3. Preservation in a condition of acceptation with God, and holy obedience unto him unto the end, is also of especial grace. It is the grace of perseverance, and eminently included in the covenant, as we have elsewhere showed at large.
4, Adoption, as a privilege, with all the privileges that flow from it, is also grace, Eph. i. 5, 6.
All these, with all those admirable and inexpressible mercies that they branch themselves into,—giving deliverance unto sinners from evil temporal and eternal, raising them to communion with God here, and to the enjoyment of him for ever: hereafter,—are called grace, and do belong to the lordship of Christ, as he is heir, lord, and possessor of them all. All the stores of this grace and mercy that are in heaven for sinners are given into his hand, and resigned
60 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. I.
up to his sovereign disposal, as we shall intimate in general and particular :—
1. In general, Col. i. 19, “It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.” There is a fourfold fulness in Christ :— (1.) Of the Deity in his divine nature, Rom. ix. 5. (2) Of wnion in his person, Col. ii. 9. (8.) Of grace in his human nature, John i, 14, it. 34; Luke ii. 52, iv. 1. (4) An authoritative: fulness, to communicate of it unto others. That is the fulness here intended ; for it is in him as the head of the church, verse 18, so as that from him, or that fulness which it pleased the Father to intrust him withal, believers might receive “grace for grace,” John i. 16, 17. Thus he testifies that “all things are delivered to him of his Father,” Matt, xi. 27,—put into his power and possession. And they are the things he there intends, on the account whereof he invites sinners weary and laden_to come unto him, verse 28, namely, all mercy and grace; which are the things that burdened sinners need and look after. The same is testified John iii. 35, 86; and fully chap. xvi. 15, “All things that the Father hath are mine;”’ chap. xvii. 10, All the grace and mercy that are in the heart of God as Father to bestow upon his children, they are all given into the hand of Christ, and are his, or part of his inheritance.
2. In particular:—
(1.) All pardoning grace, for the acceptance of our persons and forgiveness of our sins, is his; he is the Lord of it. Acts v. 31, He is made “a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and the for- giveness of sins.” Forgiveness of sin is wholly given unto: him as to the amdinistration of it, nor doth any one receive it but out of his stores. And what.is the dominion of ten thousands of worlds in comparison of this: inheritance? Sure he shall be my God and King who hath all forgiveness at his disposal. All that this world can do or give is a thousand times lighter than the dust of the balance, if compared with these good things of the kingdom of Christ.
(2.) All regenerating, quickening, sanctifying, assisting grace is his. [1.] John v. 21, He quickeneth whom he pleaseth. He walks among dead souls, and says to whom. he will, ‘ Live” And, [2.] He sanctifies by his Spirit whom he pleaseth, John iv. 14 All the living waters of saving grace are committed to him, and he invites men unto them freely, Cant. v. 1; Isa. lv. 1; Rev. xxii. 17. And, [3.] All grace actually assisting us unto any duty is his also, for without him we can do nothing, John xv. 5; for it is he alone that gives out suitable help in the time of need, Heb. iv. 16. No man was ever quickened, purified, or strengthened, but by him; nor can any dram of this grace be obtained but. out of his treasures. Those who pretend to stores of it in their own. wills, are so. far antichrists.
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(3.) The grace of our preservation in our acceptation with God and obedience unto him is solely his, John x. 28. And so also,—
(4.) Are all the blessed and gracious privileges whereof we are made partakers in our adoption, John i. 12. Heb. iii. 6, he is so Lord over the house and family of God as to have the whole inherit- ance in his power, and the absolute disposal of all the good things belonging unto it.
These are the riches and treasures of the kingdom of Christ, the good things of his house, the revenues of his dominion. The mass of this treasure that lies by him is infinite, the stores of it are inex- haustible; and he is ready, free, gracious, and bountiful, in his com- munications of them to all the subjects of his dominion. This part of his heirship extends unto,—1. All the grace and mercy that the Father could find in his own gracious heart to bestow, when he was full of counsels of love, and designed to exalt himself by the way of grace, Eph. 1.6. 2. To all the grace and mercy which he himself could purchase by the effusion of his blood, Heb. ix. 14; Eph. 1. 13; and indeed these are commensurate, if things in respect of us alto- gether boundless may be said to be commensurate. 3. All that grace which hath saved the world of sinners which are already in the enjoyment of God, and that shall effectually save all that come to God by him. 4. All that grace which, in the promises of it in the Old Testament, is set out by all that is rich, precious, glorious,— all that is eminent in the whole creation of God; and in the New is called “ treasure,” “ unsearchable riches,” and “exceeding excel- leney:” which, being communicated by him to all the subjects of his kingdom, makes every one of them richer than all the potentates of the earth who have no interest in him.