A39663:2281
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.
A Cross without a Christ never made any man better; but with Christ, Saints are much the better for the cross. Hath God as it were laid you out so many days and nights a whitening; and yet is not the hue of your conversation altered? Hath he put you so many times into the furnace, and yet is not your dross separated? The more afflictions you have been under, the more assistance you have had for this life of holiness.
A Cross without a Christ never made any man better; but with Christ, Saints are much the better for the cross. Hath God as it were laid you out so many daies and nights a whitening; and yet is not the hue of your conversation altred? Hath he put you so many times into the furnace, and yet is not your dross separated? The more afflictions you have been under, the more assistance you have had for this life of holiness.
Thirdly, By all your troubles God hath been weaning you from the world, the lusts, loves, and pleasures of it; and drawing out your souls to a more excellent life and state than this. He makes your sorrows in this life, give a lustre to the glory of the next. Who ever hath, be sure you shall have no rest here; and all that you may long more ardently for that to come. He often makes you groan being burdened, to be clothed with your house from Heaven, 1 Cor. 5.4. And yet will you not be weaned from the lusts, customs, and evils of it? Oh what manner of persons should you be for heavenly and holy conversations? You stand upon the higher ground. You have as it were the wind and tide with you. None are assisted for this life, as you are. Put all this together, and see what this second argument contributes towards your further conviction, and persuasion to holiness of life. Have you received a supernatural principle fitting you for, and inclining you to holy actions, resisting and holding you back from sin? Hath God also set before you such eminent patterns to encourage and quicken you in your way? Doth the Spirit himself stand ready so many ways to assist and help you in all difficulties, ⟨p. 334⟩