Gospel Reconciliation, Chapter 1
CHAP. 1.
THIS Apoſtle Paul who was the Pen-man of this, and the former Epiſtle, was a choſen veſſel to bear the name of Chriſt in the World; a glorius inſtrument to publiſh the grace of God in Jeſus Chriſt: One of the moſt famous Ambaſſadors that ever was upon the earth; One that honoured Jeſus Chriſt as much as ever man did that we either ever read of, or ever heard of; all his care was to Magnifie, yea indeed to Omnifie Jeſus Chriſt; the very name of Chriſt was as ſugar in his mouth, and rolled up and down under his tongue; He himſelf had taſted upon his ſpirit much of the ſweetneſſe of the grace of God in Chriſt; and he labors much to make this known unto others, that they might likewiſe experience the ſweetneſſe thereof. And in theſe two verſes there is as much ſet forth of the grace of God in the Goſpel as I know in any two verſes together in all the Book of God.
We have here ſet out unto us.
1. The Doctrine of Reconciliation between God, and man.
2. The Apoſtles Commiſſion for to declare this Doctrine of Reconciliation.
3. The Faithful diſcharge of this his Commiſſion. The firſt two are in the 19. verſe. And the third is in the 20. verſe.
As for this 19. verſe we heave here. Firſt the Doctrine of Reconciliation: to wit; That God was in Chriſt Reconciling the world unto himſelf, not imputing their treſpaſſes to them. And in that you have theſe Two things.
Firſt, the Doctrine of Reconciliation ſet down more generally; Namely; that God was in Chriſt Reconciling the world to himſelf.
Secondly, An inſtance in one ſpecial great work of God, in Reconciling the world unto himſelf.
We ſhal make an enterance into the firſt of theſe and ſo proceed; namely, The Doctrine of Reconciliation ſet down more generally. That God was in Chriſt reconciling the world to himſelf.
This word foreign, Reconciliation, Notes and implies; that there was a formal breach between God, and us: we cannot underſtand what it is to be Reconciled, except we do beforehand know ſomwhat about the Breach which this Reconciliation muſt make up. It doth implie an enmity that there was between man and God; for if two be reconciled, then certainly, it implys, that once there was an enmity between them. Conciliari is to bring into favor, but Reconciliari, is to bring into favor again thoſe that have bin in favor before, and between whom there hath been a Breach; therefore to bring into feavor again; is in playn tearms, Reconciliation. And in the opening of this doctrine therfore, there are theſe particulars that playnly lie before us in the Text; for I wil go no further in the opening of the Doctrine of Reconciliation but meerly to that which you have lying obviouſly, and plainly before you in the words. In which you have theſe Particulars.
Firſt, That which is implied; namely, That there was a bleſſed Union at the firſt between God and Man, but this was broken, and there was an enmity after that union between God and Man. I put theſe Two …ether; namely that after the firſt union that was between God and Man, there was an enmity between God and Man.
Secondly, There is yet a way to have this Breach made up; there is a poſsibillity for man that is at enmity with God, to be Reconciled.
Thirdly, We ſhal open to you, wherein this Reconciliation doth conſiſt; what that Reconciliation is which the text ſpeaks of, and which the Goſpel doth tender unto us.
Fourthly, We ſhal ſhew the principal cauſe of this, how this Reconciliation did begin. It was God himſelf that did begin with us, we did not begin with him to make peace, God did firſt begin with us, or there would never have peace been made between him and Man.
Fiftly, We ſhal ſhew in whom this Reconciliation is made; it is in Jeſus Chriſt; which indeed is the principal thing of al; and that wherein the miſtery of the Goſpel lies: and when we come to that, we ſhal open the Miſtery of this Reconciliation. And then,
Sixtly, Further from what time this Reconciliation hath been. It [was] ſaith the Te… God [was] in Chriſt; it was not onl… made at the preſent; but there was a work between God and Chriſt concerning the Reconciliation of man from all eternity.
Seventhly, Who they are here that are ſaid to be reconciled; that is; the [World] to wit, that God was in Chriſt Reconciling the world to himſelf.