Grace: the truth and growth and different degrees thereof. The sum and substance of…Grace: the truth and growth and different degrees thereof. The summe and substance of…

1. How voluntarily and freely Jesus Christ doth issue out his grace to his people. Never did a mother more willingly give her child suck, when her breast• did ache and were ready to break, then Jesus Christ doth bestow grace upon his people. Christ doth not like a merchant sell his grace, but like a King freely bestow• all: see the tenor of the Covenant of grace how free it was,¹ Ho, every […] that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk, without money and without ⟨p. 193⟩price. Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, ²let him take the water of life freely; nothing is so free as grace: it is offered and is bestowed upon the freest terms imaginable. All that Christ requires,³ is but our receiving it. It is the delight of Christ to show mercy, and bestow grace upon his people. It is the meat of Christ to do the Will of God that sent him,⁴ and to finish his work. Never was man more willing to eat his meat when he is hungry, then Jesus Christ was to do good and bestow grace upon them that wanted it. So also it is said of Christ in Psal. 72. (which is clearly a prophecy of Jesus Christ) that he should come down like rain upon the mowen grass, ⁵and as showers that water the earth. Now there is nothing comes down more sweetly and freely, then the rain upon a dry and thirsty ground.

1. How voluntarily and freely Jesus Christ doth issue out his grace to his people. Never did a mother more willingly give her child suck, when her breast• did ake and were ready to break, then Jesus Christ doth bestow grace upon his people. Christ doth not like a merchant sell his grace, but like a King freely bestow all: see the tenor of the Covenant of grace how free it was,