A39669:1285
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.
I know many poor sinners comfort themselves with this, when they come upon a bed of sickness, I am sinful, but ⟨p. 242⟩God is merciful: and it is very true, God is merciful; plenteous in mercy; his mercy is great above the heavens; mercy pleaseth him: and all this they that are in Christ shall find experimentally to their comfort and salvation: but what is all this to thee, if thou beest Christless? There is not one drop of saving mercy that comes in any other Chanel than Christ to the soul of any man.
But must I then expect no mercy out of Christ? This is a hard case, very uncomfortable doctrine. Yes, thou mayest be a Christless and Covenantless soul, and yet have variety of temporal mercies as Ishmael had, Gen. 17. 20, 21. God may give thee the fatness of the Earth, Riches, Honours, Pleasures, a numerous and prosperous Posterity; will that content thee? Yes, if I may have Heaven too: no, no, neither Heaven nor Pardon, nor any other Spiritual or Eternal mercy may be expected out of Christ, Jude vers. 21. O deceive not your selves in this point. There are two bars betwixt you and all Spiritual mercies, viz. the guilt of sin, and the filth of sin: and nothing but your own union with Christ can remove these, and so open the passage for Spiritual mercies to your souls.
But must I then expect no mercy out of Christ? This is a hard case, very uncomfortable doctrine. Yes, thou maist be a Christless and Covenantless soul, and yet have variety of temporal mercies as Ishmael had, Gen. 17. 20, 21. God may give thee the fatness of the Earth, Riches, Honours, Pleasures, a numerous and prosperous Posterity; will that content thee? Yes, if I may have Heaven too: no, no, neither Heaven nor Pardon, nor any other Spiritual or Eternal mercy may be expected out of Christ,