Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

But whence shall we have this grace?

Saith he, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus; that is, the grace which is received from Christ Jesus: not only that which is received at our first conversion, but which we receive continually. As the Air receives light from the Sun, by a continual influxion; so there is a continual influence of grace from Christ.

Saith he, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Iesus; that is, the grace which is received from Christ Jesus: not onely that which is received at our first conversion, but which we receive continually. As the Air receives light from the Sun, by a continual influxion; so there is a continual influence of grace from Christ.

Adam had grace originally inherent in him, but it is not so with us; there is not that inherency, (though there be that also, yet it differs from the other) because the grace that we have now, is wholly received from our conjunction with Christ Jesus. We should therefore presently lose all if there were a disjunction between Christ and us. And that is the ground why we cannot fall from grace, because we cannot be divided from Christ.

It is the property, or nature of grace to make us strong; ¹to make us able to perform the duties of new obedience.

1. 1Doct. 1. It is the property of grace to make us strong.

So that now, when you are to come to the Sacrament, and to consider whether you have grace; that is a business in which you may occupy your minds, to consider whether you have this character of grace, that it make you strong, and able to do the work of the Lord.

For the opening of this point, I will do two things.

First, I will show you what grace is, what is signified by this word Grace, that we may understand what is meant by it.

First, I will shew you what grace is, what is signified by this word Grace, that we may understand what is meant by it.

Secondly, I will show you the reason why it makes us strong.

Secondly, I will shew you the reason why it makes us strong.

First of all, grace, it is a supernatural peculiar quality, ¹wrought in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, whereby we are enabled to please God in all things.

1. 1Grace What?

First, I say grace is a quality, for you must know, there is a double grace mentioned in the Scripture: There is ⟨p. 184⟩¹the grace of justification, which is a thing in God alone, it is his favour to us, whereby he accepts us in his Son, Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall have no dominion over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace; that is, you are in the state of grace, or favour with God: so in Rom. 3. Ye ²are justified freely by his grace, that is, of his mere favour, not of debt, or due, not by works.³

First, I say grace is a quality, for you must know, there is a double grace mentioned in the Scripture: There is ⟨p. 184⟩¹the grace of justification, which is a thing in God alone, it is his favour to us, whereby he accepts us in his Son, Rom. 6. 14. Sin shall have no dominion over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace; that is, you are in the state of grace, or favour with God: so in Rom. 3. Ye ²are justified freely by his grace, that is, of his meer favour, not of debt, or due, not by works.³

1. 1A quality.
2. 2Rom. 6. 14.
3. 3Rom. 3.

But now there is mention made likewise of grace in other places, where you shall see it is taken for an inherent quality, as in Heb. 12. the last verse but one; Seeing we have such a kingdom, let us have grace in our hearts to ¹serve him with godly fear and reverence. Mark it, Let us have grace to serve him; that is, let us labour to have this holy quality of grace wrought in our hearts, that it may strengthen and enable us to serve him, that so we may please him in all things with fear and reverence; so likewise, 2 Pet. 3. ult. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; growth is properly of that which is a permanent thing, of that which is an inherent thing, as when a thing is said to grow whiter and whiter, &c. so I say, grace is an inherent quality, which is stamped upon the heart, which is begotten in the heart.

But now there is mention made likewise of grace in other places, where you shall see it is taken for an inherent quality, as in Heb. 12. the last verse but one; Seeing we have such a kingdom, let us have grace in our hearts to ¹serve him with godly fear and reverence. Mark it, Let us have grace to serve him; that is, let us labour to have this holy quality of grace wrought in our hearts, that it may strengthen and enable us to serve him, that so we may please him in all things with fear and reverence; so likewise, 2 Pet. 3. ult. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ; growth is properly of that which is a permanent thing, of that which is an inherent thing, as when a thing is said to grow whiter and whiter, &c. so I say, grace is an inherent quality, which is stamped upon the heart, which is begotten in the heart.

1. 1Heb. 12.

But then I add, that it is a supernatural quality, that is, it is such a quality as elevates and raiseth a man, that ¹enableth a man to do more then he is able to do by the strength of nature. As for example, to illustrate it; If you take water of it self, you know it is able to make your hands cold, or any thing that is put into it; but if you will have water do any thing above the nature of it, you must put in a higher quality; if you will have it heat, you must put it to the fire. So it is here, we are able to do the things agreeable to nature, without any special help; but when we are to do the duties of new obedience, to please God, to do things that nature cannot reach unto, we must have a higher quality infused into our hearts: therefore I say, grace is a supernatural quality that raiseth nature, that elevates it, that helps it to do more then otherwise it is able to do.

1. 1•2 Supernatural

Again, I add, that it is a supernatural peculiar quality, ¹because there are some common supernatural gifts, as those gifts of temperance, knowledge, patience, meekness, and the like; these are the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and these are many times wrought in the hearts of those that are not truly sanctified; and these are supernatural gifts too: but yet they are but common gifts; they are such gifts as the Holy Ghost bestows upon those that are not elected to life. But now saving grace is a gift peculiar to the Elect, peculiar to those that are within the Covenant; therefore to make a distinction, we put them together in the description, and say it is a supernatural peculiar quality.

1. 13. Peculiar.

Again, further I add, that it is wrought in us by the ¹Holy Ghost, because no creature in heaven or earth is able to work grace in any mans heart: for to put grace into the heart, is to put life into the heart; now to put life into the heart, is the property of the Spirit, it is he that makes a man to live another life, that as it is only fire that can beget heat, so it is only the Holy Ghost that can beget life. It is true, other instruments are used; the Word is an instrument, and holy men are instruments, but yet it is the Holy Ghost that works it principally, and all instruments can do nothing without the influence of the Holy Ghost.

Again, further I add, that it is wrought in us by the ¹Holy Ghost, because no creature in heaven or earth is able to work grace in any mans heart: for to put grace into the heart, is to put life into the heart; now to put life into the heart, is the property of the Spirit, it is he that makes a man to live another life, that as it is onely fire that can beget heat, so it is onely the Holy Ghost that can beget life. It is true, other instruments are used; the Word is an instrument, and holy men are instruments, but yet it is the Holy Ghost that works it principally, and all instruments can do nothing without the influence of the Holy Ghost.

1. 14. Wrought by the holy ghost.

I add again, to make it yet more full, that it is wrought ¹by the Holy Ghost, whereby we are enabled to please God; All those other common graces, and all the effects and fruits of them, though the things be good in themselves, and supernatural, because they come from the holy Spirit, yet they do not please God, that is, the Lord is not so well pleased, as to accept the man, that is the Subject and the Agent of them to eternal life. Only by faith a man is able to please God, and faith you know is the principle and root of all other graces, it is only grace that makes a man able to please him, because the Lord delights in that which is like to himself. This grace is the ⟨p. 186⟩stamp and Image of God; till a man then have such a quality in him, and that all the works that he doth proceeds from this Image, he pleaseth not God.

I add again, to make it yet more full, that it is wrought ¹by the Holy Ghost, whereby we are enabled to please God; All those other common graces, and all the effects and fruits of them, though the things be good in themselves, and supernatural, because they come from the holy Spirit, yet they do not please God, that is, the Lord is not so well pleased, as to accept the man, that is the Subject and the Agent of them to eternall life. Onely by faith a man is able to please God, and faith you know is the principle and root of all other graces, it is onely grace that makes a man able to please him, because the Lord delights in that which is like to himself. This grace is the ⟨p. 186⟩stamp and Image of God; till a man then have such a quality in him, and that all the works that he doth proceeds from this Image, he pleaseth not God.

1. 15. Whereby we are enabled to please God.