The Saints Sufferings and Sinners Sorrows, Part 17
Gods free Grace.
Shall wee ſay this is the worke of our owne wils, and the good uſe of our owne freedome? This were to render more than wee receive, and to glory in our owne power and praiſe. Thus to differ were to diſgrace the Goſpell, that grants unto us deliverance from enemies, and obedience unto friends, Luke 1.74. Our good friends in heaven mutually conſpired our victory and obedience. God the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghoſt, bound not up the hands of our enemies, but gave us alſo hearts to obey for this gift.
1 Cor. 4.7. preſſeth upon the pride of us all, Phyſically, Politically, Theologically. Who made man, or man to differ from a beaſt? He were a beaſt, that would not acknowledge God for the Author of both: Who raiſeth man to honour or diſtinction of civill order? Surely the ſame God that made him preferres him. But above all, grace is leaſt in our command, and moſt in the power of God; nay, wholly from him, as appeares by the gift of faith, a new principle, nature never acknowledged; by righteouſneſſe, a purchaſe, that never came out of our vertues; by holyneſſe, a worke, not of our wils, but the ſanctifying Spirit.
Faith is a firme principle of the Goſpell, and keepes us by the power of God, and not our owne, unto ſalvation, 1 Pet. 1.5. I know what advantage is taken, Ier. 32.40. by turning the text from They ſhall not depart, into They may not depart. Loath the words ſhould be more peremptory than poſſible. Poſſible they would have it runne, and then raiſe their anſwer againſt Gods grace, that faith or feare is not ſo certainely placed in the heart; but as it may ſtay, ſo depart, if wee will forward either. God puts in our hearts a new principle, and that for this end, that we might bee aſſured of the new Covenant, and of our cleaving to God; and therefore fuller aſſurance than of a poſſibilitie and power in our ſelves. The Legall and Evangelicall principles of well living, (as we ſhall afterwards declare) differ much in nature, office, and end. God by originall righteouſneſſe left man to the tryall of his owne power. But by Faith or the new principle, hath caſt man upon himſelfe, and a holy and happy dependencie upon his power for ſalvation: The Goſpel is his beſt law for life, and ſureſt power of God, Rom. 1.16, to ſave him; yet with this caution, that wee beleeve. Promiſes are generall, and muſt bee received as they are propounded; Faith makes them particular to us, and in our deeds and determinations wee may preſume no further than the generall evidence applied; we muſt ſilence all ſearch of further ſecrets, and Gods will revealed muſt bee our rule, and to reach higher by his decrees, is to outreach our ſelves and rove about the truth.
If any ſay, why have ſome the Goſpel and not Faith? I ſilence his preſumption with Gods freedome, and ſay, why hath hee either? His Goſpell is a pledge of his love, and thy faith of his favour, thou haſt no wrong whē he counts thee worthy of neither. If he have a liſt to leave thee an Infidel, thou art but thy ſelfe. His Law containes wonders, and workes them daily in preaching. All heare the ſame word, yet have not the ſame affection. Hee ſpeakes too boldly of Gods counſels, that will reaſon by our diſpoſitions. O the depth of the riches, both of the wiſedome and wayes of God! His judgements muſt bee paſt our finding, and fadoming: Wee muſt feare to ſearch too much, and take heed of an evill eye, becauſe his is good. Hee cals and commands by his word, and of them he chooſeth as few or many as hee pleaſeth. Hee makes ſome laſt in Vocation, firſt in Election, & ſome he cals firſt that hee never chooſeth. The Iewes by Peter in my text are divided, and the nation differenced in receiving and rejecting the Goſpell.