A39669:1793
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.
First, By these things souls are inevitably betrayed into Hell and eternal ruin, this blinding is in order to damning, 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded: those that are turned over into eternal death are thus generally mopped and hoodwinked in order thereunto, Isai. 6. 9, 10. And he said go and tell this people, hear ye indeed but understand not, and see ye indeed but perceive not: make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and convert and be healed.
First, By these things souls are inevitably betrayed into Hell and eternal ruine, this blinding is in order to damning, 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded: those that are turned over into eternal death are thus generally mop't and hoodwinkt in order thereunto, Isai. 6. 9, 10. And he said go and tell this people, hear ye indeed but understand not, and see ye indeed but perceive not: make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and convert and be healed.
Secondly, As damning is the event of blinding, so nothing makes Hell a more terrible surprise to the soul than this doth: by this means the wrath of God is felt before its danger be apprehended, a man is past all hope before he begins to have any fear: his eternal ruin like a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall cometh suddenly at an instant, Isa. 30. 13