Divine Graciousness

3. A third property of the Divine will, is graciousness. The Ephesians being predestinated unto the adoption of children (Eph. 1:5) as it was according to the good pleasure of His will, so also to the praise of the glory of His Grace; so our redemption and justification is according to the riches of His Grace. That a Saviour is proclaimed by the angels, in order to man’s eternal peace, was from the good will of God. What had become of the burning bush in Egypt, had not the good will of God dwelt in it? This name God hath commanded to be proclaimed (Ex. 34:7), “The Lord, the Lord God, gracious and merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, pardoning iniquity, transgression and sin, shewing mercy unto thousands of them who love him,” etc. There is a great deal of unmercifulness in sinners’ will, as the Devil hath a will to destroy all; but blessed be God, who hath the great Red Dragon in a chain, his power is not absolute; for though he go up and down seeking souls’ destruction (1 Pet. 5:8), yet it is not whom he will, but whom he may devour. God’s will is a gracious will: when He gives His church Himself in covenant, and all His attributes; His Son and all His offices, and purchased blessings; His Spirit, and all His saving operations: whence can this flow but from the Fountain of Free-Grace? Hence ’tis saidousness (Eph. 2:8), “By grace we are saved, not of ourselves; is is the gift of God.”

Hercules Collins  (1646 -1702)                                                                                                 From a sermon delivered in 1696                                                                                         entitled “Mountains of Brass: Or A Discourse Upon The Decrees of God”