A39669:1215
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.
Sixthly, Understand your peace to be in Christ only, and faith to be the only way to Christ and rest: let the great enquiry of your souls be after Christ and faith, study the nature and necessity of these, and cry to God day and night for strength to carry you to Christ in the way of faith.
Secondly, As to those that have been longer under the hands of Christ, and yet are in troubles still, and cannot 1attain peace, but their wounds bleed still, and all they hear in Sermons, or do in way of duty, will not bring them to rest: to such I only add two or three words for a close.
- 12.
First, Consider whether you ever rightly closed with Christ since your first awakening, and whether there be not some way of sin in which you still live: if so, no wonder your wounds are kept open, and your souls are strangers to peace.
Secondly, If you be conscious of no such flaw in the foundation, consider how much of this trouble may arise from your constitution and natural temper, which being melancholy, will be doubtful and suspicious: you may find it so in other cases of less moment, and be sure Satan will not be wanting to improve it.