Grace

Grace is more than mercy and love , it superadds to them . It denotes , not simply love , but the love of a sovereign , transendently superior , one that may do what he will , that may wholly choose whether he will love or no . There may be love between equals , and an inferior may love a superior , but love in a superior , and so superior that he may do what he will , in such a one  love is called grace ; and therefore grace is attributed to princes ; they are said to be gracious to their subjects , whereas subjects cannot be gracious to to princes . Now God , who is an infinite Sovereign , who might have chosen whether He would ever love us or no , for Him to love us , that is grace . Thomas Goodwin

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