# “Every link in the chain of salvation is wrought and interwoven with free grace” by Thomas Watson

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2020/09/07/every-link-in-the-chain-of-salvation-is-wrought-and-interwoven-with-free-grace-by-thomas-watson/
- Published: 2020-09-07T12:00:41-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“All the mercy in the creature is derived from God, and is but a drop of this ocean.
The mercy and pity a mother hath to her child is from God.

God is called, ‘The Father of mercies,’ (**2 Cor. 1:3**) because He begets all the
mercies in the world. If God hath put any kindness into the creature, how much kindness
is in Him who is the Father of mercy?

God’s mercy, as it makes the saints _happy_, so it should make them _humble_. Mercy
is not the fruit of _our_ goodness, but the fruit of _God’s_ goodness.

Mercy is an alms that God bestows. They have no cause to be proud who live upon 
the alms of God’s mercy. ‘If I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head,’ (**
Job 10:15**). All my righteousness is the effect of God’s mercy, therefore I will
be humble, and will not lift up my head.

Mercy stays the speedy execution of God’s justice. Sinners continually provoke God,
and make His fury come up in His face (**Ezek. 38:18**). Why is it that God does
not presently arrest and condemn them? It is not because God cannot do it, for He
is armed with omnipotence. It is because of God’s mercy.

Mercy gets a reprieve for the sinner, and stops the speedy process of justice. God
would, by His goodness, lead sinners to repentance. It is only mercy that saves 
the sinner.

I might shew you several species or kinds of mercy: _preventing_ mercy, _sparing_
mercy, _supplying_ mercy, _guiding_ mercy, _accepting_ mercy, _healing_ mercy, _quickening_
mercy, _supporting_ mercy, _forgiving_ mercy, _correcting_ mercy, _comforting_ mercy,
_delivering_ mercy, and _crowning_ mercy.

God’s mercy is free. To set up merit is to destroy mercy. Nothing can deserve mercy,
because we are polluted in our blood. We may force God to punish us, not to love
us: ‘I will love them freely,’ (**Hos. 14:4**).

Every link in the chain of salvation is wrought and interwoven with free grace.

Election is free: ‘He hath chosen us in Him… according to the good pleasure of His
will,’ (**Eph. 1:4-5**).

Justification is free: ‘Being justified freely by His grace,’ (**Rom. 3:24**).

Salvation is free: ‘According to His mercy He saved us,’ (**Titus 3:5**).

Mercy is free. If God should show mercy only to such as are worthy, then He would
show none at all.

God’s mercy is an overflowing mercy. It is infinite: ‘Plenteous in mercy,’ (**Ps.
86:5**); ‘Rich in mercy,’ (**Eph. 2:4**); ‘Multitude of Thy mercies,’ (**Ps. 51:
1**).

The vial of wrath doth but _drop_, but the fountain of mercy _runs_. The sun is 
not so full of light as God is full of mercy.

God hath morning-mercies: ‘They are new every morning,’ (**Lam. 3:23**). God hath
night-mercies: ‘In the night his song shall be with me,’ (**Ps. 42:8**).

God hath mercies under heaven, those we _taste_ of; and in heaven, those we _hope_
for.

God’s mercy is eternal: ‘The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting,’(**
Ps. 103:17**). It is repeated twenty-six times in one psalm, ‘His mercy endureth
forever,’ (**Ps. 136**).

The souls of the blessed shall be ever bathing themselves in this sweet and pleasant
ocean of God’s mercy. God’s anger to His children lasts but a while (**Ps. 103:17**),
but His mercy lasts forever.

As long as He is God He will be shewing mercy. As His mercy is _overflowing_, so
it is _everflowing_.”

–Thomas Watson, [_A Body of Divinity Contained in Sermons Upon the Westminster Assembly’s Catechism_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0851511449?tag=toletaupanre-20)(
Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1692/1970), 95-96.

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