A39669:1528
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, No unbeliever hath the materials out of which Spiritual Comfort is made; which (as I there told you) must be some solid, spiritual and eternal good, as Christ and the Covenant are. What do unregenerate men rejoice in, but trifles and mere vanities, in a thing of nought? Amos 6. 13. See how their mirth is described in Job 21. 12. They take their Timbrel and Harp, and rejoice at the sound of the Organ. He doth not say, they take the Bible, turn to the promises, and rejoice in Christ and the Covenant; 'tis not the melody of a good Conscience, the joy of the Holy Ghost: no, no, they have no acquaintance with such music as that: but the rejoicing of Believers is in those things, 2 Cor. 1. 12. And this is well-built consolation which reaches the heart.
First, No unbeliever hath the materials out of which Spiritual Comfort is made; which (as I there told you) must be some solid, spiritual and eternal good, as Christ and the Covenant are. What do unregenerate men rejoyce in, but trifles and meer vanities, in a thing of nought? Amos 6. 13. See how their mirth is described in Job 21. 12. They take their Timbrel and Harp, and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ. He doth not say, they take the Bible, turn to the promises, and rejoyce in Christ and the Covenant; 'tis not the melody of a good Conscience, the joy of the Holy Ghost: no, no, they have no acquaintance with such musick as that: but the rejoycing of Believers is in those things, 2 Cor. 1. 12. And this is well-built consolation which reaches the heart.
Secondly, I told you that propriety, and interest in Christ, and the promises is required to all Spiritual Consolation: but no unbeliever hath any title or interest in Christ, and the promises, and so they can signify nothing to him in point of Comfort. 'Tis not another mans money, but my own, that must feed, clothe and comfort me; nor is it another mans Christ, but my own Christ, that must justify, save and comfort my soul.