A39660:629
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.
VIII. Direction.
Eighthly, Be not discouraged in the work of Faith, though no peace or comfort should come in by the first act of it: Nay, though there should be an increase of trouble for the present; the first saving act of Faith certainly puts you into a state of peace, but it may not presently produce the sense of peace; you may after you have believed and really closed with Christ, meet with some discouragements, which may make you question whether Christ have received you or no? Whether he have any love for your Souls or no? Yet held on, whether comfort come or come not; though Christ and comfort are inseparable, yet Christ and the sense of comfort are not so; think not that all your troubles shall be over as soon as ever you believe, because it is said, Heb. 4. 3. We which have believed do enter into rest: That Scripture speaks of a state of rest, and not of the present or continued sense of rest; the Woman of Canaan, in Matth. 15. 26, 27. did really believe in Christ, yet met with sore trials under the first act of her Faith; yet this took her not off from the work of Faith, but rather quickened and inflamed her the more; ⟨p. 228⟩she was glad of a word from Christ, and she expected deeds. O but the words were discouraging, It is not meet to take the Children's bread and give it to Dogs; yet this beats not off her Faith, the Dog belongs to the Family, and crumbs to the Dog. O Woman, saith Christ, great is thy Faith. If you resolve for Christ, you must not be discouraged; a resolute Faith overcomes all difficulties. You pray, you believe, and yet no comfort; well, the vision of Peace is for an appointed time, at the end it will speak and not lye.