A39660:1085
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.
I. Counsel.
Make Communion with God the very level and aim of your Souls in all your approaches to him in the Ordinances and Duties of Religion. Set it upon the point of your compass, let it be the very thing your Souls design; let the desires and hopes of Communion with God be the thing that draws you to every Sermon and Prayer, Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may see the beauty of ⟨p. 446⟩the Lord, and enquire after him in his Temple. That was the mark David aimed at. And Mens success in Duty is usually according to the Spiritual aims and intentions of their Hearts in them; both sincerity and comfort lye much in mens ends.
II. Counsel.
In all your approaches to God, beg and plead hard with him for the manifestations of his love and further Communications of his grace. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice; have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, Thy face Lord will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me, put not thy servant away in anger, Psal 27. 7, 8, 9. How full and thick of pleas and arguments for Communion with God was this prayer of David? Lord, I am come in obedience to thy command, thou saidst, Seek ye my face, thou bidst me come to thee, and wilt thou put away thy servant in anger? Thou hast been my help, I have had sweet experience of thy goodness, thou dost not use to put me off, and turn me away empty.