A39660:1035
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.
VI. Excellency.
'Tis the Envy of Satan; that which cuts and grates that wicked Spirit. O how it grates and galls that proud and envious Spirit, to see Men and Women enjoying the felicity and pleasure of that communion with God, from which he himself is fallen, and cut off for ever! To see the Saints embosomed in delightful communion with Christ, whilst himself feels the pangs of horror and despair! This is what he cannot endure to behold. And therefore you shall find in your experience, that times of communion with God, are usually busy times of temptations from the Devil, Zach. 3. 1. And he showed me Joshua the high Priest standing before the Lord, and Satan standing at his right-hand to resist him. 'Tis well for thee Christian, that thou hast an Advocate standing at Gods right-hand to resist and frustrate his attempts upon thee; otherwise Satan would this way destroy your communion with God, and make that which is now your delight, to be your terror. Many ways doth the Devil oppose the Saints communion with God. Sometimes he labours to divert them from it. This business shall fall in, or that occasion fall out, on purpose to divert thy Souls approach to God; but if he cannot prevail there, then he labours to distract your thoughts, and break them into a thousand vanities. Or if he succeed not there, then he attacks you in your return from duty, with Spiritual Pride, Security, &c. These fierce oppositions of Hell discover the worth and excellency of communion with God.
'Tis the Envy of Satan; that which cuts and grates that wicked Spirit. O how it grates and galls that proud and envious Spirit, to see Men and Women enjoying the felicity and pleasure of that communion with God, from which he himself is fallen, and cut off for ever! To see the Saints embosomed in delightful communion with Christ, whilst himself feels the pangs of horror and despair! This is what he cannot endure to behold. And therefore you shall find in your experience, that times of communion with God, are usually buisie times of temptations from the Devil,