A39660:793
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.
II. Inference.
What dignity hath God stamped on Gospel Ordinances, in making them the organs and mediums through and by which Christ speaks life to dead Souls! This greatly exalts the dignity of the Gospel, and deservedly endears it to all our Souls. I deny not but God can convey Spiritual life immediately without them; but though he hath not tied up himself, yet he hath tied us up to a diligent and constant attendance upon them; and that with the deepest respect and reverence to them, Luke 10. 16. He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me. Behold, how the sin is graduated, and aggravated to the height of sinfulness. The contempt of the Gospel runs much higher than Men are aware of. We think it no great matter to neglect or contemn a messenger of Jesus Christ; but that contempt flies in the very face and authority of Christ, who gave them their Commissions; yea, in the very face of God the Father, who gave Christ his Commission. Christ speaks in and by his Ministers, they are as his mouth, Jer. 15. 19. Moreover, the sin sticks at ⟨p. 312⟩our own Souls, and we injure them as well as Christ: For the Word preached is his appointed Instrument to convey spiritual life, the best of Blessings to our Souls. Upon which account it is called the Word of life, Phil. 2. 16. and the power of God to salvation,