A39660:199
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.
First, From their wonderful Preservations, for it is wholly unaccountable, and unconceivable, how the Churches, Ministers and Ordinances, should be supported and preserved without it, amidst such Hosts of potent and enraged Enemies. If Christ were not among them they had certainly been swallowed up long ago. 'Tis he that holds the Stars in his right hand▪ Rev. 2. 1. His walks among the seven golden Candlesticks is their best security. The burning bush, Exod. 3. 3. is a rare emblem to open this Mystery; the bush burned with fire, but was not consumed. The bush was a resemblance of the Church of God in Egypt, the flames upon it was their terrible Persecution; the wonder that no ashes appeared, as the effects of those terrible flames, the reason thereof was, God was in the bush; Jesus Christ was in the midst of his people.
First, From their wonderful Preservations, for it is wholly unaccountable, and unconceiveable, how the Churches, Ministers and Ordinances, should be supported and preserved without it, amidst such Hosts of potent and enraged Enemies. If Christ were not among them they had certainly been swallowed up long ago. 'Tis he that holds the Stars in his right hand▪ Rev. 2. 1. His walks among the seven golden Candlesticks is their best security. The burning bush, Exod. 3. 3. is a rare emblem to open this Mystery; the bush burned with fire, but was not consumed. The bush was a resemblance of the Church of God in Egypt, the flames upon it was their terrible Persecution; the wonder that no ashes appeared, as the effects of those terrible flames, the reason thereof was, God was in the bush; Jesus Christ was in the midst of his people.
By virtue of this Presence we are here this day, in the enjoyment of Gospel Liberties; no Society of Men in the World have such security as the Church hath upon this account. The mightiest Monarchies have been over-turned, no Policies nor humane Power could preserve them; but the Church and Ordinances are still preserved, and shall ever be by virtue of that gracious