A39669:1909
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.
Lesson 8.
God teaches the soul whom he is bringing to Christ, that whatsoever is necessary to be wrought in us, or done by us in order to our union with Christ, is to be obtained from him in the way of prayer, Ezek. 36. 37.
And it is observable that the soul no sooner comes under the effectual teachings of God, but the spirit of prayer begins to breath in it, Acts 9. 8. behold he prayeth: those that were taught to pray by men before, are now taught of the Lord to pray; to pray did I say? yea, and to pray fervently too, as men concerned for their eternal happiness: to pray not only with others, but to pour out their souls before the Lord in secret; for their hearts are as bottles full of new wine, which must vent or break. Now the soul returns upon its God often in the same day; now it can express its burdens and wants in words and groans which the spirit teacheth: they pray and will not give over praying till Christ come with complete salvation.
And it is observable that the soul no sooner comes under the effectual teachings of God, but the spirit of prayer begins to breath in it, Acts 9. 8. behold he prayeth: those that were taught to pray by men before, are now taught of the Lord to pray; to pray did I say? yea, and to pray fervently too, as men concerned for their eternal happiness: to pray not only with others, but to pour out their souls before the Lord in secret; for their hearts are as bottles full of new wine, which must vent or break. Now the soul returns upon its God often in the same day; now it can express its burthens and wants in words and groans which the spirit teacheth: they pray and will not give over praying till Christ come with compleat salvation.