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And here by the way I can't but take notice of that nice but falfe Distinction, which they of the Church of Rome make ufe of. They will allow, that our Sins are forgiven, and we fo far juftify'd for the fole Merits of Chrift, but that we are rewarded with Eternal Happiness, That, they say, muft be by our Own. But where is the Ground of this Difference, why muft the Death of Chrift, which made a full Satisfaction for all Sin, be abfolutely neceffary, and the fole Cause of our being fav'd from Eternal Death; and the Life of Chrift, which fulfill'd all Righteoufnefs, not be esteem'd equally neceffary, and the fole Cause of our being admitted to Eternal Life?

The aftonishing Difproportion between the Work and the Recompence can be accounted for by nothing but Grace, nor ob tain'd by any thing but by that fame Grace, producing in us Gratitude and Love. For it is for Love that That glorious Recompence is laid up, which Eye has not feen, nor Ear beard, neither has it enter'd into the heart of Man to conceive what God has prepar'd for them that love Him. This is the fubftantial Reason of our Hope, and this unmeasurable Inequality between the Service and the Reward no longer confounds our Understanding, or ftaggers our Belief. For tho' our Works are really nothing worth,

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the Affection, from which they proceed, may be of great Value in the Sight of God; and when it is not ftrict Juftice, but free Grace that rewards, and when it is not the Work that is rewarded, but the Love, there is no Reward too great for that free Infinite Grace to bestow.

Thus every way we fee all Pretence to Merit excluded. To which Purpose it is very well worth our Observation in what different Terms the Apostle expreffes the different Retributions of Sin and Holiness, in the last Verfe of the 6th Chapter to the Romans. Death is there call'd the Wages; τὰ ὀψώνια τῆς ἁμαρτίας, the Stipend which we have earn'd, and which without Injustice cannot be detain'd from us: whereas Everlafting Life, let our Righteousness be never fo great, is yet xaμa Tess, the free and gratuitous Gift of God thro' Jefus Chrift. So directly contrary are the words of this holy Apostle to the Devices of those wicked Men, who have made Sins that are not Mortal, and good Works that are Meritorious. Whereas our best and most holy Endeavours muft beg for Grace and Favour, and our Sins only are the Works by which we can properly merit any thing from God; Tho that alas! is a dreadful Recompence, even his Wrath and everlasting Damnation.

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Let us therefore, laying afide all vain Truft in Ourselves or our Defervings, rely wholly upon that Grace by which we are fav'd; For by Grace ye are fav'd thro Faith, but not of Works. Of which two last it remains to treat, which I fhall reserve to another Opportunity, and at prefent conclude with exhorting all earneftly to pray in the Words of the Apostle, That He would make all Grace to abound in us, that we may abound to every good Work, 2 Cor. 9. 8. That Grace may reign thro Righteoufneß to Eternal Life, Rom. 5. 21. And now to our Father that bath loved us, and given us everlasting Confolation and good Hope thro' Grace, 2 Theff.2.16. The God of all Grace, who has called us into his eternal Glory by Jefus Chrift, 1 Pet. 5. 10,

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To him with the fame Jefus Chrift and Holy Spirit, three Perfons and one God, be afcrib'd, as is most due, all Glory, Honor Might, Majefty, and Dominion both now and for Evermore. Amen.

SERMON XI.

SERMON XI.

Ephef. II. 8, 9, 10.

For by Grace are ye Sav'd, through Faith, and that not of your felves, it is the Gift of God:

Not of Works, lest any Man fhould boaft: For we are his Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordain'd, that we should walk in them.

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N treating of these Words, I obferv'd three things very confiderable in them contain'd, which in their Order I propos'd to make the Subject of my Difcourfe.

I. The First of these, I then told you, was Grace, By which we are Sav'd.

II. The Second, Faith, through which we are Sav'd.

III. The Third, Good Works, of which we are not, but without which we cannot be Sav'd.

Of the First of these, Grace, and how entirely our Salvation depends upon it, and ought wholly to be afcrib'd to it, I at that time difcours'd at large, concluding that without all Controverfy, by Grace ye are Sav'd. By Grace, but That not Irrefiftable, Through Faith, but That not Idle, but productive of Good Works, and those Good Works not Meritorious of, but yet neces fary to Salvation.

Of which two laft therefore, namely Faith the immediate Inftrument of Salvation, and Good Works, the neceffary Qualification of all that would be Sav'd, it remains in order now to treat..

II. Through Faith ye are Sav'd, and that not of your felves, it is the Gift of God.

In which Words two things are Observable.

ift, That Salvation is through Faith. 2dly, That this Saving Faith is not of ourselves, it is the Gift of God.

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