A39669:2111
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, Where all the saving graces of the spirit are, there interest in Christ must needs be certain; and where the new creature is, there all the saving graces of the spirit are: for what is the new creature but the frame or System of all special saving graces: it is not this or that particular grace, as faith, or hope, or love to God, which constitutes the new creature, for these are but as so many particular limbs or branches of it: but the new creature is comprehensive of all the graces of the Spirit, Gal. 5. 22, 23. The fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, joy, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, &c. any one of the saving special graces of the Spirit gives proof of our interest in Christ: how much more then the new creature which is the complex frame or System of all the graces together?
First, Where all the saving graces of the spirit are, there interest in Christ must needs be certain; and where the new creature is, there all the saving graces of the spirit are: for what is the new creature but the frame or Systeme of all special saving graces: it is not this or that particular grace, as faith, or hope, or love to God, which constitutes the new creature, for these are but as so many particular limbs or branches of it: but the new creature is comprehensive of all the graces of the Spirit, Gal. 5. 22, 23. The fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, joy, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, &c. any one of the saving special graces of the Spirit gives proof of our interest in Christ: how much more then the new creature which is the complex frame or Systeme of all the graces together?
Secondly, To conclude, where all the causes of an interest in Christ are found, and all the effects and fruits of an interest in Christ do appear; there undoubtedly a real interest in Christ is found: but where-ever you find a new creature, you find all the causes and all the effects of an interest in Christ: for there you shall find,