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

When there was a Schism at Corinth, 1 Cor. 3.4. One saith, I am of Paul, another, I am of Apollo, Christ is only ours and not yours: Paul writeth to them, 1 Cor. 1.2. To all that call upon the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. We anathematize one another, and impropriate Christ by sacrilegious Censures. It is very natural to us to confine Grace within the Circuit of our own Opinions; and the worst sort of Christians for the most part do so; as if none should go to Heaven but those of their Party. Tertullian speaking of the Times in which he lived, It is Holiness enough with some (saith he) to be of such a Party, as if none could be saved but Men of their own Persuasion. Now saith the Apostle, Neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision, all have the same common Privilege. Once more, tho there be a difference in the degrees of Grace, yet all have an Interest in the common Privileges of Christians. Some have a stronger, some a weaker Faith; but saith the Apostle, Rom. 3.22. The Righteousness of God, which is by Faith of Jesus Christ, is unto all, and upon all that believe; for there is no difference; they all take hold of the same Righteousness. Look as a Jewel held by a Man and by a Child, tho the Man holds it more strongly than the Child, yet it is the same Jewel, and of the same Worth and Value: So the Righteousness of Christ is of the same Worth before God; the stronger Believer holds it faster than the ⟨p. 24⟩weaker Believer; but tho he cannot be so high in Faith as Abraham, and as other Worthies of God, yet he hath his hold-fast upon God. Differences of Nations and outward Condition do neither help nor hinder Salvation; and different degrees of Grace, tho they occasion some accidental difference in the spiritual Life, as some have more Comfort than others; yet as to the main, all that accept have a like Privilege. The Reasons of it are partly, because the same Grace is the cause of all. Free Grace acts for the good of all upon the same terms; Isa. 43.25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember thy Sins. God doth not take notice of Differences in them whom he forgives: God may pardon the Sin of Andrew and Thomas, as well as of Abraham and Paul; Grace's Motives lie within it self. And partly because they have the same Redeemer Jesus Christ, theirs and ours.