A39669:2516
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.
Secondly, They have no spiritual motions towards Christ, or after things that are spiritual, all the Arguments in the world cannot persuade their wills to move one step towards Christ in the way of faith, John 5. 40. Ye will not come unto me: Were there a principle of spiritual life in their souls, they would move Christ-ward, and heaven-ward, John 4. 14. it would be in them a well of water springing up into eternal life. The natural tendency of the spiritual life is upward.
Secondly, They have no spiritual motions towards Christ, or after things that are spiritual, all the Arguments in the world cannot perswade their wills to move one step towards Christ in the way of faith, John 5. 40. Ye will not come unto me: Were there a principle of spiritual life in their souls, they would move Christ-ward, and heaven-ward, John 4. 14. it would be in them a well of water springing up into eternal life. The natural tendency of the spiritual life is upward.
Thirdly, The unregenerate have no appetite unto spiritual food, they savour not things that are spiritual; they can go from week to week, and from year to year, all their life time without any communion betwixt God and their souls, and feel no need of it, nor any hungerings, nor thirstings after it, which could never be i• a principle of spiritual life were in them, for then they would esteem the words of Gods mouth more than their necessary food, Job 30. 12.