A39660:448
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. DOCT.
That every conviction of Conscience and motion upon the Affections of sinners, is a knock of Christ from Heaven for entrance into their Souls.
This action of knocking is ascribed sometimes to the Soul, and is expressive of its desires to come into the gracious Presence and Communion of God; so Matth. 7. 7. To him that knocks it shall ⟨p. 132⟩be opened (i. e.) to him that seeks by importunate Prayer, Fellowship and Communion with the Lord; but here it is applied to Christ, and is expressive of his importunate desire to come into union and communion with the Souls of sinners. Here I shall open to you the following particulars, 1. What are the doors of the Soul at which Christ knocks? 2. What his knocking at these doors implies. 3. By what instruments he knocks at them. 4. In what manner he performs this action.
First, What are the doors of the Soul at which Christ knocks? You all know that the term Christ here useth cannot be proper, but metaphorical; 'tis a Figurative speech, the door is that part which is introductive into the House, and whatsoever is introductive into the Soul, that is the door of the Soul. Now in the Soul of Man there are many powers and faculties that have this use, and are of an introductive nature to let things into the Soul of Man. Some are more outward, as we may speak comparatively, and some more inward, as the doors of our houses are.