A39660:1158
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.
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.
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 VVorld.
Thirdly, But the principal thing that restrains Men from obeying their Convictions as to Family and Closet Prayer is, A disinclined Heart. That's the root and true cause, of these sinful neglects and Omissions. You favour not the sweetness of these things, and what a man relishes no sweetness in, or finds no necessity of, is easily omitted and let pass.