A39669:2653
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, 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, Luke 11. 21. If once your eyes were opened by conviction, a man may then say, Be quiet if you can; sit still, and let the hopes and seasons of salvation pass quietly away if you can. Suppose one should come into the Congregation, and whisper but such a word as this in your ear, your child is fallen into the fire, and is dying, since you came from home; would it be in the power of all the friends you have, to quiet you, and make you sit still after such an information? much less, when a man apprehends his own soul in immediate danger of the everlasting burnings.
Secondly, The great stilness and quietness of mens consciences under the most rouzing 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 stupified; but whilst the God of this world that strong man armed keepeth the house, all his goods are in peace, Luke 11. 21. If once your eyes were opened by conviction, a man may then say, Be quiet if you can; sit still, and let the hopes and seasons of salvation pass quietly away if you can. Suppose one should come into the Congregation, and whisper but such a word as this in your ear, your child is fallen into the fire, and is dying, since you came from home; would it be in the power of all the friends you have, to quiet you, and make you sit still after such an information? much less, when a man apprehends his own soul in immediate danger of the everlasting burnings.