A39669:2053
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, Take this as a sure rule, whatsoever rises from self always aims at and terminates in self: this stream cannot be carried higher than the fountain, if therefore thy aim and end in striving for affections and enlargements in duty, be only to win applause from men, and appear to be what in reality thou art not, this indeed is the fruit of nature, ⟨p. 422⟩and a very corrupt and hypocritical nature too; but if thy heart be not melted, or desire to be melted in the sense of the evil of sin in order to the farther mortification of it; and under the apprehensions of the free grace and mercy of God in the pardon of sin, in order to the engaging of thy soul more firmly to him: if these or such like be thy ends and designs, or be promoted and furthered by thine enlargements and spiritual comforts, never reject them as the mere fruits of nature; a carnal root cannot bring forth such fruits as these.
Secondly, Take this as a sure rule, whatsoever rises from self alwayes aimes at and terminates in self: this stream cannot be carryed higher than the fountain, if therefore thy aim and end in striving for affections and enlargements in duty, be only to win applause from men, and appear to be what in reality thou art not, this indeed is the fruit of nature, ⟨p. 422⟩and a very corrupt and hypocritical nature too; but if thy heart be not melted, or desire to be melted in the sense of the evil of sin in order to the farther mortification of it; and under the apprehensions of the free grace and mercy of God in the pardon of sin, in order to the engaging of thy soul more firmly to him: if these or such like be thy ends and designs, or be promoted and furthered by thine enlargements and spiritual comforts, never reject them as the meer fruits of nature; a carnal root cannot bring forth such fruits as these.
Upon the Contrary, Spiritual deadness, and indisposedness 1