A39669:1002
The Method of Grace
The method of grace, in bringing home the eternal redemption contrived by the Father, and accomplished by the Son through the effectual application of the spirit unto God's elect, being the second part of Gospel redemption : wherein the great mystery of our union and communion with Christ is opened and applied, unbelievers invited, false pretenders convicted, every mans claim to Christ examined, and the misery of Christless persons discovered and bewailed / by John Flavell ...The method of grace, in bringing home the eternal redemption contrived by the Father, and accomplished by the Son through the effectual application of the spirit unto God's elect, being the second part of Gospel redemption : wherein the great mysterie of our union and communion with Christ is opened and applied, unbelievers invited, false pretenders convicted, every mans claim to Christ examined, and the misery of Christless persons discovered and bewailed / by John Flavell ...
London: printed by M. White for Francis Tyton, 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.
Fourthly, As the experiences of others support the soul under these burdens, so the riches of free grace through Jesus Christ uphold it: 'tis rich and abundant, Psal. 130. ult. plenteous redemption, and 'tis free and to the worst of sinners, Isa. 1. 18. and under these troubles it finds it self in the way and proper method of mercy, for so my Text (a Text that hath upheld many thousand drooping hearts) states it: all this gives hope, and encouragement under trouble.
Fifthly, Lastly, Though the state of the soul be sad and sinking, yet Jesus Christ usually makes haste in the extremity of the trouble to relieve it, by sweet and seasonable discoveries of his grace: cum duplicantur lateres, venit Moses: in the Mount of the Lord it shall be seen. It is with Christ as it was with Joseph whose bowels yearned towards his brethren, and he was in pain till he had told them I am Joseph your brother. This is sweetly exhibited to us in that excellent parable of the Prodigal, Luke 15. when his Father saw him, being yet a great way off, he ran and fell upon his neck and kissed him: mercy runs nimbly to help when souls are ready to fail under the pressure of sin. And thus you see both how they are burdened, and how upheld under the burden.
Fifthly, Lastly, Though the state of the soul be sad and sinking, yet Jesus Christ usually makes haste in the extremity of the trouble to relieve it, by sweet and seasonable discoveries of his grace: cum duplicantur lateres, venit Moses: in the Mount of the Lord it shall be seen. It is with Christ as it was with Joseph whose bowels yearned towards his brethren, and he was in pain till he had told them I am Joseph your brother. This is sweetly exhibited to us in that excellent parable of the Prodigal, Luke 15. when his Father saw him, being yet a great way off, he ran and fell upon his neck and kissed him: mercy runs nimbly to help when souls are ready to fail under the pressure of sin. And thus you see both how they are burthened, and how upheld under the burthen.