A39660:1157
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.
And must the mouth of Conscience then be stopped with such a plea as this? No, no, God and Conscience will not be answered and put off so. The greatest number of Persons in the World from whom God hath the most Spiritual and excellent Worship; are of the lower and poorer rank, Psal. 74. 20. Jam. 2. 5. And its highly probable your Necessities had been less, if your Prayers had been more▪ And what sweeter outlet and vent to all these troubles can you find, than Prayer? This would sweeten all your Labours and Sorrows in the World.
And must the mouth of Conscience then be stopped with such a plea as this? No, no, God and Conscience will not be answered and put off so. The greatest number of Persons in the World from whom God hath the most Spiritual and excellent Worship; are of the lower and poorer rank, Psal. 74. 20. Iam. 2. 5. And its highly probable your Necessities had been less, if your Prayers had been more▪ And what sweeter outlet and vent to all these troubles can you find, than Prayer? This would sweeten all your Labours and Sorrows in the World.
Secondly, Consciousness and sense of Inability and want of Gifts, restrains this Conviction in others. Should they attempt such duties before others, they shall but expose their own ignorance & shame.
But this is a vain pretence of shake off Duty. The neglect of Prayer is a principal Cause of that inability you complain of. Gifts as well as Grace grow by Exercise. To him that hath shall be given, and he shall have more abundantly. And besides, 'tis the fruit of Pride, and argues your eye to be more upon your own Honour than Gods. The Lord regards not Oratory in Prayer; your broken Expressions, yea, your Groans and Sighs please him more than all the Eloquence in the World.