A39669:1610
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.
1. One is the sinful act of a corrupt man. 2. The other the gracious act of a merciful God.
First, accepting of persons is noted in Scripture as the sinful act of a corrupt man: a thing which God abhors: being the corruption and abuse of that power and authority which men have in judgement: overlooking the merit of the cause through sinful respect to the quality of the person, whose cause it is. So that the cause doth not commend the person, but the person the cause: this God every where brands in men, as a vile perverting of judgement, and utterly disclaims it himself, Gal. 2. 6. God accepteth no mans person: Rom. 2. 11. There is no respect of persons with God.
Secondly, There is also an accepting of persons, which is the gracious act of a merciful God; whereby he receives both the persons and duties of Believers into special grace and favour for Christs sake: and of this my Text speaks. In which act of favour three things are supposed or included.
First, It supposes an estate of alienation and enmity: those only are accepted into favour that were out of favour; and indeed so stood the case with us,