THE

RICHES OF DIVINE GRACE

UNFOLDED

DIALOGUE III.

Which contains a Discourse on Salvation, in its Nature, Fruits, and Effects, as proceeding from the Covenant of the Eternal Three in the one Incomprehensible Jehovah.

The past conversations between Mr. Enquirer and Mr. Instructor, having been acceptable to both, they on a convenient season meet again; and, after some pleasing salutations, resume their discourse.

Mr. Junior Sir, your last discourse on the subject of regeneration, hath been very influential on my mind. I have ruminated on it over and over. I understand by what hath been said on the subject of regeneration, and the state in which the regenerate are, that I am created anew in Christ Jesus, and brought into the kingdom of God's dear Son, and have the Holy Ghost dwelling in me, and bestowed on me, that I may know the things which are freely given to me of God, and treasured up for my use in the fullness of Christ Jesus. Am I right in this?

Senior. You most certainly are. The Apostle says to such as were translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, they had put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all and in all. The new man, the new creature, hath all its life in Christ; and Christ is the life and glory of the new creature. He is all and in all, in and throughout every part and, faculty of it. The new creature is all mind and understanding to know Christ, to apprehend and receive the knowledge of him. It is all will to choose him it is all heart to love him. All its affections are supremely fixed on him. It is all eye to behold him: all ear to hear him. It smells the savour of his name, person, blood, righteousness, and fragrant intercession. It hath a mouth to speak for him: a palate to taste the sweetness contained in his word and promises: hands to handle him: it hath feet to go to him, and to walk in him. In fact, all the spiritual acting’s of the new creature are on Christ. Thus Christ, is to the new man in Christ, all in all. But I am now preventing you. I think you proposed, were we permitted to pursue our mutual converse, to speak on salvation.

Junior. I assent to what you say. I want light into the subject of salvation. But pray are not regeneration, and the Spirit's operations within me, salvation? It is generally considered in this light and point of view.

Senior. I believe the generality of persons conceive, if they are born of God, (for that is John's expression of the subject,) it is salvation: but I say, no; it is not. The new birth is all of grace: it is the fruit of eternal election. By it we are born the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty. In it we are most divinely and evidentially manifested to be heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Yet this is not salvation. The new birth is the fruit of adoption, not of salvation. Regeneration is the medium whereby we receive the knowledge of Christ into our minds. It is the faculty wrought in the renewed mind, by which we receive Christ and his salvation into our hearts.

Junior. Will you be pleased to entertain me with a free discourse on this very interesting and most important subject?

Senior. I am at your service, and most assuredly will; yet I would premise, it is a vast subject; it will be best therefore to take it up in order.

Junior. In what order would you propose to treat of it, so as that my mind might have a clear conception of the same?

Senior. When you put this question, I am bound to return an answer. I think the subject should be considered in all its parts, fruits, and effects, so as that the Holy Ones in the Incomprehensible Godhead, should have their just and proper tribute rendered to each of them.

Junior. I thought salvation was the incommunicable work of Christ, and that the sole glory was his personal due.

Senior. It is so; yet the Father and the Spirit are as truly concerned in it, as Christ. The Father appointed him, and the Spirit anointed him. He says, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me, &c. Isaiah, 56:1.

Junior. It has ever appeared to me, that the whole gospel is set before us, and fully declared by the apostle, when he says, This is a faithful saying, and worthy Of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I Tim. I:15.

Senior. It is the very sum and marrow of the gospel indeed. But this is a declaration of salvation. It gives no account of its originality; yet it lays a foundation for enquiring concerning it. For if Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, there must be a cause for it; and his coming into the world, must be the effect thereof. Our Lord most expressly says, God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son. John, 3:16. Now God's love is there set forth as the cause; and Christ was given as the effect of God's love; then put his coming into the world to save sinners, this is the end which he accomplished by his coming into the world. Yet, He must have performed some work in our world, or how could he have saved sinners?

Junior. Yes; it is true: for he lived and died to save them.

Senior. Then his life and death must be their salvation.

Junior. Doubtless they must be; but we must have the fruits and effects thereof to complete the same. We cannot be saved without them. You will not say we can.

Senior. I am by no means for robbing Christ of his crown. I would have Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, have the glory given to them for salvation work. If you will admit of it, I will entertain you very briefly, and as comprehensively as I can, with an account of Salvation of what it is of the originality of it of its nature of its fruits and effects, as proceeding from the covenant of the Eternal, Three in the one Incomprehensible Jehovah.

Junior. I can by no means object to this very kind proposal. But, Sir, I request you to be very clear, distinct, and particular on each of these parts of the subject.

Senior. My friend,. what do you mean? Pray explain yourself.

Junior. Sir, this is what I mean. If you please, I should like you to make, Ist. Your  account of salvation one particular; then, 2d. What salvation is; then, 3d. The originality of it; then, 4th. Its nature; then, 5th. Of its fruits and effects; then, 6th. How it flows from the covenant of the Eternal Three: for, I clearly perceive, from what you have hinted, it Is a vast and glorious subject, which I should be glad to retain in my mind, so as to be enabled to ruminate thereon.

Senior. Let it be even so. I will give you liberty to call for each of these subjects in the order which you please.

Junior. You are extremely kind and obliging. Will you then be pleased to give me a discourse on salvation, in its nature, fruits, and effects, as proceeding from the covenant of the Eternal Three, in the one Incomprehensible Jehovah, in manner and order as shall follow in my present conversation with you?

Senior. I will. My whole soul is in this service of love to you.

Junior. Then I request you, 1st. Of Salvation.

Senior. Salvation is a vastly comprehensive word, as it contains a vast subject. It is, as belonging to Christ, a deliverance from all evil. It is a salvation from all sin and evil; from Satan, the world, death, and damnation. It is a salvation for sinners. It is a free salvation a full salvation a finished salvation a present salvation a suited salvation to every case and circumstance a sinner can be in. It is a spiritual salvation. It is an everlasting salvation. This is salvation.

Junior. Then, according to this, it is a provision made for sinners to heal their wounds to wash them from their stains to deliver them from sin to raise them up out of the ruins of the fall to crush under their feet Satan to save them from the love of this present evil world to supply all their wants to comfort them Under all their distresses to suit their every case and circumstance to remove from their minds the guilt of sin to purify their consciences from the filth and stain of it to lift them up above the fears of death to fill them with hopes full of a glorious immortality to lay the sole foundation for a sinner's faith and hope in God: this is salvation, is it not? Have I received what you have delivered, rightly? Do I express myself agreeably to the request I made concerning salvation? Is this right with the account you have just given me of it? If not, do not deceive me.

Senior. It is even so. You may look to the Christian's Magna Charta, the Bible, and be satisfied of the truth of the same. What have you further to propose concerning this great subject? I may say of it, it is vast! it is infinite!

Junior. As you have given me a general account of salvation, I want next to ask, What salvation is? This I before proposed, as the 2d thing to be discussed.

Senior. You did so. , I have spoken, Ist. Of salvation; I will now, 2d. Shew what salvation is. It is the taking away of sin; it is the bringing in everlasting righteousness; it is the removal of the curse; it is the entire conquest of Satan and his principalities and powers; it is the abolition of death; it is the destruction, and conquest of the grave. This is what salvation consists in; all which is tile work of Christ alone. He substituted his person in our room and stead; he bore our sins, and carried our sorrows; he was made sin; he sustained the curse; he put away sin by the sacrifice of himself; he hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; he hath brought in everlasting righteousness; he hath made peace by the blood of his cross; he hath trodden upon the head of the old serpent, called the devil; he hath vanquished principalities and powers; he hath destroyed death,; he hath perfumed the grave; he hath led captivity captive; he is risen from the dead; he is ascended on high; he is entered into heaven; he liveth in the presence of God for us this is salvation. It is in the person and work of Christ. Our whole complete salvation from all sin and every enemy, is in the person, work, victories, and triumphs of our Lord. Thus I have endeavourer to answer you. What think ye of it?

Junior. Truly, Sir, the great God our Saviour, and His great salvation, are altogether wonderful. If I understand you right, Jesus Christ acted the part of a Mediator. He, as the surety, was charged. with all sorts of sin. He endured the very curse due to iniquity: so that those he died for, are discharged on his account. Is it not so?

Senior. Yes, verily it is! He was made sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Surely this is complete salvation: not completed in us, but completed for us, by our Lord Jesus Christ, in his own most adorable person, and by his most perfect righteousness, and precious blood shedding. What have you further to propose?

Junior. If you please, to discourse on the 3d particular, which is concerning the originality of salvation. I apprehend from you this is of vast importance.

Senior. Indeed it is, as it gives validity to the whole. Salvation, in its original, is the consequence of an eternal council and covenant, which obtained before all time, between the Three in Jehovah, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; in which it was willed to save an innumerable company of the sinners of mankind, and raise them up above and beyond all the ruins of the fall, by the surety-ship engagements of Christ, the Son of God, on the behalf of his church and people. The Apostle tells us, God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. 2 Cor. 5:19. This covenant was the fruit of everlasting love; yet the grand design of it, was to display everlasting love in acts of mercy and compassion towards the elect sons of men. In this covenant, all depended on the transactions in it. Every article and condition of it, was engaged for, and to be performed by the sacred Three. The grand article stipulated for, was the death of Christ. On. this all depended. All blessings were to be communicated to the elect, on the Surety fulfilling his part in the covenant, which he most readily hath done; for, saith the Apostle, wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Lo, I come, I delight to do thy will, 0 my God, yea, thy law is within my heart. Our Lord says, I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him. that sent vie. And this is the will of hint that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John, 6:38,40. I hope you see from, the account given, that the covenant of the Three in Jehovah, is the original of the gospel. Is this clear to you?

Junior. It is so. I thus conceive of it. Christ is the book of life. All his people being chosen in him, their names were registered in him. He undertook for them, according to the council and covenant of grace. He undertook to become incarnate, to live and die for them. Hence he is styled the Lamb slain front the foundation, of the world. Rev. 13:8. And his life and death are salvation. This appears to me the result of what you have delivered. Is it not so?

Senior. Yes, it is. According to your own request, I have given you, Ist. An account of salvation. 2d. What salvation is. 3d. The originality of it. Now that which remains to be discoursed of concerning this great and vastly important subject, is in the following particulars, viz. 4th. The nature of this salvation. 5th. Its fruits and effects. 6th. How it all flows from the covenant of the Eternal Three. I might say, salvation itself "what salvation is" "the original of it"  "the nature of it" "with its fruits and effects" and how it flows from the sovereign will and good pleasure of the Holy Trinity are but so many parts which from one grand incomprehensible subject of grace, which it hath pleased the ever blessed God to reveal and make known in the word of his grace.

Junior. I conceive of it thus. Yet I see the propriety of taking up tile subject in every distinct part and branch of it. I freely confess I had not this conception, until you first suggested it; yet I now see there is a peculiar beauty, and cannot but be a very particular satisfaction to the spiritual and enlightened, mind, to obtain clear, distinct, and personal apprehensions of the same. I want you, Sir, to Proceed with the subject in its further branches, and give me all account of the nature of salvation: this is the 4th part thereof.

Senior. It is so. With respect to the nature of it, this is God like and divine. It is full of grace and truth. It contains in it a full revelation of all the persons and perfections in God. It opens the very heart of God, and discovers all contained in the divine mind and will concerning us. It is a full copy and exhihibition of what free grace and divine favor in Christ Jesus is. It is all free. It is all full. It is all grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, testified of to its by the witness of the Eternal Spirit in the word of grace., It shews God's views of sin, his hatred of it, his wrath against it, the immutability of his will, his essential righteousness and justice, his holiness and purity, in all its manifestative glory. Not a sin pardoned, but on the footing of an infinite satisfaction. Not one sin overlooked, connived at, or passed by, but all laid on Christ all visited on him. His life, his soul, his blood, his death, all go for the ransom of transgressors. God is just, and the justifier of him that believeth  on Jesus. I think in giving you an account of the nature of the salvation we have been speaking of, you have another great and glorious view of the same subject expressed. What think you?

Junior. Verily I think so too. But now" my good Sir, do give some general account of the fruits and effects of this salvation. This is the 5th division of the subject according to my request.

Senior. As it respects the fruits and effects of this salvation, they are very many. They are great and glorious. Pardon of all sin is the fruit of Christ's death. Justification unto life is, the fruit of Christ's obedience unto death, even the death of the cross. Deliverance out of the hands of all our enemies, is another. Its effects are as follows: Peace with God in the conscience deliverance from the bondage and tyranny of sin free access to God free walking before him in Christ, unto all well pleasing a freedom from all condemnation; there being no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus the, spirit of grace, and supplication a free access to the throne of grace at all times, as the matter may require an exemption from bondage to the fear of death a joyful hope of a glorious resurrection from the grave and power of death, on the second coming and appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ a full assurance of our entrance into heaven, immediately on our dismissing from our bodies by death. These are the fruits of this salvation. What think ye of them?

Junior. I think they are altogether supernatural and divine. When you say these are the fruits and effects of salvation, I do not apprehend you to mean that each and every one born of the Spirit, has an equal and alike perception of them, and a free and full enjoyment of them; yet I understand by you all the Lord's people have one and the same interest in them. Is it not so, Sir?

Senior. Yes; it is even so. You are quite right in this: but, if you please, let our present, subject be finished, as I do not like to be too long engaged even on the best of subjects; the mind naturally gets tired. I don’t want to drop the subject; but I want to retire, and contemplate the subjects we have been conversing upon. Say, therefore, what you would add, before the conversation is closed.

Junior. Sir, I only want the 6th part proposed, to be spoken to, then I also shall be willing that the present intercourse should close.

Senior. This is, 6th, to shew how all which hath been spoken, Ist, of salvation-2d, of what salvation consists in-3d, the originality of it-4th, its nature 5th, its fruits and benefits flows from the covenant of the Eternal Three in the one incomprehensible Jehovah, which proves it to be altogether the effect of divine sovereignty. It was the will of Father, Son, and Spirit, from everlasting to love the elect in Christ to accept them in Christ to bless them in Christ to save them in Christ  to continue his grace to them in Christ, in every state they should pass through to prove this unto them, by remembering them with everlasting kindness. The whole of which is grace. It is nothing more nor less than the good pleasure of God's will concerning them. The Father willed to love them with an everlasting love the Son willed to love them, and save them in himself with an everlasting salvation the Holy Ghost loved them, and willed to make them his living temples, to dwell in them and walk in them: all which was to be set before them in the person of Christ. In whom all of God shines forth; in whom the whole of God is revealed; in whom the will of God is declared; in whom all the council and covenant of Godhead is ratified; in whom the whole salvation of God is made known to us. Now, my friend, in a clear and scriptural statement of the acts and transactions of the Holy Trinity in the covenant of grace, we have the gospel in its original. You will profit in divine knowledge, as you understand the Father proposed all concerning salvation: the Son engaged to perform all which concerned salvation: the Holy Ghost undertook to reveal all concerning this wonderful subject. As hereby you will see you are equally and alike indebted to each of the sacred Three, for the whole of your salvation. I now want to retire. I leave the subject for your consideration, and to the Lord's blessing. Consider what I say, and the Lord give you understanding in all things.

Junior, I thank you, Sir. May the Lord bless the Subject you have left with me, to the enlargement of my mind, to the increase of my faith in the acts and transactions of' the Three in Jehovah, that I may draw all my support and consolation from them as my covenant God. I return you my sincere thanks for your free and instructive conversation. The Lord be with you. Amen.