The Method of Grace in the Gospel Redemption
by John Flavel
File 38
(... continued from file 37)
The Conclusion
And now, reader, if all my discourses of the method of Christ
in purchasing the great salvation for us, and the way of the Spirit
in applying it, and making it effectual to God's elect; thou hast
two wonders before thine eyes, either of which may astonish thy
soul, in the consideration of them, viz.
1. This admirable grace of God in preparing this great
Salvation.
2. The desperate wickedness of man in rejecting this great
Salvation.
First, Behold the riches of the goodness and mercy of God in
preparing such a remedy as this for lost man. This is that which is
justly called "The great mystery of godliness," 1 Tim. 3: 16. that
mystery which the prophets inquired diligently after, yea, which the
"angels desired to look into," 1 Pet. 1: 10, 12. In this glorious
mystery of redemption, that "polutoikilos sofia", manifold wisdom of
God, or that wisdom which has such curious and admirable variety in
it, is illustriously displayed, Eph. 4: 10. Yea, the contrivance of
our redemption, this way, is the most glorious display of divine
love that ever was made, or can be made, in this world to the
children of men; for so the apostle will be understood, when he
saith, Rom. 5: 8. "Sonisesi tes heautou agapen", - God has set
forth, or presented his love to man in the most engaging manner, in
a way that commends it beyond all compare to the acceptation of men.
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that
Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners," 1 Tim. 1: 15. It
might be justly expected, that when this glorious mystery should
come to be published by the gospel in the ears of sinners, all eyes
should be withdrawn from all other objects, and fixed with
admiration upon Christ, all hearts should be ravished with these
glad tidings; and every man pressing to Christ with the greatest
zeal and diligence. But behold, instead thereof,
Secondly, The desperate wickedness of the world, in rejecting
the only remedy prepared for them. This was long since foretold by
the prophet, Isa. 53: 3. "He is despised and rejected of men, a man
of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid our faces from
him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." His poor and mean
appearance, which should endear him beyond all considerations to the
souls of men, (since it was for their sakes, that he emptied himself
of all his glory) yet this lays him under contempt, he is looked on
as the very outcast of men, when his own love to man had emptied him
of all his riches, the wickedness of men loaded him with contempt,
and as it was prophesied of him, so it was, and at this day is sadly
verified all the world over; for,
First, The Pagan world has no knowledge of him, they are lost
in darkness. "God has suffered them to walk in their own ways," Acts
14: 16.
Secondly, The Mahometans which overspread so great a part of
the world reject him, and instead of the blessed gospel, which they
hiss at with abhorrence, embrace the blasphemous and ridiculous
Alcoran, which they confidently affirm came down from God
immediately in that Laylatto Hanzili (as they call it) the night of
demission, calling all Christians, Cafirouna, i.e. Infidels.
Thirdly, The Jews reject him with abhorrence, and spit at his
very name, and being blind-folded by the devil, they call Jesus
Anathema, 1 Cor. 12: 3. And in a blind zeal for Moses, blaspheme him
as an impostor. "He came to his own, and his own received him not,"
John 1: 11.
Fourthly, The far greater part of the Christianised world
reject him; those that are called after his name, will not submit to
his government. The nobles of the world think themselves dishonoured
by submitting their necks to his yoke. The sensualists of the world
will not deny their lusts, or forsake their pleasures, for all the
treasures of righteousness, life and peace, which his blood has
purchased. Worldlings of the earth prefer the dirt and dung of the
world before him; and few there be among them that profess
Christianity, who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. The only reason
why they are called Christians is, because, by the advantageous cast
of providence, they were born and educated in a nation where
Christianity is professed and established by the laws of the
country; and if the wind should turn, and the public authority think
fit to establish another religion, they can shift their sail, and
steer a contrary course.
But now, reader, let me tell thee, that if ever God send forth
these two grim sergeants, his law, and thine own conscience, to
arrest thee for thy sins, if thou find thyself dragged away by them
towards that prison from whence none return, that are once clapt up
therein, and that in this unspeakable distress Jesus Christ manifest
himself to thy soul, and open thy heart to receive him, and become
thy surety with God, pay all thy debts, and cancel all thy
obligations, thou wilt love him at another rate than others do; his
blood will run deeper in thine eves than it does in the shallow
apprehensions of the world; he will be altogether lovely, and thou
wilt account all things but dung and dross in comparison of the
excellency of Jesus Christ thy Lord. To work thy heart to this
frame, these things are written, which the Lord prosper upon thy
soul, by the blessing of his good Spirit upon thee.
Blessed be God for Jesus Christ!
End
The Method of Grace in the Gospel Redemption
(... concluded)
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