A39669:202
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.
Reader, if this be the case of thy soul; it will not be the least piece of service I can do for thee, to suggest such pleas as in this case are proper to be urged for the attainment of thy desires, and the closing of the match betwixt Christ and thee.
First, Plead the absolute necessity which now drives thee to Christ: tell him thy hope is utterly perished in all other refuges: thou art come like a starving beggar to the last door of hope: tell him thou now beginnest to see the absolute necessity of Christ: thy body hath not so much need ⟨p. 22⟩of bread, water, or air, as thy soul hath of Christ, and that wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption that are in him.
Secondly, Plead the Fathers gracious design in furnishing and sending him into the world, and his own design in accepting the Fathers call. Lord Jesus, wast thou not anointed to preach good tidings to the meek, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the 1prison to them that are bound? behold an Object suitable to thine Office: whilst I was ignorant of my condition, I had a proud rebellious heart, but conviction and self-acquaintance have now meekened it: my heart was harder than the nether millstone, and it was as easy to dissolve the obdurate rocks into syrup, as to thaw and melt my heart for sin; but now God hath made my heart soft, I sensibly feel the misery of my condition. I once thought my self at perfect liberty, but now I see what I conceited to be perfect liberty, is perfect bondage; and never did a poor prisoner sigh for deliverance more than I. Since then thou hast given me a soul thus qualified (though still unworthy) for the exercise of thine office, and execution of thy commission: Lord Jesus, be according to thy name a Jesus unto me.