A39669:2035
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.
Evidence 3.
Those to whom God giveth his spirit have a tender sympathy with all the interest and concernments of Christ: this must needs be so, if the same spirit which is in Christ dwelleth also in thy heart: if thou be a partaker of his spirit, then what he loves, thou lovest; and what he hateth, thou hatest: this is a very plain case: even in nature it self we find that the many members of the same natural body being animated by one and the same spirit of life: whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all ⟨p. 416⟩the members rejoice with it: now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular, 1 Cor. 12. 26, 27. For look as Christ the head of that body is touched with a tender sense and feeling of the miseries and troubles of his people: he is persecuted when they are persecuted, Acts 9. 4. so they that have the spirit of Christ in them, cannot be without a deep and tender sense of the reproach and dishonours that are done to Christ: this is as it were a sword in their bones, Psal. 42. 3. If his public worship cease, the assemblies of his people scattered; it cannot but go to the hearts of all in whom the spirit of Christ is: they will be sorrowful for the solemn assemblies: the reproach of them will be a burden, Zeph. 3. 18. Those that have the spirit of Christ do not more earnestly long after any one thing in this world, than the advancement of Christs interest by conversion and reformation in the Kingdoms of the earth, Psal. 45. 3, 4. Paul could rejoice that Christ was Preached, though his own afflictions were increased,