A39660:986
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.
'Tis true, there are some things in Christ which are peculiar to himself, and incommunicable to any creature, as his eternity, consubstantiality with his Father, &c. neither have we fellowship in his mediatorial Works; we have the fruits and benefits of them, but no partnership with him in the glory and honour of them; that is peculiarly his own: and though it be said in the Scriptures, that believers are righteous as he is righteous, yet the meaning is not that they can Justify others, as Christ doth; no, they are Justified by him, but cannot communicate righteousness to others as Christ doth to them. But there are other things wherein there is a partnership betwixt Christ and his people; among others, they partake with him in the Spirit of Sanctification on Earth, and glory in Heaven: The same Spirit of holiness which dwells in Christ without measure, is communicated by him to the Saints in measure, 1 John 4. 13. He hath given us of his Spirit. And as Christ communicates his Spirit to the Saints, so he communicates the glory of Heaven to them; not that they shall be as glorious in Heaven as Christ is, no, no; he will be known among the Saints in glory, as the Sun is known from the lesser Stars. Thus briefly of the state of communion which is called in Scripture, our being made nigh, Eph. 2. 13. and indeed we must be made nigh, before we can actually draw nigh. We must be put into a state of fellowship, before ever we can have actual communion with God.
'Tis true, there are some things in Christ which are peculiar to himself, and incommunicable to any creature, as his eternity, consubstantiality with his Father, &c. neither have we fellowship in his mediatorial Works; we have the fruits and benefits of them, but no partnership with him in the glory and honour of them; that is peculiarly his own: and though it be said in the Scriptures, that believers are righteous as he is righteous, yet the meaning is not that they can Justifie others, as Christ doth; no, they are Justified by him, but cannot communicate righteousness to others as Christ doth to them. But there are other things wherein there is a partnership betwixt Christ and his people; among others, they partake with him in the Spirit of Sanctification on Earth, and glory in Heaven: The same Spirit of holiness which dwells in Christ without measure, is communicated by him to the Saints in measure,