A39663:2279
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, By these you are clogged, to prevent your straying, and wandering. Others may wander even as far as Hell, and God will not spend a sanctified rod upon them to reduce or stop them; but saith let them alone, Hos. 4.17. But if you straggle out of the way of holiness, he will clog you with one trouble or another to keep you within bounds, 2 Cor. 12.7. Lest I should be lifted up, a thorn in the flesh; a messenger of Satan was sent to buffet me. So David, Psal. 119.67. Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I have kept thy Word. Afflictions are used by God, as thorns by husbandmen to stop the gaps, and keep you from breaking out of Gods way, Hos. 2.6. I will hedge up her way with thorns, and build a wall that she shall not find her paths. A double allusion. First, to Cattle that are apt to stray. I will hedge up thy way with thorns. Secondly, to the Sea which is apt to over-flow the Country, I will build a wall to prevent inundations. Holy Basil was a long time sorely afflicted with an inveterate head-ache, he often prayed for the removal of it; at last God removed it, but in the room of it he was sorely exercised with the motions and temptations of Lust; which when he perceived, he heartily desired his head-ache again, to prevent a worse evil. You little know the ends and uses of many of your afflictions. Are you exercised with bodily weaknesses, it's a mercy you are so; and if these pains and infirmities were removed, these clogs taken off; you may with Basil wish for them again to prevent worse evils. Are you poor? why, with that poverty God hath clogged your pride. Are you reproached? with those reproaches God hath clogged your ambition. Corruptions are prevented by your afflictions. And is not this a marvellous help to holiness of life?
First, By these you are clogged, to prevent your straying, and wandering. Others may wander even as far as Hell, and God will not spend a sanctified rod upon them to reduce or stop them; but saith let them alone, Hos. 4.17. But if you straggle out of the way of holiness, he will clog you with one trouble or another to keep you within bounds,