A39660:388
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.
III. Inference.
The long-suffering of Christ toward Sinners, instructeth and teacheth his Ministers to imitate their Lord in a Christ-like Patience and Long-suffering. Christ is our pattern of Patience, if he wait, much more may we; we think it much to stand from Sabbath to Sabbath, Wooing, Pleading and Inviting, and are apt to be discouraged when we see no fruit follow. The want of success is apt to cast us under Jeremiahs temptation, To speak no more in his Name; and to lament with Isaiah, That we have laboured in vain; 'tis a hard case to Study, Pray and Preach, and see all our labours return in vain. 'Tis not so much the expending as the returning of our labours upon us in vain, that discourageth our Hearts. Ministers would not dye so fast,1 saith one of them, nor be grayheaded so soon, did they see the fruit of their labours upon their people. But let us look to our pattern in the Text, Behold I stand at the door and ⟨p. 106⟩knock. If the Master wait, let not the Servants be weary; The Servant of the Lord must not strive, but be patient towards all; wasting, if at any time, God will give them repentance, 2 Tim. 4. 24.
The long-suffering of Christ toward Sinners, instructeth and teacheth his Ministers to imitate their Lord in a Christ-like Patience and Long-suffering. Christ is our pattern of Patience, if he wait, much more may we; we think it much to stand from Sabbath to Sabbath, Woing, Pleading and Inviting, and are apt to be discouraged when we see no fruit follw. The want of success is apt to cast us under Ieremiahs temptation, To speak no more in his Name; and to lament with Isaiah, That we have laboured in vain; 'tis a hard case to Study, Pray and Preach, and see all our labours return in vain. 'Tis not so much the expending as the returning of our labours upon us in vain, that discourageth our Hearts. Ministers would not dye so fast,