A39669:1645
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.
JOHN 8. 36. 1If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
- 1Text. The liberty of Believers opened, and stated.
From the 30th verse of this Chapter unto my Text, you have an account of the different effects which the words of Christ had upon the hearts of his hearers: some believed, verse 30. these he encourageth to continue in his word, verse 31. giving them this encouragement, vers. 32. Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Hereat the unbelieving Jews take offence, and commence a quarrel with him, vers. 33. We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man. We are of no slavish extraction, the blood of Abraham runs in our veins: this scornful boast of the proud Jews, Christ confutes, vers. 34. where he distinguisheth of a twofold bondage; one to men, another to sin; one civil, another spiritual: whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin, then tells them, vers. 36. The servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the Son abideth for ever. Wherein he intimateth ⟨p. 323⟩two great truths, viz. that the servants and slaves of sin may for a time enjoy the external privileges of the house or Church of God; but it would not be long before the master of the house will turn them out of door: but if they were once the adopted Children of God, then they should abide in the house for ever. And this privilege is only to be had by their believing in, and union with the natural Son of God, Jesus Christ: which brings us fairly to the Text; If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
FRom the 30th verse of this Chapter unto my Text, you have an account of the different effects which the words of Christ had upon the hearts of his hearers: some believed, verse 30. these he encourageth to continue in his word, verse 31. giving them this encouragement, vers. 32. Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Hereat the unbelieving Jews take offence, and commence a quarrel with him, vers. 33. We be Abrahams seed, and were never in bondage to any man. We are of no slavish extraction, the blood of Abraham runs in our veins: this scornful boast of the proud Jews, Christ confutes, vers. 34. where he distinguisheth of a twofold bondage; one to men, another to sin; one civil, another spiritual: whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin, then tells them, vers. 36. The servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the Son abideth for ever. Wherein he intimateth