A39660:1267
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. Demand.
Do not some of you stand convinced by your own Consciences this day, that your Hearts and ⟨p. 56⟩Lives, your Principles and Practises, are vastly different from the People of God, among whom you live; and whose Characters you read in Scripture? Do not your own Consciences tell you, that you never took that pains for your Salvation you see them daily to take; that there be some it may be in your Families, nay, possibly in your Bosoms that are serious and heavenly, whilst you are vain and earthly; that are in their Chambers upon their knees, wrestling with God, whilst you are in your Beds, or about the things of the World: And doth not Conscience sometimes whisper thus into thine Ear, Soul thou art not right; something is wanting to make thee a Christian: Thou wantest that which others have; and except something further be done upon thee, thou wilt be undone for ever: If it be so, let me advise thee to hearken diligently to this voice of Conscience: Don't dare to adventure to the Judgment-seat of God in such a case: Ponder that Text, Matth. 21. 32. and let the disparity your Conscience shows you betwixt your own course and others, awaken you to more diligence and seriousness about your own Salvation: How can•t thou come from the Alehouse, or thy vain Recreations, and find a Wife, or Child in Prayer, and thy Conscience not smite thee? It may be they have been mourning for thy 'ins, whilst thou haft been committing them. It may be there lives not far from thee a Godly poor Man, who out of his hard and pressing Labours, redeems more time for his Soul in a week, than ever thou didst in thy Life. O hearken to the voice of thy Conscience: Else thou art he that holdest Truth in Unrighteousness.