152 A -GUIDE TO PRATES. endeavour to explain what it means, and spew how properly the term is used : afterward I shall particularly mention what are those inward and spiritual exercises of the mind, which are re- quired in the duty of prayer, and then give directions how to attain them. But in the most part of this chapter I shall pass over things with much brevity, because it is not my design in writing this book, to say over again what so many practical writers have said on these subjects. SECT. I.What the Grace of Prayer is, and how it differs fron the Gift. Grace, in its most general sense, implies the free and unde- served favour of one person toward another that is esteemed his inferior : and in the language of the New Testament, it is usually put to signify the favour and mercy of God toward sinful crea- tures, which upon all accounts is acknowledged to he free and undeserved. Now because our natures are corrupt and averse to what is good, and whensoever they are changed and inclined to God and divine things, this is done by the power of Godwork. ing in us ; therefore this very change of nature, this renewed and divine frame of mind, is called in the common language of christians by the name of grace. If I were to write my thoughts of the distinction between the terms of virtue, holiness, and grace, I should give them thus: Virtue generally signifies the mere material part of that which is good, without a, particular reference to God, as the principle or end thereof : therefore the good dispositions and ac- tions of the heathens were called virtues. And this word also is applied to sobriety, righteousness, charity, and every thing that relates to ourselves and our neighbours, rather than to re-. ligion and things that relate to divine worship. Holiness sig- nifies all those good dispositions and actions, with their particu- lar reference to God as their end, to whose glory they are de- voted and performed. The word holy signifies that which is devoted, or dedicated. Grace denotes the same dispositions, with a peculiar regard to God, as their. principle, intimating that they proceed from his favour. Sometimes this word is used in a comprehensive sense, to signify the whole train of christian virtues, or the universal habit of holiness. So may those texts be understood; John i. 16. Of his jùlness we have received grace. 2 Pet. iii. 18. Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lerd Jesus Christ. And so in our common language we say, such a person is a graceless wretch, he has no grace at all, that is, no good dispo- sitions. 'We say such a one is truly gracious, or the has a prin- ciple of grace, that is, he is a man of religion and virtue. Sometimes it is used in its singular sense,, and means any one
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