A39669:2392
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.
Pattern 5.
Delight in God and in his service was eminently conspicuous in the life of Christ, and is a rare pattern for believers imitation. John 4. 32, 34. But he said unto them I have meat to eat that ye know not of, my meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work. The delights of Christ were all in heaven. The Son of man was in heaven in respect of delight in God, while he conversed here among men. And if you be Christs, heavenly things will be the delight of your souls also. Now spiritual delight is nothing else but the complacency, and well-pleasedness of a renewed heart in conversing with God, and the things of God: resulting from the agreeableness of them to the spiritual temper of his mind. Four things are considerable about spiritual delights.
First, The nature of it, which consisteth in the complacency, rest, and satisfaction of the mind in God, and spiritual things. The heart of a Christian is centred, it is where it would be; it is gratified in the highest in the actings forth of faith and love upon God; as the taste is gratified with a suitable delicious relish, Psal. 63. 5, 6. Psal. 119. 14, 24. Psal. 17. 18.
First, The nature of it, which consisteth in the complacency, rest, and satisfaction of the mind in God, and spiritual things. The heart of a Christian is centred, it is where it would be; it is gratified in the highest in the actings forth of faith and love upon God; as the tast is gratified with a suitable delicious relish,