A39663:1324
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, That we shall carry it but a little way. Secondly, Christ bears the heaviest end of it. Thirdly, innumerable blessings and mercies grow upon the Cross of Christ.
1First, We shall bear it but a little way. It should be enough to me (saith a holy one) that Christ will have joy and sorrow halfers of the life of the saints. And that each of them should have a share of our days, as the night and day are kindly partners of time; and take it up betwixt them. But if sorrow be the greediest halfer of our days here, I know joys day shall dawn: and do more than recompense all our sad hours.
1First, We shall bear it but a little way. It should be enough to me (saith a holy one) that Christ will have joy and sorrow halfers of the life of the saints. And that each of them should have a share of our daies, as the night and day are kindly partners of time; and take it up betwixt them. But if sorrow be the greediest halfer of our days here, I know joys day shall dawn: and do more than recompence all our sad hours.
- 1If twenty crosses be written for you in Gods book, they will come at last to nineteen, and after that nothing. But your head betwixt Christs breasts for evermore, and his own soft hand to dry your face and wipe away your tears.
Let my Lord Jesus (since he will do so) weave my bit, and span length of time wi•h white and black; well and woe. — Let the rose be neighbour with the thorn. — When we are over the water Christ shall cry. Down Crosses and up Heaven for evermore. Down Hell, and down Death, and down Sin, and down Sorrow: and up Glory, up Life, up Joy for evermore. 'Tis true, Christ and his Cross are not separable in this life, how be it, Christ and his Cross part at Heavens door. For there is no house-room for crosses in Heaven. One tear, one sigh, one sad heart, one fear, one loss, one thought of trouble, cannot find lodging there. — Sorrow and the saints are not married together; or suppose it were so, Heaven shall make a divorce. Life is but short, and therefore crosses cannot be long. Our sufferings are but for a while.