A39660:828
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.
Secondly, And then in the next place, as it is an exceeding great and important design and work of God, so it is a very hard and difficult work in it self; a work whose difficulties surmounts the abilities of Angels. It is certainly a work carried on by the mighty power of God, through the greatest oppositions imaginable. And therefore it is noted, Rev. 3. 7. that it is the peculiar Prerogative of Jesus Christ, who only hath the Key of the house of David, to open the heart of a Sinner by Faith. Men think it is an easy thing to believe; but if you consult the Scriptures, you will quickly be informed how grossly you mistake the nature of this work. In Col. 2. 12. the believing Soul is said to rise with Christ, through the faith of the operation of God, who raised him from the dead. In the Resurrection of Christ, there was a glorious operation of the power of God indeed; you know it astonished the world to hear of it. The very same power that wrought that, must also be put forth to work this, or else it would never be wrought. So again, Eph. 2. 8. By Grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of your selves, ⟨p. 326⟩it is the gift of God; not of your selves. You are no more able to believe in Christ, than you were to raise him from the dead: No more able to come one step towards him by Faith in your own power, than Lazarus was able to unbind himself in the Grave, and come forth. Yea, in Eph. 1. 18, 19, 20. the work of believing is ascribed unto the exceeding greatness of the power of God, Nothing but power can do it; no other power but the Almighty power of God can do it: It exceeds the power of Ministers, yea of Angels. Three things will evince the difficulty of this work, Viz. 1. The Nature of it. 2. The Subject of it. 3. The Enemies of it.
Secondly, And then in the next place, as it is an exceeding great and important design and work of God, so it is a very hard and difficult work in it self; a work whose difficulties surmounts the abilities of Angels. It is certainly a work carried on by the mighty power of God, through the greatest oppositions imaginable. And therefore it is noted,