(1.) Of form or person (Proverbs 1:9; 3:22; Psalm 45:2).

(2.) Favour, kindness, friendship (Genesis 6:8; 18:3; 19:19; 2 Timothy 1:9).

(3.) God's forgiving mercy (Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:5).

(4.) The gospel as distinguished from the law (John 1:17; Romans 6:14; 1 Peter 5:12).

(5.) Gifts freely bestowed by God; as miracles, prophecy, tongues (Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 3:8).

(6.) Christian virtues (2 Corinthians 8:7; 2 Peter 3:18).

(7.) The glory hereafter to be revealed (1 Peter 1:13).

Grace, means of

An expression not used in Scripture, but employed

(1) to denote those institutions ordained by God to be the ordinary channels of grace to the souls of men. These are the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer.

(2.) But in popular language the expression is used in a wider sense to denote those exercises in which we engage for the purpose of obtaining spiritual blessing; as hearing the gospel, reading the Word, meditation, self-examination, Christian conversation, etc.

Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (n.) The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred.

2. (n.) The divine favor toward man; the mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favor.

3. (n.) The prerogative of mercy exercised by the executive, as pardon.

4. (n.) The same prerogative when exercised in the form of equitable relief through chancery.

5. (n.) Fortune; luck; -- used commonly with hard or sorry when it means misfortune.

6. (n.) Inherent excellence; any endowment or characteristic fitted to win favor or confer pleasure or benefit.

7. (n.) Beauty, physical, intellectual, or moral; loveliness; commonly, easy elegance of manners; perfection of form.

8. (n.) Graceful and beautiful females, sister goddesses, represented by ancient writers as the attendants sometimes of Apollo but oftener of Venus. They were commonly mentioned as three in number; namely, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, and were regarded as the inspirers of the qualities which give attractiveness to wisdom, love, and social intercourse.

9. (n.) The title of a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop, and formerly of the king of England.

10. (n.) Thanks.

11. (n.) A petition for grace; a blessing asked, or thanks rendered, before or after a meal.

12. (n.) Ornamental notes or short passages, either introduced by the performer, or indicated by the composer, in which case the notation signs are called grace notes, appoggiaturas, turns, etc.

13. (n.) An act, vote, or decree of the government of the institution; a degree or privilege conferred by such vote or decree.

14. (n.) A play designed to promote or display grace of motion. It consists in throwing a small hoop from one player to another, by means of two sticks in the hands of each. Called also grace hoop or hoops.

15. (v. t.) To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.

16. (v. t.) To dignify or raise by an act of favor; to honor.

17. (v. t.) To supply with heavenly grace.

18. (v. t.) To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.