A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

2. The season of Grace is called the day of Salvation, further to show the Sect. 10 advantageousness of this season unto the improvers thereof. We must not take Salvation here so largely as for deliverance from any evil, or danger, or the preservation from any trouble or distress; nor must we take Salvation here so strictly and narrowly as to import only eternal Salvation in Heaven; as it is taken, Rom. 13.11. Now is your Salvation nearer, than when you believed; and heirs of Salvation, Heb. 11.14. Nor must you take it so strictly as to import only the means of Salvation, as it doth often in the Scripture, Act. 28.28. Salvation is of the Gentiles: but Salvation in this place comprehends both that happiness which is perfect and complete in Heaven, and also the entrance into ⟨p. 94⟩it, and the beginning of it in this life; fitness for Salvation here, and the fullness of Salvation hereafter; in which sense the Gospel is called the Gospel of Salvation, in Eph. 1.13. and the word of Salvation, in Act. 13.29. and the Long-suffering of God is to be accounted Salvation, in 2 Pet. by Salvation in these places being meant a fitness for Eternal Salvation by receiving the Gospel and improving the Long-suffering of God and the means of Grace, and our being brought to the full Fruition of it in Glory. So in this place the day of Salvation is that season wherein God bestows an entrance into Salvation here, followed with a full perfection of it hereafter. And so I have opened the sense of these two arguments, whereby the Apostle urgeth us to the present improvement of the season Grace, both as this is a season of fitness for working, and so called a Time, a Day, and as 'tis a Season of advantageousness to the worker, and so called an accepted time, wherein God accepts of sinners to be reconciled to them, and a day of Salvation, by the improving whereof God will certainly bring his People to the Fruition and the perfect Participation of Life and Salvation in Heaven. Now having thus explained and opened the Sense of these two Arguments, I shall only in the second place,