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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	life_n	open_v	write_v	5,295	5	5.8643	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39660	Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20 : wherein is opened the admirable condescension and patience of Christ in waiting upon trifling and obstinate sinners, the wretched state of the unconverted, the nature of evangelical faith ..., the riches of free grace in the offers of Christ ..., the invaluable priviledges of union and communion granted to all who receive him ... / by John Flavell ...	Flavel, John, 1630?-1691.	1689 (1689)	Wing F1159A; ESTC R40912	301,553	568

optimus Theologus evasurus est Nudati donis non possumus veritatem propugnare aut veritatis inimicos oppugnare Non bona indoles nec elocutionis gratia non gestus decor aut conversationis urbanitas pro egestate donorum compensare queat Utcunque Fratres prae omnibus cavete ne germinante indies Arbore scientiae sola sterilescat Arbor vitae ut eximius Theologus satis apposite l●quitur ne sint apud vos ultima prima prima vicissim ultima tam pestifera inversio toto conversionis operi exitialis erit caput regulatum est valde desiderandum sed cor sanctum absolute necessarium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. XII 31. Vigeant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed emineat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 altius radices figant cordibus vestris 〈◊〉 magni Apostoli 1 Cor. IX 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quid enim prodest peritum esse periturum Aliud est erudiri de veritatibus Christi aliud edoceri de eo sicut veritas est in Jesu Noctes atques dies mentibus vestris insideat grav is ista cautela literatissimi Reynoldi nostri Ne nobis nimium adblandiamur si forsan exquisitissimis naturae dotibus ingenii acumine sermonis elegantia varia lectione longo rerum usu Artium linguarum scientiarum omnium peritia judicii gravitate rationis pene angelica perspicacia nos Deus ornaverit nisi simul accedat Spiritualis gratiae adjutorium quo Coelestis mysterii cognitionemque adaptemur Quamvis enim splendidissima haec 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 merito nobis in animis affectibus hominum famam gratiamque conciliant quamvis magnum inde Reipub literariae Ecclesiae Christi emolumentum accedat nullum tamen ex sese aut ad Dei favorem aut ad Coelestis beatitudinis mercedem consequendam momentum conferunt Det Deus dona ministrantia sanctificantia ut Christi Propugnatores inimicorum ejus Expugnatores vosmet comprobetis Sed manum de tabula Epistolam hanc levidensem pingui ut aiunt Minerva contextam benevole tamen excipite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 debitae observantiae A Conservo vestro in Evangelio Christi Johanne Flavello By reason of the Authors distance from the Press some mistakes have escaped which the Candid Reader is desired to Correct ERRATA in this Epistle PAge 3. l. 4. read omnimode p. 5. l. 9. after ita add neque ib. r. regimen p. 7. l. 6. for r. ut p. 10. l. 12. for iniquitatem r. iniquitatum TO THE READER THE worthy Author of the Discourse emitted herewith is one whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the Churches His other Books have made his Name precious and famous in both Englands Nor can my Testimony add any thing to one every way greater than my self Nevertheless a singular Providence having cast my Lot to be at present in this great City I could not withstand the importunity of them who desi●ed a few Prefatory Lines to manifest the Respect I owe to this Renowned and Learned Man. It was a wife Reproof which a grave Divine administred to a young Preacher who entertained his Auditory with an elaborate Discourse After he had commended his parts and pains there was said he one thing wanting in the Sermon I could not perceive that the Spirit of God was in it And though Morality is good and necessary to be taught and practised yet it is much to be lamented that many Preachers in these days have hardly any other Discourses in their Pulpits than what we may find in Seneca Epictetus Plutarch or some such Heathen Moralist Christ the Holy Spirit and in a word the Gospel is not in their Sermons But blessed be God that there are some and great is their Company in this Land of Light who preach the Truth as it is in Jesus And he who has taken the Book out of the Right Hand of him that sits on the Throne and is worthy to open the Seals thereof has been pleased in wonderful ways to set open and keep open a door of Liberty to the Gospel that they unto whom he has given an Heart to Preach Christ may do it This is the Lords doings This is a Spirit of Life from God. When Cyrus proclaimed Liberty for the free Exercise of Religion the Lords Servants who for some years had lain dead were brought out of their Graves Ezek. 37. 12 13. This Treatise is a word in season God has made the Author to be a wise Master-builder in his House and acccording to the Wisdom given him of God he has inlarged on a Gospel subject very proper to be insisted on at such a day as this I am inform'd by unquestionable hands that there was a remarkable pouring out of the Spirit when these Sermons were viva voce delivered a great number of Souls having been brought home to Christ thereby The Lord grant that the second preaching of them to far greater Multitudes by this way of the Press may by the same Spirit be made abundantly successful for the Conversion and Salvation of Gods Elect. The Fruit brought forth by the Holy Apostles in respect of the Writings of some as well as the Doctrin preach'd by all of them does still remain The fruitful Labors of this faithful Servant of Christ will promote the Glory of God and the good of Souls when he himself shall cease from his Labors and his Works shall follow him Let the Lords people be thankful to him for that he has sent such a Labourer into the Harvest and pray that he may be continued long therein and that many such for there are but ●ew such may be raised up and be made eminently successful in their holy endeavours to the inlargement of the Kingdom of Christ and of God and let him reign in this Land for ever and ever which is the Hearts Desire and Prayer of one who is Less then the least of all Saints INCREASE MATHER London 18. 1689. Books written by the Author and sold by Matthew Wotton at the Three Daggers in Fleetstreet FLavell's Fountain of Life opened or a Display of Christ in his Essential and Medi●torial Glory 4 o. The Method of Grace in bringing ho●● the Eternal Redemption 4 o. Discourse of the Immortality of the Soul. 4 o. Husbandry Spiritualized or the Heavenly use of Earthly things 4 o. Two Treatises of Fear and Evil days 8 o. Divine Conduct or the Mystery of Providence 8 o. The Saint Indeed the great Work of a Christian opened and pressed from Prov●r● 4. 23. 12 o. The Touch-stone of sincerity or signs of Grace and Symptoms of Hypocrisie Being the second Part of the Saint Indeed The Seaman's Compass 8 o. The Seaman's Companion containing Six Sermons suited to the various conditions of Seamen 12 o. Token for Mourners or Boundaries for Sorrow on Death of Friends 12 o. Preparation for Sufferings 12 o. Sacramental Meditations 12 o. Balm of the Covenant

believing and hungering after Christ Their examples shall be your Judges These are Gods Witnesses Secondly Next let us consider what are the object matters unto which they give their testimony and that will be found two-fold according to the two-fold event the Gospel hath upon them that hear it of both which the Apostle gives us this account 2 Cor. 2. 16. Vnto some we are the savour of life unto life and unto others the savour of death unto death Accordingly a double Record is made 1. Of the obedience and faith of some which Record will be produced to their joy and comfort in the day of the Lord when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe because our testimony among you was believed in that day Ministers are Instruments of espousing Souls to Christ and Witnesses to those espousals and contracts made betwixt him and them 2 Cor. 11. 2. Both these offices are exceeding grateful and pleasant to every faithful Minister 2. A Record is made and Witness taken of all the refusals disobedience and slightings of Christ by others Thus Moses will be the accuser of the Jews John 5. 45. Do not think I will accuse you to the Father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom you trust This is the saddest part of a Ministers-work the fore-thoughts of it are more afflictive than all our Labours and Sufferings There is a three-fold Record made in this case 1st Of the time men have enjoyed under the means of Salvation how many years they have sat barren and dead hearted under the labours of Gods faithful Ministers Luke 13. 7. Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this Fig-tree and find none Behold the same term of Notification with that in the Text applyed to the time of Gods patience towards them And again Ier. 25. 3. From the thirteenth year of Josiah even unto this day that is the three and twentieth year the word of the Lord hath come unto me and I have spoken unto you rising early and speaking but ye have not hearkened Oh consider all the years and days you have spent under the Gospel are upon your Dooms-day-book 2dly Records are also made of all the instruments that ever God employed for the Conversion and Salvation of your Souls So many Ministers whether fixed or transient as have spent their labours upon you are upon the Book of your account Ier. 25. 4. The Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the Prophets rising early and sending them but ye have not hearkened nor enclined your ear to hear They have wasted their Lungs dropt their compassionate tears and burnt down one after another as Candles to direct you to Christ and Salvation but all in vain 3dly Every call perswasion and argument used by them to espouse you to Christ is likewise upon the Book of account Prov. 1. 24. 25. Because I have called and you refused I have stretched my hand and no man regarded but you have set at nought all my counsels and would none of my reproofs These calls and counsels are of too great value with God though of none with you to be lost and left out of your account Thirdly we shall in the last place inquire into the grounds and reasons of these Judicial procedures of God why he will have every mans obedience and disobedience Registred and Witnessed for or against him under Gospel administrations and there are two weighty reasons thereof First that wherever the end of the Gospel is attained in the Conversion of any soul that soul and all that were instrumentally employ'd about the salvation of it may have their proper reward and comfort in the great day 2 Cor. 1. 14. As also you have acknowledged us in part that we are your rejoycing even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Iesus This will be matter of joy unspeakable both to you that shall receive and to them that shall give such a comfortable testimony for you Oh the joyful congratulations that will be in that day between Laborious Faithful Ministers and their Believing Obedient Hearers Lord this was the blessed instrument of my happy Illumination and Conversion though I might have ten thousand Instructers in Christ yet not many Fathers for by the blessing of thy Spirit upon this mans Ministry my Soul was begotten to Christ. And on the other side Lord these are the Souls for whom I travelled as in birth until Christ was formed in them 'T is a glorious thing to say as the Prophet Here am I and the children God hath given me Nay those that were but collaterally useful to help on the work of God begun by others must not lose their reward in that day Iohn 4. 36. And he that reapeth receiveth wages and gathereth fruit unto life eternal that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoyce together Secondly Records are now made and Witnesses taken that thereby the Judicial Sentence of Jesus Christ in the last day may be made clear and perspicuous to all the world that every mouth may be stopt and no Plea or Apology left in the mouth of any condemned Sinner For Christ in that day cometh to convince all that are ungodly Iude ver 15. to convince by demonstration that all that are Christless now may be found speechless then Matth. 22. 12. Here it is said Psal. 1. 5. That the wicked shall not stand or rise up in the Iudgment And no wonder when so many full testimonies and unexceptionable Witnesses shall come point blank against them the Minister that preach'd the word they preached their own consciences and the examples of all Believers will be produced against them 1. INFERENCE First The undoubted certainty of a day of Iudgment is hence evinced To what purpose else are Records made and Witnesses taken but with respect to an Audit day this is a truth sealed upon the consciences of the very Heathens Rom. 2. 15. their consciences bear witness But in vain are all these Records made unless there be a day to produce and plead them and of that day the Prophet Daniel speaks Dan. 7. 10. The Iudgment was set and the Books were opened And again Rev. 20. 12. And I saw the Dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works Believe it Friends these are no devised Fables but most awful and infallible truths according to the saving effects the Gospel now hath it will be a time of refreshing to our Souls Acts 3. 19. to all others a day of terrour wrath and amazement 2 Thes. 1. 7 8. The day in which the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming Fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not

the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ. 2. INFER What a spur is here to Ministerial diligence and faithfulness 'T is an awful work that is under our hands the effects of the Gospel which we preach will be the savour of life or Death to them that hear us If the Lord prosper it in our hands we shall be witnesses for you it will be an addition to our glory in Heaven Dan. 12. 3. They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and as the Stars for ever and ever But if we be Ignorant Lazy Men-pleasers our people will come in as swift Witnesses against us and their blood will be required at our hands it will be an intollerable aggravation to our misery in Hell to have any that sat under our Ministry thus upbraiding us O cruel man thou sawest my soul in danger and never dealt faithfully and plainly with me the same time and breath which was spent in idle and worldly discourse might have been instrumental to have sav'd me from this place of torment Let Ministers consider themselves as Witnesses for God and their People as Witnesses for or against them and under that consideration so study preach and pray that they may with Paul take God to record that they are free from the blood of all men no sort of men upon earth have more spurs to diligence and faithfulness than we have 3. INFER What a Pill is this to purge formality out of all that hear us every Sabbath every Sermon is recorded in Heaven for or against your souls at what rate soever you attend to the word all that you hear is set down in the book of your account think not you shall return as you came the word will have its effect and end it shall not return in vain but shall accomplish the end for which it is sent Isaiah 55. 11. The decrees of Heaven are executed by the Gospel some souls shall be quickened and others shall be slain by the words of Gods mouth Ezek. 47. 9 10. The Gospel is a River of the waters of Life which quickens and refreshes every thing that lives but the myre and marish places shall not be healed How weighty therefore is that caution of our blessed Lord Luke 8. 18. Take heed how you hear When you come under an ordinance you are sowing seed for Eternity Gal. 6. 7 8. Which will spring up in the world to come Preaching and hearing may be considered two ways Physically or Morally in the former respect these acts are quickly over and pass away I shall by and by have done preaching and you hearing this Sermon will be ended in a little time but the consequences thereof will abide for ever Therefore for the Lords sake away with formality no more drowsie eyes or wandering thoughts Oh when you come to attend upon the Ministry of the Gospel that such thoughts as these might prepare your minds The word I am going to hear will quicken or kill save or damn my soul if I sit dead under it and return barren from it I shall with one day that I had never seen the face of that Minister nor heard his voice that preached it 4. INFER What a dreadful condition are all those in that are real and professed Enemies to the Gospel and them that preach it That instead of embracing and obeying the message of the Gospel reject and despise it instead of opening their hearts to receive it open their blasphemous mouths against it to deride it and hiss it if it were possible out of the world Ah what a book of remembrance is written for such men I fear there never was an age since Christianity blessed this Nation that was more deeply drench'd in the guilt of this sin than the present age How are the Messengers of the Gospel slighted and rejected What have we done to deserve it Is not our case this day much like that of the Prophet Ier. 18. 20. Shall evil be recompensed for good for they have digged a Pit for my Soul remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them and to turn away thy wrath from them What bruitish madness hath possest the souls of these men but alas it is not so much they as Satan acting in them he is a jealous Prince the Gospel allarms him his Subjects are in danger of revolting from him No wonder therefore he makes an out-cry at the liberty of the Gospel as is used to be made when an Enemy invades a Kingdom In this case Christ directs his Ministers to shake off the dust of their feet for a testimony against them Mark 6. 11. The signification and meaning whereof is this that look as you shake off the dust of your feet even so Jesus Christ will shake off those men that despise the Gospel and abuse its Messengers 5. INFER Hence it likewise follows that the case of the Pagan world will be easier in the day of Iudgment than theirs that live and dye unregenerate and disobedient under the Gospel of Christ. There are more Witnesses prepared and Records filed against the day of your account than can possibly be against them they have abused but one talent the light of nature but we thousands even as many thousands as we have had opportunities and calls under the Gospel Upon this account Christ saith Matth. 10. 14 15. Whosoever shall not receive you nor hear your words shake off the dust of your feet Verily I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Iudgment than for that City Ah what a fearful Aggravation doth it put upon our sin and misery that we are not only accountable for all the light we had but for all that we might have had in the Gospel day Capernaum was lifted up to Heaven in the enjoyment of means and precious opportunities and had an answerable downfall into the depth of misery from that height of mercy as the higher any one is lifted up upon a Rack the more terrible is the jerk he receives by the fall Matth. 11. 23. 6. INFER Lastly hence it appears that the day of Iudgment must certainly take up a vast space of time For if God will bring every thing into Judgment Eccles. 12. 14. not only sinful actions but words Matth. 12. 36. not only words but heart secrets Rom. 2. 16. If all the Records and Registers now made shall then be opened and read all the Witnesses for or against every man examined and heard judge then what a vast space of time will that great day take up Some Divines are of opinion it may last as long as the World hath lasted but this is sure things will not be hudled up nor shuffled over in haste you have taken your time for Sinning and God will take his time for Judging Consider the multitudes multitudes without number that are to be Judged in that day even all the posterity of