vfn Exp~(ition of the Epiflle ~the right Limits, and what is to be attributed to Grace, and to iliew how that ~ our Salvation isfo ordered and contnved, that nothmg of Grace is diminiilied ot impaired at all. I may compare th1s Free Grace ofGod.toaDiamond; as it came out ofthe Rock 1t came pure and whole and fmr; and 1t was as curiou!ly cut ( I may fo cxprefs it) by our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrill:, that all the Luflres ~f it might ha~e the.r ut~oll: Advantage: but now all the hazard is, when it comes to be [et m the Rmg, fet m our Hearts, fet m Faith (though Faith ~ Gold ) !ell: it iliould be fo unskilfully fet, as that any of the Lull:res of this Diamond iliould beimpaired, that though ~here be .never fo much in us,good Works or what ever 1t be, yet all may fay (Fa1th fpeakmg in the Name ofall the rell:) we do but ferveto hold forth the Glories ofthis Grace, and the full bright– ncfsofthe~ withoutohfcuringany. And therefore, I fay, God bath entrull:ed one that 1s God, and that is his Spirit : and the Spirit bath here through ·p a 1 d's Hand delivered to us the Truth ?erein: andthe Apoll:Ic he cloth prevent all the Corrupnon ofthe Hearts and Spmts of Men m th1s Doctrine as I have in part iliewed, and as in the opening ofit will appear. And fo now' I come to the open– ing ofthe Words, having thus given you by way of Preface the Scope ofthem. Here are two things, which I fpoke to in the !aft Difcourfe. I. What is meant by Grace ? II. What by Saved? 'By Grare ye are faved thmtgh Faith. By Grace, (as I faid) is meant the Free Favour ofGod out ofus. He ufeth no le!S than fonr Words to expre!S it by,from the 4fh Verfe,to the Words I have read to you, Mercy, Love, Kindneji, Grace, You have all the very fame Words u– fed inT#. 3· 4, 5, 6, 7· you have Kindne!S and Love, ver. 4· .Afterthat the Kind– neji and Love ofGod toward Man appeared: you have Mercy, ver. 5· according to his Mercy hefoved"' : and you have Grace, ver. 7. beingjuftijied 6y his Grace. All thefe are Synonimous ; ifMercy, if Love, if all thefe be things out ofus in God himfelf, Grace is alfo. Only there is one Q,_ell:ion, which I did not fpeak to fo fully inthelall:Difcourfe, :md that is, Whether tbat applying Grace (as I may call it, that being the Subject of this Text) difjenfotory Grace, that applys Salvation to w, b• the fame with elet:ling Grace, ;·ea or no i For anfwer to this (for it is a Matter of Moment, and the want of confidering it, is the Ground ofMill:akes in fame) I take it, that there is, - Firft, The Grace ofGod (that I may give you the DiftinCl:ion the Scripture gives) purpofing ofSalvation and all things to us : which you have in that famous place, 2 Tim. I. 9· Who hath faved 1H according to his own Purpoft and Grace. And this is proper to the Father. But then there is, in the fecond place, a purchafing Grace, which we are Caved by too, and that is, the Grace ofour Ll»'d and Saviour Jefw Chrift ; as you have it in 2 Cor. 8. 9· Ye k_now the Grace ofour Lord Jefw Chrift, faith he, that tho11gh he w,u rich, yet foryourfokgs he became poor, and thereby did purchafe all that God did purpofe towards us. · · . Then again, thirdly, There is, (as the Apoll:le ~oTitw expreffeth.tt, Chap.2.11.) The Grace which bringet/J Sa/vatian; both thatwhtch revea/eth zt, as m I Pet. I. 13. Tmji in the Grace that is brought to Light (its tran!lated to be brought to Lig.ht) at the revelation ofJefo• Chrift, (not the RevelanonofChnll: to come, but tt 1sthat of the Gofpel.) And then again, it is a Grace bringing Salvation, becaufe as tt re– veals it, fo it actually bell:ows it. Now ifyou ask me, Whether it be the fame Grace thr~t e!e{/eth, that alfo doth caD 111 and fave 1H ? - I anfiver, firll:, It is certain, its the fame Love, the fame Grace, that jull:ifietb, fanCl:tfieth, glorifieth and eleCl:eth, and all; it is the fame Love connnued to us. Io
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=