The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...

Inference 3.

Hence you that are yet in darkness,* 1.1 may be directed to whom to apply your selves, for saving knowledge. It's Christ that hath the soveraign eye salve;* 1.2 that can cure your blindness. He on∣ly hath the key of the house of David, he openeth and no man shutteth. O that I might perswade you to set your selves in his way, under the ordinances, and cry to him, Lord, that my eyes may be opened. Three things are marvelously incouraging to you so to do.

• First, God the Father hath put him into this Office, for the cure of such as you be. Isa. 49.6. I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou maist be my salvation to the ends of the earth. This may furnish you with an argument to plead for a cure. Why do you not go to God, and say, Lord, didst thou give Jesus Christ a Commission to open the blind eyes? Behold me Lord, such a one am I, a poor, dark, ignorant soul. Didst thou give him to be thy salvation to the ends of the earth? No place, nor people excluded from the benefit of this light; and shall I still remain in the shadow of death? O that unto me he might

• be a saving light also. The best and most excellent work that ever thou wroughtest, brings thee no glory, till it come into the light; O let me see and admire it.
• Secondly, It's incouraging to think, that Iesus Christ hath actually opened the eyes of them that were as dark and ig∣norant as you now are. He hath revealed those things to babes, that have been hid from the wise and prudent. Matth. 11.25. The Law of the Lord is perfect making wise the simple. Psal. 19.7. And if you look among those whom Christ hath enlightned, you will not find many wise after the flesh, many mighty, or Noble; but the foolish, weak, base, and despised. These are they on whom he hath glorified the riches of his grace. 1 Cor. 26.27.
• Thirdly, And is it not yet further incouraging to you; that hitherto he hath mercifully continued you under the means of light? Why is not the light of the Gospel put out? Why are times and seasons of grace continued to you, if God have no further design of good to your souls? Be not therefore dis∣couraged but wait on the Lord in the use of means, that you may yet be healed.

* 1.3If you ask what can we do to put our selves into the way of the spirit, in order to such a cure?

* 1.4I say that though you cannot do any thing that can make the Gospel effectual, yet the spirit of God can make those means you are capable of using effectual, if he please to concur with them. And it is a certain truth, that your inability to do what is above your power, doth no way excuse you from doing what is within the compass of your power to do. I know, no act that is saving, can be done without the concur∣rence of special grace, yea, and no act that hath a remote order and tendency thereunto, without a more general concourse of Gods assistance; but herein he is not behind hand with you. Let me therefore advise.

First, That you dilligently attend upon an able, faithful and searching ministry. Neglect no opportunity God affords you, for how know you but that may be the time of mercy to your souls: If he that lay so many years at the Pool of Bethesda, had been wanting but that hour when the Angel came down and troubled the waters, he had not been healed.

Secondly, Satisfie not your selves with hearing, but consider what you hear. Allow time to reflect upon what God hath spoken to you. What power is there in man more excellent, or more appropriate to the reasonable nature, than its reflexive and self considering power? There is little hope of any good to be done upon your souls, untill you begin to go alone; and become thinking men and women. Here all conversion begins. I know a severer task can hardly be imposed upon a carnal heart. It's a hard thing to bring a man, and himself together, upon this acccount. But this must be, if ever the Lord do your souls good. Psal. 4.4. Commune with your own hearts.

Thirdly, Labour to see, and ingenuously confess the insufficiency of all your other knowledge to do you good. What if you had never so much skill and knowledge in other mysteries? What if you be never so well acquainted with the letter of the Scri∣pture? What if you had angelical illumination, this can never save thy soul. No, all thy knowledge signifies nothing, till the Lord shew thee by special light, the deplored state of thy own heart; and a saving sight of Jesus Christ thy only remedy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Infer. 3.
• * 1.2

  So thick is that cataract which is grown over the eye of our understanding that none but God can couch it. Christ was sent to be a light to the Gentiles: so he enlightens the medium; and to open the eyes of the blind. So he heals the Organ: He is the only Oculist. Firmins Real Christian. p. 30.
• * 1.3

  Quest.
• * 1.4

  Soll.