A39660:456
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, Next we must consider what is meant by Christ's knocking at these doors, and what ⟨p. 134⟩that action implies. In the general, knocking is nothing else but an action significative, of the desires of one that is without to come in; 'tis a sign appointed to that end: And what is Christs knocking but a signification to the Soul of his earnest desires to come into it; a notice given to the Soul of Christ's willingness to possess it for his own habitation? And it is as much as if Christ should say, Soul, thou art the House that was built by my Hand, purchased and redeemed by my Blood; I have an unquestionable right to it, and now demand entrance. More particularly, there are divers great things implied in this gracious act of Christ's knocking at the door of the Soul.
Secondly, Next we must consider what is ment by Christ's knocking at these doors, and what ⟨p. 134⟩that action implies. In the general, knocking is nothing else but an action significative, of the desires of one that is without to come in; 'tis a sign appointed to that end: And what is Christs knocking but a signification to the Soul of his earnest desires to come into it; a notice given to the Soul of Christ's willingness to possess it for his own habitation? And it is as much as if Christ should say, Soul, thou art the House that was built by my Hand, purchased and redeemed by my Blood; I have an unquestionable right to it, and now demand entrance. More particularly, there are divers great things implied in this gracious act of Christ's knocking at the door of the Soul.
1. It implies the special favour and distinguishing grace and goodness of Jesus Christ, that he will stand and knock at our doors, when he passes by so great a part of the World, never giving one such knock or call at other Mens doors; it is certainly a most glorious and admirable condescension and favour of Heaven, and wherever it is successful, it speaks a Man highly favoured of God. Oh that when Christ passes by the Souls of Thousands, and Millions, that would certainly afford him as comfortable an habitation as our Souls can do, and will not give one effectual knock, or call at their doors all the days of their life; that he will please to turn aside to thy Soul, and wait, and knock there for entrance; I say, here is one of the greatest acts of favour that can be shown to the Soul of a sinner. How many Souls be there in the World equal in natural Dignity to yours, and of sweeter natural Tempers, whom yet the Lord Jesus lets alone in