The second is, the reason why the Apostle doth put them upon this great Sect. 5 duty of not receiving the Grace of God in vain, And that is taken from that text in Isa. 49.8. where there is this promise made unto Christ, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee. These are the words of the promise that God the Father maketh unto Christ as Mediator; which is, that in his discharging of the great work of saving his Church God the Father will answer and succour him, as the Head of the Church, and show it by granting him a day and a time for the bestowing of efficacious Grace upon his Members, by making the means of Grace effectual for their Salvation; which time is here called an accepted time, and a Day of Salvation: because this time, and this day, is the time, and the day of God's free favour, in which he will so accept of sinners, as to show his Gracious good will unto them in accepting of them to life, and in working by his Son Jesus Christ Salvation and deliverance for them. Now this is a very forcible Argument and reason against the receiving of the Grace of God in vain; namely, because there was such a rich treasure and measure of saving and efficacious Grace in the time of the Gospel to be dispensed to the Church; therefore they should labour to have their share in it, and not receive the Gospel of Grace vainly and unprofitably, as they would approve themselves to be the Members of Christ, and those for whom Christ hath prayed unto the Father that they might have saving Grace bestowed upon them. And this shall serve for opening the second part of this text; namely, the reason of the Apostle's laying down this exhortation, both in regard of himself, because he was a worker with God, and in regard of the Corinthians, it was because God the Father had made a promise to Christ the Head of the Church, that Grace should be bestowed, saving effectual Grace; not Grace in vain, but Grace bringing Salvation should be afforded in an accepted time, and in a day of Salvation by the Administration of the Gospel.
The second is, the reason why the Apostle doth put them upon this great Sect. 5 duty of not receiving the Grace of God in vain, And that is taken from that text in Isa. 49.8. where there is this promise made unto Christ, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee. These are the words of the promise that God the Father maketh unto Christ as Mediator; which is, that in his discharging of the great work of saving his Church God the Father will answer and succour him, as the Head of the Church, and shew it by granting him a day and a time for the bestowing of efficacious Grace upon his Members, by making the means of Grace effectual for their Salvation; which time is here called an accepted time, and a Day of Salvation: because this time, and this day, is the time, and the day of God's free favour, in which he will so accept of sinners, as to shew his Gracious good will unto them in accepting of them to life, and in working by his Son Jesus Christ Salvation and deliverance for them. Now this is a very forcible Argument and reason against the receiving of the Grace of God in vain; namely, because there was such a rich treasure and measure of saving and efficacious Grace in the time of the Gospel to be dispensed to the Church; therefore they should labour to have their share in it, and not receive the Gospel of Grace vainly and unprofitably, as they would approve themselves to be the Members of Christ, and those for whom Christ hath prayed unto the Father that they might have saving Grace bestowed upon them. And this shall serve for opening the second part of this text; namely, the reason of the Apostle's laying down this exhortation, both in regard of himself, because he was a worker with God, and in regard of the Corinthians, it was because God the Father had made a promise to Christ the Head of the Church, that Grace should be bestowed, saving effectual Grace; not Grace in vain, but Grace bringing Salvation should be afforded in an accepted time, and in a day of Salvation by the Administration of the Gospel.
