1. It ministereth to him matter of joy; for he that knows this grace aright, he knows G.o.d is at peace with him, because he believeth in Jesus Christ, who by grace tasted death for every man; "by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of G.o.d" (Rom 5:2). And indeed what joy or what rejoicing is like rejoicing here? To rejoice in hope of the glory of G.o.d, it is to rejoice in hope to enjoy him for ever, with that eternal glory that is in him.
2. As it manifesteth matter of joy and rejoicing, so it causeth much fruitfulness in all holiness and G.o.dliness. "For the grace of G.o.d that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying unG.o.dliness and worldly l.u.s.ts, we should live soberly, righteously, and G.o.dly in this present world" (t.i.tus 2:11,12). Yea, it so naturally tendeth this way, that it can no sooner appear to the soul, but it causeth this blessed fruit in the heart and life.
"We ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers l.u.s.ts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of G.o.d our Saviour appeared"--what then? Why then, he that believeth, being justified by his grace, and expecting to be an heir according to the hope of eternal life, is "careful to maintain good works" (t.i.tus 3:3-8). See also that in Paul"s epistle to the Colossians--"We give thanks," says he, "to G.o.d and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of G.o.d in truth" (Col 1:3-6).
3. The knowledge of, and strength that comes by, the grace of G.o.d is a sovereign antidote against all, and all manner of delusions that are or may come into the world. Wherefore Peter, exhorting the believers to take heed that they were not carried away with the errors of the wicked, and so fall from their own steadfastness, adds, as their only help, this exhortation--"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).
(1.) Suppose it should be urged, that man"s own righteousness saveth the sinner; why, then, we have this at hand--G.o.d "hath saved us, and called us, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ" &c. (2 Tim 1:9).
(2.) Suppose it should be urged, that by the doctrine of free grace we must not understand G.o.d"s extending free forgiveness as far as we have or do sin; the answer is--"But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness," through the justice of G.o.d being satisfied by his Son, "unto eternal life" (Rom 5:20,21).
(3.) Suppose it should be urged, that this is a doctrine tending to looseness and lasciviousness; the answer is ready--"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
G.o.d forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" for the doctrine of free grace believed is the most sin-killing doctrine in the world (Rom 6:1,2).
(4.) Suppose men should attempt to burden the church of G.o.d with unnecessary ceremonies, and impose them, even as the false apostles21 urged circ.u.mcision of old, saying, Unless you do these things, ye cannot be saved; why, the answer is ready--"Why tempt ye G.o.d, to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they" (Acts 15:1,10,11). But not to enlarge, 22
[Third.] This doctrine, "By grace ye are saved," it is the only remedy against despairing thoughts at the apprehension of our own unworthiness; as,
1. Thou criest out, O cursed man that I am! my sins will sink me into h.e.l.l.
Answ. Hold, man; there is a G.o.d in heaven that is "the G.o.d of all grace" (1 Peter 5:10). Yet thou art not the man of all sin. If G.o.d be the G.o.d of all grace, then if all the sins in the world were thine, yet the G.o.d of all grace can pardon, or else it should seem that sin is stronger in a man penitent, to d.a.m.n, than the grace of G.o.d can be to save.
2. But my sins are of the worst sort--blasphemy, adultery, covetousness, murder, &c.
Answ. "All manner of sins and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, wherewithsoever they shall blaspheme.--Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our G.o.d, for he will abundantly pardon" (Matt 12:31; Mark 3:28; Isa 55:7,8).
3. But I have a stout and rebellious heart, a heart that is far from good.
Answ. "Hearken unto me," saith G.o.d, "ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness"; that is, the righteousness of Christ, by which stout-hearted sinners are justified, though unG.o.dly (Isa 46:12,13; Phil 3:7,8; Rev 4:5).
4. But I have a heart as hard as any stone.
Answ. "A new heart also will I give you," says G.o.d, "and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh" (Eze 36:26).
5. But I am as blind as a beetle; I cannot understand anything of the gospel.
Answ. "I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them" (Isa 42:16).
6. But my heart will not be affected with the sufferings and blood of Christ.
Answ. "I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born" (Zech 12:10).
7. But though I see what is like to become of me if I find not Christ, yet my spirit, while I am thus, will be running after vanity, foolishness, uncleanness, wickedness.
Answ. "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you" (Eze 36:25).
8. But I cannot believe in Christ.
Answ. But G.o.d hath promised to make thee believe. "I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord." And again, "There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust" (Zeph 3:12; Rom 15:12).
9. But I cannot pray to G.o.d for mercy.
Answ. But G.o.d hath graciously promised a spirit of prayer--"Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.--They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The Lord is my G.o.d" (Zech 8:22; 12:10; 13:9).
10. But I cannot repent. Answ. "The G.o.d of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath G.o.d exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:30,31).
Thus might I enlarge, for the holy Bible is full of this exceeding grace of G.o.d. O these words, "I will" and "you shall"! they are the language of a gracious G.o.d; they are promises by which our G.o.d has engaged himself to do that for poor sinners which would else be left undone for ever.
THE THIRD USE.
Are they that are saved, saved by grace? Then let Christians labour to advance G.o.d"s grace. FIRST. In heart. SECOND. In life.
FIRST. In heart; and that in this manner--
First. Believe in G.o.d"s mercy through Jesus Christ, and so advance the grace of G.o.d; I mean, venture heartily, venture confidently, for there is a sufficiency in the grace of G.o.d. Abraham magnified the grace of G.o.d when "he considered not his own body now dead,--neither yet the deadness of Sarah"s womb: he staggered not at the promise of G.o.d through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to G.o.d" (Rom 4:19,20).
Second. Advance it by heightening of it in thy thoughts. Have always good and great thoughts of the grace of G.o.d; narrow and slender thoughts of it are a great disparagement to it.
And to help thee in this matter, consider--1. This grace is compared to a sea--"And thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19). Now a sea can never be filled by casting into it. 23
2. This grace is compared to a fountain, to an open fountain--"In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness."
Now a fountain can never be drawn dry (Zech 12:1). 3. The Psalmist cries out concerning the grace and mercy of G.o.d, "It endureth for ever"; he says so twenty-six times in one psalm. Surely he saw a great deal in it, surely he was taken a great deal with it (Psa 136). 4. Paul says the G.o.d of all grace can do more than "we ask or think" (Eph 3:20). 5. Therefore as G.o.d"s Word says, so thou shouldst conclude of the grace of G.o.d.
Third. Come boldly to the throne of grace by hearty prayer; for this is the way also to magnify the grace of G.o.d. This is the apostle"s exhortation, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need"
(Heb 4:16). See here a little, and wonder.
We have been all this while discoursing of the grace of G.o.d; and now we are come to his throne, as Job says, "even to his seat"; and behold, "that is a throne of grace." O, when a G.o.d of grace is upon a throne of grace, and a poor sinner stands by and begs for grace, and that in the name of a gracious Christ, in and by the help of the Spirit of grace, can it be otherwise but such a sinner must obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need? But not to forget the exhortation, "Come boldly." Indeed, we are apt to forget this exhortation; we think, seeing we are such abominable sinners, we should not presume to come boldly to the throne of grace; but yet so we are bidden to do; and to break a commandment here is as bad as to break it in another place.
You may ask me, What is it to come boldly? [I] answer--
1. It is to come confidently--"Let us draw near with a true heart, in full a.s.surance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb 10:22).
2. To come boldly, it is to come frequently--"At morning, at noon, and at night, will I pray." We use to count them bold beggars that come often to our door.
3. To come boldly, it is to ask for great things when we come.
That is the bold beggar that will not only ask, but also choose the thing that he asketh.
4. To come boldly, it is to ask for others as well as ourselves, to beg mercy and grace for all the saints of G.o.d under heaven as well as for ourselves--"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit--for all saints" (Eph 6:18).
5. To come boldly, it is to come and take no nay; thus Jacob came to the throne of grace--"I will not let thee go except thou bless me" (Gen 32:26).
6. To come boldly, it is to plead G.o.d"s promises with him both in a way of justice and mercy, and to take it for granted G.o.d will give us--because he hath said it--whatever we ask in the name of his Son.
Fourth. Labour to advance G.o.d"s grace in thy heart, by often admiring, praising, and blessing G.o.d in secret for it; G.o.d expects it--"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me," says he. "By Jesus Christ therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to G.o.d continually; that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name" (Psa 50:23; Heb 13:15).
SECOND. [In life.] But again; as we should advance this grace in our hearts, so we should do it in our life. We should in our conversation adorn the doctrine of G.o.d our Saviour in all things.
It is a great word of the apostle, "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ," which is the gospel of the grace of G.o.d (Phil 1:27). G.o.d expecteth that there should in our whole life be a blessed tang24 of the gospel, or that in our life among men there should be preached to them the grace of the gospel of G.o.d.
The gospel shows us that G.o.d did wonderfully stoop and condescend for our good; and to do accordingly, it is to stoop and condescend to others.