The Method of Grace

The aversations of men from Jesus Christ their only remedy, is as much to be admired, as lamented: one would think the news of deliverance should make the hearts of captives leap for joy: the tidings of a Saviour should transport the heart of a lost sinner. A man would think a little Rhetoric might suffice to persuade the naked soul of a sinner to put on the rich robes of Christs righteousness, which cost him nothing but acceptance: or the perishing starving sinner to accept the bread of God which cometh down from Heaven, and giveth life unto the world. This is the great design I have managed in this whole discourse; the centre to which all these lines are drawn: many arguments have been used; and many ways attempted to prevail with men to apply and put on ⟨p. 566⟩Christ, and I am afraid all too little. I have but laboured in vain, and spent my strength for nought; all these discourses are but the beating of the air, and few if any will be persuaded to come unto Christ, who is clearly opened, and freely offered in the Gospel to them. For alas, whilst I am reasoning, Satan is blinding their minds with false reasonings and contrary persuasions: the God of this world turns away the ears, and draws away the hearts of almost the whole world from Christ: the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Satan is a great and jealous Prince; and is well aware that so many of his subjects as shall be brought to see the misery of their condition, will never endure to abide any longer in subjection to him: 'tis therefore his great policy to put out their eyes, that he may secure their souls; to darken their understandings, that he may keep his interest firm and entire in their wills and affections: and this makes the effectual application of Christ so great a difficulty: that upon the contrary, it is just matter of admiration that any soul is persuaded and prevailed with to quit the service of Satan, and come to Christ. And therefore in the last place, to discover the great difficulty of conversion, and show you where it is that all our endeavours stick and set, so that we can move the design no farther, with all our tugging and striving, reasoning and persuading;

THe aversations of men from Jesus Christ their only remedy, is as much to be admired, as lamented: one would think the news of deliverance should make the hearts of captives leap for joy: the tydings of a Saviour should transport the heart of a lost sinner. A man would think a little Rhetorick might suffice to perswade the naked soul of a sinner to put on the rich robes of Christs righteousness, which cost him nothing but acceptance: or the perishing starving sinner to accept the bread of God which cometh down from Heaven, and giveth life unto the world. This is the great design I have managed in this whole discourse; the centre to which all these lines are drawn: many arguments have been used; and many ways attempted to prevail with men to apply and put on