A39660:1036
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.
VII. Excellency.
'Tis the End of all Ordinances and Duties of Religion; God hath instituted every Ordinance and Duty, whether public or private, to beget and maintain communion betwixt himself and our Souls. What are Ordinances, Duties, and Graces, but perspective Glasses to give us a sight of God, and help us to communion with him? God never intended his Ordinances to be our rest, but mediums and instruments of communion with himself, who is our true rest. When we go into a Boat, 'tis not with an intention to dwell and rest there, but to Ferry us over the Water, where our business lies. If a Man miss of communion with God in the best Ordinances or Duty, it yields him little comfort. He comes back from it, like a man that hath travelled a great many miles, to meet a dear friend, upon special and important business; but met with disappointment, and returns sad, and dissatisfied. God appoints Ordinances to be meeting places with our God in this World, Exod. 25. 21, 22. Thou shalt put the mercy-seat above upon the Ark, and in the Ark thou shalt p•• the testimony that I shall give thee; and there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two Cherubims. It was not the sight of the golden Cherubims, or of the Ark overlaid with pure gold, that could have satisfied Moses; had not the special presence of God been there, and he had had communion with them. O God (saith David) my Soul thirsteth for thee, that I might see thy beauty and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the ⟨p. 427⟩Sanctuary, Psal. 63. 1, 2. Magnificent structures, artificial ornaments of the places of Worship, are of little account with a gracious Soul. 'Tis the presence of God, and communion with him, which is the beauty and glory the Saints desire to behold.