A39669:472
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.
First, This blessed work is carried on by the Spirit gradually, bringing the soul step by step in the due method and order of the Gospel to Christ: illumination, conviction, compunction prepare the way to Christ; and then faith unites the soul to him: without humiliation there can be no faith, Mat. 21. 32. ye repented not, that ye might believe: 'tis the burdensome sense of sin that brings the soul to Christ for rest, Mat. 11. 28. come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden: but without Conviction there can be no Compunction, no humiliation; he that is not convinced of his sin and misery, never bewails it nor mourns for it: never was there one tear of true repentance seen to drop from the eye of an unconvinced sinner.
And without illumination there can be no Conviction, for what is Conviction but the application of the light which is in the understanding or mind of a man to his heart and Conscience? Acts 2. 37. In this order therefore the Spirit (ordinarily) draws souls to Christ, he shines into their minds by illumination, applies that light to their Consciences by effectual Conviction, breaks and wounds their hearts for sin in Compunction, and then moves the will to embrace and close with Christ in the way of Faith for life and salvation.
And without illumination there can be no Conviction, for what is Conviction but the application of the light which is in the understanding or mind of a man to his heart and Conscience? Acts 2. 37. In this order therefore the Spirit (ordinarily) draws souls to Christ, he shines into their minds by illumination, applys that light to their Consciences by effectual Conviction, breaks and wounds their hearts for sin in Compunction, and then moves the will to embrace and close with Christ in the way of Faith for life and salvation.