A39669:512
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.
These are the strong holds (mentioned 2 Cor. 10. 4.) out of which those objections, fears and discouragements sally, by which the soul is fiercely assaulted in the way to Christ.
Wilt thou forsake all thy pleasures, merry company, and sensible comforts to live a sad, retired, pensive life? wilt thou beggar and undo thy self, let go thy comforts in hand for an hope of that which thine eyes never saw, nor hast thou any certainty that it's any more than a fancy? wilt thou that hast lived in reputation and credit all thy life, now become ⟨p. 83⟩the scorn and contempt of the world? thinkest thou thy self able to live such a strict, severe, mortified and self-denying a life, as the word of God requires? and what if persecution should arise, (as thou must expect it will) canst thou forsake father and mother, wife and children, yea, and give up thine own life too to a cruel and bloody death? be advised better before thou resolve in so important a matter: what thinkest thou of thy fore-fathers, that lived and dyed in that way thou art now leaving? art thou wiser than they? do not the generality of men walk in the same paths thou hast hitherto walked in? if this way lead to hell as thou fearest it may; think then how many millions of men must perish as well as thy self, and is such a supposition consistent with the gracious and merciful nature of God? Besides, think what sort of people those are unto whom thou art about to join thy self in this new way? are there not to be found among them many things to discourage thee and cool thy zeal? they are generally of the lower and baser sort of men, poor and despicable: seest thou not though their profession be holy, how earthly, carnal, proud, factious, and hypocritical many of them are found to be! and doubtless the rest are like them, though their hypocrisy be not yet discovered.
Wilt thou forsake all thy pleasures, merry company, and sensible comforts to live a sad, retired, pensive life? wilt thou begger and undo thy self, let go thy comforts in hand for an hope of that which thine eyes never saw, nor hast thou any certainty that it's any more than a fancy? wilt thou that hast lived in reputation and credit all thy life, now become