A39660:1193
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
Appendix › DOCTRINE. › Instance 3 › Instance 4: IV. Instance.
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.
IV. Instance.
Truth is often held in unrighteousness by sinful Silence, in not reproving other mens sins, and thereby making them our own. We are sometimes cast into the company of ungodly Men, where we hear the name of our God blasphemed, the Truth, Worship, or Servants of God reproached; and have not so much courage to appear for God, as others have to appear against him. In such cases Conscience useth to instigate men to their duty, and charge it home upon them in the authority of such a Scripture, as that Lev. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart, thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. O saith Conscience, thy silence now will be thy sin. This poor wretch may perish for want of a seasonable, plain, and faithful rebuke. Thy silence will harden him in his wickedness. No sooner doth such a conviction stir in the Conscience, but many things are ready to lay hold on it; as
(1.) A Spirit of Cowardice, which makes us afraid to displease men; and chooses rather the wrath ⟨p. 33⟩of God should fall on them, than that their wrath should fall on us. We dare not take as much liberty to reprove sin, as others do to commit it. They glory in their shame, and we are ashamed of what is both our glory, and our duty.