A29368:39
The freeness of the grace and love of God to believers discovered in reference…
The freeness of the grace and love of God to believers discovered in reference to 1. their services and suffering, 2. their consolations, and 3. their salvation and eternal glory : together with the excellency of the fear of God, the goodness and pleasantness of brotherly love, the wisdom of hearing the voice of the rod, repentance the only way to prevent judgements / delivered in several sermons by the late reverend and faithful minister of Christ, Mr. William Bridge ...The freeness of the grace and love of God to believers discovered in reference to 1. their services and suffering, 2. their consolations, and 3. their salvation and eternal glory : together with the excellency of the fear of God, the goodness and pleasantness of brotherly love, the wisdom of hearing the voice of the rod, repentance the only way to prevent judgements / delivered in several sermons by the late reverend and faithful minister of Christ, Mr. William Bridg ...
London: printed for Nath. Crouch, 1671
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But Fourthly, Wherein doth the free grace of God shine forth and appear in the matter of our services and sufferings?
I answer, In many things: Will you begin with your own employments? What is ⟨p. 12⟩reason one man is called forth to an employment, and not another? It is only the free grace of God. What is the reason one man hath success in a work, and not another? It is only the free grace of God. But to clear it the more unto you; the more unlikely any person is to serve or suffer for God, the more the free grace of God shines forth in that person. Now who are those that God doth generally make use of in his service, but those that are the most unlikeliest persons? As now will you instance in matter of mens places, Estates, Callings; there was two servants concerned in the conversion of Naaman, the servant of the Prophet, and Naamans own servant: Who is most likely now? certainly the servant of the Prophet; yet you see the other doth it: so that I say, the unlikeliest oftentimes God makes use of; which is to show forth the freeness of his grace: Will you instance in the matter of ability as to the Ministry, who more unfit and unlikely to be used in the Gospel, than a company of Fishermen, poor Fishermen? for it is said, they perceived they were unlearned, and yet you find them made use of by our Saviour for the promulgation of the Gospel. Will you instance in the matter of free grace? ⟨p. 13⟩Who was so commended as Nathaniel that ca•• to Christ? Behold an Israelite indeed, In whom there is no guile. Who more unlikely to be used in Gods service than Paul? Was it likely Paul should bring any honour to God, who was whipped and scourged up and down Town like a Malefactor? yet this man preached: and do you think he was like to do any good by his preaching? yet you find it is said, he did more than they all; and God blessed his Ministry, and he converted the Gentiles. Why is this but to show that God will make use of them that are most unlikely to do him service: For they that are first shall be last; and this only to show the freeness of his grace.