A39669:473
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.
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.
These several steps are more distinctly discerned in some Christians than in others; they are more clearly to be seen in the Adult Convert, than those that were drawn to Christ in their youth; in such as were drawn to him out of a state of profaneness, than those that had the advantage of a pious education; but in this order the work is carried on ordinarily in all, however it differ in point of clearness in the one, and in the other.
These several steps are more distinctly discerned in some Christians than in others; they are more clearly to be seen in the Adult Convert, than those that were drawn to Christ in their youth; in such as were drawn to him out of a state of prophaneness, than those that had the advantage of a pious education; but in this order the work is carried on ordinarily in all, however it differ in point of clearness in the one, and in the other.