A39669:358
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.
Sixthly and Lastly, It implies both the wisdom and condescension of God to sinful men in carrying on a treaty of peace with them by such Ambassadors, negotiating betwixt him and them: without a treaty there would be no reconciliation; and no method to carry on such a treaty like this: for had the Lord treated with sinners personally, and immediately, they had been overwhelmed with such an awful Majesty. The app•ces of God confound the creature, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God (saith Israel) neither let me see this great fire any more, that I dye not: yea so terrible was that sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake, Deut. 18. 16. Heb. 12. 21.
Sixthly and Lastly, It implyes both the wisdome and condescension of God to sinful men in carrying on a treaty of peace with them by such Ambassadors, negotiating betwixt him and them: without a treaty there would be no reconciliation; and no method to carry on such a treaty like this: for had the Lord treated with sinners personally, and immediately, they had been overwhelmed with such an awful Majesty. The app•ces of God confound the creature, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God (saith Israel) neither let me see this great fire any more, that I dye not: yea so terrible was that sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake, Deut. 18. 16. Heb. 12. 21.
Or had he Commissionated Angels for this employment, though they stand not at such an infinite distance from us as God doth, yet such is the excellence of their glory (being the highest Species and order of creatures) that their appearances would be more apt to astonish than persuade us: besides they being creatures of another rank and kind, and not partaking with us either in the misery of the fall, or benefit of the recovery by Christ, 'tis not to be supposed they should speak to us so feelingly, and experimentally, as these his Ministers do: they can open to you the mysteries of sin, feeling the workings thereof daily in their own hearts: they can discover to you the conflicts of the flesh and spirit, as being daily exercised in that warfare; and then being men of the same mould and temper they can say to you as Elihu did to Job, Chap. 33. 6, 7. Behold, I am according to thy wish, in Gods stead, I also am formed out of the clay: behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.