An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

4. This grace is communicated to us in and through Christ. So that it is called in Scripture, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in a two-fold respect, 1. Efficiently, ¹because he is able to bestow it upon us. You see in the Text Paul prayeth it from him, as well as God the Father. And, 2. Meritoriously, because Christ by his blood hath made a way open and free for grace to manifest it self. Oh then, let us know, that without Christ, God is a consuming fire, a condemning Judge; that there was no more possibility without him, to have so much as a drop of grace, as there was for Dives in hell, to obtain a drop of water! No, no, there was too great a gulf between God and us. Indeed the Socinians they blaspheme and say, If we hold the merits and satisfaction of Christ (they say) this overthroweth the grace of God, making it none at all. What grace is it (say they) for God to forgive and pardon, when he receiveth full satisfaction for it? But though it be of Justice to Christ, yet it is mere and only Grace in respect of us, and that many ways, but especially in these two particulars; 1. That God was not bound to take a Surety for us; he might have stood for satisfaction in our own persons; that we who had sinned should also be punished. And then, 2. Although this price be paid, yet the application of it, is wholly of grace. For how many are damned? How many have no sin forgiven, or pardoned to them, although Christ came as a Saviour into the world. It is therefore mere, and only grace to make thee partaker of this grace, which cometh by Christ. God is gracious, but Christ made way for it.

4. This grace is communicated to us in and through Christ. So that it is called in Scripture, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in a two-fold respect, 1. Efficiently, ¹because he is able to bestow it upon us. You see in the Text Paul prayeth it from him, as well as God the Father. And, 2. Meritoriously, because Christ by his bloud hath made a way open and free for grace to manifest it self. Oh then, let us know, that without Christ, God is a consuming fire, a condemning Judge; that there was no more possibility without him, to have so much as a drop of grace, as there was for Dives in hell, to obtain a drop of water! No, no, there was too great a gulph between God and us. Indeed the Socinians they blaspheme and say, If we hold the merits and satisfaction of Christ (they say) this overthroweth the grace of God, making it none at all. What grace is it (say they) for God to forgive and pardon, when he receiveth full satisfaction for it? But though it be of Justice to Christ, yet it is meer and only Grace in respect of us, and that many wayes, but especially in these two particulars; 1. That God was not bound to take a Surety for us; he might have stood for satisfaction in our own persons; that we who had sinned should also be punished. And then, 2. Although this price be paid, yet the application of it, is wholly of grace. For how many are damned? How many have no sinne forgiven, or pardoned to them, although Christ came as a Saviour into the world. It is therefore meer, and only grace to make thee partaker of this grace, which cometh by Christ. God is gracious, but Christ made way for it.