VI. DIVINE GRACE.
GRACE, LOYE, AND MERCY.
_I_ FIND that the goodness of God to his people is diversely
expressed in his word, sometimes by the word grace, sometimes by the
word love, and sometimes by the word mercy. When it is expressed by
that word grace, then it is to show that what he doeth is of his
princely will, his royal bounty, and sovereign pleasure. When it is
expressed by that word love, then it is to show us that his
affection was and is in what he doeth, and that he doeth what he
doeth for us with complacency and delight. But when it is set forth
to us under the notion of mercy, then it bespeaks us to be in a
state both wretched and miserable, and that his bowels and
compassions yearn over us in this our fearful plight.
GRACE DESCRIBED.
There are many things which men call the grace of God that are not.
1. The light and knowledge that are in every man.
2. That natural willingness that is in man to be saved.
3. That power that is in man by nature to do something, as he
thinketh, towards his own salvation.
But do thou remember that the grace of God is his good-will and
great love to sinners, in his Son Jesus Christ; by the which
good-will they are sanctified, through the offering up of the body
of Jesus Christ once for all.
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