A39669:1288
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.
First, All your sorrows, tears and mournings for sin cannot obtain mercy: could you shed as many tears for any one sin that ever you committed, as all the children of Adam have shed upon any account whatsoever since the creation of the World; they will not purchase the pardon of that one sin: for the Law accepts no short payment, it requires plenary satisfaction, and will not discharge any soul without it: nor can it acknowledge or own your sorrows to be such: the repentance of a soul in Christ finds through him acceptance with God, but out of him it's nothing.
Secondly, All your strivings to obey the Commands of God, and live more strictly for time to come, will not obtain mercy, Mat. 5. 20. Except your righteousness shall exceed ⟨p. 243⟩the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thirdly, Your restitution and reparation of wrongs you have done cannot obtain mercy: Judas restored, and yet was damned: man is repaired, but God is not: remission is the act of God; 'tis he must loose your Consciences from the bond of guilt, or they can never be loosed.