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

1. Neglecting of free of grace makes vengeance unavoidable: If grace be neglected, what shall save you? if grace shall not save thee, works cannot save thee. The neglecter of grace concludes himself under a necessity of damnation: He rendeth the book of mercy: He throweth away the remedy, the cordial that serveth for his reviving. He that accepts not of life and Salvation by free gift, must have it by earning, must have it by working; and earn it we cannot. Thou canst not obtain reconciliation with God upon easier terms for thy self, than Christ obtained it for believers; and what terms were those, but even perfect, and to thee impossible obedience? You cannot dig: perfect doing is impossible: you are lost, if ashamed to beg at the door of free grace for the dole of mercy.

1. Neglecting of free of grace makes vengeance unavoidable: If grace be neglected, what shall save you? if grace shall not save thee, works cannot save thee. The neglecter of grace concludes himself under a necessity of damnation: He rendeth the book of mercy: He throweth away the remedy, the cordial that serveth for his reviving. He that accepts not of life and Salvation by free gift, must have it by earning, must have it by working; and earn it we cannot. Thou canst not obtain reconciliation with God upon easier terms for thy self, than Christ obtained it for believers; and what terms were those, but even perfect, and to thee impossible obedience? You cannot dig: perfect doing is impossible: you are lost, if asham'd to beg at the door of free grace for the dole of mercy.

2. The neglecting of free grace makes Divine vengeance insupportable. It discovereth the malignity of the heart against that which by free grace is bestowed; for if we cannot dislike the price, which is to bring neither money nor price, you must then dislike the wares, which are Heaven with holiness. And how great a scorn do we then put upon the Lord Jesus, the purchaser of free grace? It was Christ's payment that made all free to us. Who can excuse the contempt of such both love and cost at once? there is no liquor that scalds so tormentingly in hell, as the Oil of mercy. Grace turned into fury is the most killing Enemy. Freeness invites all worldly customers. Who loveth not costly things that cost him nothing? who shunneth an interest in a thousand pounds a year to be had for taking up at the Court? and why alone, my Brethren, should Jesus Christ want customers? are there any commodities so rich as his? are there any commodities to us so cheap as his? Why should they alone be slow that go to take the favour and love of God through him? especially considering, that they have paid so dear for that which is not bread, yea for that which is their bane? Free grace tendered and neglected is condemnation heightened. You cannot have the favour of God by doing: what will you not have it for receiving neither? you will not then have it at all. It is that hell of hells that free grace is despised, hath been neglected. Thus much for the first branch of the second Argument: the season of grace is a time of acceptation, and therefore in respect of that advantage it requires our present improving thereof.