A39660:783
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.
And then lastly, The last Effect of Christs voice or call is sweet rest and consolation to the inner Man. When once the Soul is come home to Christ by the efficacy of this heavenly call or voice, it enters into peace, Heb. 4. 3. We which have believed do enter into rest; not only shall, but do enter into rest. As the first Effect of Christs voice was terror and great trouble to the Soul, so the last Effect is peace; it puts the Soul into the most excellent position in the World, for comfort and joy; it never stood upon such ground before; for this vocation, stands betwixt predestination, and glorification, Rom. 8. 30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. See here into what a blessed Mount of vision the voice of Christ calleth the Souls of sinners? where let the Soul look backward, or forward, from eternity to eternity, there is nothing but a vision of peace before its Eyes. This call of God points it backward to Gods eternal choice, which by this very call it is now manifest he made of that Soul before the World was; and it also points forward, to ⟨p. 304⟩that eternal glory unto which God is leading it. These are the Effects of this Almighty voice of Christ, and these the special instructions sealed by it upon the Hearts of Men.
But now, this voice of Christ is not heard at all times, but in some special season or hour, as Christ calls it, John 5. 25. The hour cometh when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And elsewhere, by the Apostle, it is called, the accepted Time, the day of Salvation, 2 Cor. 6. 2. And the conjunction of the Spirit of Christ with the Word, Ordinances, or Providences of God; but especially the Word, makes this blessed hour. The Word alone, though never so excellently preached, conduces no more to the Conviction and Salvation of a sinner, than the Waters of Bethesda did, when the Angel came not down to trouble them,