A39669:1407
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.
2d Use for Examination.
If Christ be the desire of all Nations, examine whether he 1be the desire of your souls in particular, else you shall have no benefit by him. Are your desires after Christ true spiritual desires? Reflect, I beseech you, upon the frames and tempers of your hearts. Can you say of your desires after Christ, as Peter did of his love to Christ, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I desire thee: try your desires as to their sincerity, by the following characters.
- 1Use 2.
First, Are they vehement and ardent? hath Christ the supreme place in your desires? do you esteem all things to be but dross and dung in comparison of the excellencies of Jesus Christ your Lord? Phil. 3. 8. Is he to you as the refuge City to the manslayer, Heb. 6. 18, 19. as a spring of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary land, Isai. 32. 2. Such vehement desires are true desires.