A39669:970
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.
These words are the voice of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, in which there is a vital ravishing sound: 'tis your mercy to have such a joyful sound in your ears this day: and in them I will consider their dependence, parts and scope.
These words are the voice of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, in which there is a vital ravishing sound: 'tis your mercy to have such a joyful sound in your ears this day: and in them I will consider their dependance, parts and scope.
As to their dependence it is manifest they have an immediate relation to the foregoing verse, wherein Christ opens his Commission and declares the fullness of his authority and saving power, and the impossibility of coming to God any other way: all things are delivered to me of my Eather, and no man knoweth the Son but the Father: neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him, v. 27.
As to their dependance it is manifest they have an immediate relation to the foregoing verse, wherein Christ opens his Commission and declares the fulness of his authority and saving power, and the impossibility of coming to God any other way: all things are delivered to me of my Eather, and no man knoweth the Son but the Father: neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him, v. 27.
This 28 verse is brought in proleptically to obviate the discouragements of any poor convinced and humbled soul, who might thus object, Lord, I am fully satisfied of the fullness of thy saving power, but greatly doubt whether ever I shall have the benefit thereof. For I see so much sin and guilt in my self, so great vileness, and utter unworthiness, that I am over-weighed and even sink under the burden of it: my soul is discouraged because of sin. This objection is prevented in the words of my Text, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, Q. d. let not the sense of your sin and misery drive you from your only remedy: be your sins never so many, and the sense and burden of them never so heavy; yet for all that, come unto me: you are the persons whom I invite and call. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.