B36604:328
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.
Lastly, you m•st strive to excel in this, forasmuch as no Grace within; or Service without can thrive without it. God hath ordained the whole work of Grace to grow up to perfection this way, Jud. 19.20. He will have all mercies fetched out this way, Ezek. 36.37. Jer. 29.11, 12, 13. All that comes from God to you, or to you from God, must come in this Channel. Be convinced then, of the need you have to improve your selves herein, as ever you hope to stand in the evil day.
But how are these praying abilities capable of improvement in the people of God?
Praying abilities are either external and common, or else internal and special: The external and common ability, is nothing else but that dexterity and skill men get, to express themselves to God in Prayer. Thus many can put their meaning into apt and decent expressions, to which the Spirit sometimes adds his common touches upon the affections. And this Hypocrites rest on and glory in: Or else they are special and internal, whereby men are enabled to pour out their souls to God in a gracious manner. And this may be considered either in the Habit or Act. The Habit is given by the Spirit, when the principles of Grace are first infused into the soul, Zech. 12.10. Acts 9.11. By being sanctified we are made near, and by acting those principles in Prayer we are said to draw near, Psal, 10.17. Now in our actual drawing ⟨p. 113⟩