A39669:988
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, To upbraid and reproach the sinner under his misery: 1and this makes a man a very terror to himself: to be pitied in misery is some relief, but to be upbraided and reproached doubles our affliction: you know it was one of the aggravations of Christs sufferings, to be reproached by the tongue of his enemies, whilst he hanged in torments upon the cursed tree: but all the scoffs and reproaches, the bitter jeers and Sarcasms in the world are nothing to these of a mans own conscience: this will cut to the very bone.
Fourthly, To upbraid and reproach the sinner under his misery: 1and this makes a man a very terrour to himself: to be pittied in misery is some relief, but to be upbraided and reproached doubles our affliction: you know it was one of the aggravations of Christs sufferings, to be reproached by the tongue of his enemies, whilest he hanged in torments upon the cursed tree: but all the scoffs and reproaches, the bitter jeers and Sarcas•s in the world are nothing to these of a mans own conscience: this will cut to the very bone.
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O when a mans conscience shall say to him in a day of trouble, as Reuben to his afflicted brethren, Gen. 42. 22. Spake I not unto you saying, do not sin against the child: and ye would not hear, therefore behold also his blood is required. So conscience, Did I not warn you, threaten you, persuade you in time against these evils? but you would not hearken to me, therefore behold now you must suffer to all eternity for it: the wrath of God is kindled against thy soul for it: this is the fruit of thy own wilful madness and obstinacy. Now thou shalt know the price of sinning against God, against light, and conscience. O this is terrible! every bite of conscience makes a poor soul to startle, and in a terrible fright to cry, Oh the worm! Oh the bitter foretaste of Hell! a wounded spirit who can bear?