A39669:1658
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.
Secondly, Christ hath not freed Believers in this world from the temptations and assaults of Satan: even those that are freed from his dominion, are not free from his molestation. 'Tis said indeed, Rom. 16. 20. God shall shortly bruise Satan under your feet: but mean time he hath power to bruise and buffet us by his injections, 2 Cor. 12. 7. he now bruiseth Christs heel, Gen. 3. 15. (i. e.) bruiseth him in his tempted and afflicted members: though he cannot kill them, yet he can and doth afflict and fright them, by shooting his fiery darts of temptation among them, Eph. 6. 16. 'Tis true, when the Saints are got safe into Heaven, they are out of Gunshot; there is perfect freedom from all temptation. A Believer may then say, O thou enemy, temptations are come to a perpetual end. I am now arrived there, where none of thy fiery darts can reach me: but this freedom is not yet.
Thirdly, Christ hath not yet freed Believers in this world from the motions of indwelling sin: these are continually acting and infesting the holiest of men, Rom. 7. 21, 23, 24. Corruptions like Canaanites are still left in the Land to be thorns in our eyes, and goads in our sides. Those that boast most of freedom from the motions of sin, have most cause to suspect themselves still under the dominion of sin. All Christs freemen are troubled with the same complaint: who among them complains not as the Apostle did, Rom. 7. 24. Oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Thirdly, Christ hath not yet freed Believers in this world from the motions of indwelling sin: these are continually acting and infesting the holiest of men,