1. From hence there is just cause to admire the glorious Grace of God in converting Sinners, and ⟨p. 343⟩making them willing to comply with the Terms of the Gospel. Indeed 'tis strange to Amazement, that Men involved under the Guilt of Sins so numerous and so heinous, and liable every hour to the Sentence of the Law, so sure and severe, Eternal Death for their Sins, should neglect a Pardon so dearly purchased, and so graciously offered, and not with the deepest Humility, with ravishing Joy, and the highest Thankfulness receive it. Is there no Spirit, no Understanding left in them? Nay, is sensible Nature and its inviolable Inclinations so extinguished, that they are Enemies to themselves? But if we consider the Depravation of Mankind so inveterate and invincible, we shall turn the Current of our Wonder another way, that the obstinate Perverseness of any is subdued, and that with consenting Wills they receive Christ as their Prince and ⟨p. 344⟩Saviour. Election is the Fountain of distinguishing Grace: Many are called, but few are chosen. Conversion, 1Adoption, Justification, Sanctification, Glorification, are all the 2Fruits of electing Mercy. By the most gracious and free Act of his 3own Will, he chose some out of 4the corrupt Generality, (and they are but a little diminutive Flock) to make them Vessels of Honour, 5that his Goodness might be the more admirable. Those who are made a willing People, were by the 6natural and contracted Hardness of their Hearts, as averse and repugnant to the Heavenly Call as others; if after a thousand Repulses, the Spirit had been withdrawn, they had died in their Sins: but as 'tis said of Lot's miraculous Rescue from the Flames of Sodom, While he lingered, the Angels laid hold upon his Hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and brought him forth, and set him ⟨p. 345⟩without the City; so the free and omnipotent Grace over-ruled their reluctant Hearts, and strongly and sweetly inclined them to God their supreme and satisfying Good, and to come to Christ as the only means to restore them to the Favour and Enjoyment of God. The natural Man is no more able to believe with a saving Faith in Christ, than to obey the whole Law: 'tis the Gift of God. He provides the Means of Salvation, and applies them; he by victorious Grace leads Captivity captive, and bestows that most precious Gift upon his People.
1. From hence there is just cause to admire the glorious Grace of God in converting Sinners, and ⟨p. 343⟩making them willing to comply with the Terms of the Gospel. Indeed 'tis strange to Amazement, that Men involv'd under the Guilt of Sins so numerous and so heinous, and liable every hour to the Sentence of the Law, so sure and severe, Eternal Death for their Sins, should neglect a Pardon so dearly purchas'd, and so graciously offer'd, and not with the deepest Humility, with ravishing Joy, and the highest Thankfulness receive it. Is there no Spirit, no Understanding left in them? Nay, is sensible Nature and its inviolable Inclinations so extinguish'd, that they are Enemies to themselves? But if we consider the Depravation of Mankind so inveterate and invincible, we shall turn the Current of our Wonder another way, that the obstinate Perverseness of any is subdued, and that with consenting Wills they receive Christ as their Prince and ⟨p. 344⟩Saviour. Election is the Fountain of distinguishing Grace: Many are called, but few are chosen. Conversion, 1Adoption, Justification, Sanctification, Glorification, are all the 2Fruits of electing Mercy. By the most gracious and free Act of his 3own Will, he chose some out of 4the corrupt Generality, (and they are but a little diminutive Flock) to make them Vessels of Honour, 5that his Goodness might be the more admirable. Those who are made a willing People, were by the 6natural and contracted Hardness of their Hearts, as averse and repugnant to the Heavenly Call as others; if after a thousand Repulses, the Spirit had been withdrawn, they had died in their Sins: but as 'tis said of Lot's miraculous Rescue from the Flames of Sodom, While he lingred, the Angels laid hold upon his Hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and brought him forth, and set him ⟨p. 345⟩without the City; so the free and omnipotent Grace over-rul'd their reluctant Hearts, and strongly and sweetly inclin'd them to God their supream and satisfying Good, and to come to Christ as the only means to restore them to the Favour and Enjoyment of God. The natural Man is no more able to believe with a saving Faith in Christ, than to obey the whole Law: 'tis the Gift of God. He provides the Means of Salvation, and applies them; he by victorious Grace leads Captivity captive, and bestows that most precious Gift upon his People.
- 1Ephes. 1.
- 2Rom. 8.
- 3Ephes. 1.
- 42 Thess. 2.
- 5Acts 13.
- 6John 12.
