A39660:313
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.
I. Consolation.
The first shall be this, the opening of any Mans Heart to receive Christ, is a clear solid Scripture evidence of the Lords eternal love to, and setting apart that Man for himself from all eternity. I do not say that every Man whose Heart is opened by Faith, is thereupon immediately assured and satisfied that God hath chosen him to Salvation; but whether he apprehend it or no, the thing in it self is certain and real, consult 1. Thes. 1. 4, 5. Knowing brethren, beloved, your election of God, for our Gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost, &c. Their election of God was the thing to be proved; but alas, might they say, who can know that but God alone? It is among the Divine secrets; yes saith the Apostle, we know it, and by this we know it, for our Gospel came not unto you in an empty sound, but in mighty efficacy, effectually opening your Hearts to believe. A more clear and certain evidence of your Election cannot be given in this World; look again into Rom. 8. 30. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
There are two great and ravishing Truths cleared in this Scripture; the one is this, That ⟨p. 77⟩the whole number of the called upon Earth is taken out of such as were predestinated to Life before the World was. The other is this, That as the whole number of the glorified Saints in Heaven, is made up of Souls called and justified upon Earth: so the called Soul, that is, the Soul that savingly opens to Christ by Faith, may from that work of the Spirit upon him, solidly reason backward to Gods electing love, before all time; and forward, to his glorification with God, when time shall be no more.