A39660:877
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, In the next place, I shall evidence the truth and certainty of this most comfortable point, that Christ will come in, and that with singular refreshments and comforts, to every Soul that hears his voice, and opens to him. No present unworthiness, or former rebellions shall bar out Christ, or obstruct his entrance into such a Soul. Whatever thou hast been, or done; all that notwithstanding, Christ will come into thee, and dwell with thee; and make thy Soul an habitation for himself through the Spirit, Eph. 2. 22. I say, let thy Heart but open to him and he will both fill and feast thee, with a non obstante, as to all thy former miscarriages.
Secondly, In the next place, I shall evidence the truth and certainty of this most comfortable point, that Christ will come in, and that with singular refreshments and comforts, to every Soul that hears his voice, and opens to him. No present unworthyness, or former rebellions shall bar out Christ, or obstruct his entrance into such a Soul. Whatever thou hast been, or done; all that notwithstanding, Christ will come into thee, and dwell with thee; and make thy Soul an habitation for himself through the Spirit, Eph. 2. 22. I say, let thy Heart but open to him and he will both fill and feast thee, with a non obstante, as to all thy former miscarriages.
I know it is the common discouragement that multitudes of convinced humbled sinners lye under, who seeing so much vileness in their natures, and practices; cannot be persuaded that ever the Lord Jesus will cast an Eye of favour on them; much less, take up his abode in them. What, dwell in such a Heart as mine, which hath been an habitation of Devils, a sink, a puddle of sin from my beginning! This is hard to be believed; but sinner, thou hast the word of a King from Heaven for it; a word whose credit was never cracked or stained from the first moment it was spoken; that whatever thy former or present vileness or unworthiness hath been, or is; he will not be shy of such a Soul as thou art, if thou be but willing to open to him; thy great unworthiness shall be no bar to his union with thee, If any man open, I will come in to him, &c. For,