A39660:1103
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.
Fifthly, You that are young in the Bud or Flower of your time, Christ is a Suitor for your first Love; he desires the kindness of your youth; your Spirits are vigorous, your Hearts tender, your Affections flowing and impressive; you are not yet entered into the incumbrances and distracting cares of the World; hereafter a crowd ⟨p. 452⟩and thick succession of earthly employments and engagements will come on; sin will harden you, by custom and continuance; now is your time; you are in the convertible Age; few that pass the season of youth (comparatively speaking) are brought over to Christ afterwards: 'Tis a rarity, the wonder of an Age, to hear of the conversion of aged Sinners; besides, you are the hopes of the next Generation: Should you be Christ-neglecting and despising Souls; how bad soever the present Age is, the next will be worse. Say not, we have time enough before us, we will not quench the sprightly vigour of our Youth in melancholy thoughts: Remember there are Sculls of all sizes in Golgotha; Graves of all lengths in the Church-yard: You may anticipate those that stand nearer the Grave than you seem to do. O you cannot be happy too soon: As young as you are, did you but taste the Comforts that be in Christ, nothing would grieve you more, than that you knew him no sooner. Behold he standeth at thy Door, in the morning of thy Age, knocking this day for admission into thy Heart.
Fifthly, You that are young in the Bud or Flower of your time, Christ is a Suiter for your first Love; he desires the kindness of your youth; your Spirits are vigorous, your Hearts tender, your Affections flowing and impressive; you are not yet entred into the incumbrances and distracting cares of the World; hereafter a crowd ⟨p. 452⟩and thick succession of earthly employments and engagements will come on; sin will harden you, by custom and continuance; now is your time; you are in the convertible Age; few that pass the season of youth (comparatively speaking) are brought over to Christ afterwards: 'Tis a rarity, the wonder of an Age, to hear of the conversion of aged Sinners; besides, you are the hopes of the next Generation: Should you be Christ-neglecting and despising Souls; how bad soever the present Age is, the next will be worse. Say not, we have time enough before us, we will not quench the sprightly vigour of our Youth in melancholy thoughts: Remember there are Sculls of all sizes in Golgotha; Graves of all lengths in the Church-yard: You may anticipate those that stand nearer the Grave than you seem to do. O you cannot be happy too soon: As young as you are, did you but tast the Comforts that be in Christ, nothing would grieve you more, than that you knew him no sooner. Behold he standeth at thy Door, in the morning of thy Age, knocking this day for admission into thy Heart.