A39669:1420
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, Blessed in this, that your eyes have been opened to see both the want and the worth of Christ. Had not Christ applied his precious eye-salve to the eyes of your mind, you could never have desired him, you would have said with them in Isai. 53. 2, 3. He hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him: or as they to the Spouse, Cant. 5. 9. What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved? Oh blessed souls, enlightened of the Lord; to see those things that are hid from them that perish!
First, Blessed in this, that your eyes have been opened to see both the want and the worth of Christ. Had not Christ applied his precious eye-salve to the eyes of your mind, you could never have desired him, you would have said with them in Isai. 53. 2, 3. He hath no form nor comliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him: or as they to the Spouse, Cant. 5. 9. What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved? Oh blessed souls, inlightned of the Lord; to see those things that are hid from them that perish!
Secondly, You are blessed in this, that your desires after Christ are a sure evidence that the desire of Christ is towards you: had he not first desired you, you could never have desired him. We may say of desires as it is said of love; we desire him because he first desired us: your desires after Christ are inflamed from the desires of Christ after you.