A39669:2652
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.
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 ⟨p. 572⟩of their time is devoted to the service of the world: for even at that very time when they present their bodies before the Lord in the duties of his worship, their hearts are wandering after vanities, and going after their covetousness, Ezek. 33. 31. Judge whether the God of this world hath blinded these men or no, who can see so much beauty in the world, but none in Christ, and put such an absolute necessity upon the vanities of this world, but none upon their own salvation. If this be not spiritual blindness, what is?
Secondly, The great stillness and quietness of mens consciences under the most rousing and awakening truths of the Gospel, plainly proves that the God of this world hath blinded their eyes. For did men see and apprehend the dangerous condition they are in, as the word represents it; nothing in the world could quiet them but Christ. As soon as mens eyes come to be opened, the next enquiry they make is, What shall we do to be saved? It is not possible that a man should hang over hell, see Christ and the hopes of salvation going, and the day of patience ending, and yet be quiet. O it cannot be, that conscience should let them be quiet in such a case, if it were not blinded and stupefied; but whilst the God of this world that strong man armed keepeth the house, all his goods are in peace,