A39669:1825
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.
Fourthly, The Law of God hath a soul-wounding, an heart-cutting efficacy: it pierces into the very soul and spirit of man, Act. 2. 37. When they heard this, they were pricked at their hearts, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the Apostles; Men and brethren what shall we do? A dreadful sound is in the sinners ears, his soul is in deep distress, he knows not which way to turn for ease; no Plaster but the blood of Christ can heal these wounds which the word makes: no outward trouble, affliction, disgrace or loss ever touched the quick as the word of God doth.
Fourthly, The Law of God hath a soul-wounding, an heartcutting efficacy: it pierces into the very soul and spirit of man, Act. 2. 37. When they heard this, they were pricked at their hearts, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the Apostles; Men and brethren what shall we do? A dreadful sound is in the sinners ears, his soul is in deep distress, he knows not which way to turn for ease; no Plaister but the blood of Christ can heal these wounds which the word makes: no outward trouble, affliction, disgrace or loss ever touched the quick as the word of God doth.
Fifthly, The word hath a heart-turning, a soul converting efficacy in it: 'tis a regenerating as well as a convincing word, 1 Pet. 1. 23. 1 Thes. 1. 9. The Law wounds, the Gospel cures; the Law discovers the evil that is in sin, and the misery that follows sin: and the Spirit of God working in fellowship with the word effectually turns the heart from sin. And thus we see in what glorious acts, the efficacy of the word discovers it self upon the hearts of men, and all these acts lie in order to each other: for until the soul be awakened it cannot be enlightened, Eph. 5. 14. till it be enlightened it cannot be convinced,