A39660:895
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.
This is the third heavenly dainty you may expect to feed on, if you open your hearts to receive Christ by Faith, else you have all the consolation that ever you must expect.
IV. We read in Scripture of the Sealings of the Spirit, a choice and blessed Privilege of Believers consequent upon believing, Eph. 1. 13. In whom after that ye believed, ye were sealed, &c. This then may be expected, by every Soul that opens to Christ, how rich soever the comforts of it be. The Spirit indeed seals not before Faith, for then he should set his Seal to a Blank; but he usually seals after believing, and that as the Spirit of promise. Note here, the Agent or Person sealing, the Spirit, he knows the counsels, thoughts, and purposes of God, 1 Cor. 2. 10, 11. He also is authorized to this work; and being the Spirit of truth, he cannot deceive us. There is a twofold Seal spoken of in Scripture; one referring to God's eternal foreknowledge and choice of men, 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth who are his, (i. e.) the Lord perfectly knows every Soul that belongs to him, through the world. But now what comfort is this to a poor Believer, that God knows who are his? Therefore there is another sealing referring to the Spirit, as his act upon Believers, to make them know that they are his. The first is general, The Lord knoweth who are is: But this is particular, The Lord knoweth thee to be his. This is joyful news indeed: the former makes it sure in it self, the latter makes it sure to us. Now this is a most glorious privilege, a work of the Spirit which hath a most ravishing delicious sweetness in it; and that which makes it so, is (1) The weightiness of the matter sealed to, which is no less than Christ, and the eternal Inheritance purchased by his Blood. This Seal secures our Title ⟨p. 367⟩to Christ, and to the eternal glory: We are sealed to the day of redemption. The sealed Believer can say, Christ, how great, how glorious soever he be, is my Christ; the Covenant of Grace, and all the invaluable promises contained in it are mine.