A39669:2183
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.
Mark the force of the Apostles reasoning: if we have been planted into the likeness of his death, viz. by the mortification of sin, which resembles or hath a likeness to the kind and manner of Christs death (as was noted above) then we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; and why so, but because this mortification of sin is an undoubted evidence of the union of such a soul with Christ, which is the very ground-work and principle of that blessed and glorious ⟨p. 459⟩resurrection: and therefore he saith, vers. 11. Reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord, q. d. reason thus with your selves, these mortifying influences of the death of Christ are unquestionable presages of your future blessedness: God never taking this course with any but those who are in Christ, and are designed to be glorified with him: the death of your sin is as evidential as any thing in the world can be, of your spiritual life for the present, and of your eternal life with God hereafter. Mortification is the fruit and evidence of your union, and that union is the firm ground-work, and certain pledge of your glorification, and so you ought to reckon or reason the case with your selves as the word: [Greek or Hebrew] there signifies. Now for the stating and explicating of this point, I shall in the doctrinal part labour to open and confirm these five things.
Mark the force of the Apostles reasoning: if we have been planted into the likeness of his death, viz. by the mortification of sin, which resembles or hath a likeness to the kind and manner of Christs death (as was noted above) then we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; and why so, but because this mortification of sin is an undoubted evidence of the union of such a soul with Christ, which is the very ground-work and principle of that blessed and glorious ⟨p. 459⟩resurrection: and therefore he saith, vers. 11. Reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord, q. d. reason thus with your selves, these mortifying influences of the death of Christ are unquestionable presages of your future blessedness: God never taking this course with any but those who are in Christ, and are designed to be glorified with him: the death of your sin is as evidential as any thing in the world can be, of your spiritual life for the present, and of your eternal life with God hereafter. Mortification is the fruit and evidence of your union, and that union is the firm ground-work, and certain pledge of your glorification, and so you ought to reckon or reason the case with your selves as the word: there signifies. Now for the stating and explicating of this point, I shall in the doctrinal part labour to open and confirm these five things.