[2.] The creature.
(1.) Their estate. There was no worth in us to move him, or good that he could foresee in us or expect from us, but what was the fruit of his own grace. In our natural condition we were the cursed off- spring of sinful Adam, unworthy and polluted creatures, who had sold ourselves to Satan, and cast away the mercies of our creation ; and when we were wallowing in our blood and filthiness, then he said to us, ' Live,' Ezek. xvi. 6. We had lost the image and favour of God, were banished out of his presence, sentenced to death, ready for execu- tion. Then came Christ to work salvation for us, and restore our estate ; and God called us with an holy calling when we were altogether senseless and careless, did not so much as sue to God for any mercy ; then he sought us out, and effectually tendered his grace to us. After conversion, all we do is a due debt to God : Luke xvii. 10, ' When ye have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants, we have done but what was our duty to do/ There is a sinful defect in all we do : Isa. lxiv. 6, ' We are all an unclean thing, and our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.' So that still it is grace. We deserve nothing, unless it be condemnation.
(2.) It is most for their benefit to recover their hearts from the flesh and the world to God. Nothing is more apt to gain upon us, and to beget love in us, than the wonders of grace: 1 John iv. 19, 'We love him, because he first loved us.' This is the most taking, congruous way, to prevail on the hearts of men. But of this more anon.
Use 1. Information.
1. That the merit of Christ is consistent enough with the grace of God ; for the merit of Christ is a part of this grace, therefore they are conjoined in the text. And the merit of the Kedeemer is the most convenient means and way to bring about the effects of it : Rom. iii. 24, ' Ye are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.' How freely, when not without so great a price and satisfaction? It is free to us, but dear to him. It is the greater ground of confidence to us when our salvation standeth on a bottom of merit as well as of grace. Our privileges were dear bought, and there- fore more likely to stand. So that it doth not derogate from the grace of God, but much amplify and enlarge it. For Christ by his merit and intercession hath satisfied divine justice, which put in a bar against us, and doth acquire unto us all those things which love and mercy
350 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALOXIANS I. [SeR. XVL
hath prepared for us : Isa. liii. 5, ' He was wounded for our transgres- sions, he was bruised for our iniquities ; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.'
2. That grace doth not exclude faith, repentance, nor new obedience, or good works; for here is faith, and the work of faith, &c : Eph. ii. 8, 'By grace ye are saved, through faith.' Grace bringeth about our salvation in this way and order. Though neither faith, nor repentance, nor good works, have a causal influence in our salvation, much less are con-causes with the grace of God and Jesus Christ, yet God taketh this method and way. Principal causes do not exclude necessary means, but comprise them. Therefore do not set grace against grace, and say, God will save you by his grace, and therefore we need not take care to repent, or believe, or obey the gospel, and that, if we be predestinated, we shall be saved, whatever we do or howsoever we live. No ; there is required of us first a serious entrance into the gospel covenant, and afterwards a strict obedience to Christ's laws ; otherwise we make Christ an encourager of sin, or, as the apostle phraseth it, a 'Minister of sin,' Gal. ii. 17; and you pretend grace for your carnal security and sloth.
3. That Christ is to be eyed so in the communications of grace that we forget not the Father ; but we ought to see the fulness and rich good-will of the Father, in what Christ giveth: ' The grace of our God,' in the text. In the whole dispensation of grace the Father's honour must be secured and reserved. God is still the fountain of grace. Christ came to evidence his Father's love : John iii. 16, ' God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life ; ' 2 Cor. v. 19, ' God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them ; ' Kom. viii. 32, ' He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all ; how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ? ' To represent the amiableness of the divine nature ; and therefore we must not look upon him as harsh, inexorable, and severe. On the other side, we must not so look to the mercy of God as to overlook the merit and intercession of Christ. The Father's love preventeth us, Christ's intercession maketh way for us.