A39660:1214
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 6: VI. 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.
(1.) Knowledge and Conviction of sin is an excellent means, or choice help to preserve Men from falling into sin: There be Thousands of sins committed in the World, which had never been committed, if Men had known them to be sins, before they committed them. Every Sinner durst not make so bold with his Conscience as you have done. The Apostle tells us the reason why the Princes of this World crucified the Lord of Glory, was, because they knew him not, 1 Cor. 2. 8. Had they known him, they would not have dared to do as they did. And so it is in multitudes of lower and lesser sins than that, Satan mops their Eyes with Ignorance, then uses their Hands and Tongues in Wickedness; he is the Ruler of the darkness of the World: Eph. 6. 12. But when Men do know this or that to be sin, and yet venture on it, here an excellent Antidote against sin is turned into a dreadful aggravation of sin, which highly incenses the Wrath of God.
(2.) Knowledge and Conviction going before, adds presumption to the Sin that follows after it; and presumptuous Sin is the most provoking and daring Sin; from this way of sinning David earnestly beseeches God to keep him, Keep back thy servant (saith he) from presumptuous sins: When a man sees sin, and yet adventures on it, in such sinning there is a despising of the Law of God: A Man may ⟨p. 38⟩break the Law, whilst he approves, reverences, and honours it in his heart, Rom. 7. 12, 13. but here the Commandment is despised, as God told David, 2 Sam. 12. 9. 'Tis as if a Man should say, I see the Command of God armed with threatenings in my way, but yet I will go on for all that.
(2.) Knowledge and Conviction going before, adds presumption to the Sin that follows after it; and presumptuous Sin is the most provoking and daring Sin; from this way of sinning David earnestly beseeches God to keep him, Keep back thy servant (saith he) from presumptuous sins: When a man sees sin, and yet adventures on it, in such sinning there is a despising of the Law of God: A Man may