A39669:2282
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.
8. Rule.
Bend the strength of your duties and endeavours against 1your proper and special sin: 'Tis in vain to lop off branches, whilst this root of bitterness remains untouched: This was ⟨p. 487⟩Davids practice, Psal. 18. 23. I was also upright before him, and I kept my self from mine iniquity. We observe in natural men, that one faculty is more vigorous than another: We find in nature that our soil suits with this seed, rather than another: and every believer may find his nature and constitution inclining him to one sin rather than another. As graces, so corruptions excel one another even in the regenerate. The power of special corruptions arises from our constitutions, education, company, custom, callings, and such like occasions. But from whencesoever it comes, this is the sin that most endangers us, most easily besets us, and according to the progress of mortification in that fin, we may safely estimate the degrees of mortification in other sins: strike therefore at the life and root of your own iniquity.
- 1Rule 8.