A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

1. This Grace was not known in the World, only a little of it was; Psal. 33.5. The Earth is full of the Goodness of the Lord; some inferior Grace was made known to them in the Creation, and in the course of Providence, by showers of Rain, and fruitful Seasons; Grace on this side Heaven; but nothing of the Secrets of God's Bosom, of the Incarnation of God, of the Expiation of Sin by his Death, of Salvation by Faith in the Mediator; this depends not upon the Connection of natural Causes, but the free Pleasure of God: therefore the Angels knew it not till it was revealed in the Church; Ephes. 3.10. To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in heavenly places, might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God. The Gentiles by looking into the Order of Causes, could never find it out: They might find a first Being, and the chiefest Good, but not a Christ, not a Saviour, there they sat in the shadows of Death, and did not understand nor desire Eternal Life: Acts 14.17. Nevertheless he left not himself without Witness, in that he did good, and gave us Rain from Heaven, and fruitful Seasons, filling our Hearts with Food and Gladness. Much of God may be seen in the known courses of Nature, Rain from Heaven, and fruitful Seasons, but nothing of Christ. The Apostle speaks it there to dissuade them from the Worship of Jupiter, and Mercury, and other of the Vanities of the Gentiles; he argues from the Grace of Nature, and common Benefits which they had received; this were enough to make them acknowledge a Divine Power. Pray mark, the Apostle saith, He left not himself without a Witness, yet he suffered them to walk in their own ways, because he did not reveal his Gospel, nor give them his Spirit. Psal. 147.19, 20. He showeth his Word unto Jacob, his Statutes and his Judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any Nation; and as for his Judgments, they have not known them. Rom. 16.25, 26. According to the Revelation of the Mystery, which was kept secret since the World began: But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the Prophets, according to the Commandment of the everlasting God, made known unto all Nations for the Obedience of Faith.