A39669:2698
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.
1st. Use of Information.1
- 1Use 1.
Inference 1.
If this be the case of the unbelieving world to be so blinded by the God of the world; how little should we value the censures and ⟨p. 587⟩1slanders of the blind world? Certainly they should move no other affection but pity in our souls: If their eyes were opened, their mouths would be shut, they would never traduce Religion and the sincere professors of it as they do, if Satan had not blinded their minds: they speak evil of the things they know not, their reproaches which they let fly so freely, are but so many arrows shot by the blind mans bow, which only stick in our clothes and can do us no hurt, except we thrust them onward by our own discontent to the wounding of our spirits. I could almost be proud upon it (said Luther) that I have got an ill name 2among the worst men. Beware Christians that you give them no occasion to blaspheme the name of your God, and then never trouble your selves however they use your names. If they tread it in the dirt now, God (as one speaks) will take it up, wash off all that dirt, and deliver it you again clear and shining. Should such men speak well of us, we might justly suspect our selves of some iniquity which administers to them the occasion of it.