A39669:35
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.
My Friends, let me speak as freely as I am sure I speak seasonably. A sound of judgement is in our ears; the Lords voice crieth unto the City, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod and who hath appointed it, Mica. 6. 9. All things round about us seem to posture themselves for trouble and distress. Where is the man of wisdom that doth not foresee a shower of wrath and indignation coming? We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear and not of peace. Ask ye now and see whether a man doth travel with child? Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness. Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it; it is even the day of Jacobs trouble, but he shall be delivered out of it, Jer. 30. 5, 6, 7.
Many eyes are now opened to see the common danger, but some foresaw it long ago; when they saw the general decay of godliness every where, the notorious Profanity and Atheism that overspread the Nations; the spirit of enmity and bitterness against the power of godliness wherever it appeared: and though there seemed to be a present calm and general quietness; yet those that were wise in heart could not but discern distress of nations with great perplexity in these seeds of judgement and calamity: but as the Epha fills more and more, so ⟨image 10⟩the determined wrath grows more and more visible to every eye: and 'tis a fond thing to dream of tranquillity in the mid• of so much iniquity. Indeed, if these Nations were once swept with the besom of reformation, we might hope God would not sweep them with the besom of destruction: but what peace can be expected whilst the highest provocations are continued?
Many eyes are now opened to see the common danger, but some foresaw it long ago; when they saw the general decay of godliness every where, the notorious Prophanity and Atheism that overspread the Nations; the spirit of enmity and bitterness against the power of godliness whereever it appeared: and though there seemed to be a present calm and general quietness; yet those that were wise in heart could not but discern distress of nations with great perplexity in these seeds of judgement and calamity: but as the Epha fills more and more, so