A39669:479
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, That there is more good in Christ than in all temporal good things, which we are to deny or forsake upon his account: this being once clearly and convincingly discovered to the understanding, the will is thereby prepared to quit all that which entangles and with holds it from coming to Christ: there is no man that loves money so much, but he will willingly part with it for that which is more worth to him than the sum he parts with to purchase it: Matth. 13. 45, 46. The Kingdom of heaven is like to a Merchant man, seeking goodly Pearls, who when he hath found one Pearl of great price, goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth it.
First, That there is more good in Christ than in all temporal good things, which we are to deny or forsake upon his account: this being once clearly and convincingly discovered to the understanding, the will is thereby prepared to quit all that which entangles and with holds it from coming to Christ: there is no man that loves money so much, but he will willingly part with it for that which is more worth to him than the sum he parts with to purchase it: Matth. 13. 45, 46. The Kingdome of heaven is like to a Merchant man, seeking goodly Pearls, who when he hath found one Pearl of great price, goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth it.
Such an invaluable Pearl is Jesus Christ, infinitely more worth than all that a poor sinner hath to part with for him, and is a more real good than the creature. These are but vain shadows, Prov. 23. 5. Christ is a solid substantial good: yea, he is, and by Conviction appears to be a more suitable good than the creature: the world cannot justify and save, but Christ can. Christ is a more necessary good than the creature, this is for our temporal Conveniency, but he of eternal necessity. He is a more Durable good than any creature ⟨p. 75⟩