A39660:1220
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.
I. Inference.
This will prove a fruitful Doctrine to inform us, First, That knowledge in it self, is not enough to secure the Soul of any Man from Hell.
No Gifts, no Knowledge, but that only which is operative and influential upon the Heart and Life, and to which we pay Obedience, can secure any Man from Wrath, John 13. 17. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them: The greatest sins may be found in Conjunction with the greatest knowledge, as you see in the fallen Angels: Light is then only a Blessing, when guides the Soul into the way of Duty and Obedience; there's many a knowing head in Hell: Yet from hence let no Man indulge himself in Ignorance, or shun the means of knowledge, that he may sin more freely, and less dangerously; for you must account with God for all that knowledge you might have had, as well as for that you had; for the means of knowledge he gave you, as well as for that knowledge you did actually attain by them.
No Gifts, no Knowledge, but that only which is operative and influential upon the Heart and Life, and to which we pay Obedience, can secure any Man from Wrath, Iohn 13. 17. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them: The greatest sins may be found in Conjunction with the greatest knowledge, as you see in the fallen Angels: Light is then only a Blessing, when guides the Soul into the way of Duty and Obedience; there's many a knowing head in Hell: Yet from hence let no Man indulge himself in Ignorance, or shun the means of knowledge, that he may sin more freely, and less dangerously; for you must account with God for all that knowledge you might have had, as well as for that you had; for the means of knowledge he gave you, as well as for that knowledge you did actually attain by them.