A39660:915
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.
II. Inference.
Hence in like manner it follows,1 That Christians usually meet the greatest difficulties at their first entrance into Religion.
- 12. Infer.
The first work of Religion is cutting work, wounding work, groaning and weeping work; thus Religion usually begins, Acts 2. 37. Acts 16. 29. Now the Soul seems to be struck dead in the ⟨p. 379⟩giving up of all its former vain hopes, Rom. 7. 9. When the commandment came, sin revived, and I dyed; but afterward comes pardon, peace, joy in the Holy Ghost. They that go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, now come back rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them, Psal. 126. 6. Now that blessing takes place upon the Soul, Matth. 5. 4. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in Heart. 'Tis quite contrary in the ways of sin; all the pleasures of sin come first, the terrors and gripes of Conscience come after. Sin comes with smiles in its face, but a sting in its tail. Pleasures lead the van, Hell and destruction bring up the rear,