A39660:1031
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.
IV. Excellency.
It is the Desire of all gracious souls throughout the World. Wherever there is a gracious Soul, the desires of that Soul are working after communion with God; as Christ was called, The desire of all Nations; so communion with him, is The desire of all Saints: and this speaks the excellency of it, Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I might dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to see the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his Temple. (i. e.) To enjoy communion with him in the public duties of his worship. One thing have I desired, that is, one thing above all other things; such an one, as if God shall give me, I can comfortably bear the want of all other things. Let him deny me what he will, if so be he will not deny me this one thing; this one thing shall richly recompense the want of all other things. Hence the desires of the Saints are so intense and fervent after this one thing, Psal. 42. 1. My Soul panteth after thee O God; and Psal. 119. 81. ⟨p. 424⟩My Soul fainteth for thy Salvation, Psal. 101. 2. When wilt thou come unto me? No duties can satisfy without it; the Soul cannot bear the delays, much less the denials of it. They reckon their lives worth nothing without it. Ministers may come, Ordinances and Sabbaths may come; but there's no satisfaction to the desires of a gracious Heart till God come too. O when wilt thou come unto me?