A39682:346
A Saint Indeed
A saint indeed: or The great work of a Christian, opened and pressed; from Prov. 4. 23 Being a seasonable and proper expedient for the recovery of the much decayed power of godliness, among the professors of these times. By John Flavell M. of the Gospel.
London: printed by W.R., 1668
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.
(2. Quer.) Dost thou not make conscience of private duties, and set thy self as before the Lord in them? Indeed, if thou live in the constant neglect, or careless performance of them, if thou art curious about public, and careless about private duties, that would be a sad sign: but when you have conscientiously performed and often met with God in them, it will not follow you are insincere, because that communion is sometimes interrupted. Besides.
(2. Quer.) Dost thou not make conscience of private duties, and set thy self as before the Lord in them? Indeed, if thou live in the constant neglect, or careless performance of them, if thou art curious about publick, and careless about private duties, that would be a sad sign: but when you have conscientiously performed and often met with God in them, it will not follow you are insincere, because that communion is sometimes interrupted. Besides.
(3. Quer.) May there not be something at sometimes in a public, which is wanting in a private duty to raise and advantage thine affections. God m•y sometimes make use of the melting affections of them with whom thou hearest or prayest, as petty instruments to move thy affections; this advantage is wanting in private, therefore from hence (the case so standing) no such inference can be drawn.
(3. Quer.) May there not be something at sometimes in a publick, which is wanting in a private duty to raise and advantage thine affections. God m•y sometimes make use of the melting affections of them with whom thou hearest or prayest, as petty instruments to move thy affections; this advantage is wanting in private, therefore from hence (the case so standing) no such inferrence can be drawn.