The unbelievers preparing for Christ. By T.HThe vnbeleevers preparing for Christ. By T.H

they might think with themselves, alas, we have no gold, we have no silver, ⟨p. 8⟩how shall we bring this work to pass; the Lord he answers this secret objection of theirs, and tells them the gold is mine, the silver is mine, the hands of Zerubbabel that hath laid the first stone, shall bring forth the headstone thereof, and what is the ground of all this, the reason is rendered in the 7. vers. All the people shall cry grace, grace; as if they had said, Grace hath sent means, grace hath continued means, grace hath given us hearts to use the means, all is grace, nothing but grace and mercy hath done it; thus the people admired at Gods great goodness, that did so help them, and shouted crying, grace, grace: And as it was thus in the material Temple, so it is here in the building of the soul a Temple for the Lord. The beginning of grace, the receiving of grace, the continuing of grace, all is grace grace: from the beginning of election, to the end of glorification; from the beginning of conversion, to the end of salvation, all is grace and mercy; nothing but grace that doth all, works all, prepares all for the good of Gods people. Gods grace and mercy is altogether free, and the freedom of it appeareth in these three particulars. It is free, First, •nregard of the preparation of the means of grace that God hath invented; the means of salvation which God hath invented for his people being fallen in Adam, was altogether free, for when Adam had forsaken God and hearkened to the enemy, had left the way of holiness, and went into the way of confusion, it was free with God whither he would help him or no; when Adam had spent ⟨p. 9⟩the patrimony which God had given him, it was free whether God would set him up again or no, free it was in God the Father, which appointed the Son as the means; free it was in Christ Jesus, that took the task upon him; and free in the holy Spirit, that wrought grace and salvation in the hearts of Gods people; God out of his free will gave his Son to redeem mankind, and Christ gave himself freely, and the holy Ghost doth freely work comfort in the hearts of Gods chosen: it was free with God to appoint Christ for the means, free with Christ to be the means, free with the Spirit to work the means.

they might thinke with themselves, alasse, wee have no gold, wee have no silver, ⟨p. 8⟩