A39660:403
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.
VII. Inference.
Lastly, If Christ thus patiently wait upon trifling and obstinate sinners, then let no godly person be discouraged because their unregenerate Relations have not yet made their first step towards Christ in the way of Repentance and saving Faith.
It may be you have laid up a great stock of Prayers for them, the believing Husband hath prayed for his unbelieving Wife, and the believing Wife for her unbelieving Husband; godly Parents for their ungodly Children, and the gracious Child for his ungodly Parents; and yet no returns of Prayer appear. Many cries are gone up to Heaven like that of Abraham, Gen. 17. 18. O that Ishmael might live before thee. Well, be not discouraged, Christ is contented to wait, and therefore well may you. Those cries of Parents, Lord my poor Child is in the state of Nature, look in mercy upon him, open his Eyes, break his Heart for sin, draw his Will to Christ; these cries may not be lost, though the fruit of them yet appear not; consider how long Christ waited upon you. There be three things that encourage hope, (1.) That your Hearts and theirs were of the same natural complexion and temper; and the same power which opened your ⟨p. 113⟩Hearts can open theirs; thy understanding was once as dark, thy Heart as hard, and thy Will as inflexible as thy carnal Relations now are. The same Hand that opened thy Heart, can open theirs. Don't think Christ had an easier task to win thy Heart, than he will have to win theirs. Almighty Power wrought upon you, and the same Power can work effectually upon them; the Lord's Hand is not shortened. (2ly.) You have reason to wait, for as much as it is probable you your selves have put stumbling-blocks into the way of their Souls to Christ, and hindered the returns of your own Prayers for the conversion of your carnal Relatives. Oh Christians, there is more due to them than your Prayers, Prayers must be backed with examples; had they not only heard your cries to God for them, but seen your suitable encouraging pattern set before them also; you and yours might have rejoiced together long ago. But (3ly.) consider that God many times makes the fruit of such Prayers to spring up after those that sowed them are dead and gone. The Lord may give life to your Prayers when you are dead: Certainly your Prayers dye not with you. 'Tis the opinion of some that Paul's conversion was the return of Stephen's Prayer, Lord lay not this sin to their charge. Stephen died, but his Prayers lived, and were answered upon one that stood by and consented to his death: But however it be, wait on; if your Prayers come not into their bosoms, they will certainly return into your own.