of colour:) therefore the glory of his grace is more especially fastened on Saints, that sometimes were sinners. Oh what stories will be told at this day of graces acts? I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and an injurious person (said Paul) but I obtained mercy; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but I was be-mercied, as if he had been dipt in a River, in a Sea of mercy; it may be he will make the same acknowledgment at the day of judgment; I was a sinner, but the grace of the Lord Jesus to me was abundant, superabundant; I obtained as much grace as would have saved a world. Certainly free grace shall then be discovered in some purpose; then it shall be known, That where sin abounded, grace far more; it over-abound∣ed, or more than over-bounded: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, It is a word borrowed from Fountains, and Rivers, which have over-flowed with Waters ever since the Creation; then all the Saints shall exalt, and magnifie, and with loud voyces praise the glory of his grace; they shall look on their debts written in graces book, and then shall they sing and say, O the mystery of grace! O the gold-mines, and the depts of Christs free love! why this was the great design of our salvation: at the first, when God was willing to communi∣cate himself out of his aloneness everlasting, he laid this plot, that all he would do should be to the praise of the glory of his grace; and now at his second coming, having done all he will do, the Saints for whom he hath done all, admire, esteem, honour, and sound forth the praises of his grace. Is not this their everlasting song which they begin at this day? Glory to the Lamb, and glory to his grace, that sitteth on the Throne for ever more? not but that they glorifie him in his wisdom, power, holiness, and his other attributes, ay but especially in this, it is his Grace in which he most delighteth; even as vertuous Kings affect, above all their other Vertues, to be had in honour for their Clemency, and Bounty; so Jesus Christ the King of Kings affects, above all, the glory of his grace. And to this purpose Heaven it self is an house full of broken men, who have borrowed millions from Christ, but can never repay more than to read, and sing the praises of Free-grace; Glory to the Lamb, and glory to the riches of his grace for evermore.
Thus for directions; one word of Application, or a few motives to work Faith in you in this respect,
1. Christ in his word invites you to believe; these are his Letters from Heaven, Come all to the marriage-supper of the Lamb; Ho every one that thirsts come in; Heaven-gate is open to all that knock, but fools, foolish Virgins, foolish souls, which have no Faith, nor will have any, to render them fit for Heaven. This meets with some that scruple, what? will Christ come again to receive me to himself? shall I enter with him into glory? alas no unclean thing shall enter into that holy City, and shall such a sinner as I am be admitted? Oh believe, believe thy part in this coming of Christ, to receive thee to himself; and no sin, that thou feelest a burthen, shall keep thee out of Heaven. There is Rahab the Harlot; and Manasseh the Murtherer, and Mary that had so many Devils; a man that hath ma∣ny Devils may come where there is not one; Lame, and Blind, and Halt may enter into Heaven, and yet still there is room; there is a great variety of guests above, and yet one Table large enough for all; no crouding, and yet thousands, and thousands of thou∣sands sitting together; Ah poor soul why dost thou make ecceptions, where God makes none? why shouldst thou exclude thy self out of these golden gates, when God doth not? believe, onely believe in the Lord Jesus, and the promise is sure, and without all controversie, thou shalt be saved.
2. Christ by his Ministry intreats you to believe; come, say they, we beseech you believe in your judge; it may be you startle at this, what? to believe in him who is a coming to be your judge? but if your judge be Jesus, if the same person who dyed for you, shall come to judge you, why should you fear? indeed if your judge were your enemy, you might fear; but if he who is your Lord, and who loves your souls shall judge you, there is no such cause; will a man fear to be judged by his dearest friends? a brother by a brother? a child by a father? or a wife by her husband? consider! is not he your Judge who came down from Heaven, and who being on earth was judg∣ed, condemned, and executed in your stead? and yet are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Oh what an unreasonable sin is unbelief! nay, say the scrupulous, if I were assured of this; if I knew that my judge were my friend, I should not fear; but is he not my ene∣my; have not I provoked him to enmity against my soul? do I not stand it out in arms against my judge? am not I daily sinning against him, who justly may condemn me for my sin? give this for granted, that this and no other, no better is my case, and what say you then? if it be so, heark then to the voice of our ministry. We poor Ministers that love your souls (say what you will of us) would fain have all