A39669:595
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.
'Tis true, a soul may be a long time under the preparatory works of the Spirit, he may be under Convictions and humiliations, purposes and resolutions a long time, he may be waiting at the pool of Bethesda, attending the means and ordinances, but when the Spirit comes once to quicken the soul, it's done in a moment: even as it is in the infusion of the rational soul, the body is long ere it be prepared and moulded, but when once the Embryo or matter is ready, it's quickened with the Spirit of life in an instant: so it is here: but O what a blessed moment is this! upon which the whole weight of our eternal happiness depends; for it is Christ in us, (i. e.) Christ formed in us, who is the hope of glory, Col. 1. 27. and our Lord expressly tells us, Joh. 3. 3. that except we be regenerate and born again, we cannot see the Kingdom of God. And thus of the way and manner of its infusion.
'Tis true, a soul may be a long time under the preparatory works of the Spirit, he may be under Convictions and humiliations, purposes and resolutions a long time, he may be waiting at the pool of Bethesda, attending the means and ordinances, but when the Spirit comes once to quicken the soul, it's done in a moment: even as it is in the infusion of the rational soul, the body is long ere it be prepared and moulded, but when once the Embryo or matter is ready, it's quickned with the Spirit of life in an instant: so it is here: but O what a blessed moment is this! upon which the whole weight of our eternal happiness depends; for it is Christ in us, (i. e.) Christ formed in us, who is the hope of glory, Col. 1. 27. and our Lord expressly tells us, Joh. 3. 3. that except we be regenerate and born again, we cannot see the Kingdome of God. And thus of the way and manner of its infusion.
Thirdly, Let the design and end of God in this his quickening work be next considered: for what end, and with what