A39663:1640
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.
IN this Scripture you have the third excellent saying of Christ upon the Cross, expressing the riches of free grace to the penitent Thief. A man that had spent his life in wickedness, and for his wickedness was now to lose his life. His practice had been vile, and profane; but now his heart was broken for it; he proves a Convert, yea, the first fruits of the blood of the Cross. In the former verse he manifests his faith, Lord, remember me, when thou comest into thy Kingdom. In this Christ manifests his pardon, and gracious acceptance of him; verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. In which Promise are considerable, the Matter of it, the Person to whom it is made, the Time set for its Performance, and the Confirmation of it for his full Satisfaction.
IN this Scripture you have the third excellent saying of Christ upon the Cross, expressing the riches of free grace to the penitent Thief. A man that had spent his life in wickedness, and for his wickedness was now to lose his life. His practice had been vile, and profane; but now his heart was broken for it; he proves a Convert, yea, the first fruits of the blood of the Cross. In the former verse he manifests his faith, Lord, remember me, when thou comest into thy Kingdom. In this Christ manifests his pardon, and gratious acceptance of him; verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. In which Promise are considerable, the Matter of it, the Person to whom it is made, the Time set for its Performance, and the Confirmation of it for his full Satisfaction.
First, The Matter or Substance of the Promise made by Christ,§1 viz, that he shall be with him in Paradise. By Paradise he means Heaven it self, which is here shadowed to us by a place of delight and pleasure. This is the receptacle of gracious souls when separated from their bodies. And that Paradise signifies Heaven it self, and not a third place, as some of the Fathers fondly imagined, is evident from, 2 Cor. 12.2, 4. where the Apostle calls the same place by the names of the third Heaven, and Paradise. This is the place of blessedness, designed for the people of God: so you find