A39669:2055
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, These things indeed are very sad, and argue thy 1heart to be out of frame; as the body is when it cannot relish the most desirable meats, or drinks: but the question will be how thy soul behaves it self in such a condition 2as this is, whether this be easy or burdensome to be born by thee: and if thou complain under it as a burden; then what pains thou takest to ease thy self, and get rid of it.
First, These things indeed are very sad, and argue thy 1heart to be out of frame; as the body is when it cannot relish the most desireable meats, or drinks: but the question will be how thy soul behaves it self in such a condition 2as this is, whether this be easie or burthensome to be born by thee: and if thou complain under it as a burthen; then what pains thou takest to ease thy self, and get rid of it.
- 1Sol.
- 2Qui bon•m vult, & malum non vult, is studium retinet pla•di deo: quamvis illectus concupiscentiâ malâ, nonnunquam ex infirmitate illud committat quod deo displicet. Davenant.
Secondly, Know also that there is a great difference betwixt spiritual death, and spiritual deadness: the former is the state of the unregenerate; the latter is the disease and complaint of many thousand regenerate souls: If David had not felt it as well as thee, he would never have cried out nine times in the compass of one Psalm, Quicken me, quicken me. Besides,