THE METHOD OF GRACE, IN THE HOLY SPIRIT'S APPLYING TO THE SOULS OF MEN, THE ETERNAL REDEMPTION CONTRIVED BY THE FATHER AND ACCOMPLISHED BY A SEQUEL TO "THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE, OR CHRIST IN HIS ESSENTIAL BY REV. JOHN FLAVEL, WHO DIED A. D. 1691. Which things the angels desire to look into.-1 Peter 1:12. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION.-REVISED AND SOMEWHAT ABRIDGED. PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 150 NASSAU-STREET, NEW-YORK. The present edition of this excellent treatise is printed from the London edition of Flavel's works, 1820, collated with the second edition of the Method of Grace, London, 1699, and carefully revised. Obsolete or antiquated phraseology has been in numerous instances corrected; a few denominational or technical theological terms or phrases dropped; obscure, loaded, or repetitious passages and notes, especially in the dead languages, abbreviated or omitted, and the heads and subdivisions simplified; but the principal thoughts, with the exception of a single point in the first chapter, have been scrupulously retained, generally in the very words of the author. A valuable table of contents has also been added. FROM THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE READER-It is the one thing needful for thee to get an assured interest in Jesus Christ; which being once obtained, thou mayest with boldness say, Come, troubles and distresses, losses and trials, prisons and death, I am prepared for you; do your worst, you can do me no harm : let the winds roar, the lightnings flash, the rain and hail fall never so furiously, I have a good roof over my head, a comfortable lodging provided for me: "My place of defence is the munition of rocks, where bread shall be given me and my water shall be sure." The design of the ensuing treatise is to assist thee in this great work; and though it was promised to the world many years past, Providence has reserved it for the fittest season, and brought it to thy hand in a time of need. It contains the method of grace in the application of the great redemption to the souls of men, as the former part* contains the method of grace provided and accomplished by Jesus Christ. The acceptance God has given the former part, signified by the desires of many for the publication of this, has at last prevailed with me, notwithstanding the secret consciousness of my inequality to so great an undertaking, to adventure this second part also the candor of the reader. upon * THE FOUNTAIN of Life, published by the American Tract Society. |