A39669:1947
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, They have influence upon the means by which we come to Christ: the best ordinances are but a dead letter, except the spirit, the teaching and quickening spirit of God work in fellowship with them, 2 Cor. 3. 6. The best Ministers like the Disciples cast forth the Net, but take nothing, win not one soul to God, till God teach as well as they. Paul is nothing and Apollo nothing, but God that giveth the increase, 1 Cor. 3. 7. Let the most learned, eloquent and powerful Orator be in the Pulpit, yet no mans heart is persuaded till it hears the voice of God; cathedram in coelis habet qui corda docet.
First, They have influence upon the means by which we come to Christ: the best ordinances are but a dead letter, except the spirit, the teaching and quickening spirit of God work in fellowship with them, 2 Cor. 3. 6. The best Ministers like the Disciples cast forth the Net, but take nothing, win not one soul to God, till God teach as well as they. Paul is nothing and Apollo nothing, but God that giveth the increase, 1 Cor. 3. 7. Let the most learned, eloquent and powerful Orator be in the Pulpit, yet no mans heart is perswaded till it hears the voice of God; cathedram in coelis habet qui corda docet.
Secondly, They have influence upon the mind to remove what hindered it from Christ; except the minds of men be first untaught those errors by which they are prejudiced against Christ, they will never be persuaded to come unto him: and nothing but the Fathers teachings can unteach those errors, and cure those evils of the mind: the natural mind of man slights the truths of God until God teach them; and then they tremble with an awful reverence of them. Sin is but a trifle till God shows us the face of it in the glass of the Law, and then it appears exceeding sinful,