A39660:593
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.
IV. Inference.
Is Christ such an earnest Suitor for union with sinners, then certainly they are the enemies of Christ and the Souls of Men, that any way endeavour to hinder or break off the match betwixt Christ and them.
Is Christ such an earnest Suiter for union with sinners, then certainly they are the enemies of Christ and the Souls of Men, that any way endeavour to hinder or break off the match betwixt Christ and them.
Some there are that labour to create jealousies and beget distastes, and prejudices in the Souls of Men against Christ and his ways; Men that bring up an evil report upon Christ, and strict Religion; as that which will beggar them and expose them to all the miseries of the World: Who, instigated by Satan, whisper such stories into the Souls Ear whom Christ is wooing for himself; that the severity of Religion will certainly extinguish all their joys and pleasures; they shall never laugh more, never be merry more. Beside, it will expose all their comforts upon Earth to hazard, their Estates and Lives must fall a prey to their Enemies; and this is the Estate which Christ will Jointure them if they ⟨p. 206⟩consent to his terms: And that this is no groundless jealousy of their own, but that Christ himself hath openly declared as much; That he that will come after him, must hate Father and Mother, Wife and Children, yea, and his own Life also. This is what they must expect as the fruit of their consent to Christs proposals. But O what will these Men have to answer, and how will they stand before Christ another day, who are such professed enemies to his Cross, and set themselves so directly in opposition to the great design Christ is driving on in the World! Is it not enough that you will not enter your selves, but you will hinder them that would?