By this we have gained one step, namely, that the grace of God does exceed the grace that is in sinful man: which may be of advantage to us, for there is that vanity in the heart, that we are prone to measure the mercy of God by our own: and to allow him no more grace than we find in our selves, and others like our selves: which God witnesses against when he tells us, That his thoughts are not as our thoughts, Isai. 55.8. but there is a further consideration that will make it appear, that the Grace of God does exceed the grace of the most glorious angel in heaven: which is the unlimited perfection of Gods nature, the Angels have a stinted measure of perfection: the excelling of their nature is not sufficient in order to some acts of grace: as in other respects, they are not sufficient, so they have not grace enough to pardon such wrongs as God pardons; to be at such cost for mans salvation, as God has been at: 'tis true that they do approve of and rejoice in all those acts of Grace that God does? but such actions do exceed the grace that is in their hearts; they have can't perform those acts of mercy that God does: therefore where God would show his sufficiency to pardon the iniquities of his people, he tells them, that God, Hos. 11.6. this infiniteness of Gods grace is the foundation of our faith, for such things as we are utterly unworthy of: Psal. 36.7. how excellent is thy loving kindness O Lord, therefore the Sons of men put their trust under the shadow of thy ⟨p. 18⟩wings. There is an infinite Ocean of grace in the heart of God, whereby he can bestow the greatest gifts upon his creatures, that their natures are capable of: this plain from that absolute liberty which the Scripture does ascribe unto God in all his actions; he does all things after the counsel of his own Will ▪ Eph. 1.11. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, Rom 9.15. which shows there is no limitedness in his perfection, to be any restraint unto him: or a reason why he does not pardon and save these and those: his glorious excellency is such, that no unworthiness, nor provocation can overcome his mercy: but there is a sufficiency of grace in him, for any thing that is an act of mercy.
By this we have gained one step, namely, that the grace of God does exceed the grace that is in sinful man: which may be of advantage to us, for there is that vanity in the heart, that we are prone to measure the mercy of God by our own: and to allow him no more grace than we find in our selves, and others like our selves: which God witnesses against when he tells us, That his thoughts are not as our thoughts, Isai. 55.8. but there is a further consideration that will make it appear, that the Grace of God does exceed the grace of the most glorious angel in heaven: which is the unlimited perfection of Gods nature, the Angels have a stint•d measure of perfection: the excelling of their nature is not sufficient in order to some acts of grace: as in other respects, they are not sufficient, so they have not grace enough to pardon such wrongs as God pardons; to be at such cost for mans salvation, as God has been at: 'tis true that they do approve of and rejoice in all those acts of Grace that God does? but such actions do exceed the grace that is in their hearts; they have can't perform those acts of mercy that God does: therefore where God would shew his sufficiency to pardon the iniquities of his people, he tells them, that God, Hos. 11.6. this infiniteness of Gods grace is the foundation of our faith, for such things as we are utterly unworthy of: Psal. 36.7. how excellent is thy loving kindness O Lord, therefore the Sons of men put their trust under the shadow of thy ⟨p. 18⟩wings. There is an infinite Ocean of grace in the heart of God, whereby he can bestow the greates• gifts upon his creatures, that their natures are capable of: this plain from that absolute liberty which the Scripture does ascribe unto God in all his actions; he does all things after the counsel of his own Will ▪ Eph. 1.11. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, Rom 9.15. which shews there is no limitedness in his perfection, to be any restraint unto him: or a reason why he does not pardon and save these and those: his glorious excellency is such, that no unworthiness, nor provocation can overcome his mercy: but there is a sufficiency of grace in him, for any thing that is an act of mercy.
