this I
have only through GOD'S grace." The second degree of grace is more
special: that GOD gives freely to every man who is a good and reasonable
creature: and this grace stands ever at the gates of our hearts, and
knocks on our free-will, and bids it let it in. This, GOD says that He
does: "Behold, I stand at the door knocking," that is, "I stand at the
door of thine heart and knock; let Me in." And this grace is given
freely to man before he deserves it. Then let every man make himself
worthy and ready to receive His gift of the Holy Ghost, Who ever stirs
man's free-will to good, and calls it from evil. Two things are needful
to the health of man's soul. The first is this grace that I speak of:
the second, is man's free-will according thereto. And without these two,
no man can do thoroughly what he ought, that should help him to health
of his soul; for neither free-will, without this grace stirring, nor
this grace without free-will assenting, can do aught that pleases GOD.
Therefore, says S. Austin, "He Who made thee without thee, will not
justify thee without thee"; that is, "He Who made thee without thee,
will not make thee righteous, save thou helpest thereunto." And though
the free-will of man cannot make the grace of GOD in man, nevertheless,
let man do what is in him, and prepare himself, that he may be ready and
able to receive the grace, when it comes. If thou wert in a mirk house
one day, and doors and windows shut: if thou wouldest not let the sun
come in, who was to blame if the house were mirk. Also blame none save
thyself, if thy grace be less. For S. Anselm says, "Man lacks not this
grace, for GOD gives it to him; but he has it not, because he does not
make himself ready to receive this grace as he should." GOD is not
stingy of His grace, for He has enough thereof; for though He deal it
out never so far, and to so many, He never has the less; for He only
wants clean vessels, to put His grace in. Therefore says S. Austin; "GOD
by vast freedom and abundance fills all creatures according to their
capacity": that is, "GOD through His great freedom of His great grace
fulfils all creatures according as they are able to receive His grace."
If man opened his heart to this grace when GOD sends it to him, he would
shew it in works; for the Apostle, when he had won it, said, "His grace
in me was not in vain," that is "the grace that GOD has given me, is not
useless in me"; for he enjoyed it ever in work. We unite w