A39669:2307
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.
In the next place this point naturally puts us upon the Examination and trial of our own hearts, whether we 1who so confidently claim a special interest in Christ have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts; and because two sorts of persons will be concerned in this Trial, viz. the weaker, and the stronger Christians; I shall therefore lay down two sorts of Evidences of Mortification, one respecting the sincerity, and truth, the other respecting the strength, and progress of that work in confirmed and grown Christians, and both excluding false pretenders.
In the next place this point naturally puts us upon the Examination and trial of our own hearts, whether we 1who so confidently claim a special interest in Christ have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts; and because two sorts of persons will be concerned in this Triall, viz. the weaker, and the stronger Christians; I shall therefore lay down two sorts of Evidences of Mortification, one respecting the sincerity, and truth, the other respecting the strength, and progress of that work in confirmed and grown Christians, and both excluding false pretenders.
- 1Use 4.
First, There are some things that are Evidential of the truth and sincerity of Mortification even in the weakest Christians: as
First, True tenderness of conscience in all known sins, one as well as another, is a good sign sin hath lost its Dominion in the soul? O 'tis a special mercy to have a heart that shall smite and reprove us for those things that others make nothing of: to check and admonish us for our secret sins which can never turn to our reproach among men: this is a good sign that we hate sin as sin: however through the weakness of the flesh we may be ensnared by it,