A39669:976
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.
There is some difference among expositors about the quality of this burden. Chrysost. & some others after him expound it of burden of the legal rites & Ceremonies, which was a heavy burden indeed such as neither they, nor their fathers could bear: under the task and burden of these legal observances they did sweat and toil to obtain a righteousness to justify them before God, & all in vain; and this is a pious sense, but others expound it of the burden of sin in general; the corruption of nature, and evils of practice, which souls are convinced have brought them under the curse, and will bring them to hell, and therefore labour and strive all that in them lies, by repentance and reformation to clear themselves from it, but all in vain; whilst they strive in their own strength. Such are they that are here called to come to Christ, which is the second thing, namely
There is some difference among expositors about the quality of this burthen. Chrysost. & some others after him expound it of burden of the legal rites & Ceremonies, which was a heavy burden indeed such as neither they, nor their fathers could bear: under the task and burden of these legal observances they did sweat and toyl to obtain a righteousness to justifie them before God, & all in vain; and this is a pious sense, but others expound it of the burthen of sin in general; the corruption of nature, and evils of practice, which souls are convinced have brought them under the curse, and will bring them to hell, and therefore labour and strive all that in them lyes, by repentance and reformation to clear themselves from it, but all in vain; whilest they strive in their own strength. Such are they that are here called to come to Christ, which is the second thing, namely
Secondly, The Invitation of burdened souls to Christ. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden: come unto me, (i. e.) believe in me, lean and rest your burdened souls upon me. I am able to ease all your burdens, in me is that righteousness and peace which you seek in vain in all the legal rites and Ceremonies: or in your repentance, reformations and duties, but it will give you no ease, 'twill be no benefit to you except you come unto me. Faith is often expressed under this notion, see