A39663:52
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.
(5.) If thou hast been a profane and vain person, but now art pardoned, and dost experience the super-abounding riches of grace; my request to thee is, that thou love Jesus Christ with a more fervent love, than ever yet thou hadst for him. Here thou wilt find many great incentives, many mighty arguments; to such a love of Christ; poor soul! consider what thou hast been, what the morning of thy life was. What treasures of guilt, thou laidst up in ⟨image 10⟩those days, and then think, can such a one as I receive mercy? and that mercy not break my heart! can I read my pardon, and mine eyes not drop! What? mercy for such a wretch as I! a pardon for such a Rebel! O what an ingenuous thaw should this cause upon thy heart! if it do not, what a strange heart is thine!
(5.) If thou hast been a prophane and vain person, but now art pardoned, and dost experience the super-abounding riches of grace; my request to thee is, that thou love Jesus Christ with a more fervent love, than ever yet thou hadst for him. Here thou wilt find many great incentives, many mighty arguments; to such a love of Christ; poor soul! consider what thou hast been, what the morning of thy life was. What treasures of guilt, thou laidst up in ⟨image 10⟩those dayes, and then think, can such a one as I receive mercy? and that mercy not break my heart! can I read my pardon, and mine eyes not drop! What? mercy for such a wretch as I! a pardon for such a Rebel! O what an ingenuous thaw should this cause upon thy heart! if it do not, what a strange heart is thine!
Did the love of Christ break through so many impediments to come to thee. Did it make its way through the Law, through the wrath of God, through the grave, through thine own unbelief, and great unworthiness to come to thee? O what a love was the love of Christ to thy soul! And is not thy love strong enough to break through the vanities, and trifles of this world which entangle it, to go to Christ, how poor, how low, and weak is thy love to Christ then?