A39660:1018
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.
Thirdly,1 The reality of communion betwixt God and the Saints is undeniably evinced from all the Spiritual relations into which God hath taken them. Every believer is the Child of God, and the Spouse of Christ. God is the believer Father, and the Church is the Lambs Wife. Christ calls the believer not only his Servant, but Friend; hence forth I call you not Servants but Friends, &c. Now, if God be the believers Father, and the believer be Gods own Child, certainly there must be communion between them. If Christ be the believers Husband, and the believer be Christs Spouse, there must be communion between him and them. What, no communion between the Father and his Children, the Husband and the Wife? We must either renounce and deny all such relations to him, and therein renounce our Bibles; or else yield the conclusion, that there is a real communion betwixt Christ and believers.
- 13 Evid.
Fourthly, The reality of communion with God evidently appears from the institution,1 and appointment of so many Ordinances, and duties of Religion, on purpose to maintain daily communion betwixt Christ and his People. As to instance but in that one institution of Prayer, a duty appointed on purpose for the Souls meeting with God, and communion with him, James 4. 8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Now to what purpose can it be conceived such an Ordinance is appointed for the Souls drawing nigh to God, and God to it; if there be no such thing as communion to be enjoyed with him? If communion with God were a mere Phantom, as the carnal World thinks it to be, what encouragement have the Saints to bow their knees to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? But surely there is an access to God in prayer, Ephes. 3. 12