A39660:649
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.
But, O saith the poor Soul,1 who can do this? I am willing to have Christ, and to come up to every term he hath laid down in the Gospel; I am willing to part with every sin, and to endure any suffering for Christ; but, Oh, I tremble to think, if it should come to a Prison, to a Stake, to an actual separation from all the Comforts and Relations I have in the World, what I shall do for strength to go through such hard and difficult work as this? Here's the great rub in the way of many Souls, they find a willingness, but fear the want of strength.
- 1Object.
Ans. How or where you shall find strength to endure and suffer these things for Christ,1 is not the question now before you. God will take care for that, and it shall be given you in that hour, and so others have found, who have had the very same fears you have. I say, the question is not whether you be able, but whether you be heartily willing. Christ asks but your Will, he will provide Ability; the greatest Believer in the World cannot say I am able, to suffer this or that for Christ; but the least Believer in the World must say I am willing, the Lord assisting me, to endure and suffer all things for his sake; and this is the Second thing included in opening to Christ.
- 1Sol.
3ly, The Third thing which perfects, and consummates the whole act, is an entire choice of of Jesus Christ upon all those terms prescribed by him; the entireness of the choice, without