I beg the reader to believe that I am now so utterly weary
with the repetition of these impertinencies, that I can hardly prevail with
myself to fill my pen once more with ink about them; and I see no reason
now to go on, but only that I have begun; and, on all accounts, I shall be
as brief as possible. I say, then, first, I did not consider this
boundless grace in Christ as mediator, but considered it as in him who is
mediator; and so the divine nature, with all its properties, are greatly to
be considered in him, if the gospel be true. But, secondly, It is untrue
that Christ, as mediator, is only the minister of grace, and not the
fountain of it; for he is mediator as God and man in one person. Thirdly,
To suppose an exemption of the person of the Father from being the fountain
of grace absolutely, in the order of the divine subsistence of the persons
in the Trinity, and of their operations suited thereunto, upon the
ascription of it unto the Son, is a fond imagination, which could befall no
man who understands any thing of things of this nature. It doth as well
follow, that if the Son created the world, the Father did not; if the Son
uphold all things by the word of his power, the Father doth not; — that is,
that the Son is not in the Father, nor the Father in the Son. The acts,
indeed, of Christ’s mediation respect the ministration of grace, being the
procuring and communicating causes thereof; but the person of Christ the
mediator is the fountain of grace. So they thought who beheld his glory, —
“The glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
But the especial relation of grace unto the Father, as sending the Son;
unto the Son, as sent by him and incarnate; and unto the Holy
Spirit, as proceeding from and sent by them both, I have elsewhere fully
declared, and shall not in this place (which, indeed, will scarce give
admittance unto any thing of so serious a nature) again insist thereon.
Fourthly, The opposition which he would again set between Christ and the
gospel is impious in itself; and, if he thinks to charge it on me, openly
false. I challenge him and all his accomplices to produce any one word out
of any writing of mine that, from a plea or pretence of grace in Christ,
should give countenance unto any in the neglect of the least precept given
or duty required in the gospel. And notwithstanding all that I have said
or taught concerning the boundless, bottomless grace and mercy of Christ
towards believing, humble, penitent sinners, I do believe the way of gospel
obedience, indispensably required to be walked in by all that will come to
the enjoyment of God, to be so narrow, that no revilers, nor false
accusers, nor scoffers, nor despisers of gospel mysteries, continuing so to
be, can walk therein; — but that there is not grace and mercy declared and
tendered in the gospel also unto all sorts of sinners, under any
qualifications whatever, who upon its invitation, will come to God through
Jesus Christ by faith and repentance, is an impious imagination.