A39669:2576
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
Sermon 32 › DOCT. › The Uses follow. › Subsection 5: Inference 5.
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.
Inference 5.
How groundless and irrational is the mirth and jollity of all carnal and unregenerate men? they feast in their prison, 1and dance in their fetters. O the madness that is in the hearts of men! If men did but see their mittimus made for hell, or believe they are condemned already, it were impossible for them to live at that rate of vanity they do: and is their condition less dangerous because it is not understood? Surely no: but much more dangerous for that. O poor sinners, you have found out an effectual way to prevent your present troubles, it were well if you could find out a way to prevent your eternal misery: but 'tis easier for a man to stifle conviction, than prevent damnation. Your mirth hath a twofold mischief in it, it prevents repentance, and increaseth your future torment. O what an hell will your hell be, who drop into it out of all the sensitive and sinful pleasures of this world! If ever a man may say of mirth that it is mad, and of laughter what doth it; he may say so in this case.
How groundless and irrational is the mirth and jollity of all carnal and unregenerate men? they feast in their prison, 1and dance in their fetters. O the madness that is in the hearts of men! If men did but see their mittimus made for hell, or believe they are condemned already, it were impossible for them to live at that rate of vanity they do: and is their condition less dangerous because it is not understood? Surely no: but much more dangerous for that. O poor sinners, you have found out an effectual way to prevent your present troubles, it were well if you could find out a way to prevent your eternal misery: but 'tis easier for a man to stifle conviction, than prevent damnation. Your mirth hath a twofold mischief in it, it prevents repentance, and encreaseth your future torment. O what an hell will your hell be, who drop into it out of all the sensitive and sinful pleasures of this world! If ever a man may say of mirth that it is mad, and of laughter what doth it; he may say so in this case.