A39660:903
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.
Now, if such earnests of the Spirit do follow after believing; if opening the Soul to Christ do bring it into these Suburbs of Heaven; who then would not receive Christ into his Soul, and such an heaven upon earth with him? And thus I have showed you what some of those heavenly rarities are with which Christ entertains Believers upon earth, the fullness and perfection whereof is reserved for Heaven, and hereby secured to the opening or believing Soul: which was the first thing to be discovered.
Now, if such earnests of the Spirit do follow after believing; if opening the Soul to Christ do bring it into these Suburbs of Heaven; who then would not receive Christ into his Soul, and such an heaven upon earth with him? And thus I have shewed you what some of those heavenly rarities are with which Christ entertains Believers upon earth, the fulness and perfection whereof is reserved for Heaven, and hereby secured to the opening or believing Soul: which was the first thing to be discovered.
Secondly. Next we shall enquire into the reasons why Christ thus entertains, feasts and refreshes the Soul that receives him. And
First,1 This he doth to express the great joy and satisfaction his Soul hath in the faith and obedience of poor Sinners. We read, Isa. 53. 11. of the hard travel of Christs Soul, and the great satisfaction he hath in the fruit and issue thereof: He shall see of the travel of his Soul, and shall be satisfied. O what pleasure and satisfaction doth it give him to behold the eternal counsels of God, and sore travels of his Soul brought to such a birth! there is no pleasure like it, to the Soul of Christ in this world. As it is abundant satisfaction to a man to behold the accomplishment of a design upon which he hath laid out many thoughts, and much cost, at last happily finished: Or as it is to a Woman that hath had a hard labour, a sore travel for a Child, to behold the fruit of her Womb, to embrace and smile