A39669:2331
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.
The express and principal design of the Apostle in this Chapter, is to propound marks and signs both Negative and Positive, for the trial and examination of mens claims to Christ; amongst which (not to spend time about the Coherence) my Text is a principal one: a trial of mens interest in Christ by their imitation of Christ. It is supposed by some Expositors that the Apostle in laying down this mark had a special design to overthrow the wicked Doctrine of the Carpocratians […] taught (as Epiphanius relates it) that men might have as much Communion with God in sin, as in duty. In full opposition to which the Apostle lays down this Proposition, wherein he asserts the necessity of a Christ-like conversation in all that claim Union with him or interest in him. The words resolve themselves into two parts.
THe express and principal design of the Apostle in this Chapter, is to propound marks and signs both Negative and Positive, for the trial and examination of mens claims to Christ; amongst which (not to spend time about the Coherence) my Text is a principal one: a trial of mens interest in Christ by their imitation of Christ. It is supposed by some Expositors that the Apostle in laying down this mark had a special design to overthrow the wicked Doctrine of the Carpocratians 〈…〉 taught (as Epiphanius relates it) that men might have as much Communion with God in sin, as in duty. In full opposition to which the Apostle lays down this Proposition, wherein he asserts the necessity of a Christ-like conversation in all that claim Union with him or interest in him. The words resolve themselves into two parts.
Viz. 1. A Claim to Christ supposed. 2. The only way to have our claim warranted.
First, We have here a claim to Christ supposed; if any 1