A39669:240
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.
All divine Spiritual life is originally in the Father, and cometh not to us but by, and through the son; Joh. 5. 26. to him hath the Father given to have an [Greek or Hebrew]—a quickening, enlivening power in himself: but the Son communicates this life which is in him to none but by and through the Spirit, Rom. 8. 2. the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the Law of sin and death.
All divine Spiritual life is originally in the Father, and cometh not to us but by, and through the son; Joh. 5. 26. to him hath the Father given to have an 〈non-Latin alphabet〉—a quickening, enlivening power in himself: but the Son communicates this life which is in him to none but by and through the Spirit, Rom. 8. 2. the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the Law of sin and death.
The Spirit must therefore first take hold of us, before we can live in Christ; and when he doth so, then we are enabled to exert that vital act of faith, whereby we receive Christ: all this lies plain in that one Scripture, Joh. 6. 57. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that cateth me (that is by faith applies me) even he shall live by me. ⟨p. 31⟩So that these two, namely the Spirit on Christs part, and Faith his work, on our part, are the two ligaments by which we are knit to Christ.
The Spirit must therefore first take hold of us, before we can live in Christ; and when he doth so, then we are enabled to exert that vital act of faith, whereby we receive Christ: all this lyes plain in that one Scripture,