The divine life in three treatises

Quest. 4. Do we not Doctrinally commit too much of that sin (if we undervalue the Spirits sanctifying work, as a common thing) which the ungodly world do manifest in practice, when they speak and live in a contempt or low esteem of grace? And which is more injurious to God? for a profane person to jest at the Spirits work, or for a Christian or Minister deliberately to extenuate it? especially when the preaching of grace is a Ministers chief work, sure we should much fear partaking in so great a sin.

Quest. 4. Do we not Doctrinally commit too much of that sin (if we undervalue the Spirits sanctifying work, as a common thing) which the ungodly world do manifest in practice, when they speak and live in a contempt or low esteem of grace? And which is more injurious to God? for a prophane person to jest at the Spirits work, or for a Christian or Minister deliberately to extennate it? especially when the preaching of grace is a Ministers chief work, sure we should much fear partaking in so great a sin.

Quest. 5. Why is it that the Scripture speaks so much to take men off from boasting or ascribing any thing to themselves? ⟨p. 105⟩Rom. 3. 19. That every mouth may be stopped; and why doth not the Law of works exclude boasting but only the Law of faith? Rom. 3. 27. Surely the actions of nature (except so far as it is corrupt) are as truly of God, as the acts of grace. And yet God will not take it well to deny him the glory of Redemption, or Sanctification, and tell him that we paid it him in another kind, and ascribed all to him as the author of our free will by natural production. For as Nature shall honour the Creator, so Grace shall also honour the Redeemer and Sanctifier. And God designeth the humbling of the sinner, and teaching him to deny himself; and to honour God in such a way as may stand with self abasement, leaving it to God to honour those by way of reward, that honour him in way of duty, and deny their own honour.