B36604:137
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.
3. We say that this real Change passes upon the whole Man: he is changed in Soul, Body and Practice; all things are become new. (1.) This Change appears in his Soul: For by it, (1) His Understanding is strangely altered, and receives things in another way than formerly. It did look at Christ and things Eternal, as uncertain ⟨p. 53⟩and light matters: The things that are seen and present, did mostly affect, and appeared great and excellent: It admired Riches and Honours, while Christ and Glory were over-looked and despised. But now, all these Temporals are esteemed Dung, Dross, Vanity, Phil. 3.8. Rom. 8.18. and Jesus Christ is now esteemed the Wisdom and the Power of God, 1 Cor. 1.23, 24. It did look on the Saints as despicable persons, but now as the Excellent of the Earth, Psa. 16.3. Strictness and Duty was once esteemed a needless thing, but now the only thing desirable, Psal. 119.14. Oh, saith the renewed Soul, where were mine Eyes, that I could see no more Excellency in Christ, his ways, and people! (2) It stops not there (as it doth in Hypocrites) but passes on further, and reduces the Will; that strong Hold is taken, and delivered up to Christ. It did rebel against God, and could not be subject, but now it submits, Act. 9.6. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? In the day of Christs Power, he presents himself in all his drawing glory and loveliness before the Will, and cries to that stubborn Faculty, Open to me, open to me; with which Word there goes forth an opening and subduing Power, which the Will no sooner feels, but it spontaneously moves towards him, and saith, Stand open ye everlasting Gates, that the King of Glory may come in. Henceforth it votes for God, subscribes and submits to his Will, as its only Rule and Law; and indeed, it becomes the principal Seat where Grace makes its Residence; and where, for the most part, it is more visible than in any other Faculty. For after a man hath searched for it in all other Faculties, and cannot discern it, yet here he ordinarily