Written in the late seventeenth century by the Puritan minister who lived and ministered in Dartmouth England this book was first published in 1678. It is an extended development of the text “God performs all things for me’ Psalm 57v2. It is a beautiful book and makes for rich reading. Like most Puritan writings it is not easy to handle save in small bites and this edition has not undergone great revision or paraphrase. The author establishes the fact that man needs to be abased and God lifted up and a chief way that this can occur is that we meditate upon the numberless mercies of God that are ceaselessly being accomplished in His providential dealings. It should be a source of great delight and pleasure to us, to ponder the wonderful dealings of God. This book is soaked in scripture exposition, biblical illustrations abound proving the point repeatedly that God cares and works all things together for good to those that love Him. There are further illustrations interlaced throughout taken from the daily life of various people in the history of the church. To the reader this will be a book of profound instruction, it will need to be read slowly and will bring believers into a sphere that they never considered much before. It will be illuminating and be a significant aid to the living of a pure life consecrated to God. To learn and become convinced that everything does not depend upon us, but that God is working and doing all things for our spiritual good will increase our faith and quicken us to work with Him in that which He is doing. Instead of fighting adverse circumstances and seeking to change everything to suit ourselves we shall be able to trace God’s wise design in what is taking place. In an ultimate sense we can never be outside the will of God as far as Flavel is concerned. He writes of the mercies of the Lord of every kind, of the ways of His rod of discipline and chastening and the many methods God employs to bring us to know Himself and prize Him above all. Our attitudes will be changed towards the circumstances that come our way, things pleasant and things adverse all are sent of Him and part of His merciful dealings with the children He loves. Flavel writes out of a full heart, it is not dry as dust lecture room stuff but full of tenderness and strength. All is rooted in the profound conviction of the Sovereignty of God. I realize that some of the things in this book will be repugnant to those who desire to uphold the idea of their own free will and even of their concept of the love of God but I am persuaded that a serious and open minded reading of it can only lead to a greater love of God and wonder at His ways.
