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…

Gerson calls them Gratiae gratis datae, and indeed they are the gifts of Gods Spirit, and are highly to be prized, yet as degrees in grace are of Gods Spirit, but not necessary to salvation; the truth of grace is, but not every degree of grace, for then no godly man could be saved that is weak in faith, and in other graces. Thus it is with this comfort in some respect, They are gifts of God, they are wrought by his Spirit, yet so as that they do not necessarily accompany our salvation, and in this sense you must understand the Doctrine.

2. There is a two-fold joy, which I may call a direct and reflex one: The one is ¹when we are carried with delight to that which is holy and good. The other is, when we know and feel that we are thus carried out, joy is a fruit of faith, 1 Pet. 1. 8. In whom believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable. Now as faith acteth two ways, so also doth joy. Faith acteth directly by going directly to Christ; and then faith acts reflexly, by looking upon this, that I do rest on Christ. Thus there is a joy that doth directly go to God and Christ by way of delight and enlargement, ⟨p. 176⟩being thus apprehended by faith. Of such a joy in holy things Solomon speaketh Prov. 21. 15. The Prophet Isaiah also Chap. 64. 5. And then there is a joy flowing from the apprehension of this, that we do delight in holy things. For a man may rejoice to find he can rejoice in what is good; a man may be comforted in finding that Christ and heavenly objects, are matter of delight to him. Now as it is with those two acts of faith, the former, which is the direct one, that is absolutely necessary, by that we are justified, by that Christ is made ours, by that we are in him, and he in us; but the latter is not of the same necessity. It is no where said, If ye know that ye do believe, and if ye be assured that ye do believe, but if ye do believe, then ye shall be saved. It would be sad with many of Gods children, if none were justified, but he that knoweth he believeth. Thus it is also for joy, joy in its direct acts, it's a necessary grace. It is our duty to rejoice in God and heavenly things, as well as love them. And indeed there cannot be any grace of love, but there is also the grace of joy. Hence