to the EPHESIANS. SERMON X X 11. E pH E s. 2. 8, 9> 10. 8. For by grace ye are fawd through Faith, and that tzot ofyourfel"ves l it u the Gift of god: 9· J/.2t of Works, left any Ma11 Jhou!d hoaft; 1 o. For we are his Workman[hip, created in Chrift ]ej~M tmto good Works, wbicl1 God hath before ordaimd, that we .fhould walk. itJ them. THefe Words do contain the great Contrivement of God's Free Grace, iri the Application of, and bringing us to Salvation through Faith. As the Words before had fpoken ofthe Manifeftation ofan unknown Treafury ofGrace to be broken up and fpentin after Ages, ih Heaven, for ever i fo among£1: <;Jther Goherences ?fthefe Words with the f~rme~, they ~ome in as a Demon£l:ratton ro ratfe up thetr Mtnds to confider how mfimte Gods Contnve– ments will be in !hewing Riches of Grace in Heaven, ;md when that time is come, feeing that in theWay and in the Foundation ofit laid here in the Works ofFaith and Application by the Spirit, he had !hewn forth and given fo great a Declarati– on ofthe Riches ofhis Grace. And fo now the Word [For] (as I £hewed !aft Difcourfe.) I refer even to the Words immediately foregoing in that Sence. My Brethren, The Doctrine ofthe Free Grace of God in the Application of Salvation to us, hath been in all Ages fubjected to Corruption, and a derogating from that Free Grace, either by denying ofthe Application or all, or not regard- · ing it, or elfe by attributing that to the thing wrought in USi which fi10uld be attributed to Free Grace it felf which works it. The Free Grace of God, take it in the Spring and Fountain of it (give mi! leave to preface this by the way) that is, as it was in God's Heart from everla£l:ing, purpofing and contriving our Salvation, as it relideth in God's own Breafr, it is moft pure and Cri£l:aline: for as fo confidered, it h":d no other Spring, but on!y the pure Thoughts of his own Love. And again confider this Grace in the Current and Streams ofit, as they run through the Heart ofChri£1:, and are manifefted iti the works ofhis Mediation, performed by himfelf, although there they are ming– led with a full Price paid for all that Free Grace bath done for us, yet fllll there it nothing lo£1: ofits Glory, nothing ofits Freenefs; but ran on clear, pure Gtace frill, notwithfranding a price ofChri£l:'s Blood mingling with this Grace and pay– ing a fatisfachon to it. And the Reafon is this, becaule £l:ill it was in the Hand of one that was God, who would detract nothing from it. But the hazard ofpreju– dicing this Grace, is when Free Grace !hall come to apply and bring home the Salvation purpofed by God, and purchaftd by Chtifr, to our Hearts. When through Grace wrought in us, he fi1all endow and inveft us with the whole and entire Title to Salvation, in our own Perfons through Fotith. And my Brethren, as it runs through our Hearts, as it comes there, there is a danger of contracring Mud from the mixture ofMan's Will, and Self, and Leaven ofGrace wrought in Man, wtth this Free Grace ofGod brought home to Man. And this conies to pals through the Pride and Self-conceit of Man, which is apt to attribute thofe Works of Grace in us (without which Salvation cannot be applyed and made * 0 o ours)' "-"-"-"" Ser. XXJI ~·
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