A39660:1137
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.
Now Conscience by reason of the Light that shineth into it, feeling it self under such strong bands and necessities, stimulates and urgeth the Soul to Obedience, warns, commands, and presses the Soul to its duty, against the contrary Interests and inclinations of the Flesh: And hence arise those Combats and conflicts in the bosoms of Men; as the struggles of the Child in the Womb at the fullness of time causes the throws and pangs of Travail. Sometimes Conscience prevails, and sometimes Lusts and Corruptions prevail, and that with great difficulty; for 'tis not alike easy to all Men to shake off, or burst the bands of their own Consciences, ⟨p. 13⟩though others can do it easily What an hard tug had Saul to conquer his own Conscience? I forced my self, saith he, 1 Sam. 13. 12. He knew it belonged not to him to offer Sacrifice, his Conscience plainly told him, it would be his Sin, but yet the fear of the Philistines being stronger than the fear of God, he adventured upon it renitente conscientiâ, against the plain dictates of his own Conscience. Thus Herod gives Sentence to put John to death, Matth. 14. 9. The King was sorry, nevertheless, for his Oaths sake, and them which sate with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. His Honour weighed up all his fears of sin, his own Word weighed more with him than Gods Word: Nemo ita perplexus tenetur inter duo vitia, quin exitus pateat absque tertio: No man is held so perplexed between two Vices, but he may find an issue, without falling into a third.
Now Conscience by reason of the Light that shineth into it, feeling it self under such strong bands and necessities, stimulates and urgeth the Soul to Obedience, warnes, commands, and presses the Soul to its duty, against the contrary Interests and inclinations of the Flesh: And hence arise those Combats and conflicts in the bosoms of Men; as the struggles of the Child in the Womb at the fullness of time causes the throws and pangs of Travail. Sometimes Conscience prevails, and sometimes Lusts and Corruptions prevail, and that with great difficulty; for 'tis not alike easie to all Men to shake off, or burst the bands of their own Consciences, ⟨p. 13⟩