A39660:187
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.
Secondly, There is a Represented Presence of Christ in Ordinances. As the Person of a King is represented in another Country by his Ambassadors, so is Christ in this World by his Ministers, 2 cor. 5. 26. We then are Ambassadors for God, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christs stead, be ye reconciled to God. Christ is about other work for us in Heaven, but we stand in his stead on Earth. And this speaks the great Dignity of the Ministerial Office; whatever abuses or contempts are cast on them, they reflect upon Christ, Luke 10. 16. He that despiseth you despiseth me. It also teacheth us whence the validity of Gospel administrations is; Christ ratifies and confirms them with his own Authority. It also instructs us how Wise, Spiritual, and Holy, Ministers should be, who represent Christ to the Word. A Drunkard, a Persecutor, ⟨p. 28⟩a sensual Worldling, is but an ill representative of the blessed and holy Jesus.
Thirdly, Beside and above the two former, there is a Spiritual Presence of Christ in the Churches, and Ordinances; and this Presence of Christ by his Spirit, who is his Vicegerent, is to be considered as that from which all Gospel Ordinances derive,
1. Their Beauty and Glory. 2. Their Power and Efficacy. 3. Their awful Solemnity. 4. Their Continuance and Stability.