A39669:2611
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.
Inference 1.
Hence it follows, that neither knowledge, nor the best means of knowledge are in themselves sufficient to secure men from wrath 1to come. Light in it self is a choice mercy, and therefore the means that begat and increased it must be so too: but yet it is a mercy liable to the greatest abuse, and the abuse ⟨p. 560⟩of the best mercies brings forth the greatest miseries. Alas, Christians, your duty is but half learnt when you know it: obedience to light makes light a blessing indeed, Joh. 13. 17. If ye know these things, happy are ye if you do them. Happiness is not entailed upon simple knowing, but upon doing; upon obedience to our knowledge: otherwise he that increaseth knowledge doth but increase sorrow; for that servant which knew his Lords will, and prepared not himself, nor did according to his will; shall be beaten with many stripes, Luke 13. 47. And to him that knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin, Jam. 4. 17. We are bound with all thankfulness to acknowledge the bounty of Heaven to this sinful generation in furnishing us with so many excellent means of light beyond many other nations and generations that are past: but yet we ought to rejoice with trembling when we consider the abuses of light in this wanton age, and what a dismal event is like to happen unto many thousands among us. I fear the time is coming when many among us will wish they had never set foot upon English ground. God hath blessed this nation with many famous, burning and shining lights; it was once said to the honour of this Nation, that the English Ministry was the worlds