Captives bound in chains made free

1. By Christ believers have freedom and liberty to come to the throne of Grace. A burden to wicked graceless hearts it is, to come and pray to God, are backward to it, weary of it, as if it were a part of their slavery and bondage, to come and beg for mercy for their souls, for pardon for their sin, for converting and renewing grace now, and for eternal endless glory hereafter, Judg of this as you will, yet know it cost Christ dear to purchase this liberty for us; it is not only a duty that we must, but it is a real privilege that we may, have the freedom to come to God upon our knees, to beg for special, spiritual, temporal and eternal mercies. Would not a poor prisoner, that hath deserved to dye, account it a privilege to have liberty as oft as he will, and when he will to have liberty of access unto the King, to prefer his petitions to him, and to beg for a pardon of his fact, and for the saving of his life; and all this with hopes of speeding and obtaining what he doth petition for? When man had sinned, he was driven out of Paradise, and was afraid because of guilt, and there was no freedom for the rebellious sinner without Christ, to come before a provoked angry God with hopes of mercy; but there is a new and living way now found out for you, Heb. 10. 19, 20, 21, 22. that you might come with freedom, and ask with freedom of spirit, ⟨p. 173⟩and with freedom of speech, what Christ hath purchased for you, and God hath promised to you, Eph. 3. 12. Heb. 4. 16. You may with freedom come to God, and tell him all your grievances, and all your burdens, and all your temptations, and all your wants, and open all your heart unto him.

1. By Christ believers have freedom and liberty to come to the throne of Grace. A burden to wicked graceless hearts it is, to come and pray to God, are backward to it, weary of it, as if it were a part of their slavery and bondage, to come and beg for mercy for their souls, for pardon for their sin, for converting and renewing grace now, and for eternal endless glory hereafter, Judg of this as you will, yet know it cost Christ dear to purchase this liberty for us; it is not only a duty that we must, but it is a real priviledg that we may, have the freedom to come to God upon our knees, to beg for special, spiritual, temporal and eternal mercies. Would not a poor prisoner, that hath deserved to dye, account it a priviledg to have liberty as oft as he will, and when he will to have liberty of access unto the King, to prefer his petitions to him, and to beg for a pardon of his fact, and for the saving of his life; and all this with hopes of speeding and obtaining what he doth petition for? When man had sinned, he was driven out of Paradise, and was afraid because of guilt, and there was no freedom for the rebellious sinner without Christ, to come before a provoked angry God with hopes of mercy; but there is a new and living way now found out for you,