A39669:1374
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, Is Jesus Christ altogether lovely, then I beseech 1you set your souls upon this lovely Jesus: methinks such an object as hath been here represented should compel love from the coldest breast, and hardest heart. Away with those empty nothings, away with this vain deceitful world which deserves not the thousandth part of the love you give it: let all stand aside, and give way to Christ. O did you but know his worth and excellency, what he is in himself, what he hath done for, and deserved from you; you would need no arguments of mine to persuade you to love him.
First, Is Jesus Christ altogether lovely, then I beseech 1you set your souls upon this lovely Jesus: methinks such an object as hath been here represented should compel love from the coldest breast, and hardest heart. Away with those empty nothings, away with this vain deceitful world which deserves not the thousandth part of the love you give it: let all stand aside, and give way to Christ. O did you but know his worth and excellency, what he is in himself, what he hath done for, and deserved from you; you would need no arguments of mine to perswade you to love him.
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Secondly, Esteem nothing lovely, but as it is enjoyed in 1Christ, or improved for Christ: affect nothing for it self, love nothing separate from Jesus Christ. In two things we all sin in the love of creatures, viz. in the excess of our affections, loving them above the rate, and value of creatures, and in the inordinacy of our affections, (i. e.) in loving them out of their proper places.
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