7e2 Chap. 4t. an Expofitionupon theBook of Jo a. Verf. a t: contend with me by right, but by might, and !hall complain that fomething is taken from him which he would nor, or not given himwhich he would ; what right bath any man to pleadwith God upon, who bath no right toany thing, butby the gift of God'? Fourthly, Then thegraceof God to man, is altogether free.Ma- ny expound this Scripture, as denying the fore-fight of mans works, or worthinefs of his faith, or perfeverance ingrace, as to fore- Nanout div:- the grace of Ele&ion. God did not ele& us , becaufe he na iliumfubfe- faw anyworthinefs inus, nor will he rave us upon thedefers of any quaturgratia thing done by us. The foundation-flone of Ele&ion, and the top- plus aliquid lione of Salvation, are laid in free grace. eontulit Deo ; Fifthly, We have no reafon to be dtfcouraged, what deficiency Jo- fi ergo eye- ever we fee in the creature, as to any thing wedefîre God fheuld do tepo grattan for tes, forafmrrch as none have prevented Gad, either with cosenfel to fo gratia fequuntur d7 or affifiance in moo, of rhofegreat things which hebathalready done, reprobijunta either for ourfelves or others. What cannot he do for us alone, quodmerentur whomade Heavenand Earth alone 1 The Lord can begin and fi- n« rrd niib how and when he pleafeth : He is a rock., and brs work it inveniunt eye. er etl. As in fpirituals, he is the Author and fini jher of our faith, inveniunt ere P f P íli quad tan- (Heb.r 2.2.) fo in temporals, he is the Author and finillier of all dent, Q r deit,- our comforts , deliverances and falvations. Whenwe have no flitia non ha- help at all in our felves, nor in any creature, there is enough to bent be had in God (Helga t4. 3.) with thee thefatherlefs find mercy; quad aCCUfent. Bene igiturdi. that is, they find mercy with thee (and if mercy, then help) who citypis ante are ashelplefs as a fatherlefs child, they efpecially who look up- dedit, Greg, on them`'elves as fatherlefs, what helpand flreogth, what fathers or friends foever they have in this world, if Godbe not their help and flrength, their friend and father. When we are convinced that only God can help us, whenwe have other helps,chei! God alone will help us, though tve have noother helpers ; as he pro- mifed' :dab (Hofea a. 7.) I will have mercy upon the boufeof Judah, andwill Pave them by the Lord their God, and will not fave them by bow, nor byfword, nor by barrel, by borfes nor byborfe-men. As if the Lord had faid, Iwill doall for Judahmy fey f alone, though I couldhave others to do it by. It is feldome that God hash (as School -men fpeak) an immediate attingence upon anyeffect (he commonly ufeth infirumenrs) yet he fometimes harh, and bath al oftenas himfelf pleafeth. As our mercies are alwayesof grace only, fo fometimes they are wrought our by the power ofGod on- y
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