A39669:280
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.
It was the saying of a great Divine, that he thought scarce any man on earth did fully understand and believe this truth, and he conceives so much hinted in the very Text where the righteous themselves reply, Lord when saw we thee sick, &c. intimating in the question, that they did not throughly understand the nearness, yea, oneness of those persons with Christ, for whom they did these things. And indeed, it is incredible that a Christian can be hard hearted, and close handed, to that necessitous Christian, in refreshing and relieving of whom he verily believes that he ministers refreshment to Christ himself.
O think again and again upon this Scripture, consider what forcible and mighty Arguments are here laid together to engage relief to the wants of Christians.
Here you see their near relation to Christ: they are Mystically one person: what you did to them, you did to me. Here you see also how kindly Christ takes it at our hands: acknowledging all those kindnesses that were bestowed upon him, even to a bit of bread: he is you see content to take it as a courtesy, who might demand it by authority, and bereave you of all immediately upon refusal.
Yea, here you see this one single branch or act of obedience, (our charity to the Saints) is singled out from among all the duties of obedience, and made the test and evidence of our sincerity in that great day, and men blessed or cursed