A39660:1145
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.
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 9▪26. 'Tis no shame to acknowledge your mistake, but persist in it after Conviction, is shameful Madness.
I knew an excellent Minister, who proved an eminent Instrument in the Church of God, who in the beginning of his Ministerial Course, was not upon the right Foundation of Regeneration. This Man had rare Abilities, excellent Natural and Acquired Gifts, and could Preach of Regeneration, Faith, and Heavenly-mindedness, though he felt nothing of these things in his own Experience. His Life was very unblameable, and he had no mean Interest and esteem among good men. It pleased the Lord whilst this Man was studying an excellent Spiritual Point to preach to others, his Conscience first preached it in his Study to himself, and that with such a close and rousing Application, as made him to tremble at it; telling him, that though he had Gifts above many, and sobriety in his Conversation; yet one thing, and that the main thing Sanctifying Grace was wanting. Hereupon the pangs of the New Birth seized his Soul, and the Lord made him a most inward, searching, experimental Minister, and crowned his Labours with unusual Success. This Minister to his dying day, was