A39669:2190
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 crucifixion of the flesh doth not consist in the cessation of the external acts of sin: for in that respect the lusts of men may dye of their own accord, even a kind of natural death. The members of the body are the weapons of unrighteousness as the Apostle calls them: age or sickness may so blunt or break those weapons that the soul cannot use them to such sinful purposes and services as it was wont to do in the vigorous and healthful season of life: not that there is less sin in the heart, but because there is less strength and activity in the body. Just as it is with an old Soldier, who hath as much skill, policy and delight as ever in military actions; but age and hard services have so enfeebled him, that he can no longer follow the camp.
Thirdly, The crucifixion of the flesh doth not consist in the cessation of the external acts of sin: for in that respect the lusts of men may dye of their own accord, even a kind of natural death. The members of the body are the weapons of unrighteousness as the Apostle calls them: age or sickness may so blunt or break those weapons that the soul cannot use them to such sinful purposes and services as it was wont to do in the vigorous and healthful season of life: not that there is less sin in the heart, but because there is less strength and activity in the body. Just as it is with an old Soldier, who hath as much skill, policy and delight as ever in military actions; but age and hard services have so infeebled him, that he can no longer follow the camp.
Fourthly, The crucifixion of sin doth not consist in the fever castigations of the body and penancing it by stripes, fasting and tiresome pilgrimages. This may pass for mortification among Papists, but never was any lust of the flesh destroyed by this rigour. Christians indeed are bound not to indulge and pamper the body which is the instrument of sin, nor yet must we think that the spiritual corruptions of the soul •eel those stripes which are inflicted upon the body: see Col. 2. 23. 'tis not the vanity of superstition, but the power of true religion which crucifies and destroys corruption: 'tis faith in Christs blood, not the spilling of our own blood, which gives sin the mortal wound.