ON HOSEA XIV.-VERSE 1, 2. 43 the other, and by his wisdom directing both to the ends of his eternal glory. This serves to discover the free and sole working of grace in our first conversion, and the continued working of grace in our further sanctification ; what- soever is good in us habitually, as grace inhering, or actually, as grace working, is from him alone as the author of it. For though it be certain, that when we will and do, we ourselves are agents, yet it is still under and from him. By grace we are that we are, we do what we do in God's service : vessels have no wine, bags have no money in them, but what the merchant putteth in : the bowls of the candlesticks had no oil but that which dropped from the olive branches. Other things which seek no higher . perfection than is to be found within the compass of their own nature, may, by the guidance and activity of the same nature, attain thereunto ; but man aspiring to a divine happi- ness, can never attain thereunto but by a divine strength : impossible it is for any man to enjoy God without God. The truth of this point shows it in five gradations. (1.) By grace, our minds are enlightened to know and believe Him : for spiritual things are spiritually discerned. (2.) By grace, our hearts are inclined to love and obey Hirn, for spiritual things are spiritually approved. He only by his almighty and ineffable operation worketh them in us. (3.) By grace, our lives are enabled to work what our hearts do love, without which, though we should will, yet we cannot perform, any more than the knife which hath a good edge is able actually to cut, till moved by the hand. (4.) By grace, our good works are carried on unto
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=