A39669:1397
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.
Fourthly, Christ the desire of all Nations implies the vast extent his Kingdom hath and shall have in the world: out of every Nation under Heaven some shall be brought to Christ, and to Heaven by him. And though the number of Gods elect, compared with the multitudes of the ungodly in all Nations, is but a remnant, a little flock, and in that comparative sense there are few that shall be saved; yet considered absolutely, and in themselves, they are a vast number, which no man can number, Mat. 8. 11. Many shall come from the East, and from the West, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven. In order whereunto the Gospel, like the Sun in the Heavens, circuits the world: it arose in the East, and takes its course towards the western world: rising by degrees upon the remote Idolatrous Nations of the earth; out of all which a number is to ⟨p. 266⟩be saved, even Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands to God, Pfal. 68. 31. And this consideration should move us to pray carnestly for the poor Heathens, who yet sit in darkness, and the shadow of death; there is yet hope for them.
Fifthly, It holds forth this, that when God opens the eyes of men to see their sin, and danger by it; nothing but Christ can give them satisfaction: 'tis not the amenity, fertility, riches and pleasures the Inhabitants of any Kingdom of the world do enjoy, that can quench and satisfy the desires of their souls: when once God touches their hearts with the sense of sin and misery: Christ and none but Christ is desirable and necessary in the eyes of such persons. Many Kingdoms of the world abound with riches and pleasures, the providence of God hath carved liberal portions of the good things of this life to many of them, and scarce left any thing to their desires that the world can afford. Yet all this can give no satisfaction without Jesus Christ, the desire of Nations, the one thing necessary, when once they come to see the necessity and excellency of him: then take the world who will, so they may have Christ the desire of their souls. Thus we see upon what grounds and reasons Christ is styled the desire of all Nations.