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

But yet in general we must know, that grace is received from Christ, as we receive corruption from Adam; the old man he doth not more powerfully communicate corruption and sin to us, then the new man is powerful to communicate grace and life. So that when we are once in Christ as we are in Adam, we are sure to have grace from him; and then we are in Christ when we have taken him, and are matched with him, and united to him. As a man may be matched to his wife, after the match is past in a greater degree of will; when there is a greater degree to have such a woman for his wife, or a women to have such a man for her husband. The will may be wound to a higher degree and peg of willingness. Therefore our business is, when we come to receive the Sacrament, to labour to increase that willingness, to labour to add to that resolution of taking Christ. Now ¹that is done by a distinct and clear apprehension of Christs willingness to match with us: we must know that the gift of righteousness is freely offered; there is nothing required, but that we be willing to take it; there ⟨p. 209⟩is nothing required but sincerity on our part. Now this false opinion, that there is more then that required, is that which keeps us asunder.

But yet in general we must know, that grace is received from Christ, as we receive corruption from Adam; the old man he doth not more powerfully communicate corruption and sin to us, then the new man is powerful to communicate grace and life. So that when we are once in Christ as we are in Adam, we are sure to have grace from him; and then we are in Christ when we have taken him, and are matched with him, and united to him. As a man may be matched to his wife, after the match is past in a greater degree of will; when there is a greater degree to have such a woman for his wife, or a women to have such a man for her husband. The will may be wound to a higher degree and peg of willingness. Therefore our business is, when we come to receive the Sacrament, to labour to increase that willingness, to labour to add to that resolu•ion of taking Christ. Now ¹that is done by a distinct and clear apprehension of Christs willingness to match with us: we must know that the gift of righteousnes is freely offered; there is nothing required, but that we be willing to take it; there