A39669:556
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.
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 1 Joh. 5. 20. we are in him that is true, even in his son Christ Jesus: and 2 Cor. 5. 17. if •ny man be in Christ, he is a new creature.
The difference betwixt both these is thus aptly expressed by a late Author, Christ is in believers by his Spirit, 1 Joh. 4. 13. the believer is in Christ by faith, Joh. 1. 12. Christ 1is in the believer by inhabitation, Rom. 3. 17. the believer is in Christ by implantation, Rom. 6. 35. Christ is in the believer as the head is in the body,