A39669:2062
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, That the principle of grace will give cheque to sin in its first motions, and cause it to miscarry in the womb like an untimely birth, before it comes to its full maturity: it shall never be able to gain the full consent of the will as it doth in the unregenerate.
Secondly, if notwithstanding all the opposition grace makes to hinder the birth, or commission of it, it do yet prevail, and break forth into act; yet such acts of sin as they are not committed without regret, so they are followed with shame, sorrow, and true repentance: and those very surprisals, and captivities of sin at one time, are made cautions, and warnings to prevent it at another time: if it be so with thee, thou dost not fulfil the Lusts of the flesh.
Secondly, if notwithstanding all the opposition grace makes to hinder the birth, or commission of it, it do yet prevail, and break forth into act; yet such acts of sin as they are not committed without regret, so they are followed with shame, sorrow, and true repentance: and those very surprizals, and captivities of sin at one time, are made cautions, and warnings to prevent it at another time: if it be so with thee, thou dost not fulfill the Lusts of the flesh.
And now Reader, upon the whole; if upon examination of thy heart by these rules, the Lord shall help thee to discern the saving work of his spirit upon thy soul, and thereby thine interest in Christ, what a happy man or woman art thou! what pleasure will arise to thy soul from such a discovery! Look upon the frame of thine heart absolutely as it is in it self at present, or comparatively with what once it was and others still are, and thou wilt find enough to transport and melt thy heart within thee: certainly this is the most glorious piece of Workmanship that ever God wrought in the world upon any man: