Gospel Reconciliation, Chapter 4
CHAP. 4. Reconciliation Opened, 1 By it Gods enmity is taken away. 2 The enmity on the ſouls part is taken away. 3 God taketh into intire Love. 4 By it thou comeſt to be in League and Covenant with God. 5. The ſoul is perfectly Reconciled. 6. This Reconciliation its everlaſting. 7 It continues notwithſtanding all thy ſins. 8. The Devills Accuſations ſhall never make God thy Enemy again.
III. Therefore I am in the third place to open a little further this grace of God, the doctrine of Reconciliation, and it is a moſt bleſſed, and ſweet doctrine, eſpecially in theſe times wherein there are ſo many Cumbuſtions abroad in the world, wherein we heare of Warrs and rumors of Wars, yea, of Wars neer to us, even in our own land, our bowels, what can be more acceptable in ſuch times as theſe, than to hearof Reconciliation; Now when things are growen to ſuch a height, when there is ſuch a deadly hatred (for let me tel you, there was never ſuch a deadly hatred in a Nation between one party, and another, as there is now) it is boyled up to the higheſt; as poyſon, may be boyled up to ſuch a height, as that it may be death to touch it: ſo the poyſon, and rage of our adverſaries is boyled up to the greateſt height. But though we are not able to Conceive that there can be a Reconciliation between them and us, yet there may be a poſſibility of a Reconciliation between God and us, and the hearing of the Doctrine of Reconciliation, may quiet, and ſupport our hearts againſt the feare, and truoble that we have in theſe times, wherein we have nothing but rumors of wars round about us yea in the mideſt of al theſe miſeries which we hear of, as the effect of theſe unnatural broyles that are amongſt us.
Now the Doctrine, it may be opened in theſe ſeveral particulars.
The firſt is this. That enmity which we have heard of before, when once God comes to be Reconciled to a ſoul, is al done away; al that enmity, is then ſo removed, as that the wayes of the Lord to a man are turned quite contrary to that they have formerly been; which I ſhal afterwards diſcover in the effect of this Reconciliation more fully. But this is the firſt thing; the doing away of all that wrath, and diſpleaſure that was in the heart of God againſt the ſinner; ſo that if it were poſſible that you could but look into the heart of God, you ſhould not ſee any remainder of that wrath, and diſpleaſure that was in him, becauſe of ſin. It is true, if we do conſider of God in al his workings together, from Election to glorification; it wil be hard to affirme, that ever God ſhould be in a way of enmity againſt his Elect ones, becauſe he did alwaies love them; for the truth is; though we conceive Gods works by peeces, yet they are al one in him; but if we would underſtand God aright, we muſt underſtand him in releation to his Creature, and in releation unto himſelf; for as God is in himſelf, it is impoſſible for us to underſtand him: but, we muſt underſtand him in reference to his Creatures; there we find, that one excellency of God is cut into ſeveral peeces, and parts; and that one act of God, which is his own being is diſcovered in ſeveral waies of acting.
There are a great many miſtakes about God when as men do draw Conſequences from what God is in himſelf, to bring them to what God is in relation to his Creature; and becauſe they cannot reconcile theſe two; namely, what God is infinitly in himſelf, (which is above our apprehenſion) and what God is in his manifeſtation to the Creature, not being able to r…ncile thoſe Two, they draw moſt abſurd, and vile Conſequences from God. Sometimes they look upon God in himſelf, and ſomtimes upon God as he is to the Creature, and not being able to diſtinguiſh, they miſtake the waies of God exceedingly. As thus: If you would look upon God as he is in himſelf; there are not two Attributes in his Eſſence: that which we cal Mercy, and that which we call Iuſtice, is one and the ſame in God. That which we call Love, and that which we call Hatred, in God is al one, but in us they are two things: In man, Juſtice is one thing, and power, is another thing, and patience is another thing, and love is another thing; but in God, al theſe are but one infinite Eſſence. And ſo for actions, ſomtimes we conceive of God acting one way, and then another way. Firſt, acting in the way of his wrath, and then in the way of his love; but God himſelf is one pure act, and when we look upon God in himſelf, we can ſee him but abſolutely one in his own nature, there is no ſuch Attributes as we ſpeak of, it is but onelyonly according to mans Capacity, and according to the ſeveral waies of the manifeſtation of Gods own infinite Eſſence, and of the ſeveral actions of God. But when we look upon God in reference to the Creature, we ſee God as it were divided. As for example: when the Sun ſhines, and the Beames thereof appear, if you put a green, or a blew, or a red glaſſe between your eye and it, then the reflection wil be blew, or green, or red, according to the coler of the glaſſe; yet in the mean time, the Beams of the Sun are al one: then take the ſame glaſſe that is blew, if you can but make it green, the ſhining of the Sun will be green to, all the variety is in the glaſſe, not in the Sun. So God is the ſame forever; but according to the ſeveral Conditions men are in, ſo are the workings of God towards that Creature. As now; man in the ſtate of innocency, he was as it were a white cleer glaſs, and God ſhined there in a way of goodneſſe, and love to man: the ſame man fals, and is dyed red by his ſin; let him be now preſented unto God, then the waies of God are bloody, and ſhew full of wrath. Let this man again be converted unto God and now the glaſs is changed and God repreſenteth himſelf another way, but ſtill the ſame God; only according to the ſeveral waies of the Creature, ſo are his ſeveral actings. Therefore thoſe that wil go to ſpeak of God as he is in himſelf, who is but one act, they are apt to lead you into abundance of errors, becauſe they are not able to mannage their apprehenſions of him as he is in himſelf; therefore they draw ſuch ill Conſequences from God. They wil tel you that God is unchangable, how then can you be under the wrath of God, when he loves you from all eternity? Yes; The ſame God that can look upon the Creature in one Conſideration with love; he may look upon the ſame Creature in another Conſideration with hatred. We Converts, (ſaith the Apoſtle) were the Children of wrath as well as others by nature; in that reſpect there was no difference between us, and others. I will but put this to theſe men: Was not there a time when Jeſus Chriſt was under Gods wrath? yet God loved his Son from al eternity, he alwaies loved him; yet, there was a time when he was under the wrath of God; that is, Chriſt being preſented unto God with our nature, with our ſins, Gods ways towards him was (as we may ſay) in a red way: ſo we may underſtand, that even thoſe that are elect, God loving of them from all eternity, they may yet be in a ſtate of enmity unto God, he working upon the Creature according to the ſeveral Conſiderations of it; ſo that while he is walking contrary unto God, God is alſo walking contrary unto him. So that thus you ſee what this Reconciliation is. This enmity is taken away; that is, whereas before God did ſhine upon them through a red reflection; now that is gone, and he ſhines upon them through a white glaſs; this dreadful wrath of his that is out againſt them, and that Contrariety of God in his waies againſt them is quite taken away. This is the firſt.
Secondly, The Second thing in reconciliation is this: not only the enmity that is in God is done away; but the Lord alſo doth take away the enmity on the ſouls part; that is, Thou comeſt by vertue of this Reconciliation to be ſo overpowred by the ſpirit of God, as that thou haſt a heart in amity with God; at leaſt that natural croſneſs and perverſneſs of thy heart againſt God whereby thou doſt hate God and that which is holy and ſpiritual, is taken away, and thou haſt a frameable ſpirit, framed by God, and made willing to come in and ſubmit, and yeild thy ſelf unto God: God puts a Reconcilable ſpirit into thee, as he himſelf hath a Reconcilable ſpirit towards thee.
Thirdly, Further, in the third place: There is a receiving into intire love: not only a ceaſing of the wrath, and of the enmity that is in God againſt thee, and a taking away of the enmity that is in thee againſt God: but there is a receiving into intire love, and that mutually, God receiveth thee into the love of a friend, and thou receiveſt God into the love of a friend too, ſo that there was never ſuch an intire friendſhip between one friend and another after peace hath been made between them, as there is now between God and thy ſoul. And this is more than barely to be pacified, for men who were at enmity one with another may poſſibly come to have the fierceneſs of their enmity taken away, yea they may come to be ſo far Reconciled, as that they wil never do one another hurt, they wil never fight the one againſt the other as formerly they did: But yet perhaps for all this, they wil never come to be: intirely loving one to another: it may be they wil live as ſtrangers one towards another. But when ever the ſoul comes to be Reconciled to God, there is a through Reconciliation, the enmity is not only taken away, but there is an intire love between God and the ſoul, thou art made a friend unto God, and God is become a friend unto thee Yea.
Fourthly, In the fourth place, there is this in Reconciliation likewiſe. Thou comeſt now to be in league with God, God and thee come to ſhake hands one with another, yea, more than ſhake hands; thou comeſt to be one of his own people, God takes thee into an everlaſting Covenant with himſelf, and thou takeſt him to be thy God in an everlaſting Covenant likewiſe. As when Princes have War one againſt another, there may be a peace made, and they may lay down reaſons on both ſides, but al this while they may not come in to a league of friendſhip, and amity one with another. But God is ſo Reconciled to a ſoul, as that he entereth into a League with the ſoul, entereth into Covenant.
Fiftly, The Lord when he is Reconciled to a ſoul, he is perfectly Reconciled, we may give it that word, for the truth is, it is ſuch a Reconciliation, ſo perfect, as that there ſhal not remain the leaſt grudg in the heart of God towards a man Reconciled. It is true, on our ſide it is not ſo perfect, but on Gods ſide it is ſo perfect a Reconciliation as that there ſhal not remaine the leaſt grudg in the heart of God againſt the Creature for any hurt to the Creature.
Sixtly, Yea, ſuch is the Reconciliation, as that it is everlaſting, ſuch a Reconciliation, as there ſhal never be breach made more, ſuch a Reconciliation, as there ſhal never be a falling out more. And where was there ever ſuch a peace made between one man and another? when was ever one man ſo Reconciled unto another, as that a man may ſay, wel, theſe two are thus, and thus Reconciled who were at deadly enmity before? yea, they are ſo Reconciled, as that there wil never more be any breach between them: ſo Reconciled, as that all that ever can be done in the world ſhal never break the bond of friendſhip that is between them. Here is a Reconcilement to purpoſe, and this Reconcilement there is between God, and every Beleeving Soul at the firſt moment; when thou firſt comeſt to Jeſus Chriſt, God ſhakes hands with thee, entereth into League with thee, become a friend to thee, is ſo Reconciled unto thee, as that there ſhal be nothing in the world ſhal ever break the Atonement that is made between God thy Soul. You ſhal ſee how God himſelf expreſſeth it; in that 54. Iſa. 10. ſpeaking to his Church about this very word of Rec…nciliation, he ſaith: The mountaines ſhall depart, and the Hils be removed, but my kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, neither ſhall the Covenant of my Peace be removed ſaith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. This Scripture, though ſpoken to the Church, is true of every beleeving ſoul. Do you think that Mountains are firm? many ſtormes, and tempeſts may be abroad; but all the ſtormes in the world cannot remove the mountaines. Look, ſaith God how firm, and ſteady the mountains are, So firm ſhall my mercy be to thee, and the Covenant of my peace. Hath God had mercy upon thy ſoul, and hath he been reconciled unto thee? know then, it is ſuch a Reconciliation as is more ſtable, and firm than the very mountains themſelves. O! this is the Complement, the top of Reconciliation, that it is a perpetual Reconciliation; So that notwithſtanding, though ſome of Gods waies may perhaps be towards you as if you were an enemy, God may ſo appear to you ſometimes, yet peace is to thee; God intends no hurt at all, howſoever he may look ſomtimes as an enemy, yet at that time he means thee not the leaſt hurt. All the afflictions that befall thee, they do not come from God as from an enemy, though perhaps through thy weakneſſe thou ma…'ſt think ſo; for though God be Reconciled to thee in ſo gracious a way, yet if he correct thee, thou art apt to look upon him as an enemy; No, it is thy miſtake, Gods Reconciliation is a through Reconciliation, and may ſtand with all thoſe Corrections that he uſeth towards thee.
7 Yea, this Reconciliation wil continue conſtant, notwithſtanding all thoſe ſins of thine, which indeed of their own nature make breaches between God, and man. Take heed of abuſing ſuch a doctrine as this is. Thy ſins cannot overcome Gods goodneſs; O! let Gods goodneſs overcome thy wickedneſſe: for that is certain; the Lord when he was firſt reconciled to thee, he did know that there would be many failings, and fallings out, as it were, but yet he was reſolved to be reconciled; and that that receconciliation ſhould continue notwithſtanding all thoſe failings: and thy ſins, though they may change ſome adminiſtrations of God towards thee, ſo that he may ſeverely Correct thee, yet they ſhall not take away this Reconcilation, but the Lord will continue thy friend ſtil. But yet if indeed thou beeſt Reconciled; God wil put this into thy heart, that when there is any failing in thee, thou wilt never be at quiet till thou comeſt to renue thy peace again. Thou mayeſt loſe the ſence of thy peace, but thou ſhalt never loſe thy peace indeed. And though we cannot ſpeak ſuch a truth as this is without fear, and trembling; becauſe it may coſt the hardening of many a ſoul, yet ſo willing is God that his people ſhal be Comforted, as that he will have this doctrine of Reconciliation publiſhed, though it coſt the damnation of many ſinners.
8 Yea, the Accuſations of the Devil againſt thee ſhal never provoke God, ſo as to turn enemy to thee again. There may be peace made between friend, and friend, but it may be there may be ſome whiſperers ſome tale-bearers, and make-bates, by a ſpirit of Jealouſie that may goe between them, and do abundance of miſcheif by their ſuggeſtions; but this cannot be between God and us. It is true, the Devil would be continually a make-bate between God, and thy ſoul, and doth continually go before God to accuſe the ſoul, and therefore he is called the Accuſer of the Brethren. But the peace that is made up between God, and a ſoul, through his Son, is ſo firme, and the friendſhip is ſo ſtable, as that the Lord ſhuts his Ears aganiſt all the accuſations that can be made againſt his friends. One intire friend cannot indure to hear ill of another. It is a ſigne that freindſhip begins to grow cold when they are willing to hear of any evill againſt their freind. The Lord will not liſten to the leaſt accuſation that is made by Satan againſt his friend, he will not ſo much as be willing to hear of any thing ſpoken againſt his people; ſuch a perfect, and through, and firm peace is there made between the ſoul, and God.