Yuille, John Flavel understood that any union we have with Jesus Christ is firmly rooted and grounded in God’s covenantal relationship with mankind, and in particular, the Trinitarian Covenant of Redemption; the cornerstone of the believer’s salvation in Christ. For example, the author writes, “In Flavel’s mind, therefore, the fulfillment of the covenant of redemption is linked to two great unions”. He goes on to describe these unions as the “hypostatical” union in Christ, where we understand that Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, took on the nature of man thus bringing God and man into union by becoming the God-man. Then we’re introduced to the union and communion of Jesus with believers by the Holy Spirit known as the “mystical” union.
Each chapter builds upon this foundation examining the various aspects of the believers union with Christ. One chapter deals with the blessings of union with Christ. Another chapter considers the fruit of union with Christ. Here Yuille quotes Flavel stating, “By imputed righteousness, we are freed from the guilt of sin: by imparted holiness, we are freed from the dominion of sin, and by glorification with Christ, we are freed from all relics and remains both of sin and misery let in by sin upon our natures”. For Flavel, it’s by this precious union with Christ the true fruit of righteousness is born.
In the chapters that remain we discover the need for the evidence of the union believers enjoy with Christ. We are led down the path of God’s promise, purpose and love in our suffering union with Christ. We find an important manner of union with Christ comes from the joy one should experience in Christ Jesus. Here Yuille focuses on Flavel’s keen awareness of Christ’s delight in His church. And the love for the Savior true union elicits from God’s people. Chapter ten describes some of the practical considerations of union with Christ. We find expounded such qualities as “watching”, “listening”, “mediating”, “praying” and “partaking of the Lord’s Supper”. The book concludes with the hope union with Christ brings to His beloved. It is an eschatological look ahead at the unfettered beatific vision of God. And it is here we find the fruit of Flavel’s own deep personal relationship with God when he declares, “If one hour’s enjoyment of God, in the way of faith, be so sweet, and no price can be put upon it, nothing on earth taken in exchange for it; what must a whole eternity, in the immediate and full visions of that blessed face in heaven be!” (pg. 110)
The reader will immediately appreciate Yuille’s extensive familiarity with Flavel’s immense corpus of work left for us. He draws freely from this fluid Puritan, drawing insight and evidence for his views on the mystical union Christians enjoy with Christ. If there be but one criticism of this book, it would be it’s small size. The reader is left hungering for more. A book twice its size would still only begin to tap into the richness of the wisdom of this Puritan divine’s comprehension of the mystical union believers enjoy with Christ. The Inner Sanctum of Puritan Piety leaves this review highly recommended. Read it deeply and devotionally. But most of all, allow it to stir the same passions that are revealed in the life and work of Mr. John Flavel for a sweet, yet mystical union with Jesus Christ.
