The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

And then for the grace of Sanctification, whereby of a wretched sinner, and open persecutor, he became a faithful and bold Disciple of Christ. This he doth often enlarge upon, making it grace, free grace, riches of grace; yea, exemplary grace: that all the ages to come, might take notice of it. As then thou art affected with the sense of thy sinfulness and impotency, and art thereby prone to adore the fullness of Gods grace; so, thou mayest have a discovery of the work of grace upon thy heart. It doth not only consist in mortifying sin, in crucifying of lusts, but in gratitude and thankfulness to his grace.

And then for the grace of Sanctification, whereby of a wretched sinner, and open persecuter, he became a faithfull and bold Disciple of Christ. This he doth often enlarge upon, making it grace, free grace, riches of grace; yea, exemplary grace: that all the ages to come, might take notice of it. As then thou art affected with the sense of thy sinfulness and impotency, and art thereby prone to adore the fulness of Gods grace; so, thou maist have a discovery of the work of grace upon thy heart. It doth not only consist in mortifying sinne, in crucifiing of lusts, but in gratitude and thankfulness to his grace.

Now when we say, a godly man acknowledgeth all to grace: Consider,

First, He doth it heartily, seriously: It cometh from his bowels:¹ All within him, is called upon to bless God. What is a more formal and ordinary phrase, then to say, I thank God? I bless God? But the gracious doing of it, is like fire in the bowels. Observe Paul Eph. 1. how copious and overflowing he is in blessing of God for his manifold graces to the godly? No fountain doth run ore sweetly, fully, and purely then he doth. Oh, his heart is an happy spring,