The pastors farewell, and wish of welfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermonThe pastors farevvell, and vvish of vvelfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermon

And to the word of his grace. ¹] The Scripture is called Gods Word, because as men by their words discover their wills, so God by the Scripture doth manifest his mind and pleasure. But its that part of Scripture which we call the Gospel, which is emphatically termed here, and in some other places The Word of his Grace, because it speaketh Gods good will, and good pleasure to the children of men, Act. 20.24. Tit. 2.11. The Covenant of Works which God made with Adam, and in him with all mankind was in some respects a Covenant of Grace, for God was not bound to promise man eternal felicity upon his perfect obedience, but might have required it by virtue of his Sovereignty and dominion. But since mans Apostasy, and impossibility thereby of attaining happiness by his own works, God hath been pleased to accept of the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ, on the behalf of the believing, penitent Christian; which act of infinite Grace being revealed in the Gospel, it is most fitly called The Word of his Grace. The Law (as the case stands with man now) speaks nothing but fury and death, but the Gospel speaks favour and life; the Law wounds man with his blows, the Gospel heals him with its balsam; the Law condemneth man without pity to the sufferings of Hell, but the Gospel alloweth him a Psalm of mercy, and so saveth him ⟨p. 8⟩from the wrath to come. Now the affectionate Apostle commendeth his fainting patients to this rich Cordial the word of his grace. They might think it was small comfort and a poor courtesy to be commended to a righteous and jealous God, as stubble to be committed to a consuming fire, therefore he tells them. I commend you to God, not under the notion of an angry Judge. But in the relation of a gracious father, and compassionate friend, which if ye doubt of, do but look into the Gospel, which is Heavens Court rolls transcribed, wherein ye may see the naked bowels of his good will, and read his curious eternal contrivance of magnifying his grace in you, and towards you; I commend you to that word of his grace wherein every line speaks love, and each expression his tender affection to you. I know your poverty, but that word of his grace is a mine of unsearchable riches; ye are hungry, but that is bread; when ye are weary there ye may find rest, whatsoever your conditions be, there is suitable Consolation. And to the word of his grace,