The disordered soul',

Back to John Flavel's "The Method of Grace"

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Man, by the apostasy, has become a most disordered 
and rebellious creature, opposing his Maker— 
as the First Cause, by self-dependence; 
as the Chief Good, by self-love; 
as the Highest Lord, by self-will; 
and as the Last End, by self-seeking. 
Thus he is quite disordered, and all his actions are irregular.

But by regeneration the disordered soul is set right; 
this great change being, the renovation of the soul 
after the image of God, in which—
self-dependence is removed by faith;
self-love, by the love of God;
self-will, by subjection and obedience to the will of God;
and self-seeking by self-denial. 
The darkened understanding is illuminated, 
the refractory will sweetly subdued, 
the rebellious appetite gradually conquered. 
Thus the soul which sin had universally depraved, 
is by grace restored.