A39669:554
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.
IN the former Sermons we have seen our Union with Christ in the general nature of it, and the means by which it is effected, both external by the preaching of the Gospel, and internal by the drawings of the Father. We are now to bring our thoughts yet closer to this great mystery, and consider the bonds or ligaments by which Christ and believers are knit together in a blessed oneness.
And if we heedfully observe the Scripture expressions, and ponder the nature of this Union, we shall find there are two bands which knit Christ and the soul together, viz.
1. The Spirit on Christs part. 2. Faith on our part.
The Spirit on Christs part, quickening us with spiritual life, whereby Christ first takes hold of us, and faith on our part, when thus quickened, whereby we take hold of Christ: accordingly this Union with the Lord Jesus is expressed in Scripture sometimes by one, and sometimes by the other of these means or bonds by which it is effected. Christ is sometimes said to be in us, so Col. 1. 27. Christ in you the hope of glory: and Rom. 8. 10. And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin: and other times it is expressed by the other bond on our part, as