A39669:2070
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, We have here the great question to be determined, Whether a man be in Christ? a question upon the determination 1whereof we must stand or fall for ever: by [being in Christ] the Apostle doth not here mean the general profession of Christianity which gives a man the reputation of an interest in him: but by being in Christ he means an interest in him by vital union with his person, and real participation of his benefits: now this is the question to be determined, the matter to be tried, than which nothing can be more solemn, and important in the whole world.
First, We have here the great question to be determined, Whether a man be in Christ? a question upon the determination 1whereof we must stand or fall for ever: by [being in Christ] the Apostle doth not here mean the general profession of Christianity which gives a man the reputation of an interest in him: but by being in Christ he means an interest in him by vital union with his person, and real participation of his benefits: now this is the question to be determined, the matter to be tryed, than which nothing can be more solemn, and important in the whole world.
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Secondly, The rule by which this great question may be 1determined, viz. The new Creation: if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature: by this rule all the titles and claims made to Christ in the professing world are to be examined [if any man] be he what he will, high, or low; great, or small; learned, or illiterate; young, or old; if he pretend interest in Christ: this is the standard by which he must be tried: if he be in Christ, he is a new Creature; and if he be not a new Creature, he is not in Christ: let his endowments, gifts, confidence, and reputation be what it will be: [a new Creature] not new Physically, he is the same person he was, but a new Creature, that is, a creature renewed by gracious principles newly infused into him from above, which sway him and guide him in another manner, and to another end than ever he acted before: and these gracious principles not being educed