A39660:613
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.
I. Direction.
First, If ever you bring the Treaty betwixt Christ and your Souls to an happy issue and conclusion, you must, as before was noted, sit down and count the cost, Luke 14. 28. 'twill be in vain else to engage your selves in the profession of Religion; it is not Christs design to draw you under a rash inconsiderate engagement, and so to reap more dishonour by your apostasy and hypocrisy than ever he shall have glory by your Profession. No, he would have you to foresee and seriously bethink your selves of all the outward troubles and inconveniences you may afterwards meet with for his sake. You are to embark your selves with Christ and abide with him in storms, as well as halcyon days; you must follow the Lamb whether soever he goeth, Rev. 14. 4. There's no retreating after engagement to Christ; If any Man draw back, my Soul shall have no pleasure in him, Heb. 10. 38. 'Tis eternal death by that martial Law of Heaven to run from Christs colours in the day of battle. Well then, retire thy self into the innermost closet of thy Soul; sit quiet and patiently there till thou hast debated this matter fully with thine own thoughts; and hast balanced the good and the evil, the profits and losses of Religion; for want of this the Church is filled with hypocrites, and Hell with inconsiderate and rash Professors; the more we deliberate, the better we shall conclude.
First, If ever you bring the Treaty betwixt Christ and your Souls to an happy issue and conclusion, you must, as before was noted, sit down and count the cost, Luke 14. 28