A39660:1144
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.) Shame, Men that have been Professors, and of good esteem in the World, are ashamed the World should know the Mistakes and Errors of all their life past, and what deluded Fools and self-deceivers they have been: This is a powerful restraint upon Conviction; how shall they look their Acquaintance in the face? What will Men think and say of them? How can ye believe which receive Honour one of another? Saith Christ, John 5. 44. q. d. What you be Christians, and yet not able to endure a censure, or a scoff upon your Names? That stand more upon your Reputation, than your Salvation: How can you believe?
(I.) Shame, Men that have been Professors, and of good esteem in the World, are ashamed the World should know the Mistakes and Errors of all their life past, and what deluded Fools and self-deceivers they have been: This is a powerful restraint upon Conviction; how shall they look their Acquaintance in the face? What will Men think and say of them? How can ye believe which receive Honour one of another? Saith Christ, Iohn 5. 44. q. d. What you be Christians, and yet not able to endure a censure, or a scoff upon your Names? That stand more upon your Reputation, than your Salvation: How can you believe?
Oh what Madness and exalted Folly appears in this Case! Men will choose rather to go on, though Conscience tells them the end of that way will be Death, than suffer the shame of a just and necessary retraction, which yet indeed is not their shame, but their Duty, and Glory. You that are so tender of the shame of men, how will you be able to endure the contempt and shame that shall be cast on you from God, Angels and Men in the great Day? Luk 9▪26. 'Tis no shame to acknowledge your mistake, but persist in it after Conviction, is shameful Madness.
Oh what Madness and exalted Folly appears in this Case! Men will chuse rather to go on, though Conscience tells them the end of that way will be Death, than suffer the shame of a just and necessary retraction, which yet indeed is not their shame, but their Duty, and Glory. You that are so tender of the shame of men, how will you be able to endure the contempt and shame that shall be cast on you from God, Angels and Men in the great Day? Luk 926. 'Tis no shame to acknowledge your mistake, but persist in it after Conviction, is shameful Madness.