to the E P H E S I A N S. Grace by which we are accepted. But the truth is, thefc are only called Gra-S~ ces, becaufe they are the Gifts of Grace ; and therefore in that place I quoted ~ afore, 2 Cor. 8. 1. it is called, The Grace beftowed 11pon yo11. And you fhal! fiill find that when our Grace is fpoken of, the word [ give11 J is mentioned : as in Eph: 3· 2. and twenty fuch Infiances more there are, which I could give you. They are called Graces, I fay, becaufe they are befiowed by Grace. They arc not GMti£ gratimt facientCI, but Gratia grattmt focienti<, that is, the Grace of God making us gracious. And therefore the Holy-Ghofi hath invented a word for it, which we find ufed in no Heathen Author, ( as the Learned have obferved) he calls them, x_oce)<[U<TC<, that is, Gifts out of Grace, and out of Favour. And in Ro!JI. 5· 15. there is mention made of the Grace of God, and of the Gift by Grace, which indeed is plainly meant only of the Rightcoulnefs of Chriil:; yet in relation unto us, and as flowing from that original Grace in God, it is called the Gif1 by Grace, or the Gift of Grace. So that now you mufi take the Favour of God,that which is in the Heart ofGod towards us,which is called in that Rom.5.16. in difiinCl:ion from all Gifts given by God, yea from Chrifi himlelf, • x/-vs T>i o<>i, the Grace ofGod, to be that which the Apofile means here in the Text; and tho he hath given the Graces in us theName of Grace, yet, as I faid afore, he never attributed Salvation to them. And that here Grace is fo taken, I fuppofe I fhalf not need to fiand long in it. You fee the Apofile brings it in here as a caufe of Salvation, together with Mercy and Love in God, therefore the Grace here meant is the Grace ofGod alfo. And · fo, v. 7· That he might Jbew the exceeding Riches of his Grace. It is not the Grace in us, but Grace in God, which he calleth alfo Kindnefs in the fame verfe. So that in a word, byGrace here is meant this, the Favour of God freely accepting of us: Ephef. I. 6. To the 'Praife of the Glory of hi< Grace, whereby he hath made m accepted; accepted with himfelf: This is ~he great Grace that is here intended. I could give you aAother place for it ; it is in Rom. 3· 24. Being juftified freely by his Grace. There is, firfi, his Grace ; and fecondly, to !hew that it is not any thing in us, he addeth the word [fr~ely J tO it: He cloth not only caj,l it Grace, but hi< Grace, by way of difiinCl:ion; and then he adds [freely to it, tO cut off all things from it. The Obfervation from hence by the by, is only this : That we!hould now have our Heart fet upon feeking of the Grace and Fa- · Obferv.: vour of God, as the highefi, fupream, and chief Caufe of all ; and to feek Graces as the Fruit thereof: To pray, tho for inherent Grace to be wrought in us, yet chiefly to feek after the Favour of God, to have our Hearts affeB:ed with it. To apprehend, and feek after, and to have our Hearts taken with the Favour of God, and to be the Subje/1 of it, is in it felf infinitely more, than to be taken with the Fruits of it. And fo likewile, to feek after the virion of this Favour in itfelf; asMofes, ShewmethyFace, faith he: God knew what he meant, and therefore anfwers, I will be graciom to whom I will be grariorn; and I will be gracious unto thee. Our Hearts now, and our Comfort lliould be pitcb'd upon the Grace ; l that is in God. You !hall find the expreffion in 2 Thejf. 2. 16. (I !hall but quote it to you.) Now ottr Lord Jefrn Chriji himfelf, and God, even ottr Father, which bath loved 11s, attd hath given 111 everlafting Confolatiou, aud good Hope throttgh Grace. What is it that will be everlafiing Confolation, that will never fail you ? And what is that good Hope that will be everlafling ? It is, when as the Grace of God is !bed abroad in our Hearts, and the Love of God is !bed abroad in our Souls, in a more immediate manner. That he fpeaks of that Love, is clear; for he faith, God that bath loved us with an infinite Love, and faved us with his free Grace that is in bimfelf, out of that Love he hath given us eternal Confolation, and good Hope in that Love, and in ·that Grace. Now then, this being cleared and opened to you, I come in the fecond place, to fhew you, what this expreliion.of GraiiC cloth fu peradd to Mercy and Love ; .-for you fee here he brings in three Caufes of our Salvation. Therefore as I have opened the thing it felf, I !ha)! in the fecond place open it, as it is a cau[e ofSal- ; vation,
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