A39669:2144
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 change made by civility upon such as were lewd and profane, is in its whole kind and nature a 1different thing from the new creature; the power and efficacy of moral virtue is one thing, the influence of the regenerating Spirit is quite another thing: however some have studied to confound them. The heathens excelled in moral, and homiletical virtues. Plato, Aristides, Seneca, and multitudes more have outvied many professed Christians in justice, temperance, patience, &c. yet were perfect strangers to the new creation. A man may be very strict and temperate, free from the gross pollutions of the world: and yet a perfect stranger to regeneration all the while. John 3. 10.
First, That the change made by civility upon such as were lewd and prophane, is in its whole kind and nature a 1different thing from the new creature; the power and efficacy of moral vertue is one thing, the influence of the regenerating Spirit is quite another thing: however some have studied to confound them. The heathens excelled in moral, and homilitical vertues. Plato, Aristides, Seneca, and multitudes more have outvied many professed Christians in justice, temperance, patience, &c. yet were perfect strangers to the new creation. A man may be very strict and temperate, free from the gross pollutions of the world: and yet a perfect stranger to regeneration all the while. John 3. 10.
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Secondly, That many strong convictions and troubles for 1sin may be found where the new creature is never formed. Conviction indeed is an antecedent unto, and preparative for the new creature, as the blossoms of the tree are to the fruit that follows them; but as fruit doth not always follow where those blossoms and flowers appear, so neither doth the new creature follow all convictions and troubles for sin. Conviction is a common work of the Spirit both upon the elect and reprobates: