§ 3. (2.) Another pearl in the saint's diadem is, that it is _a free gift_. These two, _purchased_ and _free_, are the chains of gold which make up the wreaths for the tops of the pillars in the temple of God.[126] It was dear to Christ, but free to us. When Christ was to buy, silver and gold were nothing worth; prayers and tears could not suffice, not any thing below his blood; but our buying is receiving; we have it freely, _without money and without price_.[127] A thankful acceptance of a free acquittance is no paying of the debt. Here all is free; if the Father freely give the Son, and the Son freely pay the debt; and if God freely accepts that way of payment, when he might have required it of the principal; and if both Father and Son freely offer us the purchased life on our cordial acceptance, and if they freely send the Spirit to enable us to accept; what is here then that is not free? Oh the everlasting admiration that must needs surprize the saints to think of this freeness! "What did the Lord see in me, that he should judge me meet for such a state? That I, who was but a poor, diseased, despised wretch, should be clad in the brightness of this glory! That I, a creeping worm, should be advanced to this high dignity! That I, who was but lately groaning, weeping, dying, should now be as full of joy as my heart can hold! yea, should be taken from the grave, where I was rotting, and from the dust and darkness, where I seemed forgotten, and be here set before his throne! That I should be taken, with Mordecai, from captivity, and be set next unto the king; and, with Daniel, from the den, to be made ruler of princes and provinces! Who can fathom unmeasurable love?" If worthiness were our condition for admittance, we might sit down and _weep_ with St. John, _Because no man was found worthy_. But _the Lion of the Tribe of Judah is worthy, and hath prevailed_;[128] and by that title must we hold the inheritance. We shall _offer_ there the _offering_ that David refused, even praise for _that which cost us nothing_.[129] Here our commission runs, _freely ye have received, freely give_;[130] but Christ has dearly bought, yet freely gives.
[Footnote 126] 1 Kings vii, 17.
[Footnote 127] Isaiah lv, 1.
[Footnote 128] Revelation v, 4, 5.
[Footnote 129] 2 Samuel xxiv, 24.
[Footnote 130] Matthew x, 8.
§ 4. If it were only for nothing, and without our merit, the wonder were great; but it is moreover against our merit, and against our long endeavoring our own ruin. What an astonishing thought it will be, to think of the unmeasurable difference between our deservings and receivings! Between the state we should have been in, and the state we are in! To look down upon hell, and see the vast difference that grace hath made betwixt us and them! To see the inheritance there, which we were born to, so different from that which we are _adopted_ to! What pangs of love will it cause within us, to think, "_yonder_ was the place that sin would have brought me to, but _this_ is it that Christ hath brought me to! Yonder _death_ was _the wages of my sin_, but this _eternal life is the gift of God, through Jesus Christ my Lord_![131] _Who made me to differ?_[132] Had I not now been in those flames, if I had had my own way, and been let alone to my own will? Should I not have _lingered in Sodom_, till the flames had seized on me, if God had not in mercy _brought me out_?"[133] Doubtless this will be our everlasting admiration, that so rich a crown should fit the head of so vile a sinner! That such high advancement, and such long unfruitfulness and unkindness, can be the state of the same person! And that such vile rebellions can conclude in such most precious joys! But no thanks to us, nor to any of our duties and labors, much less to our neglects and laziness; we know to whom the praise is due, and must be given for ever. Indeed to this very end it was that infinite Wisdom cast the whole design of man's salvation into this mould of purchase and freeness, that the love and joy of man might be perfected, and the honor of grace most highly advanced; that the thought of merit might neither cloud the one, nor obstruct the other? and that on these two hinges the gate of heaven might turn. So then let DESERVED be written on the door of hell, but on the door of heaven and life, THE FREE GIFT.
[Footnote 131] Romans vi, 23.
[Footnote 132] 1 Corinthians iv, 7.
[Footnote 133] Genesis xix, 16.