A39669:914
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.
Now this is a most inestimable privilege, the very ground of all our other blessings and mercies. O what a benefit is this to a poor sinner, that owes to God infinitely more than he is ever able to pay him, by doing or suffering; to have such a rich treasure of merit as lies in the obedience of Christ, to discharge in one entire payment all his debts to the least farthing? Surely shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness, Isa. 45. 24. even as a poor woman that owes more than she is worth, in one moment is discharged of all her obligations, by her marriage to a wealthy man.
Now this is a most inestimable priviledge, the very ground of all our other blessings and mercies. O what a benefit is this to a poor sinner, that owes to God infinitely more than he is ever able to pay him, by doing or suffering; to have such a rich treasure of merit as lyes in the obedience of Christ, to discharge in one entire payment all his debts to the least farthing? Surely shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness, Isa. 45. 24. even as a poor woman that owes more than she is worth, in one moment is discharged of all her obligations, by her marriage to a wealthy man.
Thirdly, Believers have communion with Christ in his holiness or Sanctification, for of God he is made unto them not only righteousness, but Sanctification also: and as in the former privilege they have a stock of merit in the blood of Christ to justify them, so here they have the Spirit of Christ to sanctify them, 1 Cor. 1. 30. and therefore we are said of his fullness to receive grace for grace, Joh. 1. 16. (i. e.) say some, grace upon grace, manifold graces or abundance of grace: or grace for grace, that is, grace answerable to grace: as in the seal and wax, there is line for line, and cut for cut exactly answerable to each other: or grace for grace, that is, say others, the free grace of God in Christ for the sanctification or filling of our souls with grace: be it in which sense it will, it shows the communion believers have with Jesus Christ in grace and holiness. Now holiness is the most precious thing in the world, it's the image of God, and chief excellency of man: it is our evidence for glory, yea, and the first-fruits of glory: in Christ dwells the fullness of grace, and from him our head it is derived and communicated to us: thus he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one,