No work nor deed of ours whatsoever, no not faith itself, can be the condition of the covenant of grace properly so called; but only Christ's fulfilling all righteousness.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that our actions or faith do not earn grace; it is solely through Christ's righteousness that we receive it.
In this quote, Thomas Boston argues that the covenant of grace is not based on any human effort, belief, or deed, but rather on the complete fulfillment of righteousness by Christ. This highlights the notion that salvation and grace are gifts from God, independent of our own actions or worthiness, underscoring the central Christian belief in the significance of Christ's sacrifice.
In practice
During a sermon on salvation, one might use this quote to illustrate the nature of God's grace.
Sinners in their natural state lie dead, lifeless, and moveless; they can no more believe in Christ, nor repent, than a dead man can speak or walk: but, in virtue of the promise, the Spirit of life from Christ Jesus, at the time appointed, enters into the dead soul, and quickens it; so that it is no more morally dead, but alive, having new spiritual powers put into it, that were lost by Adam's fall.
Call it no more free-will, but slavish lust; free to evil, but free from good, till regenerating grace loosens the bands of wickedness.
Free grace will fix those whom free will shook down into a gulf of misery.
Whoever be the instruments of any good to us, of whatever sort, we must look above them, and eye the hand and counsel of God in it, which is the first spring, and be duly thankful to God for it. And whatever evil of crosses or afflictions befalls us, we must look above the instruments of it to God.
The law discovers the disease, and the gospel the physician.
Has God decreed all things that come to pass? Then there is nothing that falls out by chance, nor are we to ascribe what we meet with either to good or ill luck and fortune. There are many events in the world which men look upon as mere accidents, yet all these come by the counsel and appointment of Heaven.
Let the first act of every morning be to make the following resolve for the day: - I shall not fear anyone on Earth. - I shall fear only God. - I shall not bear ill will toward anyone. - I shall not submit to injustice from anyone. - I shall conquer untruth by truth. And in resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering.
But I believe above all that I wanted to build the palace of my memory, because my memory is my only homeland.
I believe that what so saddens the reformer is not his sympathy with his fellows in distress, but, though he be the holiest son of God, is his private ail. Let this be righted, let the spring come to him, the morning rise over his couch, and he will forsake his generous companions without apology.
Good people can't out-think evil, cause evil thinks of things good folks can't think of.
Against the background of general freakishness the case of my particular freakishness was lost.
Magick is the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will.
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