The Freeness of the Grace and Love of God, Sermon 3
SERMON. III.
EPHES. 2.8.
For by grace are ye ſaved through faith, and that not of your ſelves; it is the gift of God.
IN the former exerciſe I have been ſhewing you the freeneſs of the love and grace of God, in the matter of our comforts and divine conſolations. I ſhall now in the third place ſhew you the freeneſs of the grace of God, in reference to our ſalvation, and eternal glory, and therefore follow theſe words which the Apoſtle ſpeaks at the latter end of verſe 5. By grace are ye ſaved, and ſo you ſee the ſame in verſe 8. For by grace are ye ſaved and that not of your ſelves; it is the gift of God.
But why ſhould he ſay the ſame words again in ſo ſhort a compaſs? Why, it was to ſhew, not only that his heart was full of the free grace and love of God, but to ſhew alſo that he thought he could never ſpeak enough of it, and therefore he repeats it, by grace ye are ſaved; For by grace are ye ſaved: that is to ſay from firſt to laſt, you are ſaved by the free grace and love of God.
From whence then I take up this Doctrine.
Doct. That there is much of the free love and grace of God laid out in the matter of our ſalvation and eternal glory.
For the clearing of this point, I ſhall endeavour to ſhew you,
Firſt, That it is a matter of infinite happineſs, and of great concernment to go to Heaven and to be ſaved for ever.
Secondly, To ſhew you how this mercy is obtained, this mercy of ſalvation and eternal glory; I ſhall ſhew, it is of free grace and free love.
Thirdly, I ſhall anſwer two Objections.
Fourthly, I ſhall ſhew you wherein the free grace and love of God appears in the matter of our ſalvation.
Fifthly, Shew you why God chuſeth to ſave the children of men in a way of free love and grace.
1. I ſhall ſpeak a little by way of Introduction: It is a great matter, and of infinite concernment to be ſaved, and to go to Heaven forever. For,
Firſt, You are thereby ſaved from wrath to come; you count it here a great matter to be delivered from the wrath of man; but it is a far greater mercy to be delivered from the wrath of Devils, to be delivered from their fury and malice, and not to lye at their mercy to all Eternity. Yea,
Secondly, You ſhall be delivered from all ſorrow, both inward and outward, and if ſo, how bleſſed, and happy are you, for you ſhall die in the Lord; And bleſſed are the dead that die in the Lord, for they reſt from their labours, &c. Rev 14.13. It is a mercy to have meat and drink, and a bed to lye on, but it is a greater mercy not to need them; in Heaven you ſhall be freed from theſe needs and neceſſities. You walk here, but it is with a burden; you hear now, but it is with a burden; you repent now, but it is with a burden: But in Heaven you ſhall be freed, not only from the guilt of the neglect of duty, but from the burden of duty alſo, Heaven knows of no duty that hath a burden with it. Thus you ſhall be freed. Again,
Thirdly, You ſhall not only be freed from theſe troubles, but you ſhall alſo be brought into a poſſeſſion, into an inheritance that is incorruptible, that fadeth not away; where you ſhall enjoy the company of Saints and Angels, and that without ſuſpicion, or jealouſie one of another: here you have the company of Saints, but either you ſuſpect them or they you, either they are jealous of you or you of them; but Heaven knows no ſuſpicions, no jealouſies; Saints live there without ſuſpicions.
Fourthly, If you go to Heaven and be ſaved, you ſhall then be filled with glory: if you have but a little taſte of glory here you are ready to break under it, under a little glory; but the time will come, when you ſhall be filled with glory, and your hearts ſhall bear up under it, your bodies ſhall be changed; your vile bodies ſhall be changed, and made like unto Chriſts glorious body; you ſhall be filled with glory, ſoul and body both. Yea,
Fifthly, If you be ſaved, your graces ſhall be alwaies in Act, alwaies in exerciſe; your underſtandings ſhall be fully inlightned, your difficulties ſhall be renewed, and you ſhall ſee them all little and eaſie unto you, and your wills, hearts and affections ſhall be drawn out to God, with infinite ſatisfaction and infinite delight; I ſhall be ſatisfied when I awake with thy likeneſs, Pſalm 17.15. All delight ariſeth from enjoying things ſuitable, now what is more ſuitable for a rational creature, than to enjoy his ends: when a Husband hath been at ſea from his wife half a year, or a year; what joy is it to her to ſee him come home again. So for a poor ſoul to ſee Chriſt, what joy is it after he hath withdrawn himſelf a great while? here we have communion with Chriſt but in part and interrupted; but then you ſhall be ever, for ever with the Lord, and have communion with him without interruption. Now we ſee joy and glory, but darkly; and if there be ſo much ſweetneſs to ſee Chriſt in a glaſs; O then what ſweetneſs will it be to ſee him face to face, and enjoy him for ever; And to ſay no more,
Laſtly, If you be ſaved, you ſhall have the knowledge of the continuance of this condition: Though a mans condition be never ſo happy in it ſelf, yet if he think it will not continue, that man is unhappy in the midſt of his happineſs; this is the unhappineſs of Hell, men ſhall know and be aſſured that they ſhall never be delivered out of it, never, never, never; and this is the happineſs of Heaven, that men ſhall alwayes rejoyce, and ſhall be aſſured that they ſhall ſo continue to do, ever, ever, ever.
But 2. In what way does a man come to this attainment, how and in what way is a man ſaved? Why in a way of free love and grace, for if God beſtow any thing in a way of gift it is free, for what is more free than gift; now do but conſider what thoſe things are, which are called in Scripture, Salvation, and you may obſerve, that they all come in a way of gift.
1. Sometimes Salvation is put for the Author of Salvation, Jeſus Chriſt. Lord now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have ſeen thy ſalvation: Luke 2.29, 30. That is Chriſt the Author of our ſalvation; and ſo ſaith Chriſt to Zacheus, This day is ſalvation come to thy houſe; That is Chriſt. Now this ſalvation is obtained in a way of gift, Saith Chriſt to the woman of Samaria, if thou hadſt known the gift of God, and who it is that ſaith unto thee give me to drink, &c. John. 4.10. He calls himſelf the gift of God.
Secondly, Sometimes Salvation is put for the means of ſalvation, for the Goſpel; How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great ſalvation. Heb. 2.3. that is the means of ſalvation, the goſpel: this ſalvation is alſo called the gift of God; unto you it is given to know the myſteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. Mat. 13.11.
Thirdly, Sometimes ſalvation is put for eternal glory, who would have all men to be ſaved, Jew and Gentile, and this ſalvation is the gift of God too. Rom. 6.23. But the gift of God is eternal life, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord; Now ſalvation as to the Author of it, as to the means of it, and as to the ſalvation it ſelf, it is all of free grace, all given in a way of free love and grace; and therefore it muſt needs be, that much of the free grace and love of God is laid out in our ſalvation.
But you will ſay, if it be ſo, that by free grace we are ſaved, then what need we uſe the means of ſalvation; you ſay we are ſaved by grace, by free grace; wherefore then need we indeavour.
Firſt, Yes we are to indeavour; do you not uſe your indeavour to get your daily bread? and yet that is the gift of God: your livelihood is the gift of God; for you ſay, give us this day our daily bread; it is then the gift of God, and yet we are to uſe the means: and ſo we are to do what we can, although not what we ſhould in the matter of our ſalvation; becauſe by our endeavour, and uſing the means we ſhew our dependance upon God, and our obedience to him, becauſe he hath commanded it; For,
Secondly, Although I ſay with the Apoſtle, by grace ye are ſaved, and not of works: yet works are neceſſary, good works are neceſſary in regard of our thankfulneſs to God; and neceſſary as they are an evidence of our ſalvation, ſaith the Apoſtle, although I ſay by grace ye are ſaved, yet you are to be in the performance of good works; Eph. 2.10. For we are his workmanſhip created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good works; the ſame word, good works: that is the third general. But.
Fourthly, Wherein doth the freeneſs of the grace of God appear, in the matter of our ſalvation?
Firſt, There is a great deal of free grace in this, that God ſhould ordain us to eternal life and ſalvation. 2 Tim. 1.9. Who hath ſaved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpoſe and grace, which was given us in Chriſt Jeſus, before the world began. Again
Secondly, (To name them) Is it not great grace, mercy, and favour that God ſhould ſend his own Son from Heaven to dye for us, and to purchaſe our ſalvation, yet ſo he did. Ye are bought with a price, what price? the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, who gave himſelf a ranſome for you, 1 Tim. 2.6.
Thirdly, Is it not a great mercy, a very great favour, that we that had broken the firſt Covenant, and had not performed the conditions of it, that we ſhould be ſet up again as I may ſay; That God ſhould ſet us up again, under another Covenant, that runs without any condition; and yet ſo he did, Heb. 8.10. For this is the Covenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael, after thoſe days ſaith the Lord, I will put my Law into their mind and write them in their heart, and I will be to them a God, and they ſhall be to me a people.
Fourthly, Yet further It is in the matter of our ſalvation, as it is in the matter of our conſolation, and comfort; and as I ſaid of that ſo I ſay alſo of this. That the greater, and the more glorious any mercy is, & the more worthy and great the perſon is that giveth it, and the more unworthy the perſon is that receives it, the more doth the grace of him appear who giveth it; now what greater mercy, what more glorious mercy, than Heaven and ſalvation. It is called the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven, it is called, the Kingdom of glory, and Eternal glory, it is called Joy, Enter into the Joy of our Lord: and great is the Joy of our Lord; That Joy which was ſet before Chriſt, that is the Joy of the Saints in Heaven, It is ſuch as eye hath not ſeen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, 1 Cor. 2.9. Paul was wrapt up to Heaven, but when he came down he was not able to declare the glory thereof; Thoſe that are in a war are better able to declare the paſſages of it than thoſe that write it, but yet they are not able to declare all. So the Apoſtle could ſpeak ſomething of this great and infinite glory, but was not able to declare it all. There was one, who was asked by his Prince, what God was, he deſired firſt, two dayes to anſwer, when they were paſt he required four dayes, and after four dayes, he asked eight dayes to anſwer; So if you ſhould ask me what glory that is, which is in my Text, I muſt take two dayes, and then four dayes, and then eight dayes to anſwer, and yet then I ſhould not be able to declare, nor be able to expreſs, this glory which is wrapt up in this one word Salvation.
But it may be this bleſſed Eſtate is beſtowed only upon thoſe that are worthy? No not ſo, this is moſt commonly beſtowed upon thoſe that are moſt unworthy: what is more unworthy than a Dog? why, was not Stephen looked upon as a Dog? yea were not the Gentiles looked upon as Dogs? ſaith Chriſt; Why caſt ye the Childrens bread to Dogs? Now though Salvation was of the Jews, for Chriſt came of the Jews, yet Salvation is now for the Gentiles; and among the Gentiles; who was more unworthy than a blaſphemer, and a perſecutor of the Saints and Servants of God, and ſuch a one was Paul, and yet he was ſaved, though he was not only undeſerving of it, but deſerving the quite contrary; now who more undeſerving than thoſe that deſerve the contrary? yet by grace even they are ſaved, therefore ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 8.3. When I conſider thy Heavens, the work of thy ſingers, the Moon and the Stars which thou haſt ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him, and the Son of Man that thou viſiteſt him, &c. So I ſay, that the more glorious any mercy is, and the more unworthy the receiver is, and the greater he is that gives, the more free is the thing given, and thus it is with our Salvation. Salvation is a great, and glorious mercy, and this Salvation is given, and that is great and glorious too, and it is given unto man who is moſt unworthy, and 'tis given by God who is moſt infinite and excellent above us. But again
Fifthly, The more God doth croſs hands in the matter of our Salvation, the more free is his grace, in his beſtowing of it upon us: for as I ſhewed you before, that God doth croſs hands in the matter of our comforts, ſo I ſay now, that God doth croſs hands in the matter of our Salvation alſo; For he doth often ſave them that are moſt unlikely to be ſaved, as Paul, and Matthew the Publican, and who more unlikely than Zacheus or the Thiefe on the croſs, or the Jaylor? yet were theſe ſaved, though very unlikely to be ſaved. And ſo on the contrary, who more likely to be ſaved, than the young man in the Goſpel, that came to Chriſt, yet you know he was rejected: the young man he comes unto Chriſt, and ſays, Matt. 19.16. Good Maſter what good thing ſhall I do, that I may have eternal life, ſays Chriſt, keep the commandments, all theſe things have I kept, ſaith he, from my youth upward; then ſaith Chriſt, Go ſell all that thou haſt, and then thou ſhall have treaſures in heaven, and it is ſaid he went away ſorrowful. Mark now, was not this a forward young man, a very forward man, all theſe ſaith he have I kept from my youth upward, and Chriſt doth not contradict him, and yet notwithſtanding, this man could not do what Chriſt commanded him, he could not ſell all he had, it was too hard for him to learn that leſſon which Chriſt ſet him, for it is ſaid he went away ſorrowful; and and therefore ſaith Chriſt, a rich man ſhall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: And what is this but only to ſhew, that God doth often croſs hands in the matter of our Salvation, to ſhew that the firſt ſhall be laſt, and the laſt firſt, for God loves to croſs hands in the matter of our Salvation; and therefore we find in Scripture, that there are ſome that come to Chriſt and ſay as the Scribe in Matt. 8.19. Maſter I will follow thee whereſoever thou goeſt, and Chriſt ſeems to put him off, and yet in the next verſe almoſt he puts one forward, and he excuſes himſelf, and ſayes, ſuffer me to bury my Father, but Chriſt ſaith follow me &c. Thus you ſee what croſſing of hands there is in matter of our Salvation, to ſhew the firſt ſhall be laſt I ſay, and the laſt firſt: Friends, ſtay but a little while, until the day of Judgement, and then you will ſee what croſſing of hands there will be, then you ſhall ſee ſome men at the right hand of Chriſt, whom you thought would never have been ſaved, and then alſo you ſhall ſee ſome on the left hand of Chriſt, whom you would have thought would never have been there. God I ſay will croſs hands in the matter of our Salvation, and the more he doth ſo, the more doth the freeneſs of his grace appear to them that are ſaved. Again
Sixthly, Yet one thing more, The more our Salvation is layd upon the Arch or Pillar of grace and love, the more free is the grace of God, and the more free it doth appear in the beſtowing of it: Now what are the Arches and Pillars of free grace and love, upon which our Salvation under Chriſt is layd. I ſhall name ſome.
1. The abſoluteneſs of the Covenant.
2. That God juſtifies the ungodly.
3. That our righteouſneſs is not in us but in Chriſt.
4. That the guilt of our ſins by which we lay lyable to condemnation is removed.
5. That a little ſincerity covers a great deal of Infirmity.
6. That what God calls ours is not indeed ours, but Gods, as our graces, our duties, which are not indeed ours but Gods.
7. That God will in due time gloriſy us and honour us.
Sin doth provoke God, and cauſeth him to be angry with us, but grace doth provoke him to love us, and therefore the Pillars of our Salvation are layd under Chriſt upon grace, upon free-grace and love, and thereby the freeneſs of the grace of God doth the more appear in the matter of our Salvation, and that is the fourth General. But then
Fifthly, Salvation is a work of grace; and ſeeing we are ſaved by grace alone, why then doth God chuſe to ſave men in this way of free-grace? I Anſwer,
Firſt, It is becauſe this is the moſt honourable way unto God; the Papiſts are not aſhamed to ſay that it is moſt honour to a man to be ſaved by his works, but I am ſure it is more honour, and more honourable unto God to ſave by his free-grace.
Secondly, If there was ſomewhat of the good pleaſure of God in the worlds condemnation, all the reaſon in the world then that there ſhould be freegrace in the way of Salvation. Pray how came Adam to ſtand for the whole world? He was not choſen by us, why it was the good pleaſure of God that he ſhould ſtand for the whole world, and that he ſinning, we ſhould all be guilty of ſin by, and through him: So I ſay, if there was (as I may ſpeak with reverence) ſomewhat of the good pleaſure of God in the old worlds condemnation, why then ſhould there not be free-grace in the ſouls Salvation, Rom. 5.15. But not as the offence, ſo alſo is the free-gift, for if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift of grace which is by one man, Jeſus Chriſt, hath abounded unto many.
Thirdly, God would have Heaven and Salvation to be of one peice, he would have the work of heaven to be all the ſame; Now there were many Angels that fell, and many thouſands that ſtood, why how came they to ſtand, that did ſtand, more than the others that fell; it was only by free grace, they were Elect Angels. Now men and Angels in heaven are of the ſame Quire, and ſing the ſame ſong; and therefore thoſe men that are fated, O who are they? why they are the Elect, and they have great cauſe to glorifie the grace, the free grace of God.
Fourthly, God ſaves men in a way of free love, and grace, becauſe none ſhall miſs of Salvation: As God will puniſh, and condemn all the proud, all the wicked, that none ſhall eſcape; So he will alſo ſave all that he hath a mind to ſave, by free grace, becauſe they ſhall not miſs of Salvation.
Fifthly, God will ſave men in ſuch a way as whereby he may be glorified to all Eternity, and therefore he ſaves them in a way of free grace and love; For what have we to praiſe God for, in heaven, but only for free grace, free grace, to glorify his name for that; therefore I ſay God will ſave men in this way of free love and grace, that he may be thereby glorified hereafter to all Eternity, and thus I have done with the Doctrine; Now go along with me a little by way of application.
Firſt, If we be ſaved by free grace, if free grace and love be the foundation of our Salvation, why ſhould we not then ſtand cleer from all our own works, as to the meritorious ends of them: for grace and works are oppoſed, and therefore faith as a work can neither Juſtify nor ſave. I confeſs the Apoſtle ſaith, work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling, but what follows, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleaſure, Phil. 2.12, 13.
Secondly, If we be ſaved by grace, why ſhould we not be tender of the grace of God, of the name of God, of the free grace of God, and of the great name of God; Are you ſaved by grace, and will you turn grace into wantonneſs? Oh my friends I ſay, if you be ſaved by grace, and by grace alone, how tender ſhould you be of the name of God and of the free grace of God.
Thirdly, If we be ſaved by grace, then we may here ſee the reaſon, why many do take ſo much pains, as they think, for heaven, and yet fall ſhort of it, and go to Hell; why it is becauſe Salvation lies under the conduct of free grace: Some men abſtain from ſin, that they may not be damned, others perform holy duties, read and hear, &c. That they may go to Heaven, yea many ſtrive and ſhall not enter, becauſe ſalvation is of free grace.
Fourthly, If by grace ye are ſaved, and that there is much of the free grace of God in our ſalvation, why then ſhould you doubt of it: I confeſs it is a hard thing to have Aſſurance of your ſalvation, and if you have it, it is free grace to you more than to another, and free grace is the founder of it if you have it: But yet, O ſoul, if by grace we are ſaved, let us not then doubt of it, for it is moſt ſure: if you are ſaved by grace I ſay, why doubt ye then O ye of little faith. O Chriſtians comfort your ſelves with theſe words, It is your Fathers good pleaſure to give you the Kingdom, Luke 12.32. It is his good will and pleaſure, it is in a way of free grace and love.
But you may ſay though it be in a way of free grace and love, yet it may not be for me, it may none of it be mine, ſaith the ſoul.
Nay ſay not ſo, but mark what an Inference the Pſalmiſt makes, and draws up from this General. Pſalm 130.4, 5. But there is forgiveneſs with thee, that thou mayſt be feared. I wait for the Lord, my ſoul doth wait, and in his word do I hope: and ſo in Pſal. 103. Speaking at large of the grace, mercy and goodneſs of God, in the 8. verſe he ſaith. The Lord is merciful and gracious, ſlow to anger, and plenteous in mercy: but what is the concluſion, Bleſs the Lord all ye his hoſts, bleſs the Lord all his works, Bleſs the Lord O my ſoul. The very laſt words are, bleſs the Lord O my Soul: from the conſideration of the freeneſs of the grace of God in general, he draws up this Concluſion, bleſs the Lord O my Soul.
But you may ſay: Though God will ſave by grace, yet ſurely all ſhall not be ſaved by grace; ſhall all men be ſaved? is God ſo free?
No, all men ſhall not be ſaved, for ſaith the Apoſtle Gal. 5.15. We through the ſpirit wait for the hope of righteouſneſs by faith; for in Jeſus Chriſt, neither circumciſion availeth any thing nor uncircumciſion, but the new creature: but ſhall not all be ſaved? No ſaith the ſame Apoſtle, Eph. 5.6. Let no man deceive you, for no whoremonger, nor unclean perſon, &c. hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Chriſt, and of God. There is no place for unclean things in Heaven: you know what the Apoſtle ſaith to the Galathians, The inheritance is not to the bondwoman nor to her children. So that I ſay, that God doth not ſave all, but thoſe he doth ſave, are ſaved by free grace.
But you would know who thoſe are that are ſaved, or that ſhall be ſaved for ever; why, thus briefly, only to name things,
Firſt, Look who thoſe are that are juſtified, they ſhall be certainly ſaved.
Secondly, Thoſe that are willing to part with all for Chriſt, and for the ſervice of Chriſt; they ſhall certainly be ſaved. Mat. 19.29. And every one that hath forſaken houſes, or brethren, or ſiſters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name ſake, ſhall receive an hundred fold, and ſhall inherit everlaſting life.
Thirdly, They that ſtand at Chriſts right hand here, they ſhall be ſure to ſtand at Chriſts right hand, at the day of judgement; and ſo be ſaved. 2 Cor. 5.5. Now he that hath wrought us for the ſelf ſame thing is God, who alſo hath given unto us the earneſt of his ſpirit; he that hath wrought us for the ſelf ſame thing: it is the very ſame word which is uſed for work out your own ſalvation, &c. So that there is a working up of the ſoul unto eternal glory; and if Chriſt hath wrought you unto the ſelf ſame thing, whilſt you live here, then you are at his right hand now; and then you may be ſure to ſtand at his right hand, at the day of judgement, and ſo ſhall be ſure to be ſaved for ever to all eternity.
Fourthly, Thoſe that are tender to Chriſts little ones, that are tender to thoſe that are deſpiſed in this world, and ready to help and aſſiſt them according to their wants, they ſhall ſurely be ſaved for ever: Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat; I was thirſty, and ye gave me drink; I was a ſtranger▪ and ye took me in; I was naked, and ye cloathed me; ſick, and ye viſited me; in priſon, and ye came unto me. And the righteous anſwer, Lord when did we ſee thee ſick, or naked, or hungry, and fed thee, and cloathed thee: why ſaith he, In as much as you did it to one of the leaſt of theſe my brethren, ye have done it unto me, Mat. 25.35. So I ſay, look who theſe are, that are tender of Chriſts little ones, and are ready to help them, and to relieve them according to their wants and neceſſities; thoſe are they that ſhall be ſaved to all eternity.
Fifthly, Thoſe that ſtrive together for the Faith in times of affliction, thoſe are they that ſhall be ſaved for ever. Phil. 1.27. That ye ſtand faſt in one ſpirit, with one mind, ſtriving together for the faith of the Goſpel. So I ſay, look who thoſe are, that in the time of perſecution, ſtrive for the faith, they ſhall ſurely be ſaved, and that to all eternity. Yet one thing more.
Sixthly, Thoſe that come to Chriſt in time of Temptation, they ſhall be ſaved freely to all eternity: for ſaith our Saviour Chriſt: John 6.39. And this is my Fathers will that hath ſent me, that of all which he hath given me, I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up again at the laſt day; in verſe 37. ſaies Chriſt, him that cometh to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out, and I will give you the reaſon ſaith he, For it is the will of my Father that I ſhould loſe none which he hath given unto me, but that they ſhould riſe at the laſt day. How is it therefore with you, (Holy and beloved brethren in the Lord)? Do you come to Chriſt in your Temptations? Do you ſtrive together in love for the faith, in time of perſecution? Are you tempted? Are you brought low? Remember this, that Chriſt is able to raiſe you up, and to ſave you to all eternity; and therefore O ſoul doubt not of your ſalvation.
But ſome may ſay, I am guilty of this doubting, what ſhall I do that I may not doubt of my ſalvation?
This is too large a ſubject to ſpeak to now, I ſhall only ſay this to it. Let me deſire you to ſtudy much, the freeneſs of the grace of God in general; and conſider alſo much, and frequently, the particular inſtances of grace and mercy, that God hath ſhewn to others, and you will find it is all of free grace; yea and this ſcripture ſhews you that all is of free grace; and therefore though it be a hard thing for us to get aſſurance of our ſalvation, yet the particular inſtances, and examples of the mercies that God hath beſtowed upon others, ſhould much incourage us, and bear us up, and ſhould ſtir us up to get aſſurance. Grace and mercy being ſhewn to others doth not only ſhew that it may be had, but that mercy hath been had. When you ſee the Ice trodden, then you ſay you will venture: So ſay, ſuch a one was unworthy, ſuch a one prophane, and yet he hath obtained mercy, and why may not I? Therefore if you would have aſſurance of your ſalvation, think much of the freeneſs of the grace of God; and withal conſider the particular inſtances, and examples of others, that have obtained this mercy, and that in a way of free grace and love too.
Fifthly, And laſtly to conclude, Is it ſo, that God ſaves the ſoul freely, and that our ſalvation is only by the free grace and love of God? Why then ſhould we not come with boldneſs for ſalvation, ſince it is ſo free; O let none be diſcouraged, but let it ſtir us up to come with boldneſs, and to plead for it, if it be free; Is ſalvation free, and will not poor ſinners come to receive it? Come, O come freely for ſalvation, Chriſt Jeſus is willing to make good his own name, and this is his name, he is called Jeſus, and he ſhall ſave his people. This is the will alſo of my Father, that you ſhould come unto me, John 6. Chriſt Jeſus hath now ſalvation in his hands, and will you not come and ask for it? But methinks I ſee ſalvation in your faces; methinks I hear a voice among you, ſaying, What ſhall we do to be ſaved?
In anſwer to which thus: Believe in the Lord Jeſus, and venture your ſalvation upon him.
And then if you will be ſaved, you muſt become as little children; for ſaith our Saviour, unleſs you become as little children, you cannot be ſaved. Mat. 18.3. You cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. As little children, how? Why, not ſeeking great things; Little children do not ſeek great things, you muſt become as little children, low and humble, not ſeeking great things, for great things become not little children; You muſt be willing to part with all at Chriſts command, and for his ſervice; and for want of this the young man went away without eternal life: Go and ſell all that thou halt, and follow me, and he could not do it; and he loſt Heaven by it; he would keep Earth, and he loſt Heaven by it. But once more,
Be not only willing to part with all for Chriſts ſake, and at his command; but go and caſt your ſelf at adventure upon his free grace and love, and then go and work, and perform duties, and pray, and uſe indeavour; work as if there were no grace to be ſaved by, and bear thy ſ… ſtill upon free grace; work as if the… were no grace, and build upon the grace of God, as though there were no works. Thus do, and you ſhall be freely ſaved to all Eternity, for ever, and for ever.