A39669:723
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.
This is the grace that is singled out from among all other graces, to receive Christ, by which office it is dignified above all its fellows: as Moses was honoured above the many thousands of Israel, when God took him up into the Mount, admitted him nearer to himself than any other of all the Tribes might come; for they stood without the Rail, while Moses was received into the special presence of God, and was admitted to such views as others must not have: so faith is honoured above all its fellow graces in being singled out, and solemnly anointed to this high office in our Justification: this is that precious eye that looks unto Christ as the stung Israelites did to the brazen Serpent, and derives healing virtue from him to the soul. It is the grace which instrumentally saves us, Eph. 2. 8. as it's Christs glory to be the door of salvation, so it's Faiths glory to be the golden key that opens that door.
This is the grace that is singled out from among all other graces, to receive Christ, by which office it is dignified above all its fellows: as Moses was honoured above the many thousands of Israel, when God took him up into the Mount, admitted him nearer to himself than any other of all the Tribes might come; for they stood without the Rail, while Moses was received into the special presence of God, and was admitted to such views as others must not have: so faith is honoured above all its fellow graces in being singled out, and solemnly anointed to this high office in our Justification: this is that precious eye that looks unto Christ as the stung Israelites did to the brazen Serpent, and derives healing vertue from him to the soul. It is the grace which instrumentally saves us, Eph. 2. 8. as it's Christs glory to be the door of salvation, so it's Faiths glory to be the golden key that opens that door.
What shall I say of Faith? 'tis the bond of Union, the instrument of justification, the spring of spiritual peace and joy, the means of spiritual livelihood and subsistence: and therefore the great scope and drift of the Gospel, which aims at and presseth nothing more than to bring men and women to believe.