A39660:839
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.
(1.) To this the commands of the Gospel look; it lies full in the Eye of the preceptive part of the Gospel, 1 Job. 3. 23. And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ. And it is a very great encouragement (if rightly considered) that faith is constituted a duty by a plain Gospel precept; for this cuts off that vain pretence and plea of presumption; What, such a vile wretch as thou (saith Satan) presume to believe in Christ! But this cuts off the plea. Here's a command from the highest Sovereignty, the contempt whereof Men shall answer at their utmost peril.
(1.) To this the commands of the Gospel look; it lyes full in the Eye of the preceptive part of the Gospel, 1 Iob. 3. 23. And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the Name of his Son Iesus Christ. And it is a very great encouragement (if rightly considered) that faith is constituted a duty by a plain Gospel precept; for this cuts off that vain pretence and plea of presumption; What, such a vile wretch as thou (saith Satan) presume to believe in Christ! But this cuts off the plea. Here's a command from the highest Sovereignty, the contempt whereof Men shall answer at their utmost peril.
(2ly,) This also is the declared end and scope of the Gospel promises and threatenings, whereby the Souls of sinners are assaulted on both sides: As for Promises, how are all the sacred pages of the Bible adorned with them, as the Firmament with radiant Stars! Amongst which that in the Text seems to excel in glory, If any Man open to me, I will come in to him. Like unto which, is that John 6. 35, 37. I am the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me ⟨p. 333⟩shall never thirst; him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. Such rich and excellent encouragements to faith had never been put into the promises, but for faiths sake; and then for Gospel threatenings, though they have a dreadful sound, yet they have a gracious design; what a terrible thunder-clap is that,