A39660:1015
Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20
Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20 : wherein is opened the admirable condescension and patience of Christ in waiting upon trifling and obstinate sinners, the wretched state of the unconverted, the nature of evangelical faith ..., the riches of free grace in the offers of Christ ..., the invaluable privileges of union and communion granted to all who receive him ... / by John Flavell ...Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20 : wherein is opened the admirable condescension and patience of Christ in waiting upon trifling and obstinate sinners, the wretched state of the unconverted, the nature of evangelical faith ..., the riches of free grace in the offers of Christ ..., the invaluable priviledges of union and communion granted to all who receive him ... / by John Flavell ...
London: printed for Matthew Wotton, 1689
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, In the next place, I shall evidence the reality of communion with God; and ⟨p. 413⟩prove it to be no fancy. I confess it grieves me to be put upon the proof of this, but the Atheism, and profaneness of the age we live in seems to make it necessary; for many men will allow nothing for certain but what falls under the cognisance of •ense. And oh, that they had their Spiritual senses exercised, then they would sensibly discern the reality of these things: but to put the matter out of question, I shall evidence the truth and reality of the Saints communion with God divers ways.
Secondly, In the next place, I shall evidence the reality of communion with God; and ⟨p. 413⟩prove it to be no fancy. I confess it grieves me to be put upon the proof of this, but the Atheism, and prophaness of the age we live in seems to make it necessary; for many men will allow nothing for certain but what falls under the cognisance of •ense. And oh, that they had their Spiritual senses exercised, then they would sensibly discern the reality of these things: but to put the matter out of question, I shall evidence the truth and reality of the Saints communion with God divers ways.
First,1 From the Saints union with Christ; if there be a union betwixt Christ and believers, then of necessity there must be a communion between them also. Now the whole Word of God which you profess to be the rule of your faith, plainly asserts this union betwixt Christ and believers; a union like that betwixt the branches and the root, John 15. 4, 5. or that betwixt the head and the members, Eph▪ 4. 16. Now if Christ be to believers as the root to the branches, and as the head to the members; then of necessity there must be a communion between them: for if there were not a communion, there could be no communications, and if no communications no life. For it is by the communication of vital sap and spirits, from the root and from the head, that the branches and members subsist and live.