A39660:754
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.
V. Character.
Fifthly, This spiritual internal voice of Christ is energetical, great and mighty in power, piercing the heart, cleaving as it were the very reins; full of efficacy to the Soul that hears it. The power of God comes along with this voice of God. You read Hebr. 4. 12. The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged Sword; piercing even to the dividing asunder of the Soul and Spirit, of the Joints and Marrow. Now this efficacy is not inherent in the Word it self, it works not thus as a natural Agent, then all would feel this power that come within the sound of it. No, this comes from the Spirit of Christ, speaking in it to the Sinners Conscience; when it is the administration of the Spirit, then it becomes thus efficacious. You read in Psalm 29. from v. 3. to 10. of the wonderful efficacy of God's providential voice; the voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty; it breaks the Cedars, divides the flames of fire, shakes the wilderness, maketh the Hinds to calve. This the providential voice of God in the winds, thunders, and lightnings can do; but alas, what's this to the efficacy of his spiritual voice? What is the breaking of the Cedars of Lebanon to the breaking of the heart of a Sinner? what is the shaking of the Trees in the wilderness, to the fears of wrath to come, which shake the Souls of convinced Sinners, and make their very hearts to tremble? Acts 16. 30. What is the dividing of the flames of fire, to the dividing of a Soul from its beloved Lusts? The weapons of our warfare (saith the Apostle) ⟨p. 290⟩are mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,