A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 28 (Question 4 cont.)
SERMON XXVIII.
WE have been conſidering of God's Goodneſs, as it doth in particular diſcover it ſelf to fallen Man, in thoſe diſplays of it which are common to all, both good and bad; under the title of Mercy. It follows to look on it,
Secondly, AS it is ſpecial to ſome. Though all have more than they deſerve, yet all are not alike favoured by God: nor is this difference only in the degree, but alſo in the kind of the Diſpenſation. Common Mercy is not in like proportions diſtributed to Sinners; but there is another Attribute of Goodneſs whoſe effects are eſſentially diverſe from thoſe, even the higheſt of them; which there are but ſome, and thoſe comparatively but a few do taſt of, and that is Grace, in which the higheſt manifeſtations of Divine Goodneſs are made; and we may obſerve ſomething of it in the opening of this Deſcription;
GRACE is God willing to exalt a reſidue of fallen Men to a ſtare of Eternal Life & Glory, for his own name ſake. Here we may obſerve,
1. THE word Grace ſignifies ſomething that is Free. It is ſometimes applied to a Pr…ſon, and then it deciphers a diſpoſition in him to beſtow undeſerved kindneſs upon another; ſometimes to a Thing, and is as much as a free-gift: and in this ſenſe, all the common Mercy that Sinners enjoy, may be called Grace, becauſe God beſtows it liberally, without their Merit, for Grace and Merit are oppoſed. But the Goſpel alſo is pleaſed to uſe the word in a reſtrained ſenſe, and then the Grace of God, is ſpecifically diſtinguiſhed from his Mercy; the principal differences between which are contained, and may be taken notice of in the remaining particulars of the Deſcription.
2. THE Subject upon whom this Attribute falls, a reſidue of fallen Men. It is Man for whom this Perfection of God is diſplayed, no other Creatures except Angels are capable of it; and Devils are denied it; and it is fallen Men, for all are ſo; the Apoſtacy hath included in at the whole race; but that which makes it peculiar is that it is, only a reſidue. Special Grace hath ſingled out but ſome of many to glorify it ſelf upon; who theſe are, belongs to an after Conſideration. Here only take notice, that there are but a few ſaved, Luk. 13.25. a remnant, Rom. 9.27. and all that are ſo, are ſaved by this Attribute; Eph. 2.8. By grace are ye ſaved —. The Subjects of Anaſtaſy or Reſtitution, and the Subjects of Grace are the ſame; and this is one difference between Mercy and Grace, all partake in that, and but ſome in this.
3. THE Act of this Grace, or that wherein it diſplays it ſelf: It exalts or raiſeth up this Reſidue. The Sin of Man had brought him into a low Condition, caſt him into a dungeon of diſtreſs, a pit of miſery, he was laid by the Curſe as low as Hell it ſelf; but now this Grace comes, and with a mighty Power draws him out of this Pit, delivers him from the loweſt Hell; it therefore runs through the whole work of Reſtitution: that is it which knocks off his Chains, unlocks his Priſon doors, and brings him out of it; it releaſeth him from all his miſery, reſtores him again to God's favour which he had loſt, and puts him among thoſe nobles that are admitted to ſtand in his preſence; in one word, it ſaves him, Eph. 2.8. And this is an Act of tranſcendently more favour than common Mercy affords unto any: that indeed viſits the poor Captives of Juſtice in their reſtraint, it makes their Priſon more eaſy to them, mends their fare in it, and carries it ſelf very generouſly towards thoſe unhappy Creatures, who deſerved to have felt utmoſt ſeverity; but it releaſeth none of them, it gives them a temporary reprieve, but it affords them no releaſe; the Sentence of Condemnation abides, and their day of Execution is coming: but Grace gives them a full acquittance, and perfectly ſets them at liberty from Sin & Miſery.
4. ONE great and ſingular Benefit which this Act of Grace beſtows upon the Subject, viz. It exalts them to a State of Eternal Life & Glory. The term from which is Sin & Miſery, the term to which is Holineſs and Happineſs: it frees them from greateſt evils, and brings them to the enjoyment of the greateſt Good that a Creature is capable of. We have it excellently expreſt, 1 Sam. 2.8. He raiſeth up the poor out of the duſt, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghil, to ſet them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory —. And that makes a mighty difference between common Mercy, and Grace: the things of the one do incomparably ſurpaſs the things of the other: Mercy only beſtows upon them ſome Crumbs that fall from the Table, and can be allowed to Dogs; whereas Grace ſets them at God's Table as Children, and provides Children's Bread for them: though great in themſelves, yet compared with the other, they are little things which Mercy hath to beſtow, the tranſitory and temporary things of this life; but they are the great and Eternal things, Crowns, Kingdoms, durable Riches, and Everlaſting Pleaſures which Grace hath prepared; they are beyond Conception; 1 Cor. 2.9. But as it is written, Eye hath n…t ſeen, nor ear heard, neither …ave … the heart of man, the things … prepared for them that love him. M…y is managed in Wiſdom's left hand, Gra…e … …r right hand, Prov. 3.16.
5. THE Fountain or Original from which all this proceeds, and that is a ſpecial love which he bears to them, ariſing from himſelf. He doth it for his own name ſake: it is becauſe he loves them, that he doth all this for them, and he therefore loves them, becauſe it was his holy pleaſure ſo to do: it is not for any thing in them for they have nothing, but he pleaſeth himſelf in it, Ezek. 36.21, 22. Eph. 1.9. Hav… made known unto us the myſtery of his will according to his good pleaſure, which he hath purpoſed in himſelf. He hath ſet his heart upon them and he will herein confirm his Everlaſting Love to them: And here alſo, tho' Mercy and Grace are both undeſerved and free, yet there is a v… Difference. The higheſt demonſtrations of common Mercy, are well enough conſiſtent with God's Hatred: While God was feeding Iſrael, and their meat was yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and ſlew the fa…teſt of them —. Pſal. 78.30, 31 But Grace is the expreſſion of a fixed Love which for his own ſake he hath placed unmovably upon them; and every Act of Grace is hither to be referred; as well as that in, …er. 31.3. — I have loved thee with an everlaſting love: therefore with loving kindneſs have I dre… thee. Now becauſe that which peculiarly recommends this Attribute to us, and puts a Luſtre upon it, is that all this which is done for theſe Perſons is of Grace, it is free: We may a little commorate here, by reflecting upon ſeveral weighty Conſiderations, which greatly declare it to be ſo; I ſhall reduce all under theſe three Hea….
[1.] THE Riches of this Grace appear in the Great Things which it doth for the Subject. A free Favour is enhaunced by the Magnificence of it. It muſt be Heroick Grace which doth ſuch wonderous things for Men. We may dilate on this by Meditating on all that is done in the work of Reſtitution, both in Redemption and Application, to which the Doctrine of this Attribute properly refers. Here only take a Specimen in theſe two particulars which comprizeth much.
1. THE great Evils which it reſtores or delivers them from. When Grace comes to apply it ſelf to them, it finds them as miſerable as Sin and the Curſe of the Law could make them: Innumerable great and deſtroying Evils are upon them; Hell was open ready to receive them, and the Wrath of God was ready to fall in fury upon them, his Hand was up, and the fatal blow ready to be ſtruck; they were juſt falling over into an Ocean of unquenchable Fire; and Grace ſtept in and ſaid, Deliver them, I have found a Ranſom. Paul tells his Epheſians what they were when Grace came to them, Eph. 2.3, 4. Among whom alſo we all had our converſation in times paſs, in the luſts of our fleſh, fulfilling the deſires of the fleſh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. B… God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.
2. THE great Good that it reſtores him unto. It raiſeth him up as high as Sin hath made him …. It brings him from Death to Life, from Hell to Heaven, from a Dungeon to a Palace; makes him of a Beggar a Prince, of an Outcaſt an Heir: it gives him Grace and Glory, and all that is good: and it muſt needs be rich Grace that doth all this; Eſpecially if we conſider,
[2.] THE Subject of this great Favour, for whom all this is …one; this will put Orient Colours upon it.
(1.) CONSIDER the Subject by himſelf poſitively, what an one he is; and we ſhall find,
1. THAT he is altogether undeſerving of any of this. He is wholly without the leaſt Merit of it: He did not deſerve the leaſt common M…ry, Gen. 32.10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou haſt ſhewed unto thy ſervant —. much leſs then ſuch Grace: might ſay as he, 2 Sam. 19.28. For all my fathers houſe were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didſt thou ſet thy ſervant among them that eat at thy own table —. They had no Merit of Condignity, had nothing to ſhew that could lay Claim of Title to this Inheritance; it muſt be given them, Rom. 6. ult. For the …ges of ſin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Nay they had not ſo much as any Merit of Congruity, if that may be called Merit; were neither in a Poſture …ting to receive theſe Bleſſings nor any way able to diſpoſe or prepare themſelves thereunto; unprofitable and uſeleſs Creatures: God himſelf muſt firſt make them meet for the Inheritance, before they could partake in it.
2. THAT he was ill-deſerving: Not only had no Deſert of Glory, but had Ignominy belonging to him; had by Sin & multiplied Tranſgreſſions given God abundant Provocations to deſtroy him; had wearied God with Iniquity; as in Iſa. 43.24. Thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. Juſtice had demanded his forfeited Life, & muſt needs have had it, if Grace had not ſtept in and reſcued him: He was a Child of Wrath … really as thoſe in H…ll; Eph. 2.3.—And were by …ure the children of wrath, even as others.
(2.) CONSIDER the Subject in relation to God; and there we ſhall ſee the Excellency of this Grace, in that he doth all this for one whom God hath no need of: He ſaves none becauſe he could not otherwiſe have done with them. For,
1. HE was happy & bleſſed in Himſelf from Eternity: He lived without them or any other ſecond being, when no World was; and ſo he ſhould have done, if no World had been: His name is, God Bleſſed forever; He gives all to, receives nothing from the Creature.
2. HE had an Innumerable Company of bleſſed Angels to ſing Everlaſting Hallelujahs to his Praiſe: In theſe he would have been glorified forever; D…. ….10. — Thouſand thouſands miniſter unto him, and ten thouſand times ten thouſand ſtood before him —.
3. HE had the Reſidue of the Spirit, Mal. ….15. He was not tied to this Race of Men: … had ſeen meet to be honoured by ſuch a ſort of Creature, he could but have ſaid it, and the Stones ſhould have riſen up Children of Abraham, Matth. 3.9.
4 HE could have gotten Himſelf a Name Glory & Renown in their Ruin. He would have ſhined forth in the Triumphs of his Juſtice, with his Garments died in their Blood, if he had ſhewn his Wrath, and made his Power known in them, as well as he doth in th…ſe that are the miſerable Subjects of his revenging Juſtice.
(3.) CONSIDER the Subject in way of Compariſon; and here alſo will Grace appear eminently. And that,
1. IF we ask Why God pitcht upon fallen Men rather than fallen Angels: That when all the vaſt Number of Apoſtate Spirits are kept in Chains of Darkneſs, and not one of them is brought back to Salvation, but they muſt forever feel the ſmart of their Diſobedience; God ſhould ſee meet to lift up the Heads of ſome of deſolate Mankind from the Priſon, and ſet them at his own Table: What was there in Man more than in an Angel to prefer him in the Choice? Paul puts therefore a Remark on this, Heb. 2.16. For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels; but he took on him the ſeed of Abraham.
2. IF we ask a Reaſon of the vaſt Difference made between Man & Man: Why this Man is recovered out of his Miſery, and the other left to periſh in it: All were equally Children of Wrath, Eph. 2.3. equally become Unprofitable, Rom. 3.12. equally full of enmity againſt God, Rom. 8.7. equally capable of Salvation: Almighty Power could have done it for one as well as for the other: The ſame Price would have paid for their Redemption; the ſame Spirit could have converted them: It muſt be nothing but aſtoniſhing Grace that determined this Caſe.
[3.] IF we ſhall … over and glance upon the ſeveral Parts of Man's Reſtitution, we ſhall diſcover in each of them a rich … of Grace, enough to tranſport us into Admiration.
1. ELECTION is an Act of Grace. Rom. 11.5. Even ſo thou at this preſent time alſo there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Eph. 1.5. Having predeſtinated us unto the adoption of children by Jeſus Chriſt to himſelf, according to the good pleaſure of his will. It is impoſſible that any Created finite Agent ſhould move or incline the Eternal and Immutable Will of God, to ſet his Love upon ſome, who were to receive their Being and their All as the Reſult of his good Pleaſure; or that any thing beſides his own Good Will ſhould direct him to put down this Man's Name in the Lamb's Book of Life, and leave out others, who were all to be of the ſame Lump, all alike and under the ſame Capacity.
2. REDEMPTION is alſo an Act of free Grace; and there is manifold Grace to be obſerved in it: It was inexpreſſible Love in God to ſend his Son to redeem us; Joh. 3.16. For God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. It was incomparable Love in Chriſt to come upon this Errand; Eph. 3.19. — The Love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge —. It was meer free Grace in God, to accept of the Redemption of Chriſt, and take him in Exchange for Sinners: For tho' a Surety may ſtand in Law for Debt, yet the Judge may chuſe whether he will accept of one for a Crime.
3. APPLICATION alſo is an Act of free Grace in all the parts of it. Faith whereby we come to have an Evangelical Right to the Promiſe, is a Gift of God, as well as the Promiſe it ſelf; Eph. 2.8. For by grace are ye ſaved, through ſaith; and that not of your ſelves: it is the gift of God. The Juſtification of a Sinner, in Pardoning of his Sin, and adjudging him to Life, is of meer Grace; Rom. 3 24. Being juſtified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jeſus Chriſt. Our being Adopted to the Inheritance of Children, and being made joynt Heirs with Chriſt, is as a great, ſo an undeſerved Favour; Eph. 1.5, 6. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jeſus Chriſt to himſelf, according to the good pleaſure of his will. To the praiſe of the glory of his grace, wherein be hath made us accepted in the beloved. Our Sanctification, or being reſtored to the Image of God, and furniſhed with the Graces of his Spirit derives from the ſame Fountain, and therefore it is called Grace; 2 Pet. 3.18. But grow in grace, &c. Our Perſeverance in the Faith, and being kept from falling away, is owing to Him; and muſt therefore needs flow from Grace, 1 Pet 1.5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto ſalvation — And what is Eternal Glory, but the Top and Conſummation of Grace? and for that reaſon ſaid to be the Gift of God; Rom. 6.23. — But the gift of God is eternal life, … Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Yea all theſe are but ſo many Links in one Chain, whereof Election is the firſt, and ſo they muſt bear the ſame Denomination.
USE 1. LEARN hence, How much they rob God of his Glory, who aſcribe their Salvation to Themſelves, either in whole or in part. Needs muſt all ſuch endeavour to obſcure the Grace of God; and how injurious this is to his Honour, will be ſeen if we conſider how dear this Attribute is to him, and what a coſtly as well as curious Contrivance he hath laid for the Exaltation of the Riches of it; all of which, Men that would be their own Saviours endeavour to darken: It derogates from the very Deſign of Salvation in a Goſpel way; Rom. 9.23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the veſſels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory. It puts Man into a better Condition than the Fall hath left him in; Rom. 5.6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Chriſt died for the ungodly. It in part at leaſt, arrogates to the Man himſelf ſome of the Acknowledgment of his Salvation: and ſo much as it gives to Man's free Will or Strength, ſo much it takes away from Grace: Needs then muſt God reject all ſuch as thus ſeek and hope to be ſaved.
USE 2. LEARN from the Deſcription of God's Grace, that it is a Sovereign Thing; and conſequently, neither have Any cauſe juſtly to complain of God if they miſs it, nor to be proud if they obtain it: Deny the Freedom of it, and you deny it to be Grace. Here is … any room to charge God with a ſiniſter reſpecting of Perſons, for that hath no … in Gratuities: God may do with his own as he will: There is no Man deſerves this Favour at his hands: If therefore he beſtow it not, there is no room for complaining: They feel his Severity, but there is no Unrighteouſneſs: If they miſs Heaven and Glory, and meet with Everlaſting Miſery, … but their Wages: and as for thoſe that have it, it ſo comes to …, as to exclude all Boaſting: It is Grace, and they did nothing to purchaſe it; nor had they ever had it, if they had not found Grace in the ſight of God.
USE … THE Doctrine of God's free Gr… tells us, that the Chief of Sinners have no reaſon to Deſpair of Salvation. It is no little Glory which is brought to this Attribute, by the large Expreſſions that it makes of it ſelf to the Children of Men: Grace therefore doth … where more abound, than where Sin hath … nally abounded: When therefore the ag… vated Conſiderations of Sin from the Greatneſs, Multitude, and ill Circumſtances of them, and ready to bear our Spirits down into Diſcouragement, and make us afraid to hope; … us entertain our ſelves with the Contemplation of the Grace of God, the Fulneſs and F… neſs of it: Remember that it is in God In… and therefore cannot be outdone by us; … that will ſhew us, that the loweſt Hell, that we apprehend our ſelves to be i…, is a pl… of Hope; and though we have nothing in … ſelves to rely upon, there is ſtill room for us to hope in his Grace.
USE 4. THIS alſo tells us, after … Manner we are to go to God if we would … his Salvation, viz. So as may be moſt for … Illuſtration of this Attribute: Ou… … muſt be ſuch; a Conviction of our Sin, Miſery, Unworthineſs, Impotency, muſt … us down to the Foot of God, and make … ſign and ſubmit our ſelves to the Diſpoſ… of Sovereign Grace. Our Pleadings alſo muſt … built upon ſuch Topicks as theſe: we muſt ask all for his own Name ſake: There muſt be … mention of our Doings, our Abſtinences, o… … thing that we have done; But, together with the Acknowledgment of our own Demerit, and adoring of his wondrous free Favour, we muſt ask as Beggars, and reſolve that if he … us, his Great Name ſhall have the Honour of it, and we will ſing everlaſting Praiſes to T… Riches of the Glory of his Grace in JESUS CHRIST.
[FEBRUARY 25. 1689.]