Yet Secondly (as to the point in hand) there are conditional acts of grace, I may call them second acts of grace, or renewed acts of grace. For when after conversion we fall into sin, and by that evil heart of unbelief (remaining in a great measure unmortified) we depart from the living God (Heb: 3.12.) God doth not give out fresh acts of grace, but upon repentance, and the renewings of our communion with him. Having once received grace, we being again helped and assisted by grace, act graciously, before God declares himself gracious to us. When a man is cast upon a sick bed for sin, (that's the case of many) the Lord will see repentance before he will raise him up again. (James 5.15.) The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him; that is, if he being cast upon a sick bed to correct or chasten him for the sin that he hath committed, shall humble himself, and seek the Lord by prayer, praying and calling for prayer; Then the sin committed shall be forgiven him, and the Lord will raise him up again. 'Tis not the prayer of another that can obtain deliverance for the sick, much less the forgiveness of his sins, if himself be prayer-less, and repentance-less. But while others pray for the sick mans bodily health, they praying also for his souls health, the Lord gives him repentance for his sin, and then a comfortable sight of pardon. So then before the Lord puts out these second acts of grace, he looks for and finds something in the creature yet still, that also is an effect of his grace both to them and in them. They, who have already received grace, must stir up their grace, and renew acts of grace (thorough grace) towards him, before he dispenses acts of grace towards them. And as consolation in this life, so that highest and last act of grace, salvation, in the life to come, is not bestowed upon any, till they are fitted. God calls and converts the worst of men, those that are in their filth, and mud, and mire, but he will not save a filthy person, he will have him first purged and prepared. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not enter into the kingdom of God (1 Cor: 6.9.) and that without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Heb: 12.14.) There is no eternal salvation without preparation; nor is there any promise of temporal ⟨p. 399⟩salvation without it.
Yet Secondly (as to the poynt in hand) there are conditionall acts of grace, I may call them second acts of grace, or renewed acts of grace. For when after conversion we fall into sin, and by that evill heart of unbeliefe (remaining in a great measure unmortified) we depart from the living God (Heb: 3.12.) God doth not give out fresh acts of grace, but upon repentance, and the renewings of our communion with him. Having once received grace, we being again helped and assisted by grace, act graciously, before God declares himselfe gracious to us. When a man is cast upon a sick bed for sin, (that's the case of many) the Lord will see repentance before he will raise him up againe. (James 5.15.) The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him; that is, if he being cast upon a sick bed to correct or chasten him for the sin that he hath committed, shall humble himselfe, and seek the Lord by prayer, praying and calling for prayer; Then the sin committed shall be forgiven him, and the Lord will raise him up againe. 'Tis not the prayer of another that can obtaine deliverance for the sick, much lesse the forgiveness of his sins, if himselfe be prayer-lesse, and repentance-lesse. But while others pray for the sick mans bodyly health, they praying also for his soules health, the Lord gives him repentance for his sin, and then a comfortable sight of pardon. So then before the Lord puts out these second acts of grace, he looks for and finds something in the creature yet still, that also is an effect of his grace both to them and in them. They, who have already received grace, must stir up their grace, and renew acts of grace (thorough grace) towards him, before he dispenses acts of grace towards them. And as consolation in this life, so that highest and last act of grace, salvation, in the life to come, is not bestow'd upon any, till they are fitted. God calls and converts the worst of men, those that are in their filth, and mud, and mire, but he will not save a filthy person, he will have him first purged and prepared. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not enter into the kingdome of God (1 Cor: 6.9.) and that without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Heb: 12.14.) There is no eternall salvation without preparation; nor is there any promise of temporall ⟨p. 399⟩salvation without it.
