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…

Secondly, Those only are prepared to enjoy this grace of God, who do exercise faith in the promises of the Gospel. For faith is like opening of the window, that lets in this glorious light upon the soul. The grace of God is no otherwise communicated unto us, but by believing, Joh. 1. 12. To them that did believe, he gave them power to become the Sons of God. Rom. 3. 24. Justified freely by his grace, through faith in his blood. So that faith is the hand to receive this precious pearl. And for this reason it is, that Gods children are no more filled with this grace; it doth not like oil run into all their wounds, because by unbelief they shut up their souls, and make sad obstructions unto this grace of God. Oh then, if thou who are truly godly walkest in a dejected manner, saying with David, Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Know God is as gracious as ever, yea and as willing his grace should overflow to thy soul, but thou art unwise and froward; thou doest not set upon this great work of faith, which is the key, as it were, to open these treasures of Gods grace. Know then, that so much faith as thou bringest, so much of Gods grace thou shalt partake of. And therefore it is, That to be justified by faith, to be saved by faith, and to be justified by grace, or saved by grace, is made all one by the Apostle, and he argueth from one to the other; and this way of Gods grace, with the manner of receiving, it cometh wholly by revelation. It's alone by the word of God, that we come to know God to be so gracious; and it's alone by the same Word, that we come to know what faith is, and how by that only, and not working, we do receive of this grace. No wonder then, if the troubled and humbled sinner be so longer he comes to be replenished with this grace, that he keepeth constantly in fears and doubts; for till he put himself upon this way of faith, there is not the least cranny in his soul, wherein the least glimpse of Gods favour can approach unto him.

Secondly, Those only are preparrd to enjoy this grace of God, who do exercise faith in the promises of the Gospel. For faith is like opening of the window, that lets in this glorious light upon the soul. The grace of God is no otherwise communicated unto us, but by believing, Joh. 1. 12. To them that did believe, he gave them power to become the Sons of God.