A39660:374
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.
Secondly,1 The Lord exercises this admirable Patience towards sinners with design thereby to lead them to repentance; that's the direct aim and intention of it. The Lord desires and delights ⟨p. 97⟩to see ingenuous relentings and brokenness of Heart for sin, and there is nothing like his Forbearance and Patience promotes such an Evangelical Repentance. All the terrors of the Law will not break the Heart of a sinner, as the Patience and Long-suffering of God will do; therefore it is said, Rom. 2. 4. That the Goodness, Forbearance and Long-suffering of God leads Men to Repentance; these are fitted to work upon all these principles of humanity, which incline Men to Repentance; Reason, Conscience, Gratitude, feel the influences of the goodness of God herein, and melt under it; Sauls Heart relented in this case, 1 Sam. 24. 17. Is this thy voice my Son David? and Saul lift up his voice and wept: And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me good, where as I have rewarded thee evil. Thus the Goodness and Forbearance of God, doth as it were take sinner by the Hand, leads him into a corner, and saith, Come, let thou and I talk together; thus and thus Vile hast thou been, and thus and thus Long-suffering and Merciful have I been to thee; thy Heart hath been full of sin, the Heart of thy God hath been gull of pity and mercy. This puts the sinner into Tears, breaks his Heart in pieces; if any thing in the World will melt a hard Heart, this will do it. Oh, how good hath God been to me! How have I tried his Patience to the uttermost, and still he waiteth to be gracious, and is exalted that he may have compassion; the Sobs and Tears, the ingenuous Thaws and Relentings of a sinners Heart under the apprehensions of the sparing Mercy and Goodness of God is the Music of Heaven.
Secondly,1 The Lord exercises this admirable Patience towards sinners with design thereby to lead them to repentance; that's the direct aim and intention of it. The Lord desires and delights ⟨p. 97⟩