A39660:832
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.
Thirdly, We are next to speak of the instruments employed in this great design; and these are 1. Principal, or 2. Subordinate.
Thirdly, We are next to speak of the instruments imployed in this great design; and these are 1. Principal, or 2. Subordinate.
(1.) The Principal instrument in whose efficacy the Heart is opened, is the Spirit of God; without whom it is impossible the design should ever prosper; neither Ordinances, Providences, or Ministers can successfully manage it without him. If the Lord will make use of any Man for the Conversion and Salvation of another's Soul, he may rejoice in it; but withal must say as Peter to the Jews, Acts 3. 12. Why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power, or holiness we had ⟨p. 329⟩made this man to walk? So may the ablest Minister in the World say, when God blesses his labours to the conversion of any Soul; look not upon me, as though by the strength of my reason, or power of my gifts, I had opened thy Soul to Christ; this is the work of Gods Spirit, in whose hand I am an instrument, 1 Cor. 3. 7. He that plants is nothing, and he that waters is nothing. Nothing in himself, the very first stroke of conviction which is introductive to the whole work of conversion is justly ascribed to the Spirit, Job. 16. 9. The Spirit when be cometh shall convince the world of sin. He is the Lord of all sanctifying and gracious influences; Ordinances are but as the sails of a Ship, Ministers as the Seamen that manage those sails; the Anchor may be weighed, the sails spread, but when all is done, there is no sailing, till a gale come. We preach, and pray, and you hear; but there is no motion Christward, until the Spirit of God (compared to the wind, John 3. 8