A39663:2278
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.
so that oftentimes the beginnings and end of your Prayers, hearing, or meditations are as vastly different, as if one man had begun and another ended the duty. O then what assistances for a holy life have you? Others indeed are bound to resist temptations as well as you; but alas, having no special assistance from the Spirit, what can they do? It may be they reason with the Temptation a little while, and in their own strength resolve against it; but how easy a conquest doth Satan make, where no greater opposition is ⟨p. 622⟩made to him, than this? Others are bound to hear, meditate, and pray as well as you; else the neglect of these duties would not be their sin: but alas, what pitiful work do they make of it! Being left to the hardness and vanity of their own hearts; when you spread your Sails you have a gale; but they lie wind-bound, heart-bound, and can do nothing Spiritually in a way of Duty. §4Fourthly, And lastly, to mention no more, you have a further advantage to this holy life, by all the rods of God that are at any time upon you. I might show you in many particulars the advantages this way also, but I shall only present these three to your observation at this time.
so that oftentimes the beginnings and end of your Prayers, hearing, or meditations are as vastly different, as if one man had begun and another ended the duty. O then what assistances for a holy life have you? Others indeed are bound to resist temptations as well as you; but alas, having no special assistance from the Spirit, what can they do? It may be they reason with the Temptation a little while, and in their own strength resolve against it; but how easie a conquest doth Satan make, where no greater opposition is ⟨p. 622⟩made to him, than this? Others are bound to hear, meditate, and pray as well as you; else the neglect of these duties would not be their sin: but alas, what pitiful work do they make of it! Being left to the hardness and vanity of their own hearts; when you spread your Sails you have a gale; but they lie wind-bound, heart-bound, and can do nothing Spiritually in a way of Duty. §4Fourthly, And lastly, to mention no more, you have a further advantage to this holy life, by all the rods of God that are at any time upon you. I might shew you in many particulars the advantages this way also, but I shall only present these three to your observation at this time.