A39669:354
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.
Fourthly, Christs treating with sinners by his Ministers, who are his Ambassadors, implies the strict obligation they are under to be faithful in their Ministerial employment. Christ counts upon their faithfulness whom he puts into the Ministry, 1 Tim. 1. 12. They are accountable to him for all acts of their office, Heb. 13. 17. If they be silent, they cannot be innocent: necessity is laid upon them, and woe to them if they preach not the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9. 16.
Fourthly, Christs treating with sinners by his Ministers, who are his Ambassadors, implies the strict obligation they are under to be faithful in their Ministerial imployment. Christ counts upon their faithfulness whom he puts into the Ministry, 1 Tim. 1. 12. They are accountable to him for all acts of their office, Heb. 13. 17. If they be silent, they cannot be innocent: necessity is laid upon them, and wo to them if they preach not the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9. 16.
Yea, necessity is not only laid upon them to preach, but to keep close to their Commission in preaching the Gospel, 1 Thes. 2. 3, 4, 5. Our Exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile, but as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts: the word is not to be corrupted to please men, 2 Cor. 2. 17. their business is not to make them their disciples, but Christs, not to seek theirs but them,