A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

In the next place I shall endeavour to set before you some particulars wherein the Glory of God's free Grace in pardoning sin may be more illustrated, that it may appear God assumes to himself this as the greatest honour, to be a sin-pardoning God. And,

First, This highly commends the freeness of pardoning Grace, in that God decreed to bestow it without any Request, or Entreaties of ours. There was no Rhetoric moved him besides the Yearnings of his own Bowels. This was a Gracious Resolution sprung up spontaneously in the Heart of God from all eternity. ⟨p. 22⟩He saw thee wallowing in thy Blood, long before thou wert in thy Being: and this time it was a time of Love; even a time before all times: What Friend couldst thou then make in Heaven? What Intercessor hadst thou then, when there was nothing but God? When this design of Love was laid, there was neither Prayers nor Tongues to utter them: Yea, Christ himself, though now he intercedes for the Application of Pardon, did not then intercede for the Decree of Pardon; he could not then urge his Blood and Merits as Motives for God to take up thoughts of forgiving us; for had not God done so before, Christ had never shed his Blood, nor wrought out Salvation for us. What Arguments, What Advocates did then persuade him? Truly the only Argument was our Misery; and the only Advocate was his own Mercy, and not Jesus Christ.

First, This highly commends the freeness of pardoning Grace, in that God decreed to bestow it without any Request, or Entreaties of ours. There was no Rhetorick moved him besides the Yearnings of his own Bowels. This was a Gracious Resolution sprung up spontaneously in the Heart of God from all eternity. ⟨p. 22⟩He saw thee wallowing in thy Bloud, long before thou wert in thy Being: and this time it was a time of Love; even a time before all times: What Friend could'st thou then make in Heaven? What Intercessour hadst thou then, when there was nothing but God? When this design of Love was laid, there was neither Prayers nor Tongues to utter them: Yea, Christ himself, though now he intercedes for the Application of Pardon, did not then intercede for the Decree of Pardon; he could not then urge his Bloud and Merits as Motives for God to take up thoughts of forgiving us; for had not God done so before, Christ had never shed his Bloud, nor wrought out Salvation for us. What Arguments, What Advocates did then perswade him? Truly the only Argument was our Misery; and the only Advocate was his own Mercy, and not Jesus Christ.