A39669:1523
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.
Thirdly, Is spiritual desertion, and the hiding of Gods face, matter of affliction, and casting down to Believers? Yes, yes, it quails their hearts, nothing can comfort them; Thou hidest thy face, and I was troubled, Psal. 30. 7. Outward afflictions do but break the skin, this touches the quick: they like rain fall only upon the Tiles, this soaks into the House; but Christ brings to Believers substantial matter of Consolation against the troubles of desertion: he himself was deserted of God for a time, that they might not be deserted for ever: in him also the relieving promises are made to Believers, that notwithstanding God may desert them for a time, yet the union betwixt him and them shall never be dissolved, Heb. 13. 5. Jer. 32. 40. Though he forsake them for a moment, in respect of evidenced favour, yet he will return again and comfort them, Isai. 54. 7. Though Satan tug hard, yet he shall never be able to pluck them out of his Fathers hand, John 10. 20. Oh what relief is this! What consolation is Christ to a deserted Believer!
Fourthly, Are outward afflictions matter of dejection, and trouble? Alas, who finds them not to be so? How do our hearts fail, and our spirits sink under the many smarting rods of God upon us! but our relief and consolation under them all, is in Christ Jesus: for the rod that afflicts us is in the hand ⟨p. 292⟩of Christ that loveth us, Rev. 3. 19. Whom I love I rebuke and chasten: his design in affliction is our profit, Heb. 12. 10