A39669:1256
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.
Thirdly, Christ is the seasonable mercy, given by the Father to us in due time, Rom. 5. 6. in the fullness of time, Gal. 4. 4. a seasonable mercy in his exhibition to the world in general, and a seasonable mercy in his application to the soul in particular: the wisdom of God pitched upon the best time for his incarnation, and it hits the very nick of time, for his application. When a poor soul is distressed, lost, at its wits end, ready to perish; then comes Christ: all Gods works are done in season, but none more seasonable than this great work of Salvation by Christ.
Thirdly, Christ is the seasonable mercy, given by the Father to us in due time, Rom. 5. 6. in the fulness of time, Gal. 4. 4. a seasonable mercy in his exhibition to the world in general, and a seasonable mercy in his application to the soul in particular: the wisdom of God pitched upon the best time for his incarnation, and it hits the very nick of time, for his application. When a poor soul is distressed, lost, at its wits end, ready to perish; then comes Christ: all Gods works are done in season, but none more seasonable than this great work of Salvation by Christ.
Fourthly, Christ is the necessary mercy: there is an absolute necessity of Jesus Christ: hence in Scripture he is called the bread of life, Joh. 6. 48. he is bread to the hungry: he is ⟨p. 237⟩the water of life, Joh. 7. 37. as cold water to the thirsty soul: he is a ransom for captives,