A39660:1052
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.
XV. Excellency.
'Tis the Light of the Soul in darkness; and the pleasantest light that ever shone upon the Soul of Man: There's many a Soul which walketh in darkness; some in the darkness of ignorance and unbelief, the most dismal of all darkness, except that in Hell. There are others who are Children of light, in a state of reconciliation, yet walk in the darkness of outward afflictions, ⟨p. 433⟩and inward desertions and temptations; but as soon as ever the light of Gods countenance shines upon the Soul in the duties of communion with him, that darkness is dissipated and scattered; 'tis all light within him, and round about him, Psal. 34. 5. They looked unto him, and were enlightened: they looked, there is faith acted in Duty; and were enlightened, there's the sweet effect of Faith. The horrors and troubles of gracious Souls shrink away upon the rising of this cheerful light; as wild Beasts come out of their Dens in the darkness of the night, and shrink back again into them when the Sun ariseth, Psal. 104. 20, 21, 22. So do the fears, and inward troubles of the people of God, when this light shines upon their Souls. Nay, more, this is a light which scatters the very darkness of death it self. It was the saying of a worthy Divine of Germany, upon his death-bed, when his Eye-sight was gone, being asked how it was within? Why, said he, though all be dark about me, yet pointing as well as he could to his breast, hi• sat lucis, here is light enough.
'Tis the Light of the Soul in darkness; and the pleasantest light that ever shone upon the Soul of Man: There's many a Soul which walketh in darkness; some in the darkness of ignorance and unbelief, the most dismal of all darkness, except that in Hell. There are others who are Children of light, in a state of reconciliation, yet walk in the darkness of outward afflictions,