A39669:2357
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, Christ was exemplarily holy: a pattern of holiness to all that came nigh him, and conversed with him. O imitate Christ in this. It was the commendation of the Thessalonians that they were ensamples to all that believed in Macedonia, and Achaia, and that in every place their faith to God-ward was spread abroad, 1 Thes. 1. 7, 8. Let no man go out of your company without conviction or edification; so exemplary were the primitive Christians, Phil. 3. 17.
Fourthly, Christ was strictly and precisely holy; which of you convinceth me of sin? The most envious and observing eyes of his greatest enemies could not pick a hole, or find a flaw in any of his words or actions: 'tis our duty to imitate Christ in this, Phil. 2. 15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine (or as the word may be rendered imperatively, among whom shine ye,) as lights in the world. Thus 1it becomes the followers of Christ to walk circumspectly or precisely, for so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, 1 Pet. 2. 15.
Fourthly, Christ was strictly and precisely holy; which of you convinceth me of sin? The most envious and observing eyes of his greatest enemies could not pick a hole, or find a flaw in any of his words or actions: 'tis our duty to imitate Christ in this, Phil. 2. 15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine (or as the word may be rendred imperatively, among whom shine ye,) as lights in the world. Thus