justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ as if God had said Sinner thou thinkest because thou hast had so many infirmities and weaknesses in thy soul whilst thou hast been professing of me therefore now there can be no hopes of mercy but be it known unto thee that it was not any thing done by thee at the first that moved me to have mercy upon thee neither is it any thing that is done by thee now that shall make me either accept or reject thee behold my Son who standeth by me he is righteous he hath fulfilled my Law and given me good satisfaction on him therefore do I look and on thee only as thou art in him and according to what he hath done so will I deal with thee This having stayed my heart and taken off the guilt through the strength of its coming on my soul anon after came in that word as a second testimony He hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to the works of righteousness which we have done but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began And thus is the sinner made alive from the dead being justified by Grace through the righteousness of Christ which is unto all and upon all them that believe according to the Scriptures And the life that I now live it is by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2. 20. I lay down my life for my sheep John 10. 10 15. I I am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more then being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Rom. 5. 10 21. That as sin reigneth unto death even so might Grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Secondly This life is not only imputed to him that is wrought on by the spirit of Grace that is not only counted his but also there is put into the soul an understanding enlightened on purpose to know the things of God which is Christ and his imputed righteousness 1 John 5. 20. which it never thought of nor understood before 1 Cor. 2. 9 10 11. which understanding being enlightened and made to see such things that the soul cannot be contented without it lay hold of and apply Christ unto it self so effectually I say that the soul shall be exceedingly revived in a very heavenly measure with the application of this imputed righteousness for thereby it knoweth it shall find God speaking peace to its self and with a fatherly affection say Be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee the righteousness of my Son I bestow upon thee For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the thy flesh I have sent forth my only Son and have condemned thy sins in his flesh Rom. 8. 3. 4. And though thou hast gone astray liste a lost sheep yet on him I have laid thine iniquities and though thou thereby didst undo and break thy self forever yet by his stripes I haue healed thee Thus I say the Lord causeth the soul by faith to apply that which he doth by grace impute unto it for thus every soul more or less is dealt withal the soul being thus inlightned thus quickned thus made alive from that dead state it was in before or at least having the beginnings of this life it hath these several vertuous advantages which they have not that are dead in their sins and trespasses and under the Law First It seeth what a sad condition all men by nature are in they being in that state which it self was in but a while since but now by grace it is a beginning to scrable out of it now it seeth the whole world lieth in wickedness 1 John 5. 19. and so liable to eternal vengeance because of their wickedness Ah friends let me tell you though you may be ignorant of your state and condition yet the poor groaning hungering Saints of God do see what a sad woeful miserable state you are in which sometimes makes them tremble to think of your most lamentable latter end you dying so and also to flie the faster to their Lord Jesus for very fear that they also should be partakers of that most doleful doom and this it hath by vertue of its own experience knowing it self was but a while ago in the same condition under the same condemnation O! there is now a hearty blessing of God that ever he should shew to it its sad condition and that he should incline its heart to seek after a better condition O blessed be the Lord saith the soul that ever he should awaken me stir up me and bring me out of that sad condition that I once with them was in It makes also the soul to wonder to see how foolishly and vainly the rest of its neighbours do spend their precious time that they should be so void of understanding so forgetful of their latter end so senseless of the damning nature of their sins O that their eyes was but inlightned to see whereabouts they are 〈◊〉 surely they would be of another mind then they are now in Now the soul wonders to see what slender pins those poor creatures do hang the stress of the eternal salvation of their souls upon O methinks saith the soul it makes me mourn to see that some should think that they were Born Christians and others that their Baptisme makes them so others depending barely upon a traditional historical faith which will leave their souls in the midst of plerplexity O that they should trust to such fables fancies and wicked slights of the Devil as their good doings their good thinkings their civil walking and living with the world O miserable profession and the end thereof will be a miserable end But now vvhen the soul is thus vvrought upon it must be sure to look for the very gates of hell to be set open against it vvith all their force and might to destroy it Novv hell rageth the devil roareth and all the world resolved do be the best they can to bring the soul again into bondage and ruine Also the soul shall not want enemies even in its own hearts lust as covetousness adultery blasphemy unbelief hardness of heart coldness half-heartedness ignorance with an innumerable company of attendants hanging like so many blocks at its heels ready to sink it into the fire of hell every moment together with strange apprehensions of God and Christ as if now they were absolutely turned to be its enemies which maketh it doubt of the certainty of its salvation For you must understand that though a soul may in reality have the righteousness of the Son of God imputed to it and also some faith in a very strong manner to lay hold upon it yet
This is now a wrong faith as is evident in that it is placed upon a wrong object for mark this faith is not placed assuredly on Gods grace alone through the blood and merits of Christ being discovered effectually to the soul but upon God through those things that God hath given iâ— as of gifts either to preach or pray or great works or the like which will assuredly come to nought as sure as God is in Heaven if no better faith and ground of faith be found out for thy soul savingly to rest upon As to the second cause of the Objection which runs to this effect God loves men upon the account of their believing I answer that God loves men before they believe he loves them he calls them and gives them faith to believe But God who is rich in grace with his great love wherewith he loved us when when we believed or before even when we were dead in our sins and so far off from believers hath quickned us together with Christ by grace you are saved Eph. 2. 4 5. Now also I suppose that thou wilt say in thy heart I would you would shew us then what is saving faith which thing it may be I may touch upon a while hence in the next thing that I am to speak unto O they that have that are safe indeed The Second Thing THe second Thing that I am to speak unto is this Who they are that are actually brought into this free and unchangable grace and also how they are brought in Answ. Indeed now we are come to the pinch of the whole discourse and if God do but help me to run rightly thorow this as I do verily believe he will I may do thee Reader good and bring glory to my God The Question containeth these two branches First who are brought in Secondly how they are brought in the first is quickly answered Christ Jesus came into the world â—o save sinners Jewish sinners Gentile sinners Old sinners Young sinners great sinners the chiefest of sinners 1 Tim. 1. 14 15. Rom. 5. 7 8 9 10. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. Mat. 21. 31. Publicans and Harlots that is Whores and Cheaters Exactors shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven For I came not saith Christ to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Mark 2. 17. A sinner in the Scripture is described in general to be a transgressor of the Law 1 John 3. 4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the Law for sin is the transgression of the Law But particularly they are described in a more particular way as first such as in whom dwelleth the devil Ephes. 2. 2 3. Secondly such as will do the service of him John 8. 44. Thirdly such as are enemies to God Col. 1. 21. Fourthly such as are 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. 2 Chron. 33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 c. Acts 9. 1 2 3. 1 Tim. 1. 14 15 16. Acts 19. 19. Acts 2. 36 37. Drunkards Whoremasters Liars Perjured Persons Covetous Revilers Extortioners Fornicators Swearers possessed with Devils Thieves Idolaters Witches Sorcerers Conjurers Murderers and the like these be sinners and such sinners that God hath prepared Heaven Happiness Pardon of Sin and an inheritance of God with Christ with Saints with Angels if they do come in and accept of Grace as I might prove at large For Gods grace is so great that if they do come to him by Christ presently all is forgiven them therefore never object that thy sins are too great to be pardoned but come taste and see how good the Lord is to any whosoever comes unto him The second thing is How are these brought into this everlasting Covenant of Grace 2. Answ. When God doth indeed and in truth bring in a sinner into this most blessed Covenant for so it is he usually goeth this way First He slays or kills the party to all things besides himself and his Son Jesus Christ and the comforts of the Spirit For the clearing of this I shall shew you first with what God kills secondly how God kills and thirdly to what God kills those whom he makes alive in Jesus Christ. For the first When God brings sinners into the Covenant of Grace he doth first kill them with the Covenant of Works which is the Moral Law or Ten Commandments This is Pauls Doctrine and also Pauls experience It is his Doctrine where he saith The ministration of death engraven in stones the ministration of condemnation which is the Law in that place called the Letter kills 2 Cor. 3. 6 7 8 9. The Letter saith he killeth or the Law or the ministration of death which is another place is called a sound of words Heb. 12. 19. because they have no life 〈◊〉 them but rather death and damnation through our inability to fulfill them Rom. 8. 3. doth kill 2 Cor. 6. Secondly It is his experience where he saith I was alive once that is to my own things Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10. without the Law that is before God did strike him dead by it but when the commandment came that is to do and exercise its right Office on me which was to kill me then sin revived and I died and I was killed and the commandment or the Law which was ordained to be unto life I found to be unto death For sin taketh occasion by the commandment deceived me and thereby slew me Rom. 7. 9 10 11. And indeed to speak my own experience together with the experience of all the Saints they can seal with me to this more or less Quest. But how doth God kill with this Law or Covenant Answ. First by opening to the soul the spirituality of it The Law is spiritual saith he but I am carnal sold under sin Rom. 7. 14. Now the spirituality of the Law is discovered this way First by shewing to the soul that every sinful thought is a sin against it I sinner when the Law doth come home indeed upon thy soul in the spirituality of it it will discover such things to thee to be sins that now thou lookest over and regardesâ—â—â— that is a remarkable saying of Paul when he saith Sin revived and I died sin revived saith he as if he had said those things that before I did not value nor regard but looked upon them to be trifles to be dead and forgotten but when the Law was fastened on my soul it did so raise them from the dead call them to mind so muster them before my face and put such strength into them that I was over-mastered by them by the guilt of them Sin revived by the commandment or my sins had mighty strength life and abundance of force upon me because of that insomuch that it killed me Mat. 5. 28. Secondly It sheweth that every such sin deserveth eternal damnation Friends I doubt there be but few of you that have seen the spirituality of the Law of Works but this is one thing in which it discovereth
of the body of Jesus Christ of which these were a shaddow and a type for the accomplishing of the second Covenant For Christ was by Covenant to offer a Sacrifice and that an effectual one too if he intended the salvation of sinners A body hast thou prepared me I am come to do thy will Heb. 10. I shall therefore shew you First what was expected of God in the Sacrifice in the Type and then shew you how it was answered in the Antitype Secondly I shall shew you the manner of the offering of the type and so answerable thereto to shew you the fitness of the Sacrifice of the Body of Christ by way of answering some questions For the first of these First God did expect that Sacrifice which he himself had appointed and not another To signifie that none would serve his turn but the body and soul of his appointed Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant John 1. 29. Secondly This Sacrifice must not be lame nor deformed it must have no scar spot or blemish to signifie that Jesus Christ was to be a compleat Sacrifice by Covenant 1 Pet. 1. 29. Thirdly This sacrifice was to be taken out of the flock or herd to signifie that Jesus Christ was to come out of the race of Mankind according to the Covenant Heb. 10. 5. But Secondly As to the manner of it First the sacrifice before it was offered was to have the sins of the Children of Israel confessed over it to signifie that Jesus Christ must Isa. 53. 4 5 6 7. 1 Pet. 2. 24. bear the sins of all his children by Covenant As for thee by the blood of thy Covenant in his own body on the tree Zech. 9. 10 11. Secondly It must be had to the place appointed namely without the Camp of Israel to signifie that Jesus Christ must be led to the Mount Calvary Luke 23. 33. Thirdly The sacrifice was to be killed there to signifie that Jesus Christ must and did suffer without the City of Jerusalem for our salvation Fourthly the sacrifice must not only have its life taken away but also some of its flesh burned upon the Altar to signifie that Jesus Christ was not only to dye a natural death but also that he should undergo the pains and torments of the damned in hell Fifthly Sometimes there must be a living offering and a dead offering as the goat that was killed and the scape goat the dead bird and the living bird Levit. 14. 3 4 5 6. To signifie that Jesus Christ must dye and come to life again Sixthly The goat that was to dye was to be the sin-offering that is to be offered as the rest of the sin-offerings to make an atonement as a type and the other goat was to have all the sins of the Children of Israel confessed over him Levit. 16. from the 7. verse to the 22. and then to be let go into the wilderness never to be catched again to signifie that Christs death was to make satisfaction for sin and his coming to life again was to bring in everlasting Rom. 4. 25. justification from the power curse and destroying nature of sin Seventhly The scape goat was to be carried by a fit man into the wilderness To signifie that Jesus Christ should be both fit and able to carry our sins quite away from us so as they should never be laid to our charge again Here is Grace Eighthly The sacrifices under the Law commonly part of them must be eaten Exod. 12. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. To signifie that they that are saved should spiritually feed on the body and blood of Jesus Christ or else they have no life by him John 6. 51 52 53. Ninthly This sacrifice must be eaten with unleavened bread To signifie that they which love their sins that devilish leaven of wickedness they do not feed upon Jesus Christ. Now of what hath been spoken this is the sum that there is a sacrifice under the New Covenant as there was sacrifices under the Old and that this sacrifice did every way answer that or those Indeed they did but suffer for sin in shew but he in reality they as the shadow but he as the substance O! when Jesus Christ did come to make himself a sacrifice or to offer himself for sin you may understand that our sins was indeed charged to purpose upon him O how they scared his soul how they brake his body insomuch that they made the blood run down his blessed face and from his precious side therefore thou must understand these following things First that Jesus Christ by Covenant did dye for sin Secondly that his death was not a meer natural death but a cursed death even such a one as men do undergo from God for their sins though he himself had none even such a death as to endure the very pains and torments of hell O sad pains and in expressible torments that this our sacrifice for sin went under The pains of his body was not all no but the pains of his soul for his soul was made an offering as well as his body yet all but one sacrifice Isa. 53. To signifie that the suffering of Christ was not only a bodily suffering but a soul suffering not only to suffer what man could inflict upon him but also to suffer soul torments that none but God can inflict or suffer to be inflicted upon him O the torments of his soul they were torment indeed his soul was that that felt the wrath of God My soul saith he is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Mat. 26. 38. My soul is troubled and what shall I say John 12. 27. The Rock was not so rent as was his precious soul there was not such a terrible darkness on the face of the earth then as there was on his precious soul. O the torments of hell and the eclipsings of the divine smiles of God were both upon him at once the Devils assailing of him and God forsaking of him and all at once My God my God saith he why hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27. 46. now in my greatest extremity now sin is laid upon me the curse takes hold on me the pains of hell are clasped about me and thou hast forsaken me O sad Sinner this was not done in pretence but in reality not in shew but in very deed Otherwise Christ had dissembled and had not spoken the truth but the truth of it his bloody sweat declares his mighty cries declares the things what and for what he suffered declares Nay I must say thus much that all the damned souls in hell with all their damnations did never yet feel that torment and pain that did this blessed Jesus in a little time Sinner canst thou read that Jesus Christ was made an offering for sin and yet go on in sin Canst thou hear that the lead of thy sins did break the very heart of Christ and spill his precious Blood And canst thou find in thy heart to
9. 12 13. Chap. 10. 4 5. Isa. 53. 10. Heb. 10. 5. 8. Those were but at best but a shadow or type verse 1. but he the very substance and end of all those Ceremonies Heb. 9. 10. 11. 9. Their holy place was but made by men Heb. 9. 24. but his or that which Jesus is entered is into Heaven it self Heb. 5. 2 3. 10. When they went to offer their sacrifice they were forced to offer for themselves as men compassed about with infirmity Heb. 7. 26. but he holy harmless Heb. 10. 11. who did never commit the least transgression Heb. 7. 26. 11. They when they went in to offer they were fain to do it standing Heb. 10. to signifie that God had no satisfaction therein but he when he had offered one sacrifice for sin for ever sat down on the right hand of God Jer. 12. To signifie that God was very well pleased with his offering 12. They were fain to offer often times the sacrifice that could never take away sin but he by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 11 14. 13. Their sacrifices at the best could but serve for the cleansing of the flesh Heb. 9. 13. but his for cleansing both body and soul The blood of Jesus Christ doth purge the conscience from dead works to live a holy life verse 14. 14. Those high Priests could not offer but once a year in the holiest of all ver 7. but our high Priest he ever liveth to make intercession for us Heb. 7. 24 25. 15. Those high Priests notwithstanding they were Priests they were not always to were their holy garments but Jesus never puts them off of him but is in them always 16. Those high Priests death would be too hard for them Heb. 7. 21 23. but our high Priest hath vanquished and overcome that cruel enemy of ours Heb. 2. 15. and brought life and immortality to light through the glorious Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. 17. Those high Priests were not able to save themselves but this is able to save himself and all that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. 18. Those high Priests blood could not do away sin but the blood of Jesus Christ who is our High Priest cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1. 7. 19. Those high Priests sometimes by sin caused God to reject their sacrifices but this high Priest doth always the things that please him 20. Those high Priests could never convey the Spirit by vertue of their sacrifices or office but this high Priest our Lord Jesus he can and doth give all the gifts and graces that are given to the sons of men 21. Those high Priests could never by their sacrifices bring the soul of any sinner to glory by vertue of it self but Jesus hath by one offering as I said before perfected for ever those that he did die for Thus in brief I have shewed in some particulars how and wherein Jesus our high Priest doth go beyond those high Priests and many more without question might be mentioned but I forbear A fifth Office of Christ in reference to the second Covenant it was that he should be the Fore-runner again to heaven before his Saints that were to follow after First he strikes hands in the Covenant Secondly he stands bound as a surety to see every thing in the Covenant accomplished that was to be done on his part then he brings the message from heaven to the world and before he goeth back he offereth himself for the same sins that he agreed to suffer for and so soon as this was done he goeth post haste to heaven again not only to exercise the second part of his Priestly Office but as our Fore-runner to take possession for us even into heaven it self as you may see Heb. 6. 20. where it is said Whither the forerunner is for us entered First He is run before to open heaven gates Be ye open ye everlasting doors that the King of Glory may enter in Secondly He is run before to take possession of glory in our natures for us Thirdly He is run before to prepare us our places against we come after I go to prepare a place for you John 14. 1 2 3. Fourthly He is run thither to make the way easie in that he hath first trodden the path himself Fifthly He is run thither to receive gifts for us All spiritual and heavenly gifts had been kept from us had not Christ so soon as the time appointed was come run back to the kingdom of glory to receive them for us But I cannot stand to enlarge upon these glorious things the Lord enlarge them upon your hearts by meditation Here now I might begin to speak of his Prophetical and Kingly Office and the priviledges that do and shall come thereby but that I fear I shall be too tedious therefore at this time I shall pass them by Thus you may see how the Covenant of Grace doth run and with whom it was made and also what was the conditions thereof Now then this Grace this evenlasting Grace of God comes to be free to us through the satisfaction according to the conditions given by another for us for though it be free and freely given to us yet the obtaining of it did cost our Head our Publick-man a very dear price 1 Cor. 6. 20. For ye are bought with a price even with the precious blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 9. So it is by another I say not by us yet it is as sure made over to us even to so many of us as do or shall believe as if we had done it and obtained the grace of God ourselves nay surer for consider I say this grace is free to us and comes upon a clear score by vertue or the labour and purchase of another for us mark that which is obtained by another for us is not obtained for us by our selves Now but Christ hath obtained eternal redemption for us Heb. 9. 12. not by the blood of goats and calves which was things offered by men under the Law but by his own blood meaning Christs he entred into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us Secondly It comes to be unchangeable through the perfection of that satisfaction that was given to God through the Son of Mary for us for whatever the divine infinite and eternal justice of God did call for at the hands of man if ever he intended to be a partaker of the grace of God this Jesus this one man this publick person did compleatly give a satisfaction to it even so effectually which caused God not only to say I am pleased but I am well pleased Mat. 3. 17. Compleatly and sufficiently satisfied with thee on their behalf for so you must understand it Mark there these following words And having made peace or compleatly made up the difference through the blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say
satisfaction justice would not have given him any thing for justice the justice of God is so pure that if it be not compleatly satisfied in every particular it giveth nothing but curses Gal. 3. 10. Thirdly It is yet far more evident that he hath indeed pleased God in the behalf of sinners in that God hath given him gifts to distribute to sinners yea the worst of sinners as a fruit of his satisfaction and that at his ascension Psal. 68. 18. Christ hath so satisfied God that he hath given him all the treasures both of heaven and earth to dispose of as he seeth good he hath so pleased God that he hath given him a Name above every Name a Scepter above every Scepter a Crown above every Crown a Kingdom above every Kingdom Phil. 29. Rev. 19. 16. he hath given him the highest placeâ—n heaven even his own right hand he hath given him all the power of heaven and earth and under the earth in his own hand to bind whom he pleaseth and to set free whom he thinks meet he hath in a word such an high esteem in the eyes of his Father that he hath put into his hand all things that are for the profit of his people both in this world and that which is to come and all this as the fruit of his faithfulness in doing of his work as the Mediator of the New Covenant Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led Captivity Captive thou hast received gifts mark thou hast received them for men even for the worst of men the rebellious also And hath sent forth some being furnished with these gifts some I say For the work of the ministry to the edifying of them that are already called and also for the calling in of all those for whom he covenanted with his Father Till all come in the unity of faith c. Eph. 4. 8 9 10 11 12 13. Fourthly It doth still appear far more evident For will you hear what the Father himself saith for the shewing of his well-pleasedness in these two particulars First In that he bids poor souls to hear and to do as Christ would have them Mat. 3. 17. Luke 9. 35. Secondly In that he resolves to make them that turn their backs upon him that dishonour him which is done in a very great measure by those that lay aside his merits done by himself for Justification I say he that resolved to make them his footstool where he saith Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Are they enemies to thee saith God I will be even with them Do they slight thy merits Do they slight thy groans thy tears thy blood thy death thy resurrection and intercession thy second coming again in heavenly glory I will tear them and rend them I 'll make them as mire in the streets I will make thy enemies thy footstool Psal. 110. 1. Mat. 22. 44. Heb. 1. 13. Chap. 10. 13. I saith he And thou shalt dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Psal. 2. 9. look to it you that slight the merits of the blood of Christ. Fifthly Again further yet God will make all the world to know that he hath been and is well pleased in his Son in that God hath given and will make it appear he hath given the world to come into his hand Heb. 2. And that he shall raise the dead bring them before his judgment-seat execute judgment upon them which he pleaseth to execute judgment on to their damnation and to receive them to eternal life whom he doth favour even so many as shall be found to believe in his name and merits John 5. 26 27 28. For as the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself And he hath given him authority to execute judgment also because he is the Son of man For the hour is coming that all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation I and the worst enemy that Christ hath now shall come at that day with a pale face with a quaking heart and bended knees trembling before him confessing the glory of his merits and the vertue there was in them to save to the glory of God the Father Romans 14. 11. Phil. 2. 9 10 11. Much more might be added to discover the glorious perfection of this mans satisfaction but for you that desire to be further satisfied concerning this search the Scriptures and beg of God to give you faith and understanding therein and as for you that slight these things and continue so doing God hath another way to take with you even to dash you in pieces like a Potters vessel for this hath Christ received of his Father to do unto you Rev. 2. 27. Thus I have shewed you in particular that the Covenant of the grace of God is free and unchangeable to men that is in that it hath been obtained for men and that perfectly to the satisfying of justice and taking all things out of the way that were any ways an hinderance to our salvation Col. 2. 14. The second thing for the discovering of this freeness and constancy of the Covenant of the Grace of God it is manifest thus First Whatsoever any man hath of the grace of God he hath it as a free gift of God through Christ Jesus the Mediator of this Covenant even when they are in a state of enmity to him mark that Rom. 5. 8 9. Col. 1. 21 22. whether it be Christ as the foundation stone or faith to lay hold on him Eph. 2. 8. For by Grace you are saved through Faith and that not of your selves not for any thing in you or done by you for the purchasing of it but it is the free gift of God And that bestowed on you even when you were dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Nay if thou hast so much as one desire that is right it is the gift of God for of our selves saith the Apostle we are not able to speak a good word or think a good thought 2 Cor. 3. 5. Was not grace absolute grace that God made promise to Adam after transgression Gen. 3. 5. Was it not free grace in God to save such a wretch as Manasseh was who used enchantments witchcraft burnt his children in the fire and wrought much evil 2 Chron. 33. Was it not free grace to save such as those were that are spoken of in the 16 of Ezekiel which no eye pitied Was it not free grace for Christ to give Peter a loving look after he had cursed and swore and denied him Was it not free grace that met Paul when he was a going to Damascus to persecute which converted him and made him a vessel of mercy And what shall I say of such that are spoken