Biyernes, Setyembre 9, 2016

The Unregenerate (John Flavel)

Luke 16:23

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” 

The mirth of unregenerate men!

How groundless is the mirth of unregenerate men! 
They feast in their prison and dance in their fetters. 
O the madness that is in their hearts! If men did but 
realize that they are condemned already, it would be 
impossible for them to live in vanity as they do. And is 
their condition less dangerous because it is not understood? 
Surely not, but much more so! O poor sinners, perhaps you 
have found out a way to prevent your present troubles. It 
would be infinitely better if you could find out how to 
prevent eternal misery! But it is easier for a man to stifle 
conviction, than to prevent damnation. Your mirth prevents 
repentance and increases your future torment. O what a hell 
will theirs be—who drop into it out of all the sinful pleasures 
of this world!

Does it not deserve a tear? 

As death takes the believer from many sorrows, and
brings him to the vision of God, to a state of freedom
and full satisfaction; so it drags the unregenerate from all his sensual delights to the place of torment!

Death is the king of terrors—a serpent with a deadly
sting to every man who is out of Christ.

How lamentable is the state of unregenerate persons!
Were this truth heartily believed, we could not but mourn
over them with the most tender compassion and sorrow.
If our husbands, wives, or children are dying a natural
death—how are our hearts rent with pity and sorrow for
them; what cries, tears, and wringing of hands show the
deep sense we have of their misery! O Christians, is all
the love you have for your relatives spent upon their 
bodies
? Are their souls of no value? Is spiritual death
no misery? Does it not deserve a tear? May the Lord
open your eyes, and affect your hearts with the
wretchedness of spiritual death.
 

In a deep sleep!

The Christless and unregenerate world are in a deep
sleep!
 A spirit of slumber and security is fallen upon
them, though they lie immediately exposed to eternal
wrath, ready to drop into hell every moment!

A man fast asleep in a house on fire, and while the
consuming flames are round about him, having his
imagination sporting itself in some pleasant dream,
is a very accurate picture of the unregenerate soul.
 

John Flavel, "The Method of Grace"

http://www.gracegems.org/


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