A39669:2609
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, Ex parte Peccatoris, upon the account of sinners it must needs be, that the heaviest wrath and most intolerable torments should be the portion of them who have sinned under and against the clearest light and means of grace: for we find in the Scripture account, that a principal and special part of the torment of the damned will arise from their own Consciences, Mark 9. 44. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched: and nothing is more manifest than this, that if Conscience be the tormentor of the damned, then sinners against light must needs have the greatest torments. For,
First, The more knowledge any man had in this world, the more was his Conscience violated and abused here, by sinning against it: and O what work will these violations and abuses make for a tormenting Conscience in Hell▪ With what rage and fury will it then avenge it self upon the most stout, daring and impudent sinner! the more guilt now, the more rage and fury then.
Secondly, The more knowledge or means of knowledge any man hath enjoyed in this world, so much the more matter is prepared and laid up for Conscience to upbraid us with in the place of torments: and the upbraidings of Conscience are a special part of the torments of the damned. O what a peal will Conscience ring in the ears of such sinners! Did not I warn thee of the issue of such sins, undone wretch? How often did I strive with thee, if it had been possible to take thee off from thy course of sinning, and to escape this wrath? Did not I often cry out in thy bosom, stop thy course sinner? Hearken to my counsel, turn and live; but thou wouldst not hearken to my voice. I forewarned thee of this danger but thou slightedst all my warnings: thy lusts were too strong for my light: and now thou seest whither thy way tended, but alas too late!