A39669:645
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.
Thirdly, If there be spiritual conflicts with sin, there is spiritual life in your soul, Gal. 5. 17. not only a combat betwixt light in the higher, and lust in the lower faculties: nor only opposition to more gross external corruptions that carry more infamy and horror with them than other sins do: but the same faculty will be the seat of War; and the more inward, secret and spiritual any lust is, by so much the more will it be opposed and mourned over.
In a word, the weakest Christian may upon impartial observation find such signs of spiritual life in himself (if he will allow himself time to reflect upon the bent and frame of his own heart) as desires after God, conscience of duties, fears, cares, and sorrows about sin: delight in the society of heavenly and spiritual men, a loathing and burden in the company of vain and carnal persons.
O but I have a very dead heart to spiritual things.
'Tis a sign of life that you feel and are sensible of that deadness: 1and beside, there's a great deal of difference betwixt