A39669:819
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.
O when a man shall see his misery and danger, and no way of escape but Christ, and that he hath no ability in himself to come to Christ, to open his heart thus to receive him, but that this work of faith is wholly supernatural, the operation of God; How will the soul return again and again upon God with such cries as that Mark 9. 24. Lord help my unbelief. ⟨p. 149⟩Lord enable me to come to Christ: give me Christ or I perish for ever: what profit is there in my blood? why should I dye in the sight and presence of a Saviour? O Lord it is thine own work and a most glorious work: reveal thine arm in this work upon my soul, I pray thee: give me Christ, if thou deny me bread: give me faith, if thou deny me breath: it's more necessary that I believe, than that I live.
O when a man shall see his misery and danger, and no way of escape but Christ, and that he hath no ability in himself to come to Christ, to open his heart thus to receive him, but that this work of faith is wholly supernatural, the operation of God; How will the soul return again and again upon God with such crys as that Mark 9. 24. Lord help my unbelief. ⟨p. 149⟩Lord enable me to come to Christ: give me Christ or I perish for ever: what profit is there in my blood? why should I dye in the sight and presence of a Saviour? O Lord it is thine own work and a most glorious work: reveal thine arm in this work upon my soul, I pray thee: give me Christ, if thou deny me bread: give me faith, if thou deny me breath: it's more necessary that I believe, than that I live.
O Reader, reflect upon the days and nights that are past, the places where thou hast been conversant: where are the bed-sides, or the secret corners where thou hast besieged heaven with such cries? if God have thus enlightened, convinced, distressed thy soul, and thus set thee a mourning after Christ, it will be one good sign that faith is come into thy soul; for here are certainly the Harbingers and fore runners of it, that ordinarily make way for faith into the souls of men.