A39669:709
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.
The Minor will be as clear, for there is no other act of faith, but this of fiducial receiving Christ as he is offered, that doth agree to all true believers, to none but true believers; and to all true believers at all times.
The Minor will be as clear, for there is no other act of faith, but this of fiducial receiving Christ as he is offer'd, that doth agree to all true believers, to none but true believers; and to all true believers at all times.
There be three Acts of faith, Assent, Acceptance, and Assurance. The Papists generally give the essence of saving faith 1to the first, viz. Assent. The Lutherans and some of our own give it to the last, viz. Assurance: but it can neither be so, nor so. Assent doth not agree only to true believers or justified persons. Assurance agrees to justified persons, and them only, but not to all justified persons, and that at all times.
- 1Actus fidei consistit in ass••, quo quis assentitur alicui propositioni à deo revelatae, propter authoritatem revelantis. Becan. Theol. Schol. Tom. 3. cap. 8. Q. 4.
Assent is too low to contain the essence of saving faith, it is found in the unregenerate as well as the regenerate: yea, in devils as well as men, Jam. 2. 19. 'tis supposed and included in justifying ⟨p. 127⟩faith, but it is not the justifying or saving act. Assurance is as much too high: being found only in some eminent believers;