A39669:1089
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.
Inference 3.
It also follows from hence, That those to whom sin was never 1any burden, are not yet come to Christ, nor have they any interest in him. We may as well suppose a Child to be born without any pangs or throes, as a soul to be born again, and united to Christ without any sense or sorrow for sin. I know many have great frights of conscience, that never were made duly sensible of the evil of sin: many are afraid of burning, that never were afraid of sinning. Slight and transient troubles some have had, but it's vanished like an early cloud, licked up like a morning dew. Few men are without checks and throbs of conscience at one time or other, but instead of going to the Closet, they run to the Ale house or Tavern for a cure: If their sorrow for sin had been right, nothing but the sprinkling of the blood of Christ could have appeased their consciences, Heb. 10. 22. How cold should the consideration of this thing strike to the hearts of such persons! Methinks Reader, if this be thy case, it should send thee away with an aching heart: Thou hast not yet tasted the bitterness of sin, and if thou do not, then shalt thou never taste the sweetness of Christ, his pardons and peace.
It also follows from hence, That those to whom sin was never 1any burthen, are not yet come to Christ, nor have they any interest in him. We may as well suppose a Child to be born without any pangs or throes, as a soul to be born again, and united to Christ without any sense or sorrow for sin. I know many have great frights of conscience, that never were made duly sensible of the evil of sin: many are afraid of burning, that never were afraid of sinning. Slight and transient troubles some have had, but it's vanisht like an early cloud, lickt up like a morning dew. Few men are without checks and throbs of conscience at one time or other, but instead of going to the Closet, they run to the Ale house or Tavern for a cure: If their sorrow for sin had been right, nothing but the sprinkling of the blood of Christ could have appeased their consciences,