A39669:2092
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.
Thirdly, The man in Christ is renewed in his practice and Conversation: the manner of operation always follows the nature of beings: now the regenerate not being what they were, cannot walk and act, as once they did: Eph. 2. 1, 2, 3. And you hath he quickened, who were once dead in trespasses and sins; wherein ye walked according to the course of this world, &c. they were carried away like water by the strength of the tide, by the influence of their own corrupt natures, and the customs and examples of the world: but the case is now altered. So in 1 Cor. 6. 11. the Apostle shows believers their old companions in sin, and tells them such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, &c. q. d. the world is now well altered with you, thanks be to the grace of God for it. This wonderful change of practice which is so universal, and remarkable in all the regenerate, and immediately consequent to their conversion, sets the world a wondering at them: 1 Pet. 4. 4. Wherein they think it strange that 1you run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: they think it strange, the word signifies to stand at gaze, as the hen doth which hath brooded, and hatched Partridge Eggs, when she seeth the Chickens which she hath brought forth, take the wing and fly away from her: thus do the men of the world stand amazed to see their old companions in sin, whose language once was vain, and earthly; it may be profane, and filthy; now to be praying, speaking of God, Heaven, and things spiritual; having no more to do with them as to sin, except by way of reprehension and admonition: this amazes the world, and makes them look with a strange admiring eye upon the people of God.
Thirdly, The man in Christ is renewed in his practice and Conversation: the manner of operation alwayes follows the nature of beings: now the regenerate not being what they were, cannot walk and act, as once they did: Eph. 2. 1, 2, 3. And you hath he quickned, who were once dead in trespasses and sins; wherein ye walked according to the course of this world, &c. they were carryed away like water by the strength of the tyde, by the influence of their own corrupt natures, and the customes and examples of the world: but the case is now altered. So in