A39669:1830
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.
Thirdly, If you say whence then hath the word all this power? Our answer is, it derives it all from the Spirit of God, 1 Thes. 2. 13. For this cause thank we God without ceasing, 1because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 'Tis a successful instrument only when it is in the hand of the Spirit, without whose influence it never did, nor can convince, convert or save any soul. Now, the Spirit of God hath a sovereignty over three things in order to the conversion of the sinner.
Thirdly, If you say whence then hath the word all this power? Our answer is, it derives it all from the Spirit of God, 1 Thes. 2. 13. For this cause thank we God without ceasing, 1because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 'Tis a successful instrument only when it is in the hand of the Spirit, without whose influence it never did, nor can convince, convert or save any soul. Now, the Spirit of God hath a soveraignty over three things in order to the conversion of the sinner.
- 1Literâ jubetur, spiritu dona•r. Aug. Ep. 157.
viz. 1. Over the word which works. 2. Over the soul wrought upon. 3. Over the time and season of working.