A39669:825
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.
Fourthly, The soul that rightly receives Christ is not only in a weary, but in a longing condition: never did the hart pant more earnestly for the water-brooks: never did the hireling desire the shadow, never did a condemned person long for a pardon, more than the soul longs after Jesus Christ. O said David, that one would give me of the waters of the well of Bethlehem to drink. O saith the poor humbled sinner, that one would give me of the opened fountain of the blood of Christ to drink! O for one drop of that precious blood! O for one encouraging smile from Christ! O now were ten thousand worlds at my command, and Christ to be bought; how freely would I lay them all down to purchase him! but he is the gift of God. O that God would give me Christ if I should go in rags, and hunger and thirst all my days in this world!
Fourthly, The soul that rightly receives Christ is not only in a weary, but in a longing condition: never did the hart pant more earnestly for the water-brooks: never did the hireling desire the shadow, never did a condemned person long for a pardon, more than the soul longs after Jesus Christ. O said David, that one would give me of the waters of the well of Bethlehem to drink. O saith the poor humbled sinner, that one would give me of the open'd fountain of the blood of Christ to drink! O for one drop of that precious blood! O for one encouraging smile from Christ! O now were ten thousand worlds at my command, and Christ to be bought; how freely would I lay them all down to purchase him! but he is the gift of God. O that God would give me Christ if I should go in raggs, and hunger and thirst all my days in this world!
Fifthly, The soul in the time of its closing with or receiving Christ is in a state of conflict: it hangs betwixt hopes and fears, encouragements and discouragements, which occasion many a sad stand and pause in the way to Christ; sometimes the number and nature of its sins discourage it, then the riches and freeness of the grace of Christ erects his hopes again: there's little hope, saith unbelief, nay it's utterly impossible saith Satan, that ever such a wretch as thou shouldst find mercy; now the hands hang down. O but then there's a necessity, an absolute necessity; I have not the choice of two, but am shut up to one way of deliverance: others have found mercy, and the invitation is to all that are weary, and to all that are athirst: he saith he that cometh to him, he will in no wise cast out; now new hopes inspire the soul, and the hands that did hang down are again strengthened.