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nature or grace, all things come of God. These words do especially concern christians. All matters of grace come from the Father to us for his glory ; all things that belong to the new creation, as appeareth by the last clause ; we by him, et? dvrov, or for him. See Eph. i. 12, ' That we should be to the praise of his glory.' So for what is said of the Mediator ; and ' one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things ; ' that is, which we receive from God ; and ' we by him ; ' that is, all the services which we return to God again. Not only blessings come from the Father to us, but we also must return duty and service to God by the same Mediator. Keceipts come from God by Christ, and returns go back by Christ to God. Which is to be noted by them who are all for receipts, but think not of returns ; and also by them who own God in their mercies, but make returns in their own name. No ; all tliat duty which we perform to God is by the Mediator. All Christianity is a coming to God by Christ, Heb. vii. 25. If we believe in God, it is by him : 1 Peter i. 2, ' By whom we believe in God.' If we love God, it is in Christ. If we pray to God, it is in and through him : Eph. ii. 18, ' For through him we both have an access by one Spirit unto the Father.' If we praise God, it is in and by Christ : Phil. i. 11, ' Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.' Otherwise our duties are not acceptable and pleasing to him.
3. I observe, that in the receipts we expect from God there is great encouragement to expect them ; for God is represented as a fountain of grace, as a father, as a God and father, that acts by a mediator, whose merit is expressed as large as the Father's power.
[1.] As a fountain of grace. He is the supreme cause of all things, from whom all creatures have their life and being ; a fountain ever- flowing, and overflowing. What can we ask of him which he is not able to do ? Ps. Ivii. 2, ' I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me.' If it be pardon of sin or the gift of the Spirit, if subduing enemies or everlasting salvation, he is able to give it you. If it be strength against temptations, or grace to serve him acceptably, you come to a God from whom are all things. When a man seriously worshippeth God, he turneth his back upon all other things, and turneth his face to God as the supreme lord and fountain of all happi- ness. You may with confidence present your petitions to him that can perform all things.
[2.] You come to God as a father. If you take it personally, it ia comfortable to come to him as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Eph. iii. 14 ; or essentially, as a father of the whole family of the faithful. He loveth us dearly. We have the supreme God for our father, and shall not we trust in him ? 2 Cor. vi. 18, ' And I will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters.' Who would distrust a father, and an omnipotent father ? When we remember not only his suflBciency, but his love to us and our interest in him, we make our addresses to him with confidence. Who may be confident if not the children of such a father?
[3.] This fatherly goodness and all-sufficiency is engaged for our relief by the Mediator. As all things are from the Father, so all things are by him ; that is, purchased and bought by his merit. The extent
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and virtue of his merit is expressed as largely as the Father's power. If we believe in God as an all-sufiicient fountain of grace, we believe in Christ as an all-sufficient mediator : John xiv. 1, ' Let not your hearts be troubled ; ye believe in God, believe also in me ; ' 1 John ii. 23, ' He that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.' Besides this, the veil of Christ's flesh doth break the beams of his terror to those that behold his excellencies and rejoice in them. By that we are encouraged to come to God for the Mediator's blessing, which is the pardon of our sins : Mat. i. 21 , ' He shall save his people from their sins ; ' and Acts iii. 26, ' God hath sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your sins.' One great petition which we have to put up to God is for the pardon of sin. This is a principal suit, which sinful man hath daily to present to God. Now, when we are sensible of sin, how comfortable is it to come to God in the name of this Lord and Mediator, who came on purpose to take away sin, and hath satisfied God's justice, and merited God's favour and mercy for us, and liveth in heaven to plead the merit of his sacrifice ?