A39669:1353
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, That he espouseth to himself in mercy, and in loving kindness, such deformed, defiled, and altogether unworthy souls as we are; who have no beauty, no excellency to make us desirable in his eyes: all the springs of his love to us are in his own breast, Deut. 7. 7. He chooseth us not because we were, but that he might make us lovely, Ephes. 5. 27. He passed by us when we lay in our blood, and said unto us live, and that was the time of love, Ezec. 16. 5.
Secondly, He expects nothing with us, and yet bestows himself, and all he hath upon us: our poverty cannot enrich him, but he made himself poor to enrich us, 2 Cor. 8, 9. 1 Cor. 3. 22.
Thirdly, No Husband loves the Wife of his bosom at the rate Christ loved his people, Eph. 5. 25. He loved the Church, and gave himself for it.
Thirdly, No Husband loves the Wife of his bosome at the rate Christ loved his people, Eph. 5. 25. He loved the Church, and gave himself for it.