A39660:480
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.
4ly, Sometimes Christ knocks with a thick succession of Convictions, a quick repetition of his calls. Some men have had thousands of Convictions in a few years; for in this case the Lord saith, as it is Exod. 4. 8. If they will not hearken to the voice of the first sign, yet they may believe the voice of the latter sign. And yet sometimes neither the former nor the latter avail any thing. How oft would I have gathered thy Children, and ye would not, Matth. 23. 37. How often? Intimating ⟨p. 152⟩the many calls Christ gave Jerusalem to come unto him, yet all in vain. Obstinate sinners, Christ hath been knocking and calling at some of your Consciences from your very Child-hood; thousands of Convictions have been tried upon some of you, and yet to this day your Souls are shut fast against him. The Lord hath waited from year to year for your answer, by this signifying how loath he is to part with you; such a time thou wast upon a sick-bed nigh unto Death; at such a time under such a Sermon, and then Christ knocked at thy Soul; if all this be in vain, so many Convictions as you have stifled, so many fagots you carry with you to Hell to increase your flames and torments; yet commonly those quick repetitions and redoublings of the strokes of Convictions end well; and it is a good sign when one Conviction revives another, and the Lord keeps the Soul still waking. But O take heed, and try not his Patience too long, lest the next stroke be more dreadful than all the former; not to open your Hearts, but smite dead your hopes for Heaven.
4ly, Sometimes Christ knocks with a thick succession of Convictions, a quick repetition of his calls. Some men have had thousands of Convictions in a few years; for in this case the Lord saith, as it is Exod. 4. 8. If they will not harken to the voice of the first sign, yet they may believe the voice of the latter sign. And yet sometimes neither the former nor the latter avail any thing. How oft would I have gathered thy Children, and ye woul not, Matth. 23. 37. How often? Intimating ⟨p. 152⟩