A39660:426
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.
V. Exhortation.
Improve the time that remains in this World with double diligence, because you made Christ wait so long, and cast a way so great a part of your life, before you opened your Hearts to rereceive him. The morning of your life which was certainly the freshest and freest part of it, was no better than time lost with many of us; all the days of your unregeneracy Christ was shut out, and vanity shut into your Hearts: You never began to live till Christ gave you life, and that was late in the day with many of you. How should this provoke to extraordinary diligence in those few remains of time we have yet to enjoy? It was Austin's lamentation, O Lord, it repents me, saith he, that I loved thee so late. This consideration excited Paul to extraordinary diligence for Christ. It made him fly up and down the World, as a Seraphim, in a flame of holy zeal for Christ. Those that have much to write, and are almost come to the end of their paper, had need write close. Friends, you have something to do for God upon Earth, which you cannot do for him in Heaven, Isa. 38. 18, 19. You that have carnal Relations have something to do for them here, which you cannot do in Heaven. You can now Counsel, Exhort, and Pray, in order to their Conversion and Salvation; but when you are gone down to the Grave, these opportunities of service are cut off.