A39669:2675
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, It is the policy of Satan to prevent conviction, by conviction. I mean effectual convictions, by convictions that have been ineffectual, and are now vanished away. Thus the troubles that some persons have been under, must pass for their conversion, though the temper of their heart be the same it was: their ineffectual troubles are made use of by the Devil to blind them in the true knowledge and apprehension of their condition. For these men and women can speak of the troubles they have had for sin, and the many tears they have shed for it; whereby thorough conviction is effectually prevented.
Thirdly, Gifts and knowledge are improved by the policy of Satan against the true knowledge of Jesus Christ, and our own estate by nature. As conviction is improved by Satan's policy against conviction, so is knowledge, against knowledge. This was the case of them in Rom. 2. 17, 18. Thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent; being instructed out of the law, and art confident that thou thy self art a guide to the blind, &c. And this is the temptation and delusion of knowing persons, who are so far from being blind in their own account, that they account themselves the guides of the blind: yet who blinder than such men?
Thirdly, Gifts and knowledge are improved by the policy of Satan against the true knowlege of Jesus Christ, and our own estate by nature. As conviction is improved by Satans policy against conviction, so is knowledge, against knowledge. This was the case of them in Rom. 2. 17, 18. Thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent; being instructed out of the law, and art confident that thou thy self art a guide to the blind, &c. And this is the temptation and delusion of knowing persons, who are so far from being blind in their own account, that they account themselves the guides of the blind: yet who blinder than such men?