A39669:2098
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.
Fifthly, The new Creature is a marvellous and wonderful creature: there are many wonders in the first creation: the works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein, Psal. 111. 2. but there are no wonders in nature, like those in grace: is it not the greatest wonder that ever was seen in the world (except the incarnation of the Son of God) to see the nature, and temper of man, so altered and changed as it is by grace: to see Lascivious Corinthians, and Idolatrous Ephesians become mortified and Heavenly Christians: to see a fierce and cruel persecutor, become a glorious confessor and sufferer for Christ, Gal. 1. 23. to see the carnal-mind of man which was lately fully set in a strong bent ⟨p. 437⟩to the world, to be wholly taken off from its lusts, and set upon things that are spiritual and heavenly: certainly it was not a greater miracle to see dead Lazarus come out of his Sepulchre, than it is to see the dead and carnal mind coming out of its Lusts, to embrace Jesus Christ. It was not a greater wonder to see the dead dry bones in the valley to move, and come together, than it is to see a dead soul moving after God, and moving to Christ in the way of faith.
Fifthly, The new Creature is a marvellous and wonderful creature: there are many wonders in the first creation: the works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein, Psal. 111. 2. but there are no wonders in nature, like those in grace: is it not the greatest wonder that ever was seen in the world (except the incarnation of the Son of God) to see the nature, and temper of man, so altered and changed as it is by grace: to see Lascivious Corinthians, and Idolatrous Ephesians become mortified and Heavenly Christians: to see a fierce and cruel persecutor, become a glorious confessor and sufferer for Christ, Gal. 1. 23. to see the carnal-mind of man which was lately fully set in a strong bent ⟨p. 437⟩to the world, to be wholly taken off from its lusts, and set upon things that are spiritual and heavenly: certainly it was not a greater miracle to see dead Lazarus come out of his Sepulchre, than it is to see the dead and carnal mind coming out of its Lusts, to embrace Jesus Christ. It was not a greater wonder to see the dead dry bones in the vally to move, and come together, than it is to see a dead soul moving after God, and moving to Christ in the way of faith.