A39669:2614
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 3.
If this be so, what a strong engagement lieth upon all enlightened 1persons to turn heartily to God; and reduce their knowledge into practice and obedience. The more men know, the more violence they do to their own Consciences in rebelling against the light; this is to sin with an high hand, Num. 15. 30. Believe it sirs, you cannot sin at so cheap a rate as others do: knowledge in a wicked man, like high mettle in a blind ⟨p. 562⟩Horse, doth but the sooner precipitate him into ruin. You may know much more than others, but if ever you come to Heaven, it must be in the same way of faith and obedience, mortification and self-denial in which the weakest Christian comes thither: whatever knowledge you have, to be sure you have no wisdom, if you expect salvation upon any other or easier terms, than the most illiterate Christian finds it. It was a sad observation of the Father, surgunt indocti & rapiunt coelum: the unlearned rise and take Heaven. What a pity 'tis that men of such excellent parts should be enslaved to their lusts! that ever it should be said, sapientes sapienter descendunt in Gehennam: their learning doth but hang in their light, it doth but blind them in spiritual things, and prepareth them for the greater misery.
If this be so, what a strong engagement lieth upon all enlightned 1persons to turn heartily to God; and reduce their knowledge into practice and obedience. The more men know, the more violence they do to their own Consciences in rebelling against the light; this is to sin with an high hand,