A39669:1615
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, it includes the offering up, or tendering of our persons and duties to God by Jesus Christ. Accepting implies presenting or tendering: Believers indeed do present themselves to God, Rom. 12. 1. but Christs presenting them makes their tender of themselves acceptable to the Lord, Col. 1. 22. In the body of his flesh through death to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreprovable in his sight. Christ leads every Believer as it were by the hand, into the gracious presence of God; after this manner bespeaking acceptance for him. Father, here is a poor soul that was born in sin, hath lived in Rebellion against thee all his days; he hath broken all thy laws, and deserved all thy wrath; yet he is one of that number which thou gavest me before the world was. I have made full payment by my blood for all his sins. I have opened his eyes to see the sinfulness, and misery of his condition: broken his heart for his rebellions against thee: bowed his will in obedience unto thy will: united him to my self by faith, as a living member of my body. And now, Lord, since he is become mine by regeneration, let him be thine also by special acceptation: let the same love with which thou lovest me, embrace him also who is now become mine. And so much for the first particular, viz. what acceptation with God is.
Thirdly, it includes the offering up, or tendering of our persons and duties to God by Jesus Christ. Accepting implies presenting or tendring: Believers indeed do present themselves to God, Rom. 12. 1. but Christs presenting them makes their tender of themselves acceptable to the Lord, Col. 1. 22. In the body of his flesh through death to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable in his sight. Christ leads every Believer as it were by the hand, into the gracious presence of God; after this manner bespeaking acceptance for him. Father, here is a poor soul that was born in sin, hath lived in Rebellion against thee all his days; he hath broken all thy laws, and deserved all thy wrath; yet he is one of that number which thou gavest me before the world was. I have made full payment by my blood for all his sins. I have opened his eyes to see the sinfulness, and misery of his condition: broken his heart for his rebellions against thee: bowed his will in obedience unto thy will: united him to my self by faith, as a living member of my body. And now, Lord, since he is become mine by regeneration, let him be thine also by special acceptation: let the same love with which thou lovest me, embrace him also who is now become mine. And so much for the first particular, viz. what acceptation with God is.