Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

4. God does afford assisting Grace to Sinners, which if they improved, he would not desert them. The Gospel is the Ministration of the ⟨p. 338⟩Spirit, to illuminate, excite and persuade Sinners not to forsake their own Mercy. He strives with them, he woes and waits to be gracious, till by their obstinate Resistance they quench his holy Motions. 'Tis true, he dispenses Grace in different degrees, for he is the Master of his own Favours: but tho effectual converting Grace is not bestowed upon all, yet there is common Grace, that has a tendency to Conversion, which if humbly and thankfully improved, such is the most free and excellent Goodness of God, Men would receive further Supplies. But they are careless and opposite to his gracious Operations, therefore the Spirit is most righteously withdrawn from them. He that in Luxury has wasted his Estate, 'tis just he dies in Poverty. Besides this, 'tis very considerable, that Men shall be condemned at the last Day not for ⟨p. 339⟩mere Impotence, but obstinate Opposition: they loved Darkness rather ¹than Light, because their Deeds are evil: not for the want of that Grace they did not receive, but for the neglect to improve that Grace they had received, and rejecting what was offered. The slothful Servant was condemned for hiding his single ²Talent in a Napkin, not because he had not five Talents.

4. God does afford assisting Grace to Sinners, which if they improved, he would not desert them. The Gospel is the Ministration of the ⟨p. 338⟩Spirit, to illuminate, excite and perswade Sinners not to forsake their own Mercy. He strives with them, he woes and waits to be gracious, till by their obstinate Resistance they quench his holy Motions. 'Tis true, he dispenses Grace in different degrees, for he is the Master of his own Favours: but tho effectual converting Grace is not bestowed upon all, yet there is common Grace, that has a tendency to Conversion, which if humbly and thankfully improved, such is the most free and excellent Goodness of God, Men would receive further Supplies. But they are careless and opposite to his gracious Operations, therefore the Spirit is most righteously withdrawn from them. He that in Luxury has wasted his Estate, 'tis just he dies in Poverty. Besides this, 'tis very considerable, that Men shall be condemned at the last Day not for