A39660:1070
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.
II. Inference.
If such an height of Communion with God be attainable on Earth, then most Christians live below the duties and comforts of Christianity.
Alas, the best of us are but at the foot of this pleasant Mount Pisgah; as we are but in the infancy of our Graces, so we are but in the infancy of our Comforts; what a poor House is kept by many of Gods own Children? Living between hopes and fears, seldom tasting the riches and pleasures, the joys and comforts of assurance; and will you know the reasons of it, there are Five things which usually keep them poor and low as to Spiritual Joys and Comforts. (1.) The incumbrances of the World, which divert them from, or distract them in their duties of Communion with God; and so keep them low in their Spiritual Comforts: They have so much to do on Earth, that they have little time for Heavenly employments. Oh, what a noise and din do the trifles of this World make in the Heads and Hearts of many Christians! How dear do we pay for such trifles as these? (2.) A Spirit of formality creeping in to the duties of Religion, impoverishes the vital Spirit thereof; like the wanton embraces of the Ivy, which binds and starves the Tree it clasps about. Religion cannot thrive under formality; and 'tis difficult to keep out formality in a settled course of Duty, and much more when Duties are intermitted. (3.) The business of temptations pestering the minds of many Christians; especially such as are of melancholy; constitutions; how ⟨p. 442⟩importunate and restless are these temptations with some Christians? They can make little comfort or advantage out of Duty by reason of them. (4.) Heart-apostasy, inward decays of our first love, is another reason why our Duties prosper so little,