Now the Reason why God works this grace in conversion, is because his great design in the New-Covenant, is to bring about man's Salvation in a way of Grace, the Glory of which Attribute is the bottom end of his counsel concerning his Elect, Rom. 9. 23. Now then grace appears to be grace, in respect of the subject, it is applied to, when this subject is made to appear the most undeserving; and every circumstance ⟨p. 241⟩lowering the creatures desert, heightens the excellency of this Grace: Hence you shall find the Scripture loves to set it oft with this, Deut. 26. 5. &c. Ezek. 16. begin. Eph. 2 begin. And, inasmuch as man is actively to give God the glory of this grace, it is therefore needful, that he see and feel in himself, that which may put the Emphasis upon it: Thus the Apostles argument was, Rom. 5. 7, 8. To see good, honest, innocent men taken to heaven, would be no such great matter to be spoken of, but to see such as had been wicked, had provoked God, were sinners of the Gentiles, &c. saved, this is matter for heaven to ring of to all eternity: none will so wonder at their own salvation, as those that have been deepest apprehensive of, and humbled for their own sinful unworthiness of mercy, and provocation of God to wrath; they will glorify God indeed, who see that he hath saved them from lowest hell, in which he might have left them in chains, prisoners, to have suffered wrath for ever.
Now the Reason why God works this grace in conversion, is because his great design in the New-Covenant, is to bring about man's Salvation in a way of Grace, the Glory of which Attribute is the bottom end of his counsel concerning his Elect, Rom. 9. 23. Now then grace appears to be grace, in respect of the subject, it is applyed to, when this subject is made to appear the most undeserving; and every circumstance ⟨p. 241⟩lowering the creatures desert, heightens the excellency of this Grace: Hence you shall find the Scripture loves to set it oft with this, Deut. 26. 5. &c. Ezek. 16. begin. Eph. 2 begin. And, inasmuch as man is actively to give God the glory of this grace, it is therefore needful, that he see and feel in himself, that which may put the Emphasis upon it: Thus the Apostles argument was, Rom. 5. 7, 8. To see good, honest, innocent men taken to heaven, would be no such great matter to be spoken of, but to see such as had been wicked, had provoked God, were sinners of the Gentiles, &c. saved, this is matter for heaven to ring of to all eternity: none will so wonder at their own salvation, as those that have been deepest apprehensive of, and humbled for their own sinful unworthiness of mercy, and provocation of God to wrath; they will glorifie God indeed, who see that he hath saved them from lowest hell, in which he might have left them in chains, prisoners, to have suffered wrath for ever.
