A39660:240
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, That all Hearts are naturally shut and made fast against Christ, is a sad but certain truth; we read, John 1. 11, 12. He came unto his own, and his own received him not, &c. He came unto his own People from whose stock he sprang up; a People to whom he had been prefigured, in all the Sacrifices and Types of the Law; and in whom they might all clearly discern the accomplishment of them all. His Doctrines and his Miracles plainly told them who he was, and whence he came; yet few discerned or received him as the Son of God. Christ found the Doors of Mens Hearts generally shut against him, save only a few whose Hearts were opened by the Almighty Power of God, in the way of Faith, vers. 12. these indeed received him, but all the rest excluded and denied entrance to the Son of God. So again, in John 5. from 33. to 40. Christ reasons with them, and gives undeniable demonstrations, that he was the Messiah come to save them; proves it from the testimony of John vers. 33. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the Truth; Tells them the design of his coming among them was their Salvation, vers. 34. shows them the great Seal of Heaven, his uncontrollable Miracles, vess. 36. The Works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me: And if that were not enough, he reminds them of the ⟨p. 47⟩immediate testimony given of him from Heaven, vers. 37. The Father himself which hath sent me, bath born witness of me. He did so at his Baptism, Matth. 3. 17. And lo a voice from Heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. And so again, at his transfiguration upon the holy Mount, Math. 17. 5. While be yet spake, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him. He bids them search the Scriptures, and critically examine his perfect correspondence to them, vers. 39. Enough one would think to open the door of every Mans understanding and Heart to receive him with fullest satisfaction: and yet after all behold the unreasonable obstinacy and resistance of their Hearts against him, vers. 40. Ye will not come unto me that you might have life.