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

(3.) The Efficacy and Power of Grace is discovered in the Gospel. Christ sendeth his Spirit to apply what he himself hath purchased. One Person comes to merit, and the other to accomplish the Fruit of his Merit. Mark, to stop the course of Grace, Divine Justice did not only put in an Impediment, but there was our Infidelity that hindered the Application of that which Christ was to merit; and therefore as the second Person is to satisfy God, so the third Person is to work upon us. There was a double hinderance against the Business of our Salvation; God's Justice, for the Glory of God was to be repaired, therefore Christ was to merit; and there was our Unbelief, therefore the Spirit must come and apply it. First, Christ suffered, and when he was ascended, then was the Spirit poured out. Had it not been for the Gospel, we should never have known the Efficacy and Power of Grace. The Apostle puts the Question, Gal. 3.2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the Works of the Law, or by the Hearing of Faith? How did you come to be acquainted with Grace? This is the Seal which God would put upon the Excellency and Authority of the Gospel, that he will associate and join in assistance with it the Operation of the Spirit to accompany it. Look as it is with the Sun, Light increaseth with Heat; the Morning-Beams are faint and gentle, but at Noon ⟨p. 13⟩the Sun shines out, not only with Glory, but with Strength: So it is here, the more the Light of the Gospel is increased, the more is the Efficacy and Power of it conveyed into the Sons of Men. The Dispensation of the Law is called the Oldness of the Letter, and the Dispensation of the Gospel the Newness of the Spirit; Rom. 7.6. But now ye are delivered from the Law, that being dead wherein we were held, that we should serve in Newness of Spirit, and not in the Oldness of the Letter. In the mere Law-Dispensation, there was only a literal Direction, but no strength and ability to perform what is suggested; Lex jubet, Gratia juvat; The Law commands, but all the Commands of Grace help. There is a Spirit that goeth along with the Gospel to qualify us for the Duties of it. 2 Cor. 3.6. Who also hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit; for the Letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life.