A39669:2695
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, The dreadful nature of this spiritual blindness farther appears from the consideration of the season in which it befalls men, which is the very time of Gods patience, and the only opportunity they have for salvation: after these opportunities are over, their eyes will be opened to see their misery, but alas, too late, too late. Upon this account Christ shed those tears over Jerusalem, Luke 19. 42. O that thou hadst known, at least in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace; but now they are hid from thine eyes. Now the season of grace is past and gone: opportunities are the golden spots of time, ⟨p. 585⟩and there is much time in a short opportunity, as there are many pieces of silver in one piece of gold. Time signifies nothing when opportunities are gone, to be blinded in the very season of salvation is the Judgement of all Judgements, the greatest misery incident to man; to have our eyes opened, when the seasons of salvation are past, is but an aggravation of misery: There is a twofold opening of mens eyes to see their danger.
Viz. 1. Graciously to prevent danger. 2. Judicially to aggravate misery.
They whose eyes are not opened graciously in this world to see their disease and remedy in Christ, shall have their eyes opened judicially in the world to come, to see their disease without any remedy. If God open them now, it is by way of prevention; if they be not opened until then, it will produce desperation.