A39669:2676
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.
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?
Fourthly, External reformation is improved by the policy of Satan against true Spiritual reformation, and passes current up and down the world. For conversion, though it serves only to strengthen Satan's interest in the soul, Mat. 12. 44. and for want of a real change of heart doth but increase their sin and misery, 2 Pet. 2. 20. This is the generation that is pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness. The cleanness of their hands blinds them in discovering the foulness of their hearts.