A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

First,¹ They differ in respect of their subject. Restraining Grace is but common, and it works upon Wicked Men ⟨p. 282⟩and Reprobates as well as others: Bu• Sanctifying Grace that is special, and belongs only to those who belong themselves to the Election of Grace. Esa• whom the Scripture Notes as the great instance of Reprobation, comes out against Jacob with a Troop of Four Thousand Ruffians, intending doubtless to Revenge himself upon him for the loss o• his Birth-Right and Blessing, but at their first meeting God by a secret work so mollifies his Heart, that instead of falling upon him and killing him, he falls upon his Neck and kisses him; here God restrains him from that Presumptuous Sin of Murder, not in a way of mere External Providence, but with his own Hand immediately turns about his Heart, and by seeing such a company of Cattle bleating and bellowing, so many timorous Men and helpless Children all bowing and supplicating unto him, he turns his Revenge into Compassion, and with much urging receives a Present from him whom before he intended to make a Prey. The same power of restraint God laid upon the Heart of Abimelech that Heathen King, you have it in Geneses 20.6. when he had taken Sarah, ⟨p. 283⟩Abraham's Wife, intending to make her his Wife or Concubine, God tells him in a Dream, I with-held thee from •inning against me, therefore suffered I •hee not to touch her: Here was nothing visible to hinder Abimelech from so great • Wickedness, but God invisibly wrought upon his heart, and unhinged his wicked Desires; now from the instances of Esau and Abimelech we may clearly collect how Restraining Grace differs both from Restraining Providence, and also from Sanctifying Grace: From Providence it differs, because usually when God Providentially restrains from Sin, he doth it by some visible apparent means that doth not work by bringing any change or alteration on the Heart, but only by •aying an External Check upon Men's Actions, but now by Restraining Grace God deals in a secret way with the very Heart of a Sinner, & though he doth not change the nature of his Heart, yet he alters the present frame and disposition of it, and takes away the desire of committing those Sins that yet it doth not Mortify;