A39669:389
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.
Not any thing! what can be more diminutively spoken of the Gospel preachers? but we must not understand these words in a simple and absolute, but in a comparative and relative sense: not as if they were not necessary and useful in their place, but that how necessary soever they be, and what excellent gifts soever God hath furnished them with; yet it is neither in their power, nor choice to make the word they preach effectual to men: if it were, then the damnation of all that hear us must needs lye at our door: then also, many thousands would have been reconciled to God, which are yet in the state of enmity, but the effect of the Gospel is not in our power.
Not any thing! what can be more diminutively spoken of the Gospel preachers? but we must not understand these words in a simple and absolute, but in a comparative and relative sence: not as if they were not necessary and useful in their place, but that how necessary soever they be, and what excellent gifts soever God hath furnished them with; yet it is neither in their power, nor choice to make the word they preach effectual to men: if it were, then the damnation of all that hear us must needs lye at our door: then also, many thousands would have been reconciled to God, which are yet in the state of enmity, but the effect of the Gospel is not in our power.
Thirdly, But whatever efficacy it hath to reconcile men to God, it derives from the spirit of God, whose Cooperation 1and blessing (which is arbitrarily dispensed) gives it all the fruit it hath.
- 13.
Ministers, saith one*