B36604:133
Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity,…
Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity, excellency, and means of our readiness for sufferings are evinced and prescribed; our call to suffering cleared, and the great unreadiness of many professors bewailed. By John Flavel minister of Christ in Devon.Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity, excellency, and means of our readiness for sufferings are evinced and prescribed; our call to suffering cleared, and the great unreadiness of many profesours bewailed. By John Flavel minister of Christ in Devon.
London: printed for Robert Boulter, 1681
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.
But this Change consists in the infusion of New Habits of Grace into the Old Faculties; which immediately depose Sin from its dominion over the Soul, and deliver up the Soul into the Hands and Government of Christ; so that it lives no more to it self, but to Christ. This is that Change whereof we speak: And this Change (2) I assert to be real, no fancy, ⟨p. 50⟩nor delusion; not a groundless conceit, but it is really existent, extra mentem, whether you conceit it or not. Indeed, the blind World would persuade us it is suppositious; and fantastic; and that there is no such real difference betwixt one man and another, as we affirm Grace makes. And hence it is, that whoever professeth it, is presently branded for a Fanatic; and that Scripture, Esa. 56.5. Stand by thy self, I am holier than thou, &c. clapped in their Teeth, in their absurd and perverse sense of it.
But this Change consists in the infusion of New Habits of Grace into the Old Faculties; which immediately depose Sin from its dominion over the Soul, and deliver up the Soul into the Hands and Government of Christ; so that it lives no more to it self, but to Christ. This is that Change whereof we speak: And this Change (2) I assert to be real, no phansie, ⟨p. 50⟩nor delusion; not a groundless conceit, but it is really existent, extra mentem, whether you conceit it or not. Indeed, the blind World would perswade us it is suppositious; and phantastick; and that there is no such real difference betwixt one man and another, as we affirm Grace makes. And hence it is, that whoever professeth it, is presently branded for a Phanatique; and that Scripture, Esa. 56.5. Stand by thy self, I am holier than thou, &c. clapt in their Teeth, in their absurd and perverse sence of it.
But I shall briefly offer these seven things to your consideration, which will abundantly evince the reality of it, and at once both stop the slanderous mouths of ignorant men, and silence those Atheistical Surmises, which at any time Satan may inject into the hearts of Gods own people touching this matter. And first, let it be considered, that the Spirit of God hath represented to us this Work of Grace, under such Names and Notions in Scripture, as if they had been chosen purposely to obviate this Calumny. It's called a Creature,