A39660:887
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.
First, That which makes the pardon of sin ravishingly sweet, is the trouble that went before it. The labourings and restless tossings of the troubled Soul, which were antecedent to this pardon, make the ease and peace that follows by it incomparably sweet. As the bitterness of Hell was tasted in the sorrows of sin, so the sweetness of Heaven is tasted in the pardon of it.
Secondly, The nature of the mercy it self is incomparably sweet; for it is a mercy of the first rank. Pardon is •uch a mercy as admits no comfort to come before it, nor any just cause of discouragement can follow after it. If God have not spoken pardon to the Soul, it can have no ⟨p. 359⟩settled ground for joy, Ezek. 33. 10. And if he have, there can be no just ground for dejection, whatever the troubles be that lye upon it, Isa. 33. 24. The inhabitants shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquities.
Secondly, The nature of the mercy it self is incomparably sweet; for it is a mercy of the first rank. Pardon is •uch a mercy as admits no comfort to come before it, nor any just cause of discouragement can follow after it. If God have not spoken pardon to the Soul, it can have no ⟨p. 359⟩fetled ground for joy, Ezek. 33. 10. And if he have, there can be no just ground for dejection, whatever the troubles be that lye upon it, Isa. 33. 24. The inhabitants shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquities.