A39669:2488
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.
First, from the tendency of holy principles unto holy fruits and practices, ver. 9, 10.
Secondly, from the convincing efficacy of practical godliness upon the consciences of the wicked, ver. 11, 12, 13. It awes and convinces their consciences.
Thirdly, from the co incidence of such a conversation with the great design and drift of the scriptures: which is to awaken men by regeneration out of that spiritual sleep, or rather death which sin hath cast them into: And this is the Argument ⟨p. 528⟩of the Text: Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, &c. There is some difficulty in the reference of these words. Some think it refers to Isa. 26. 19. Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust. Others to Isa. 60. 1. Arise, shine, for thy light is come, &c. But most probably the words neither refer to this or that particularly, but to the drift and scope of the whole Scriptures, which were inspired and written upon this great design to awaken and quicken souls out of the state of spiritual death. And in them we are to consider these three things more distinctly and particularly.