A39669:1997
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.
Secondly, The trial of this union, which is by the giving of the Spirit to us: the Spirit of Christ is the very bond of Union betwixt him and our souls. I mean not that the very person of the Spirit dwelleth in us, imparting his essential properties to us: it were a rude blasphemy so to speak; but his saving influences are communicated to us in the way of sanctifying operations: as the Sun is said to come into the House, when his beams and comforting influences come there. Nor yet must, we think that the graces or influences of the Spirit abide in ⟨p. 405⟩us in the self same measure and manner as they do in Christ: for God giveth not the spirit to him by measure: in him all fullness dwells: he is anointed with the Spirit above his fellows: but there are measures and proportions of grace differently communicated to Believers by the same Spirit: and these communicated graces and real operations of the Spirit of grace in our hearts, do undoubtedly prove the reality of our union with Christ; as the communication of the self-same vital juice or sap of the stock to the branch whereby it lives, and brings forth fruit of the same kind, certainly proves it to be a real part or member of the same tree.
Thirdly, Which brings us to the third thing; namely the certainty of the trial this way, [Greek or Hebrew] in this, or by this we know: we so know that we cannot be deceived. To clear this, let us consider two things in grace, viz. | 1. Somewhat Constitutive | of its being. 2. Somewhat Manifestative
Thirdly, Which brings us to the third thing; namely the certainty of the trial this way, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 in this, or by this we know: we so know that we cannot be deceived. To clear this, let us consider two things in grace, viz. | 1. Somewhat Constitutive | of its being. 2. Somewhat Manifestative