Gods Love to Man and Mans Duty Towards God, Part 2 · Section 9
Ezek. 36.26.
A new Heart alſo will I give you, &c.
Sect. 9. PROP. IX. God hath Promiſed to ſome that Grace, whereby they ſhall perform the Condition of the Covenant.
THat which ſome, not only School-men, but other ſound Divines of our own, call the …irſt Grace, who have taught me to call it ſo ſome…imes, meaning thereby the firſt Inward-Special-Diſcriminating Grace. Though I ſee the Term is … allowed by others. As a Learned man noteth, … There is before it, 1. The firſt Univerſal Grace, which gave the world a Saviour. 2. The Fundamental Grace of Impetration by Chriſt. 3. The Grace of the New Covenant, or Teſtament made. 4. Common applying Grace, Preaching, &c. with Divine concurſe. 5. Inward common Grace, an effect of the former, (of which ſee Suffrage …ritan. de 3. & 4. Art. de anteced. ad conv. Sect. p. 100.) which I do not deny.
But ſee Jer. 31.33. Heb. 8.10. Ezek 36.…6, …7. Concerning which Scriptures, it is true, there …th been much Diſpute.
1. Some would have Jer. 31.33, (which is ci…d Heb. 8.10.) to be the only proper Goſpel-Covenant, or New Covenant. And ſo make thi… a ſpecial Note of difference betwixt the Covena… of Works, Marrow of Mod. div. p. 118. & 119.and the New Covenan… that In the ſecond Covenant God i… on both ſides.
In the Covenant of Grace not … Condition to be performed on ma… part. No, there is no more for him to do, b… only to know and believe, that Chriſt hath d… all for him.
This is downright Antinomianiſm: And obſer… he plainly contradicts himſelf: Firſt, ſaying, [In … Covenant of Grace there is no condition to be perf… med on mans part.] And then preſently unſaying … again, [No, there is no more for him to do, b… only to Know and Believe, that Chriſt hath done … for him.] Where he ſeemeth to grant Faith to required of man, only he giveth an unſound D… ſcription of it.
But does not Gods taking away the ſtony heart, … giving a new heart, imply his giving Faith and … pentance? And his cauſing ſome to walk in his S… tutes, imply his enabling them to yield ſincere O… dience? And what Laws are meant, which the L… doth promiſe to write in the Heart? Are they … the ſame Laws, which were written in Table… Stone? And to what end doth God promiſe to this for ſome, but that he might be their God, … they be his People? Thereby ſhewing what is quired of thoſe, who would have him for t… God, and would be his People. Certainly, th… is no Condition required of us in the Covena… Grace, which is not here implied; where this alſo Expreſſed, that God himſelf hath underta… for ſome, to vouchſafe that Grace to them, whereby they ſhall certainly perform the ſaid Conditions.
As Dr. Preston, of the New Covenant, p. 389. ſpeaking of Repentance, he ſaith, It is part of the Covenant both on Gods part, and on ours. The condition required of us in the Covenant, is Doing …f this, the Action. But the Ability whereby we perform that which is required, is part of the Co…enant on Gods part.
Therefore if any ask,
Queſt. Whether theſe Scriptures do not contain …he ſubſtance of the Covenant of Grace?
Anſw. Yea, as Gen. 2.17. containeth the Co…enant of Works, where ſome part of it is expreſ…ed, and the reſt included and implied. Or as Iſa. …8.6, 7. containeth a true Faſt, that is, under…anding what was taken for granted. Or as Faith … defined in John 8.24. and 11.27. where it is ſet …rth as an Aſſent to this Propoſition, [that Jeſus is …e Chriſt, he that ſhould come, &c.] Suppoſing what was taken for granted, and expreſſing what …as then moſt queſtioned.
The truth is, the Jews were a ſelf-confident peo…le generally; confident of their own Ability to …eep the Law (not underſtanding the extent of the …aw) as they were confident of their own Righte…aſneſs, if they kept the Letter of the Law. They …ere not come to ſee, and ſay, as Iſa. 45.24. Sure… in the Lord have I righteouſneſs and ſtrength. If …ey were but Righteous according to the Letter …f the Law, they thought that enough. They …nerally reſted in outward circumciſion. They …ought it enough to offer the Ritual Sacrifices, not regarding to offer unto God that more pleaſing Spiritual Sacrifice of an humble, broken, obedient hea… And thus they brake the Covenant, which yet th… gloried in. Therefore the Lord declares, that … days ſhould come, when there ſhould be a clea… Diſcovery of the Nature, true intent and meani… of his Covenant, that he was not a Jew, who … one outwardly, nor was that Circumciſion, whi… was outward in the Fleſh, &c. (as Rom. 2.28, 2…) And ſhews here that there ſhould be more abund… Grace given out, where they ſhould perform w… the Lord required in his Covenant, that as they … the Law written in Tables of Stone before, ſo th… ſhould have it written in their Hearts. And this called a New Covenant here, as the Command … Love one another is called a New Commandme… though it was given of old; being now more … ſtriouſly ſet forth and commended to us, by the … ſtance of Chriſts Love to us. So had the L… promiſed before of old to Circumciſe their Hea… Deut. 30.6. which is the ſame in ſence with th… promiſe of Writing his Law in their hearts: B… though it was promiſed of old, yet it is here ſp… ken of, as a New Covenant; becauſe it was to … Communicated to more, and in a larger Meaſ… under the Goſpel. As it might well ſeem New, … like being never ſeen before.
But is it not fairly Implyed here, that they th… would have God for their God indeed, muſt ha… new Hearts, muſt be new Creatures, muſt wa… in his Statutes, muſt lead new Lives? which b… cauſe none would attain to of themſelves, and y… God will have a people in the world, therefore … undertakes to prepare them for himſelf, and to wo… that in them, which elſe-where he plainly requireth of them. And therefore we muſt conclude, it is a Wreſting of theſe Scriptures, for any hence to Argue, that the Covenant of Grace is abſolute, which evidently ſuppoſes Conditions. And by the like Reaſoning one may conclude, that Juſtification, and Remiſſion of ſins is promiſed abſolutely, from Iſa. 43.25. I, even I am he, that blotteth out thy Tranſgreſſions for mine own ſake, and will not remember thy ſins. Here Pardon of ſin is promiſed, and no condition expreſſed; yet they are very greatly miſtaken, who have hereupon ranked this among abſolute Promiſes. 'Tis a moſt free and gracious promiſe, yet not an abſolute promiſe. There is a condition always underſtood, which other Scriptures clearly expreſs. Surely, we may not exclude Chriſts ſatisfaction, and ſay that God pardoneth ſinners without any reſpect at all had to that, becauſe there is not any mention of it here; neither may we exclude Faith, Repentance from being Conditions of Pardon, becauſe not expreſſed here.
I hope theſe things conſidered it will appear, that Jer. 31.33. Heb. 8.10. will not prove the Covenant of Grace abſolute.
2. Some, yea and thoſe men of ſingular worth and eminency, will not allow this of God's giving a new heart, &c. to be ſo much as a promiſe; becauſe quoad nos without any determinate object: none can claim by it, or plead intereſt in it till ſuch time as it be fulfilled. Yet methinks it is ſufficient, that it is a ſignification, or declaration of Gods purpoſe to beſtow ſuch grace upon the Elect, that his truth and faithfullneſs are engaged to beſtow it on them, though the Lord only knoweth who they are.
When the Lord promiſed unto Abraham, to b… his God, and the God of his ſeed, was not here a promiſe to the ſeed of Abraham, when yet God ha… the determining of the object? The Lord had ſe… down which of his ſeed they were, that ſhould have him for their God. As Abraham had other ſons beſides Iſaac; yet God reſtrained the promiſe to hi… ſeed by Iſaac, Rom. 9.7. As afterwards it was reſtrained to the poſterity of Jacob, was not Eſau Iacobs brother? And yet that the purpoſe of God according to Election might ſtand, it was ſaid; [Iac… have I loved, but Eſau have I hated,] Rom. 9 11, 12, 13. So when God promiſed, Gen. 13.15. to giv… the land of Canaan to the ſeed of Abraham, yet ſti… he had the determining of it, unto which of his ſee… he would give it. They were of Abrahams ſee… whoſe carcaſes fell in the wilderneſs.
Again, when God promiſed unto David, that … would ſet up his ſeed after him, 2 Sam. 7.12. ſhal… we ſay, this was no promiſe to his ſeed, becauſe th… individual perſon was not directly determined, be cauſe it was not ſaid expreſſely whether the eldeſt, or the youngeſt, or which of his ſons it was, tha… ſhould ſucceed David in the throne?
Again, though the elect unregenerate cannot lay claim to the promiſe under conſideration, as intended in it, any more than others; yet certainly Jeſus Chriſt may claim for them. As, if a friend hath promiſed to ſettle an eſtate upon your child, though the child may not be in a capacity to plead the promiſe, yet you can plead it for him.
Again, when that which ſome call the firſt grace is given unto any one according to that word [I will write my Law in their hearts] may we not th… claim an intereſt in the ſame, for continuance in grace and perſeverance? And ſhould we not look upon it as a promiſe now? And if it be acknowledged a promiſe, when it is fulfilled, it ſeems ſomething ſtrange, it ſhould not be ſo before. Promiſes are promiſes before they are made good and accom…liſhed, And not becauſe they are accompliſhed.
Methinks this is plain, that [I will write my Laws in their hearts] is more than a bare declaration of Gods work, what his work is about the conditions of the Covenant of grace, what God can do. I ſay more than a declaration, that without his Grace thoſe conditions cannot be performed. Is it not clearly a revelation of his gracious purpoſe, and pleaſure, ſignifying not onelyonly what he alone can do. but more directly what he will do for ſome [I will] doth more directly refer to the purpoſe, than to the power of God. Now though as this is a diſcovery of Gods purpoſe, ſo far it agrees with a prophecy or pre…iction; yet as it is a diſcovery of Gods purpoſe of working grace, of beſtowing good upon ſome of his Creatures; in this reſpect it is more than ſimply … prediction, it hath the nature of a promiſe.
3. Some are troubled to know whither to reduce the promiſe of this firſt, ſpecial, inward, diſcriminating grace.
Here methinks it were very ſtrange, ſhould we wholly exclude ſuch promiſes from having any relation to, or connexion with the Covenant of Grace, which do ſo clearly evidence it to be a Covenant of Grace indeed. What a wonderfull expreſſion of his grace is this, that God engageth to work the conditions in his people! He did never undertake thus for … under the Covenant of Works.
Now Firſt, Suppoſing that Covenant betw… God the Father and his Son Chriſt, God-man, … Mediatour; and it is clearly reducible to that Covenant. Many Divines ſuppoſe (and I ſhall not oppoſe) a foederal tranſaction betwixt the Father … the Son, called the Covenant of Redemption, where in God the Father is conceived to have given a ce… tain number of Elect ones to Chriſt the Son, to … brought on infallibly to grace here, and glory her… after; upon condition, and in conſideration, th… he would redeem and ſatisfie for them: on the othe… hand, Chriſt is ſuppoſed to accept of theſe term… being willing to make his Soul an offering for … that he might ſee his ſeed and bring many ſons … glory. According to this hypotheſis, the promiſe … the firſt grace ſhould refer to Gods engagement a… promiſe to his Son Chriſt. And though it be an d… ſolute promiſe in reſpect of theſe, in whom the fir… grace is wrought; (no condition being required i… the Elect unregenerate, to intereſt them in it) yet i… reſpect of Chriſt it was conditional; he being … give himſelf a ranſome for them, and ſo to purchaſ… grace and glory for them.
2ly. Others diſtinguiſh betwixt an abſolute Covenant, and the conditional Covenant. The abſolu… Covenant they make to be this in Jer. 31. Heb. 8. … which we are now ſpeaking. The conditional C… venant, the proper Goſpel-Covenant, [Believe … thou ſhalt be ſaved] But though we may grant it a… abſolute promiſe, it cannot be a Covenant if abſ… lute.
3. Of Attrib. the ſecond part. p. 86.Dr. Preſton diſtinguiſheth betwi… a ſingle Covenant and a double Covenant. A ſingle Covenant, ſuch as God makes with viſible Church-members, viz. If you will believe, repent, walk in my wayes, you ſhall be ſaved: where if men break the condition, God is free, he is bound no further. But then there is a double Covenant, into which the Elect are taken, which is to this effect, If you will believe, and repent, you ſhall be ſaved; and that this my Covenant may not be made void, and of none affect to you, I will give you an heart to repent, &c.
And this he holdeth is the everlaſting Covenant that cannot be broken, which hath ſure mercies for all thoſe who are included in it.
But Mr. Rutherford would rather have it called the Covenant by a Metonymie [This is the Covenant that I will make] that is, theſe are choiſe effects, fruits and bleſſings of the Covenant, which I ſhall by my effectual and mighty Grace work in them. Rutherf. of the Covenant, p. 347. Again,
4. Mr. Rutherford diſtinguiſheth (but more darkly) of the Covenant, conſidering it, in abſtracto, vel in concreto. 1. In the Abſtract, as holding forth the way of ſaving ſinners, that is, if they believe: Containing only the will of precept. 2. In the concrete, as the Lord carries on the Covenant commenſurably to his decree of Election. So the Lord promiſeth to the Elect, not onelyonly forgiveneſs and life, provided they believe; but alſo a new heart and grace to believe. Thus including his will of purpoſe. And the ſame Writer again diſtinguiſheth, and ſayes, the Covenant may be taken two wayes, either 1. As declared, Rutherf. of the Covenant, p. 340.343.according to the approving will of God: Or 2. as fulfilled, according to Gods Decree of … lection, and will of purpoſe. Thus I have give… others thoughts of it: or,
5. Why may we not ſay that the promiſe … working grace in ſome, belongeth to the Covena… of Grace, conſidered as a Teſtament, rather than … a Covenant? Amaſ. Coron. p. 296. So Burroughs Goſpel-worſhip p. 270.Tota diſpoſitio (ſ… deris ſcil.) teſtamentariam h… rationem, &c.
Here all is promiſed, not only pardon, and S… vation upon Repenting, Believing, but the Co… dition, an Heart to repent, and heart to believe and perſeverance in the ſame is likewiſe promiſ… Though conſidered formally as a Covenaut, it ſpeak… only on this wiſe: If you Believe, Repent, y… ſhall be ſaved; yet as a Testament, it hath this ſu… ther to ſay. And as for ſuch as are given to Chri… of the Father, you ſhall have his Grace and Spiri… to turn your hearts againſt your ſins, and incli… then towards the Lord Jeſus.
6. Add, that theſe abſolute promiſes are a pr… per means to bring men within the Bond of the Covenant, and lead men a good ſtep towards the obtaining of what the Covenant of Grace promiſeth Here is ſet forth the ſpiritual Excellency of th… Bleſſings promiſed in the Covenant of Grace, a… the way how they may be attained and come by… What is here promiſed abſolutely, would m… way for all that good and happineſs, which is prom… ſed upon ſuch conditions. As they that look no… after this Grace promiſed, they that care not though they miſs and fall ſhort of this; care not to fruſtra… to themſelves the Covenant of Grace, to all its … ving intents and purpoſes. Miſs of this Grace, …nd you miſs of all ſubſequent Benefits and Bleſſings, which depend on it.
4. The laſt thing I ſhall ſpeak to, concerning theſe Promiſes, is, what uſe may be made thereof, though no Unregenerate perſon can poſſibly ſay that …e is there intended. Now to the Queſtion.
Queſt. What uſe can Unregenerate men make of …heſe Promiſes, who know not that they are intended in them?
Anſw. I ſhall premiſe two or three things, and then ſhew of what uſe they are,
1. The promiſe of a new Heart, &c. is an abſolute promiſe. I have told you ſo again and again, and will now ſpend a little time to clear it. When God promiſeth to give a new heart, he promiſeth this abſolutely. This muſt either be promiſed abſolutely, or not at all. Gratia prima, quae preveni…s, item que operans dici ſolet, omnimoda eſt gratuita.— Omnes actus, & diſpoſitiones noſtras praevenit & an…it,—ut pote quae ex Deo tantum, non etiam ex nobis …endet. Alting. Elenet. p. 800. Or elſe we muſt …old with the Semi-Pelagians, Initium â nobis, in…rementum â Deo, If there be no true ſpiritual good in a man, till the Lord works it, how can we poſſibly imagine any condition required to his …giving this Grace, except we would have Gods own Act, the condition of his further Actings. Non de noſtrae voluntatis poteſtate, ſed de ſua praediſtinatione promiſit, promiſit enim quod Ipſe factu…s fuerat, non quod Homines. Quia etſi faciunt …omines bona quae pertinent ad colendum Deum, ipſe …it ut illi faciant quae praecepit, non illi faciunt ut …ſe faciat quod promiſit. Aug. de praedeſt. Apud Bedam ad Rom. 4. f. 20. H.
Certainly, here the preparation of the heart … of the Lord. The heart of ſtone would never prepare it ſelf for Mollifying Grace. They that would make the promiſe conditionall thus, I will tak… away the ſtony heart, if you do not put a Bar, woul… make juſt nothing of it. As if God ſhould ſay, … take away the ſtony heart, if you do not put a ſton… heart in my way; I'le do it, when it is done to … hands. The work ſhall be properly yours; yet… will have the praiſe. Do not they wrong our gracious God, who would put ſuch a ſence on his gracious Promiſe, as if he promiſed no more, than … take away the heart of ſtone, and give a new heart if we put no Bar; Alas, it is plain, he muſt give … new heart, before we ſhall ceaſe putting the Bar… a ſtony, and rebellious heart in his way.
And what ſence is this, I'le write my Law in your heart, if you have it in your heart to keep my Law… If you have a will to obey, I'le give you a will … obey. I'le Circumciſe your heart to love me, … you put not the Bar of an Uncircumciſed heart … my way. That is as if Divine Grace only made ſuch willing, as it firſt found not unwilling.
As our Divines, who were preſent at the Syn… of Dort, Promiſſiones Dei aliae ſunt de fine, alia… mediis ad finem; promiſſiones de fine, v. 9. de ſal… ſunt conditionatae [crede, & ſalvaberis] Eſto fide… ad mortem (ſeu perſevera) & dabo tibi coron… vitae.] Cum autem nemo par ſit conditionibus pr… ſtandis, Deus quo que promiſſiones fecit liberrimas & abſolutas de dandis ipſis conditionibus; quas ipſe … nobis efficit, ut per ipſas, tanquam per media, poſſi… ad finem pertingere. Deut. 30.6. That is, The promiſes of God are ſome of them con…rning the end, Suffrag. Britan. de▪ 5. Art. theſ. heterodox. 1. pag. 222.223.ſome concerning the …ans (neceſſary in order) to the …d. Promiſes of the end, as of ſal…ation are conditional. Believe and …u ſhalt be ſaved. Be thou faithful unto death (or …erſevere) and I will give thee a crown of life. But …hen none is able to perform the condition, God al…hath made moſt free and abſolute promiſes of giving …e conditions themſelves, which he worketh in us, …hat by them, as by the means, we might attain to …e end, Deut. 30.6. The Lord thy God will circum…ſe thine heart, &c.
Object. But none have ground to hope that God …ould work Grace in them, who will not attend on …e means of Grace, and will not ſeek and ſue to …im for Grace. Then are not theſe Conditions?
Anſw. I confeſs, attendance on the Word and …rayer, &c. are neceſſary, which Natural men muſt be called unto: Being 1. Part of the Crea…ures Duty. Some of that Homage all men owe … God. 2. The ordinary way and method, where… God works upon the ſouls of his Elect. And …pon the former account, to neglect the means ap…ears to be a Contempt of God: As upon the latter …t apppears to be a tempting of him.
And yet that theſe are not conditions of Gods …eſtowing the firſt Grace is very evident, For, 1. …f this was Conditio cum quâ, God ſhould never …eny his Grace to them that attend on the Outward …eans, uſe Prayer, &c. 2. If it was Conditio ſine …uâ non, he ſhould never vouchſafe Converting Grace to any, who do not wait on the means. Now …oth theſe are falſe. Sometimes God is found even of them that ſeek him not. Though this muſt … be acknowledged the ordinary Method and wa… wherein Gods Grace is beſtowed; that they th… come to the Means, &c. are not ſo far from … Kingdom of God, as others, who are Deſpiſers … the Word, and neglect Prayer, &c. Yet ſom… times the Lord goes out of his ordinary way, as … ſee in the Apoſtle Pauls converſion. The Lord … with him, when he was Runing away from hi… or rather running furiouſly upon him.
2. God having abſolutely promiſed this Gra… it ſhall certainly be conferred on all thoſe, who … intended in the Promiſe. Otherwiſe God ſho… change his mind, or his word ſhould fail. There … no ſaying here, that men may put a Bar. If G… ſhould fail of performing what he hath abſolute… promiſed; then where were his Power, or Tru… or Immutability?
And therefore I cannot but wonder, that … ſhould deny the ſpecial Grace of God determi… mans will in Converſion. Mark the conſequence… it. If when the Lord hath done all, which … cerneth him to do, to convert a ſinner, it ſtill … pends upon the ſinners free will to determine … buſineſs, Quod hic convertatur, ille non, eſt ex libertate voluntatis. Jo. Arnold.whether to turn to G… or not; and it may be, that t… Perſons have equal preve… Grace, and the one turns to C… and the other does not, wil… not follow, that God promiſeth to do more, that… can perform? Which I hope they would drea… ſay, and abhor as blaſphemous.
And yet I can ſee no way in the world to av… the Conſequence, admitting their Doctri… Poſitis omnibus operationibus gratiae, Vid. Suffrag. Britan. de 3. & 4. Art. Theſ. Heterodox. 3. p. 139.quibus Deus in converſione noſtrâ …uti poſſet, manet tamen converſio …ita in noſtrâ poteſtate liberâ, ut poſſimus non converti, hoc eſt nos met ipſos convertere, …aut non convertere. Joan. Arnold. apud pelt. har.
Were it thus indeed, that when God hath done all he can to convert a ſinner; hath done as much for me, or thee, this way, as ever he doeth, or can do for any; yet he muſt ask our leave to make his Grace Efficacious and Converting, and if we pleaſe, all he can do this way, ſhall be to no purpoſe, the work ſhall not be done; I dread to ſay what would …ollow hereupon. How could he either promiſe, or predict this concerning any, that they ſhould …urn to him?
This way which many are ſo taken with, moſt certainly leadeth to one of theſe ſtrange concluſions. Either, 1. That men may have a new heart given …hem, and Gods Law written there, and yet not turn …o God, or be in a ſtate of Grace; Or, 2. That …otwithſtanding God hath promiſed concerning ſome …hat he would give them a new heart, and put his …aw in their inward parts; yet it might ſo fall out …nd happen, that not one in the world ſhould ever …ave this new heart given, or the Law of God In…raven in him.
And whereas they will not allow the new heart …romiſed to the Elect, as a Fruit of Electing love, …ut rather make it a ground of Election, make …lection to depend on it; how Inconſiſtant is their Method with Gods Method, with the Scripture-Method? John 6.37. All that the Father giveth me …ll come unto me. John 10.26. Ye believe not, becauſe ye are not of my ſheep. My ſheep hear my Voice and follow me.
Obſerve hence, The ſheep of Chriſt are they, that are given him of the Father. And they tha… are given him of the Father are his ſheep. Theſe are Reciprocal terms. Again, all that are the ſheep of Chriſt, that are given to Chriſt, ſhall come t… him, ſhall believe in him. Again, theſe only d… come to him, none but theſe come on to Faith in him… Again, men are not given to Chriſt, or his ſheep by coming to him, or becauſe they believe in him… But becauſe they are his ſheep, given to him of the Father, therefore they ſhall come, therefore the… ſhall hear his Voice, and follow him. Neque ov… dicuntur, quam Deus previdit credituros, nam & her oratio nimium dilata eſſet, vos non creditis, q… Deus non previdit vos credituros, nam contra, De… praevidit non credituros, quia non ſunt credituri.
3. Therefore the Elect are the Perſons direct… and fully intended in this promiſe of Gods giving… new heart, and it is ſure to be fulfilled and ma… good to them.
4. Yet they can no more lay claim to this promiſe, as made for them, than others may do, wh… they are Unregenerate. And the reaſon is plain, becauſe while they are Ʋnregenerate, they cann… know that they are of the number of Gods Elect.
Theſe things premiſed, I ſhall briefly declare … uſe of theſe abſolute promiſes, in theſe followin… Conclnſions.
1. They are of uſe to all alike for Convictio… As implying mans Inſufficiency to perform his d… here of himſelf, in regard of his moral, inſeper… indiſpoſedneſs, and averſneſs thereunto. No … tural man can amend his own heart, or make it new. Was the Law in our hand, there had been no need for God to promiſe, that he would give a new heart.
2. Theſe promiſes are of like uſe to all for direction. As ſhewing, whither, and to whom we muſt go for Grace, when ſenſible of our deſperate corrupt eſtate hy Nature. Our only way is to repair to the God of all grace. As Ephraim did, Jer. 31.18. Turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned. Tanta eſt ejus miſericordia, ut ſit primus in Converſione, & adjutorio noſtro, juxta illud. Thren. 5.21. Eſt ta…en ultimus in deſertione, &c. Tena in Heb. p. 640. b.
3. They are of like uſe to all for general Encou…agement. They hold forth the ſame general Encouragement to others, as to the Elect unregenerate, They are ſo propoſed, that as none are expreſſed, none are expreſſably excluded. As no unregenerate perſon can poſitively conclude, that the Lord hath this Grace in ſtore for Him, intended for Him in particular; ſo none have ground utterly to deſpaire, unleſs they were ſure, it could not be.
The promiſe of giving, or working Grace is ſo contrived and propoſed, that it leaveth men without excuſe, who do not ſeriouſly, and in good earneſt ſeek to God for it,
There is no laying the blame on Gods Decree, that the Lord never intended to give you Grace, and therefore it would have been but in vain, for you to have applied your ſelves to him. Certainly, here is enough to ſtop your mouths.
1. That God hath Commanded you to uſe the means for the obtaining of Grace. As one obſerves: to Gods bare Command is a ſufficient encouragement to him that obeyeth it, to hope, that it ſhall not be in vain. Eſpecially when God denieth no man the grace to believe, but thoſe that by abuſe of former helps do (ſenſu Evangelico) deſerve that denial.
2. That God hath promiſed to give his ſaving, ſanctifying Grace to ſome. This is ſome more encouragement to ſeek ſpecial and ſaving Grace in the uſe and improvement of Common, Preparatory Grace.
God has promiſed abſolutely to beſtow his Grace on ſome; and you were never told the contrary, but that he might have this Bleſſing in ſtore for you. And therefore it is manifeſt, if you look not out, if you cry not to God for it, you will be moſt juſtly condemned for your groſs negligence and careleſsneſs, yea, for a plain contempt of his Grace, in not putting forth your ſelves to the utmoſt of your power, to obtain it.
As you are Creatures, it is your duty to attend to the Will of God revealed, and to carry it ſutably thereunto. And here, in the caſe before us, ſhould we not take notice of the leaſt gracious Hints, he gives us, and improve them to the furtheſt?
This is plain, men are not put to a ſtand in worldly matters, they will not demur upon it, whether they ſhall Labour in their Callings, or no; becauſe they know not, whether God hath Decreed to Bleſ… and proſper them. Why then do any frame ſuc… an Objection againſt themſelves, to take them o… from looking out for ſaving Grace, which is of inconceivably greater concernment to us to look after, than any thing in the world beſides.
And, as an able Pen expreſſeth it: Though God have not flatly engaged himſelf to Unbelievers, Mr. Baxt. Direct. for getting peace. p. 62.ſo as to give them a certainty of hearing their Prayers, and giving them true Grace, on the improvement of their Naturals; yet he hath not only appointed this and other means to get Grace, but alſo given them half promiſes, or ſtrong probabilities of ſpeeding.— For as he appointeth not any vain means to man, ſo no man can name that man, who did improve his Naturals to the utmoſt, and ſought God in Prayer ſo far as a Natural man may do, who yet miſſed of Grace, and was rejected. This is the true mean (ſays he) between Pelagianiſm, and Antinomianiſm in this point.
And any of you, that begin to feel ſin a burden, and are ſadly perplexed in ſpirit, ſeeing your ſelves born down with the ſtrength and prevalency of your Corruptions, and Temptations together; yet be not utterly diſcouraged. Conſider what Grace the Lord hath promiſed, he would vouchſafe to ſome, without any thing in them foregoing, as a condition, or meet qualification. And is there not ground of hope concerning thee, if now thou haſt a heart to look out after his Grace?
Certainly, there are many exceeding hot in their purſuit after worldly things, and yet loſe their Labour quite, have their deſigns fruſtrated, and miſs of their expectations. But can you tell of any one Soul, that hath ſincerely, and in good earneſt ſought for Grace, and yet been diſappointed? Many ſeek it remiſly, and heartleſly, and miſs of it; but the more diligent and earneſt we are here, the more ground to hope, we ſhall obtain it.
Now to cloſe this Diſcourſe. You have heard of our Miſery by the Breach of the Covenant of works; of our Inſufficiency of our ſelves to perform the condition of the Covenant of Grace, from whence alone is our remedy: Now let your want, and need of Grace, engage you to a ſerious and diligent attendance on the means of Grace, and quicken you in good earneſt to apply your ſelves to the Throne of Grace for it.
Object. But if the promiſe of working the firſt Grace be abſolute, Friendly Debate. p. 45.it's more than needs, nay, than is good: For we ought to have no reſpect to theſe things, but to the Freeneſs of the Promiſe.
Anſw. This which I call you to, is no more than needeth, in other reſpects; though it is not any thing an Unregenerate man can do, that will give him a Title to the Promiſe, neither is there any Merit of Congruity in this. Yet it is the Duty of men Unregenerate, which they are all tied and bound to, though God is not tied and bound to them upon it, ſo much as by promiſe. But there is more hopes of your Converſion, if you are in the way, wherein God is oft pleaſed to meet with ſinners, and to bring them home to himſelf. More hopes, He will be found of thoſe that ſeek, than of thoſe that do not ſeek him. Though God worketh Grace, without any Merit in, or any Condition required of, the Creature; yet not without means. Therefore they that uſe the means, are nearer to the obtaining of Grace, than thoſe that neglect the means.