A39669:915
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.
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, Heb. 2. 11. You would think it no small privilege to have Bags of Gold to go to, and enrich your selves with, and yet that were but a very trifle in comparison to have Christs righteousness and holiness to go to for your Justification and Sanctification. More particularly,
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 priviledge they have a stock of merit in the blood of Christ to justifie them, so here they have the Spirit of Christ to sanctisie them, 1 Cor. 1. 30. and therefore we are said of his fulness 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 shews 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 fulness 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,