A39669:2273
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.
4. Rule.
Study the vanity of the creature, and labour to get true 1notions of the emptiness, and transitoriness thereof, if ever you will attain to the Mortification of your affections towards 2it. 'Tis the false picture and image of the world in our fancy, that crucifies us with so many cares, fears, and solicitudes about it: and it is the true picture and image of the world, represented to us in the glass of the word, which greatly helps to crucify our affections to the world. O if we did but know and believe three things about the world, we would never be so fond of it as we are, viz. the fading, defiling, and destroying nature of it: the best and sweetest enjoyments of the world are but fading flowers, and withering grass, Isa. 14. 6. James 1. 10, 11. Yea, it is of a defiling as well as a fading nature, 1 John 5. 19. It lies in wickedness, it spreads universal infection among all mankind, 2 Pet. 1. 4. Yea, it destroys, as well as defiles multitudes of souls, drowning men in perdition, 1 Tim. 6. 9. Millions of souls will wish to eternity they had never known the riches, pleasures, or honours of it: were this believed, how would men slack their pace, and cool themselves in the violent and eager pursuit of the world! This greatly tends to promote Mortification.