A39669:1736
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.
Deduction 3.
What sweet and pleasant thoughts should all Believers have of death! When they dye, and never till they dye shall they be fully brought home to God. Death to the Saints is the door by which they enter into the enjoyment of God: the dying Christian is almost at home, yet a few pangs and agonies more, and then he is come to God in whose presence is the fullness of joy. I desire, saith Paul, to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better, Phil. 1. 23. It should not scare us to be brought to death, the King of terrors, so long as it is the office of death to bring us to God. That dreaming opinion of the soul sleeping after death is as ungrounded as it is uncomfortable: the same day we loose from this shore, we shall be landed upon the blessed shore, where we shall see and enjoy God for ever. O if the friends of dead Believers did but understand where, and with whom their souls are, whilst they are mourning over their bodies: certainly a few believing thoughts of this would quickly dry up their tears, ⟨p. 343⟩and fill the house of mourning with voices of praise and thanksgiving.
What sweet and pleasant thoughts should all Believers have of death! When they dye, and never till they dye shall they be fully brought home to God. Death to the Saints is the dore by which they enter into the enjoyment of God: the dying Christian is almost at home, yet a few pangs and agonies more, and then he is come to God in whose presence is the fulness of joy. I desire, saith Paul, to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better, Phil. 1. 23. It should not scare us to be brought to death, the King of terrors, so long as it is the office of death to bring us to God. That dreaming opinion of the soul sleeping after death is as ungrounded as it is uncomfortable: the same day we loose from this shore, we shall be landed upon the blessed shore, where we shall see and enjoy God for ever. O if the friends of dead Believers did but understand where, and with whom their souls are, whilst they are mourning over their bodies: certainly a few believing thoughts of this would quickly dry up their tears,