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

2. All that accept, have a like Privilege; therefore this Grace is said to appear to all Men. There is no difference of Nations, nor of Conditions of Life, nor of lesser Opinions in Religion, nor of degrees of Grace. See all summed up by the Apostle, Col. 3.11. There is neither Greek nor Jew, Circumcision nor Uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, Bond nor Free, but Christ is all and in all. We are taken with the admiration of outward Privileges, and are altogether for impaling and enclosing the common Salvation, as it is called Jude 3. The Lord accepts of all, be they Jew or Greek, &c. To go over these Distinctions. The several Conditions of Life make no difference, Bond or Free, Rich or Poor. Servants or Bond-men in those times were in a miserable case, they were but animata Instrumenta, used as living Instruments; every Master had Potestatem Vita & Necis, Power over the Life and Death of his Servants, as over his Cattle: But now free Grace doth over-look this Distinction, Bond or Free are all one in Christ. In the account of God, there is none poor but he that wants the Righteousness of Christ. Then for other differences in moral Excellencies, some Nations are more civil than others; but saith he, neither Scythian nor Barbarian, that doth not vary the case: he doth not mention only the Barbarian, but the Scythian, which were of all People most rude and savage, the very Dross and Dregs of Barbarism it self; they had little Knowledge in the Arts, Letters and Civilities of other Nations, yet all these are one in Christ. Then there is no difference of Nation, Greek or Jew; some may live in a colder, some in a warmer Climate, as they are nearer or further off from the Sun; but all are alike near to the Sun of Righteousness. God hath broken down the Partition-Wall, and enlarged the Pale of the Church. Indeed Rome would fain rear up a new Partition-Wall, and confine God to their own Precincts, as if out of their Church there was no Salvation. Envious Nature cannot endure to hear that all Nations should stand upon the same Level. So again, for some lesser Differences in Religion, that do not destroy the Foundation, Circumcision and Uncircumcision, all is one in Christ, provided they submit to the main Duties of Christianity: They were the two known Parties and Factions in those Times, but yet such as did not exclude from the benefit of the common Salvation.

2. All that accept, have a like Priviledg; therefore this Grace is said to appear to all Men. There is no difference of Nations, nor of Conditions of Life, nor of lesser Opinions in Religion, nor of degrees of Grace. See all summ'd up by the Apostle,