A discourse of the saving grace of God

(10.) It overthrows Humility and Selfdeni•l. One may smell from whence it comes, by the rank Tendency of it to Pride and Self-exaltation. The design of the Gospel is clearly to debase man, and take from him all occasion of Boasting or Glorying in himself; or of ascribing the Praise, either of his State or Actions, to himself, Rom. 3. 9. 27. 1 Cor. 1. 29, 30. But this Doctrine obliges a Believer to ascribe the difference, which is betwixt him and others who are in the State of Sin and Misery, not unto Grace, but to himself; leaves him no ground to imagine that it was Grace which made the difference.

Grace is, with them, indifferently afforded unto all Sinners under the Gospel at lest. Others had the same Light, the same rational Proposals, with as much Clearness and Earnestness, in the same Degree, and of no less Power and sufficiency; ⟨p. 71⟩it is common in all respects. That which is every way common and indifferent, could not possibly make us to differ. But when they had it in common, this man would make good use of it, without any other help from Grace than the rest had; they would not. His Will complied with the Proposal; their Wills, no less assisted than his, resisted. Grace brought it equally to the choice of their Wills, and there left it: His Will determined it self to comply; their Wills determined against it: that made the difference, not Grace, which was alike in all; but Free-will, which he used better than Others. If my Will (may he say) had not been better to me than Grace, it had been as bad with me as them: For Grace was as good to them as me. The Apostle asks, Who made thee to differ? 1 Cor. 4. 7. supposing none would have the Confidence to arrogate this to himself. But he that is for Free-will must say, I made my self to differ. Grace brought it to the choice of my Will, whether there should be any difference or no; it does no more for any; if there be any difference made, it is Free-will that makes it. Those of them that are so ingenuous