A39669:2606
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, In the next place let us examine why sin so aggravated by the light, makes men liable to the greater condemnation: 1for that it doth so is beyond all debate or question, ⟨p. 557⟩else the Apostle Peter would not have said of those sinners against light as he doth, 2 Pet. 2. 21. That it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness: nor would Christ have told the Inhabitants of Chorazin or Bethsaida, that it should be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of Judgement than for them. There is a twofold reason of this.
- 12.
1. Ex parte Dei, on Gods part. 2. Ex parte Peccatoris, on the Sinners part.
First, Ex parte Dei, on Gods part, who is the righteous Judge of the whole earth, and will therefore render unto every man according as his works shall be: for shall not the Judge of the whole earth do right? he will judge the world in righteousness, and righteousness requires that difference be made in the punishment of Sinners according to the different degrees of their sins. Now that there are different degrees of sin is abundantly clear from what we have lately discoursed under the former head: where we have showed that the light under which men sin, puts extraordinary aggravations upon their sins: answerable whereunto will the degrees of punishment be awarded by the righteous Judge of Heaven and earth. The Gentiles who had no other light but that dim light of nature, will be condemned for disobeying the law of God written upon their hearts: but yet greater wrath is reserved for them who sin both against the light of nature, and the light of the Gospel also: and therefore it is said,