CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Lastly, That our vocation and conversion is wholly of grace appeareth, if we consider many persons who are thus called, as many profane and wicked persons; Men in league with divers temptations to sin, such as Paul, Mary Magdalene, Matthew the Publican, What condignity or congruity, which the Papists speak of so much, could be in these men? And therefore observe how Paul upon all occasions doth willingly enlarge himself to speak of the grace of God to him the chiefest of all sinners: Austin in his Confessions do•• excellently acknowledge the unwillingness in himself to be turned from his lusts till God had overpowered him, and therefore he calls grace verticordis very emphatically.

Lastly, That our vocation and conversion is wholly of grace appeareth, if we consider many persons who are thus called, as many prophane and wicked persons; Men in league with divers temptations to sin, such as Paul, Mary Magdalene, Matthew the Publican, What condignity or congruity, which the Papists speak of so much, could be in these men? And therefore observe how Paul upon all occasions doth willingly enlarge himself to speak of the grace of God to him the chiefest of all sinners: Austin in his Confessions do•• excellently acknowledge the unwillingnesse in himself to be turned from his lusts till God had overpowerd him, and therefore he cals grace verticordis very emphatically.

¹The third step of these eminent gifts God giveth his people is Justification from their sins; This is so great a matter that the Apostle makes our blessedness to consist in it; And David Psa. 32. out of the sense of this mercy overlooks all temporal comforts, though never so great, and admireth this: Now this is wholly of grace, Rom. 3.24. Being justified freely by his grace; The Apostle puts two words to show that it is altogether from the mere grace of God that we partake of such a privilege.