Works (Vol 4) - Newton - XXIX - Sermon XXIX (Gifts received for the rebellious)

Required reading
The Works (Vol 4) of John Newton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon XXIX (Gifts received for the rebellious).

My summary
This week Newton preaches on: 'Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. (Psa 68:18)'.

Newton meditates on:
(i) Christ's ascension;
(ii) Christ's victories;
(iii) the gifts Christ received for men;
(iv) the great end for which Christ bestows gifts.

What grabbed me
I liked Newton's point about the significance of Christ giving gifts to men: 'To bestow gifts upon the miserable, is bounty; but to bestow them upon rebels, is grace. The greatness of the gifts, contrasted with the characters of those who receive them, displays the exceeding riches of the Redeemer's grace. He came to save not the unhappy only, but the ungodly. He gives pardon, peace, and for the rebellious, eternal life, to his enemies ; whose minds are so entirely alienated from him, that until he makes them willing, in the day of his power, their minds are determined against accepting any favour from him.'

The grace of God towards his enemies is marvelous!

Next week's reading
Read Sermon XXX (The publication of the gospel).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.