A39669:2650
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, But if these three things may consist with spiritual blindness, unto what then is it opposed? To which I answer, that Spiritual blindness stands only opposed unto that saving Manifestation of Jesus Christ in the Gospel, by the Spirit, whereby the soul is regenerated, and effectually changed by a real conversion unto God: Where-ever the Gospel thus comes in the demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; producing such an effect as this in the soul; it is no longer an hidden Gospel to that soul, though such persons do not see clearly all that glory which is revealed by the Gospel: though they know but in part, and see darkly as through a glass; yet the eyes of their understandings are opened, and the things which belong to their peace are not hidden from them.
Secondly, But though this be the happiness of some men, 1yet it is demonstrable, that the eyes of many are blinded by the God of this world, and the Gospel is an hidden Gospel from them: for,
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First, Many that live under the Gospel are so entirely swallowed up in the affairs of this world, that they allow themselves no time to ponder the great concernments of their souls in the world to come, and judge you, whatever the gifts and knowledge of these men are, whether the God of this world hath not blinded their eyes. If it were not so, it were impossible that ever they should thus wast the most precious opportunities of salvation, upon which their everlasting well-being depends, and spend time at the door of eternity about trifles which so little concern them. Yet this is the case of the greatest number that go under the Christian name. The earth hath opened her mouth, and swallowed up their time, thoughts, studies, and strength as it did the bodies of Corah, and his accomplices. The first, the freest, and upon the matter the whole