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

They were Children of Fools, Children of base Men, they were viler than the Earth. Our Condition was worse: here God's Justice opposed; but Grace found out the Contrivance, and sent Christ in the Form of a Servant, who was in the Form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God, Phil. 2.6, 7.

(2.) We discern the Freeness of Grace in the Gospel, both in giving and accepting. Whatever God doth, is a Gift; and what we do, it is accepted of Grace. In giving, there's a great deal of Grace made known there. The Lord doth all freely, Joh. 1.16. And of his Fullness have all we received, and Grace for Grace; that is, for Grace's sake: He gives Christ, gives Faith, gives Pardon; He gives the Condition as well as the Blessing. Certainly now we have to do with a God of Grace, who sits upon a Throne of Grace, that he might bestow freely to all Comers: Out of Christ and in the Law, there God is discovered, as sitting upon a Tribunal of Justice, as he is described, Psal. 97.2. Clouds and Darkness are round about him; Righteousness and Judgment are the Habitation of his Throne. But now saith the Apostle, Heb. 4.16. Let us come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and Grace to help in a time of need; that we may have Mercy for Pardon, and for acceptance of our Persons; and Grace to help us against our Weaknesses. This was figured out in the Law; under the Law it was figured out by the Mercy-Seat between the Cherubims, from whence God was giving out Answers; but there the High-Priest could enter but once a Year, and the way within the Veil was not fully made manifest, Heb. 9.8. There was a Throne of Grace then, but more of God's Tribunal of Justice; there was Smoke and Thundering about his Throne: But now let us draw near, that we may obtain Grace, take all freely out of God's Hand. Then there is Grace manifested in accepting as well as giving; God accepts of serious Repentance for complete Innocence; of Sincerity for Perfection; of the Will for the Deed; of a Person for Christ's sake; and of the Works for the Person's sake. Thus God doth both give, and accept freely. That we do is not brought to the Balance, but Touch-stone. Many times a good Work is not full Weight; God doth not look to the Measure, but to the Truth of Grace; he requires Truth in the Reins.