〈◊〉 it signifies such a narrow intent prying as we use to do into a curious Piece wherein we discern a wonderful deal of Art and Skill and were the Wisdom of it but considered and understood by us it would make us say with the Apostle O the Depths of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God how unsearchable c. All the Perfections of God do mutually reflect a Luster upon each other so here the Wisdom of Grace doth not in the least diminish its freeness but greatly adds to the Glory of it 4. The Grace whereby we are saved is a Pure and Holy Grace in that while it imbraces the Sinner with a most free and abundant Favour yet without the least Countenance or Favour to Sin it self tho it pardon the Sinner yet it doth not spare but most severely punishes the Sin nay it discovers the greatest hatred and abhorrence of Sin while it shews the richest and most abundant Favour and Kindness to the Sinner Though it Pardon the greatest and worst of Sinners and multiplies Pardons in blotting out Sins that are numberless and for quality of the most Crimson dye yet it doth this in such a way that it gives not the least Countenance or Incouragement to any to Sin or to continue in it nay the rich Grace displaied upon Mount Sion doth more effectually suppress and destroy the Reign of Sin then all the Fire and Thunder of Mount Sinai though it Pardons Sin freely yet it doth it in such a way and order that it doth more powerfully restrain and awe the Soul from continuing in the Practise of it then all the terrible Threats of Wrath in the Law Tit. 2. 11 12. The Grace of God that brings Salvation teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly hence when God proclaims his Name so full of Grace and Mercy Exod. 34. 6 7. Mercyful gracious long-suffering abundant in Goodness and Truth forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin yet it is added and that will by no means clear the Guilty Psalm 99. 8. Thou wast a God that forgavest them but tookest Vengeance of their Inventions those emblematical appearances of Christ that we read of Rev. 1. 13 14 15 do not obscurely shew his Holiness and Purity his Hatred and Revenges of Impenitence and Disobedience commixt with his Love and Grace and Kindness to Sinners Here you see him represented in his Priestly Garments ver 13. which shows his Love and Grace to Sinners in his Sacrifice and Intercession but ver 15. His Feet as it were Brass that burns in a Furnace which shews his fiery Wrath and Indignation against all impenitent ones Hence it is manifest that those who do from the freeness and abundance of Grace take incouragement to Sin never had any Experience of this Grace in themselves 5. The Grace whereby we are saved is a powerful Grace Eph. 1. 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his Power to us-ward who believe it is an exceeding Power that Grace puts forth in the Conversion and Salvation of carnal and dead Sinners It overcomes the Resistance and Opposition that the carnal corrupt will assisted by the Devil and all that the Powers of Darkness can make against it It is a mighty Power indeed that of Stones raises up Children to Abraham that raiseth dead Sinners to Life that have not only like Lazarus lain four Days in the Grave but that have lain many Years rotting in their Filth and Putrefaction that is a mighty Power that makes dry and dead Bones to live which makes a Holy Temple for God himself to dwell in of that Heart which was a sty of every filthy and unclean Lust. Were not this Grace whereby we are saved an Almighty Grace we had been all to this Day yea and for ever rotting in the Grave of our Sins bound in the Chains of guilt and Death and as it is a mighty Power that first raises us to a spiritual Life so it is the same mighty Power that keeps us still through Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. I shall briefly open the other two Points and then Apply all together 1. What is the meaning of this Salvation being through Faith The meaning is this that God and Christ in the Gospel Covenant do require Faith on our parts in order to our being actual Partakers and Possessors of this Salvation which Gods Grace doth freely give and Christ hath merited for us our actual Interest in and claim to this Salvation is suspended till we believe which is the same that our Saviour himself saith when he commissioned his Apostles to Preach the Gospel of Salvation to the lost World Mark 16. 16. Go Preach the Gospel He that believes shall be saved and he that believes not shall be damned It is freely offered and given by God and Christ in the Gospel Covenant but Faith is required as a necessary Disposition in all that shall actually receive and partake of it 1. Sincere Faith which is the unfeigned Consent of the Heart to receive and close with Christ upon the Terms of the Gospel Covenant is necessary to our first Interest and Title to it that is before a Soul is brought to this believing or closing with Christ it is as to the special and principal Effects and Fruits of it but a Grace offered a Christ a Saviour and Salvation offered and tendered but when we believe then it is a Salvation begun in us then we actually partake of some of the saving Fruits and Effects of this Grace and have a just Title and Claim to compleat Salvation to be given us in Gods Time and Way 2. The continued Exercise of and persevering in this Faith and the necessary Fruits of it Holiness and sincere Obedience to Christ and his Commands is necessary to our final and compleat Salvation that is to our full Deliverance from Sin and Satan Death and Hell and our Possession of Eternal Life and Happiness not that one who truly believes if he should Dye the next Day of Hour before the Performance of any one further Act of Holiness and Obedience would want any Thing to qualifie him for compleat Salvation no you must not understand it so For true Faith as it justifies the Believer at the very Moment of his believing so it would save him if he should Dye the next Moment But if God gives us further Life and Time Perseverance in Faith and Holiness to the very end of our Lives is necessary to continue our Right and Title to Salvation as Faith was at first to the obtaining of it Hence are those Promises of compleat Salvation to continued Perseverance in Faith and Holiness Rom. 2. 7. To them who by patient Continuance in well doing seek for Eternal Life James 1. 12. Blessed is he that indures Temptation for after he is tryed he shall receive the Crown of Life Rev. 2. 10. Be thou faithful to the Death and I will give thee a
and that is Grace 2. The Way or Means of our being made actual Partakers of this Salvation of Grace and that is through Faith To explicate the Terms First What is meant by Grace There are several Acceptations of this word Grace but two most notable 1. It is sometime taken for Gods free Favour and good Will 2. And sometimes for the Effects of it in us But here it is meant in the first Sence the free Favour good Will or good Pleasure of God Here are several Words in this Text and Context that do all express the impulsive moving Cause of our Salvation and every one hath something peculiar in it the more fully to set forth the free Favour gracious Pleasure and good Will of God in the Business of the Salvation of Sinners 1. Here is Love and great or much Love which Notes a great or ardent Desire and Affection to any Thing or Person and such as the Person loving doth rest or take pleasure in and so some derive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is expressed Zeph. 3. 17. He will rest in his Love 2. Here is Mercy and rich Mercy that Notes Gods great Pity and Compassion towards those that are miserable God loves the Angels and is gracious to the Angels but he is not said to be merciful to them because they never were miserable 3. Again here is Grace and exceeding Riches of Grace and that Notes the freeness of Gods Love and Kindness whereby he doth Things freely without merit or desert Grace doth all gratis without any precedent Debt or Obligation 2. Are saved some say that is inchoate and so would limit it to Justification But other learned Expositors as Zanch. Simpli and Beza say here is intended not only Justification but whole and compleat Salvation as is manifest from the whole Context in ver 7. of the former Chapter he saith we have forgiveness of Sin in which is included Justification and that of Grace And then Chap. 2. ver 1 5. There he speaks of Sanctification and adds that this was by Grace and now again in the Text he saith For by Grace ye are saved quasi dicat all the steps and degrees of Salvation from the beginning to the end from first to last is of Grace Through Faith or by Means of Faith Faith being the means dispositive Condition Qualification or Instrument of our receiving or being actually Partakers of it And that not of your Selves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is some Difference amongst Expositors what this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth refer to some think to the whole Sentence quasi dicat and this that you are saved is not of your Selves but rather I should think with other Expositors that it doth refer to Faith that is the immediate antecedent Ye are saved by Grace through Faith and this Faith hoc ipsum this very Thing is not of your selves Doct. I. That the principal Efficient and first moving Cause of a Sinners Salvation from first to last is the free Grace of God Doct. II. That we receive and partake of Salvation of Grace through Faith or by means of Faith Doct. III. That Salvation being through Faith doth not hinder or oppugn its being of Grace for Faith it self is of Grace or the Gift of God which is the same nay Faith is so far from being opposite to Grace or making it to be less of Grace that the Apostle saith Rom. 4. 16. It is of Faith that it might be by Grace This great Work of the Salvation of Sinners the Scripture sometimes ascribes to God the Father thus he is called God our Saviour and it is God that Justifies And sometimes to Christ the Mediator therefore was his Name called Jesus a Saviour because he shall save his People from their Sins and again sometime we are said to be saved by Grace as in the Text and elsewhere and sometime by Faith as Christ said to that Woman Thy Faith hath saved Thee and the Apostle to the Jaylor Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy House You see the Scripture useth these several forms of speaking in the Matter of Salvation God saves us and Christ saves us and we are saved by Grace and saved by Faith and every one of these have a distinct Notion in the business of Salvation and yet not one opposite to another but one subordinate to another and all do admirably Consent and Agree and do not in the least interfere or clash When God is said to be our Saviour that Notes that he is the first Fountain and Original the principal Author and efficient Cause of it And when we are said to be saved by Mercy or Grace that shews us what was the first internal moving Cause that it is his own free Favour or good Will without any Merit or Desert in the Sinner And when Christ is called our Saviour and said to save us that shews the principal medium the meritorious Cause through or for whose sake God vouchsafes his Mercy and Grace and the blessed Effects of it to us thus the very Words before the Text and Tit. 3. 6. Again when Faith is said to save us that Notes the qualifying Condition or receptive Disposition whereby we are made qualified disposed and meet subjects of the Salvation that Gods free Grace doth give and Christs Merit hath purchased for us It is the principal Efficient first moving Cause of a Sinners Salvation that I shall speak to from this Text which from first to last is the free Grace of God Which Grace that we may the better see understand what a State we are all in by the fall and that is in this Context dead in Sin legally and spiritually Dead Legally Dead or as it is in other Terms under the Curse Children of Wrath. And spiritually Dead or Dead in Sin dead to God and Holiness and all spiritual and saving good having no more Inclination or Disposition to any spiritual and gracious Acts than there is in a Dead-man to the Actions or Comforts of Life again Dead in sin as fast bound chained and inslaved under the Power of fleshly vicious and sinful Dispositions and habits as a Dead-man is by Death from ever rising by his own Power such are we in a spiritual Sence If we have what is our due that is Death Eternal Death but if we be saved that is of Grace and Favour It is God that is the principal Author and Efficient of Salvation But if you ask what moved him to it why he would so concern himself for the Recovery and Salvation of lost and miserable Sinners Why it was only his own Grace and free Favour that moved him to it Consider Salvation in all the Parts of it in all the Degrees and Steps that lead to it from first to last and you shall see that Grace doth all 1. It was of his Grace that he gave his Son to be our Saviour the Scripture
Salvation BY GRACE And Never the Less of GRACE Tho it be through FAITH And not without it In several Sermons on EPH. II. vsii By John Sheffield Rom. 4. 16. Therefore it is of Faith that it might be by Grace LONDON Printed by S. Bridge for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chapel M DC XCVIII To my Beloved Friends the Members and Auditors of my Congregation Dearly Beloved THese Discourses when first meditated were designed chiefly for your Instruction and Edification in Faith and Holiness and was never intended to be made more Publick than the Auditory to whom they were Preached but many of those that heard them having oft expressed their Desires that they might be Published hoping that themselves should reap further if not more Benefit by a deliberate Reading than the bare transient Hearing of them And withal hoping that what they had found beneficial to themselves might be so to others and when after some considerable Delay some did continue to enquire when they might expect it these Things did at length prevail with me to consent to the Publishing of them though not without some Reluctancy Both because I judged the work it self not fit for Publick view especially in a Time when we are so full of good Books and many more excellent ones than this can be supposed to be lye by neglected And also because I have been much pleased with that common saying Bene vixit qui bene latuit and the Advice that a Grave and Pious Person when Dying gave to his near Relation that he would endeavour to pass through the World without making any great noise as he went For indeed a noise is troublesome but especially if it be a contentions one But this small Tract I hope will be far enough from administring any occasion of that Nature if I could foresee that it was like to do so it should never come abroad For alas we have too much of that already You have it here offered to your Eye the same as it was to your Ears without any Alteration bating only some few Excerptions where they might be spared without prejudicing the Sence that I might gratifie your Desire with as little Charge to you as might be If I am not mistaken you have here though very briefly the true Doctrine of Salvation by Grace betwixt the extreams on both Hands however weakly it be handled For I am Confident that many weak People who think they do exalt Grace do greatly dishonour it and strip it of its principal Glory while they set it in Opposition to Evangelical Holiness and Obedience and therefore my earnest Prayer to God for you and all the People of God is the same with the Reverend Mr. Flavell saith he God preserve all his People from the gross and vile Opinions of Antinomian Libertines who cry up Grace and decry Obedience who under specious Pretences of exalting a naked Christ upon the Throne do indeed strip him naked of a great Part of his Glory and vilely dethrone him thus far Mr. Flavell You have here as I Iudge the true Doctrine of Grace in a Plain and Easie Method and Stile suited to the Capacities of the Meanest and if this do contribute any thing to the setling of your Minds in the Truth and against Errors on either Hand and to the furtherance and increase of your Faith and Holiness I have my End and Design If you and others of Christs Servants do but reap this Fruit by it I matter not what others shall say of the Author or the Work it self And that you may do so is and shall be the earnest Prayer of him who is ambitious of no greater Thing in the World than to be the Servant of Christ and of your Souls for his Sake John Sheffield Books Sold by Mr. Tho. Parkhurst All Mr. Nath. Vincent's Works particularly mentioned at the End of this Book THE Divine Conduct Or Mystery of Providence its Being and Efficacy asserted and vindicated All the Methods of Providence in our Course of Life open'd with Directions how to apply and improve them The Fountain of Life open'd or a Display of Christ in his Essential and Mediatorial Glory containing Forty two Sermons on various Texts Wherein the Impetration of our Redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun carried on and finished by his Covenant Transaction mysterious Incarnation solemn Call and Dedication blessed Offices deep Abasement and Supereminent Advancement A Treatise of the Soul of Man wherein the Divine Original excellent and immortal Nature of the Soul are opened its Love and Inclination to the Body with the necessity of its Separation from it consider'd and Improved The Existence Operations and States of separated Souls both in Heaven and Hell immediately after Death asserted discussed and variously applied c. All by Mr. John Flavell SALVATION OF GRACE EPHES. II. viii For by Grace are ye saved thro' Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God THE Apostle tells these Ephesians Chap. 1. 16. That he did not cease to give Thanks to God and Pray for them To give Thanks for what God had already wrought in them and done for them and to pray for a greater increase of the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that they might know what is the Hope of their Calling and what the Riches of the Glory of the Inheritance and the surpassing greatness of his Power towards them that Believe ver 18 19. which he compare to that mighty Power which raised Christ from the Dead to the End of the first Chapter And Chap. 2. ver 1. He shews what was the Effects of this exceeding greatness of Power towards them which was the quickening of them when they were dead in Trespasses and Sins and the preserving and increasing that Life and perfecting of it in Glory and that they might be sensible how mighty a Power was exerted towards them he shews how sad their Case was Dead in Sin and Children of Wrath ver 1 2 3. Both legally and spiritually Dead Dead in Sin and Dead through Sin or by Reason of Sin dead to God and to all spiritual and saving good and liable by guilt to Eternal Death But if this be our Case how or by whom are we saved and delivered out of it Why this is wrought by the exceeding greatness of God's Power which he had spoken of But what was the impulsive or moving Cause Why his own Grace and here the Apostle doth in this Text and Context heap up many words much of a like Import and Signification as if he could never enough express the greatness and freeness of the Grace and Mercy of God towards Sinners Rich in Mercy great Love or much Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 4. And exceeding Riches of Grace ver 7. By Grace ye are saved thro' Faith We have here two Things 1. The principal impulsive or moving Cause of the Salvation of Sinners