A39682:347
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.
(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.
5. Another ground is from those horrid injections of Satan, with which the Soul is greatly perplexed; by these I may see what an heart I have: can grace be where these are?
Yes, grace may be where such thoughts are, though not where they are lodged and consented to: dost thou cry out under the burden, enter thy protest in Heaven against them, strive to keep up holy and reverend thoughts of God? then tis a rape, not a voluntary prostitution.