A39660:188
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.
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.
First, From the presence of Christ by his Spirit, the Ordinances and Churches derive their beauty and glory, Psal. 27. 4. To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary. Look as the beauty of the Body is a result from the Soul that animates it; and when the Soul is gone, the beauty of the Body is gone also; so the beauty and glory of all Ordinances comes and goes with the Spirit of Christ which is the very Soul of them. The Churches are indeed golden Candlesticks, but the Candlestick hath no light but what the Candle gives it; hence that magnificent description of the new Temple is closed up in this expression, Ezek. 48. ult. The name of that City shall be, The Lord is there.