A39660:478
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.
2ly, These silent inward knocks of the Spirit of Christ, though they are heard by none but the Soul it self, yet do they greatly differ as to the terror, or mildness of them in different subjects. Some hear them with more terror and astonishment, others in a mild and gentle manner, when the Lord knocked at the Jailers Conscience, Acts 16. 29, 30. it was a terrible stroke; he called for a light, and sprang in like a Man distracted; and trembling and astonied fell down at the Apostles feet, crying, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Here was a terrible knock indeed, which almost affrighted his Soul out of his Body; it is as if he had said, Tell me, for the Lord's sake, and tell me quickly, whether there be any way of Salvation, and where it lies, for I am a lost Man, an undone Soul. But when the Lord opened the Heart of Lydia, there were no such terrors, the Lord spake to her in a more mild and gentle voice; as you see verse 14. the Spirit of God varies his method according to the temper of the Soul he worketh on. Knotty pieces need greater wedges and harder blows to rive them asunder; and as he directs his Ministers, Jude 22. to make a difference, to deal tenderly and compassionately with some; but others, to save with fear; so he himself observeth like different methods.
2ly, These silent inward knocks of the Spirit of Christ, though they are heard by none but the Soul it self, yet do they greatly differ as to the terror, or mildness of them in different subjects. Some hear them with more terror and astonishment, others in a mild and gentle manner, when the Lord knockt at the Iaylors Conscience, Acts 16. 29, 30. it was a terrible stroak; he called for a light, and sprang in like a Man distracted; and trembling and astonied fell down at the Apostles feet, crying, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Here was a terrible knock indeed, which almost affrighted his Soul out of his Body; it is as if he had said, Tell me, for the Lord's sake, and tell me quickly, whether there be any way of Salvation, and where it lies, for I am a lost Man, an undone Soul. But when the Lord opened the Heart of Lydia, there were no such terrors, the Lord spake to her in a more mild and gentle voice; as you see verse 14. the Spirit of God varies his method according to the temper of the Soul he worketh on. Knotty pieces need greater wedges and harder blows to rive them asunder; and as he directs his Ministers,