A39660:252
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
Sermon 3 › DOCTRINE. › Bar 3: Third Bar.Sermon 3 › DOCTRIN. › Bar 3: Third Bar.
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.
Third Bar.
The Third Bar denying entrance to Christ into the hearts of sinners is Pride, and stoutness of Spirit. The natural Heart is a proud Heart; it lives upon its own stock, it cannot stoop to a sincere and universal renunciation of its own righteousness, Rom. 10. 3. Being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and going about to establish their own righteousness [Greek or Hebrew] they have not submitted to the righteousness of God. Pride stiffens the Will that it cannot stoop or condescend to declare ⟨p. 53⟩their own emptiness, discover their own shame, and live wholly upon the righteousness of another. Proud nature had as live be damned as deny it self in such appoint as this is; this makes Faith so exceeding difficult, because it involves such deep points of self-denial in it; to give up all to Christ, to draw all from Christ, and to be willing to part with all for Christ, what Will can be brought to a deliberate consent to such things as these, unless an omnipotent Power bow it? 'Tis natural to Men rather to eat a brown crust, or wear a course ragged garment which they can call their own, than to feed upon the richest dainties, or wear the costliest garments which they must receive as an alms or gift from another. Oh, how hard is it to subdue this pride of the Heart, even after light and conviction is come into the Soul, to convince Men of their undone condition, and the absolute necessity of an other and higher righteousness than their own? When Souls are in a treaty with Christ, and the match is almost made; this is the sin that makes the last opposition. Feign would they come to Christ, ten thousand Worlds for a Christ; but yet they think they must not approach him without some qualifications which are yet wanting. But Soul, if ever Christ and thou conclude the match, thou must deny Self even in this, the most refined form and interest of it, and come as Abraham did, naked and empty handed to him that justifieth the ungodly. Down with this House-Idol thy self, thy righteous self, trimmed up like another Agag with such specious pretences of humility.