A39660:132
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.
2. A Record is made, and Witness taken of all the refusals, disobedience, and slightings of Christ by others. Thus Moses will be the accuser of the Jews, John 5. 45. Do not think I will accuse you to the Father, there is one that accuseth you, even Moses in whom you trust. This is the saddest part of a Ministers-work; the fore-thoughts of it are more afflictive than all our Labours and Sufferings. There is a three-fold Record made in this case, (1st.) Of the time men have enjoyed under the means of Salvation; how many years they have sat barren and dead hearted, under the labours of Gods faithful Ministers, Luke 13. 7. Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this Fig-tree and find none. Behold the same term of Notification with that in the Text, applied to the time of Gods patience towards them: And again, Jer. 25. 3. From the thirteenth year of Josiah even unto this day (that is, the three and twentieth year) the word of the Lord hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you rising early, and speaking, but ye have not hearkened. Oh consider all the years and days you have spent under the Gospel, are upon your Dooms-day-book. (2dly,) Records are also made of all the instruments that ever God employed for the Conversion and Salvation of your Souls. So many Ministers, whether fixed or transient, as have spent their labours upon you, are upon the Book of your account. Jer. 25. 4. The Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the Prophets, rising early and sending them, but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. They ⟨p. 10⟩have wasted their Lungs, dropped their compassionate tears, and burnt down one after another as Candles to direct you to Christ and Salvation, but all in vain. (3dly,) Every call, persuasion and argument used by them to espouse you to Christ, is likewise upon the Book of account, Prov. 1. 24. 25. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched my hand, and no man regarded, but you have set at nought all my counsels, and would none of my reproofs. These calls and counsels are of too great value with God, (though of none with you) to be lost and left out of your account.