A39663:609
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.
To this, the whole Gospel tends; even to persuade sinners to apply Christ, and his blood to their own souls. To this he invited us, Matth. 11.28. Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden; and I will give you rest. For this end our sacrifice was lifted up upon the Altar. Joh. 3.14, 15. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness, so must the son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The Effects of the Law, not only upon the conscience, filling it with torments, but upon the whole person, bringing death upon it; are here shadowed out by the stingings of fiery Serpents; and Christ by the brazen Serpent which Moses exalted for the Israelites, that were stun• to look unto. And as by looking to it, they were healed; so by believing, or looking to Christ in faith, our souls are healed. Those that looked not to the Brazen Serpent, died infallibly; so must all that look not to Jesus, our sacrifice, by faith. It's true,1 the death of Christ is the meritorious cause of remission, but faith is the instrumental applying cause: and as Christs blood is necessary in its place, so is our faith in its place also. For to the actual remission of sin, and peace of conscience; there must be a co-operation of all the causes of remission, and peace. As there is the grace and love of God, for an efficient, and impulsive cause; and the death of Christ our sacrifice, the meritorious cause; so of necessity there must be faith, the instrumental cause. And these concauses do all sweetly meet in their influences, and activities; in our remission, and tranquility of conscience: and are all (suo genere) in their kind, and place absolutely necessary, to the procuring and applying of it.
To this, the whole Gospel tends; even to perswade sinners to apply Christ, and his blood to their own souls. To this he invited us, Matth. 11.28. Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden; and I will give you rest. For this end our sacrifice was lifted up upon the Altar. Joh. 3.14, 15