A39669:584
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.
Fourthly, This life of God with which the regenerate are quickened in their Union with Christ as it is a pleasant, so it is also a growing increasing life. Joh. 4. 14. It shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
It is not in our Sanctification, as it is in our Justification, our Justification is complete and perfect, no defect is found there, but the new Creature labours under many defects: all believers are equally Justified, but not equally Sanctified: therefore you read 2 Cor. 4. 16. that the inward man is renewed day by day: and 2 Pet. 3. 18. Christians are exhorted to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour: if this work were perfect and finished at once as Justification is, there could be no renewing day by day, nor growth in grace, perfectum est cui nihil deest, & cui nihil addi potest: the Apostle indeed prays for the Thessalonians, that God would sanctify them [Greek or Hebrew]—wholly, perfectly, 1 Thes. 5. 23. and this is matter of prayer and hope, for at last it will grow up to perfection; but this perfect holiness is reserved for the perfect state in the world to come, and none but *deluded proud spirits boast of it here: but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away, 1 Cor. 13. 9, 10. and upon the imperfection of the ⟨p. 99⟩new Creature in every faculty, that warfare and daily conflict spoken of Gal. 5. 17. and experienced by every Christian is grounded: grace rises gradually in the soul as the Sun doth in the heavens, which shineth more and more unto a perfect day,