Sa e T. vile of thehearts e/fabói/hme»tbyGrace. 323 the word ; and the GruegftheGofpel fpoftenmagnified,isnot any thingwithin us , butGods favour and lovewithout us ; yet we denynot, but chofe holy quali- tieswithin us arecalled gracefometimes in the Scripture. Indeed there are Divers WO rigid , who contend that the word Grace , when it relates towards a hea- venlytenfe , is alwai:s taken for thefavour ofGod , and that it never Ggnifieth godlineffe which is inus, or done byus. flue thereare forne places, thoughnot ma- ny, wherein is clearly demonfirated thisufeof the word as it beto kens fomthing inhering, andabiding inus , aszPet.a.telt.Cjrowin grace, and the knowledge ofj<e- fus Chrifl. To grow ingrace mulls needsbeunderflood oftholeholygiftsofGods Spirit in us, which aredaily tobe improved : fo Sing withgrace inyour hearts, Col. 3. r 6, And again , Letyour fetch admiai Ter grace to thehearers,Col. 4.6. And it it be acknowledged by all, that the common gifts of Gods Spirit, luck) as pro- phefying, working ofmiracles, yea, and offices in the Church, arecalled levers , and ,yfeíawa'+x, why flrouldit be thought hard thofe tanlhifying gifts may be alto namedGraces ? And in this fenfeGrace is taken in this Text; tor that holy work ofGod upon the heart , whereby hedoth eflablifh andconfirm it in godly wayes. From this fenfe we obferve, hat there ie a wet bofGod open amans heart, which is calledGrace. 0bf. This point isof admirableufe; For without grace here, there can be no glory heteafcer. And this grace ofGod is rarely tobe found : there go many counter- feits for this precious jewel: we are apt tocall any moral virtue, any ingenuous andcivil convertat ion, with the excellent Title ofGrace. It is therefore a fu`aj ct worth the treating on, to Chewwhat are theeffeasand Iymptomesofthis Grace upon a man; fornothing in the whole world isfo defirableas Grace : no created excellency comes near tograce. A richman without grace, is like a dead carkáflè withglorious garmentsupon it. A learned man without grace , isalto like a dead corps with fweet flowers itrewed over it. It is the abfence, or prefence of Grace that makes a man happy or miferable: Oh therefore that beforethis fubjeft be en- ded , it might turnyou all into the likeneffethereof; Thatas fire turneth every ob. jell it workethupon into itsown nature, fo gracemight makeevery hearer graci- ous . That the word might be the feal,and your hearts the wax to receive that Divine impreffhon:That fo yemay beas `Paulfaith,e4nEpif1Ee to be teen and read of all men ; that all men maybehold andadmire the grace ofyour lives, which is wrought by the wordof Grace. To imprint this upon you , I ¡hall difcover fiat the proper Grounds and Reafons why it is called Grace, with the noble effePts thereof. Onely in the firfi place I moltneceffarily removea falfe ground , or effeéhttri. bated to it, and that byall Papift Writers, who fay , Thereforethis inwardbolize f fe ¿n su4 ca/led Grace, bec tefe It weakest*. yerfelily accepted, andgracious with God fo that thereby we have aright toeternalhappineffe. Hereupon they fpeak molt of Grace as that which doth Cratumfacere, Makea man acceptedunto God from the inwardcondignity andworth of it. This is to take away the true child , and to put adead one in theroom ; to take away Gofpel grace,evangelical grace,and to put fonsething done by us in the roomof it. For although it be true,that the god- ly attionswe do areabove humane ilrength, and we are enabled thereuntoby the power ofGod onely; and are therefore called Grace; Yet they are not done fo perfetIlyandpurely, as thereby tomake us accepted with God. This is good to know,that fowemight giveall glory to Chrifi, and be debated inour (elves. It is agreat piece of wifdome in Chriflianity not to confound grace jullifying, and grace fanetifying : Grace juftifying isan aetionof God , grace fanäifying is a quality wrought inus : Grace ju{tifying is perfelt, grace fanetifying bath much imperfection cleaving to it. Now thatnograce inany godly man doch make accep- ted toeternal life,appeareth Pita, From the refigure of eorruptiouin everyrows, tkeugh regenerated, mmefee t Wbygraee in Paul, whereby beaura not troll inhlmfelf, butix Ci q ouely. FIX6ndet evil when withinus ten- á not jttiliew: ho
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