A39660:579
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.
1. Though Christ be thus intent and earnest in his suit for your consent, yet he gaineth nothing by you when you do consent; the gain is to your selves, but not to him; He is over all God blessed for ever, Rom. 9. 5. above all accessions from the Creature: What doth the Sun gain by enlightening and animating the lower World? Or what doth a Fountain gain when Men drink and are refreshed by its Waters? If any Soul that heareth me, this day, should presently resolve henceforth to break asunder all the ties and engagements betwixt him and sin, to subscribe the Articles of the Gospel, to give away himself Soul and Body to Christ, to live henceforth as an hallowed dedicated Creature to the Lord Jesus; this indeed would turn to the infinite and everlasting advantage of such a Soul, but yet Christ cannot be profited thereby.
1. Though Christ be thus intent and earnest in his suit for your consent, yet he gaineth nothing by you when you do consent; the gain is to your selves, but not to him; He is over all God blessed for ever, Rom. 9. 5. above all accessions from the Creature: What doth the Sun gain by enlightning and animating the lower World? Or what doth a Fountain gain when Men drink and are refreshed by its Waters? If any Soul that heareth me, this day, should presently resolve henceforth to break asunder all the tyes and engagements betwixt him and sin, to subscribe the Articles of the Gospel, to give away himself Soul and Body to Christ, to live henceforth as an hallowed dedicated Creature to the Lord Jesus; this indeed would turn to the infinite and everlasting advantage of such a Soul, but yet Christ cannot be profited thereby.
2ly, And that which still increaseth the wonder is this, that though Christ makes no gain or profit by our Conversion, yet hath he impoverished himself to gain such unprofitable Creatures as we are to him. He hath made himself poor to make us rich; so speaks the Apostle, in 2 Cor. 8. 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. He expends his riches, makes no advantage unto himself; his incarnation impoverished his reputation,