A39669:1332
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, Let us weigh this excellent expression, and particularly 1consider, what is involved in it, and you shall find this expression, Altogether lovely:
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First, That it excludes all unloveliness, and distastefulness from Jesus Christ. So Vatablus, there is nothing in him which 1is not amiable: the excellencies of Christ are perfectly exclusive of all their opposites: there is nothing of a contrary nature or quality found in him to allay or debase his excellency: and in this respect Christ infinitely transcends the most excellent and loveliest creatures: for whatsoever loveliness is found in them it is not without a distasteful tang: the fairest Pictures must have their shadows: the most orient and transplendent Stones must have their foils to set off their beauty: the best creature is but a bitter-sweet at best: if there be somewhat pleasing, there is also somewhat distasting: if there be gracious and natural excellencies in the same person to delight us, yet there is also some natural corruption intermixed with it to distaste us: but it is not so in our altogether lovely Christ: his excellencies are pure and unmixed, he is a Sea of Sweetness, without one drop of Gall.
First, That it excludes all unloveliness, and distastefulness from Jesus Christ. So Vatablus, there is nothing in him which 1is not amiable: the excellencies of Christ are perfectly exclusive of all their opposites: there is nothing of a contrary nature or quality found in him to allay or debase his excellency: and in this respect Christ infinitely transcends the most excellent and loveliest creatures: for whatsoever loveliness is found in them it is not without a distasteful tang: the fairest Pictures must have their shadows: the most orient and transplendent Stones must have their foiles to set off their beauty: the best creature is but a bitter-sweet at best: if there be somewhat pleasing, there is also somewhat distasting: if there be gracious and natural excellencies in the same person to delight us, yet there is also some natural corruption intermixed with it to distaste us: but it is not so in our altogether lovely Christ: his excellencies are pure and unmixed, he is a Sea of Sweetness, without one drop of Gall.