A39663:1201
The Fountain of Life Opened
The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carried on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...
London: printed for Rob. White, 1673
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, Consider how dear those profits or pleasures cost, which are purchased with the loss of inward peace! there is nothing in this word good enough to recompense such a loss; or balance the misery of a tormenting Conscience. If you violate it, and prostitute it for a fleshly lust, it will remember the injury you did it many years after. Gen. 42.21. Job. 13.26. It will not only retain the memory of what you did, but it will accuse you for it. Matth. 27.4. It will not fear to tell you that plainly which others dare not whisper. It will not only accuse, but it will also condemn you for what you have done. This condemning voice of Conscience is a very terrible voice.
First, Consider how dear those profits or pleasures cost, which are purchased with the loss of inward peace! there is nothing in this word good enough to recompence such a loss; or ballance the misery of a tormenting Conscience. If you violate it, and prostitute it for a fleshly lust, it will remember the injury you did it many years after. Gen. 42.21. Iob. 13.26. It will not only retain the memory of what you did, but it will accuse you for it. Matth. 27.4. It will not fear to tell you that plainly which others dare not whisper. It will not only accuse, but it will also condemn you for what you have done. This condemning voice of Conscience is a very terrible voice.
You may see the horror of it in Cain; the vigour of it in Judas; the doleful effects of it in Spira. It will from all these its offices produce shame, fear, and despair, if God give not repentance to life. The shame it works will so confound you, that you will not be able to look up.