§ 3. (2.) Another pearl in the saint's diadem is, that it is _a free gift_. These two, _purchased_ and _free_, are the chains of gold which make up the wreaths for the tops of the pillars in the temple of God.[126] It was dear to Christ, but free to us. When Christ was to buy, silver and gold were nothing worth; prayers and tears could not suffice, not any thing below his blood; but our buying is receiving; we have it freely, _without money and without price_.[127] A thankful acceptance of a free acquittance is no paying of the debt. Here all is free; if the Father freely give the Son, and the Son freely pay the debt; and if God freely accepts that way of payment, when he might have required it of the principal; and if both Father and Son freely offer us the purchased life on our cordial acceptance, and if they freely send the Spirit to enable us to accept; what is here then that is not free? Oh the everlasting admiration that must needs surprize the saints to think of this freeness! "What did the Lord see in me, that he should judge me meet for such a state? That I, who was but a poor, diseased, despised wretch, should be clad in the brightness of this glory! That I, a creeping worm, should be advanced to this high dignity! That I, who was but lately groaning, weeping, dying, should now be as full of joy as my heart can hold! yea, should be taken from the grave, where I was rotting, and from the dust and darkness, where I seemed forgotten, and be here set before his throne! That I should be taken, with Mordecai, from captivity, and be set next unto the king; and, with Daniel, from the den, to be made ruler of princes and provinces! Who can fathom unmeasurable love?" If worthiness were our condition for admittance, we might sit down and _weep_ with St. John, _Because no man was found worthy_. But _the Lion of the Tribe of Judah is worthy, and hath prevailed_;[128] and by that title must we hold the inheritance. We shall _offer_ there the _offering_ that David refused, even praise for _that which cost us nothing_.[129] Here our commission runs, _freely ye have received, freely give_;[130] but Christ has dearly bought, yet freely gives. [Footnote 126] 1 Kings vii, 17. [Footnote 127] Isaiah lv, 1. [Footnote 128] Revelation v, 4, 5. [Footnote 129] 2 Samuel xxiv, 24. [Footnote 130] Matthew x, 8.