Gospel Reconciliation, Chapter 68 – Chapter 69
CHAP. 68. The Eight Argument: Manifeſting the exceeding willingneſs of God to be reconciled to ſinners.
FUrther God manifeſts himſelf willing to be reconciled in this; in the waies of his dealing with wretched ſinful men; in ſending his Grace to allure the hearts of ſinners: the Lord ſends his mercy, to ſpread al the beauty; and luſtre thereof before the Sons of men; al the excellency, and Glory of it before the Soul, that it may entice the Soul of the ſinner to come in unto him, (he doth not meerly ſend and ſeek to him) but that he might overcome the hearts of men with love and mercy; this is Gods way, to cauſe his mercy to ſtand before the Soul, and to ſpread the beauty, and excellency of it, that it move, and entice, and allure the hearts of men, that ſo God (as it were by coards of Love) might draw the hearts of poor ſinful men unto him. If God did but ſcare men ſo come in to him, it were ſomwhat; but it is this which we have cauſe to bleſs God for; if the Lord come in never ſuch a terrible way to force us to come in, that ſo there might be made up peace between God, and us, the Lord (beſides that way of terror and wrath) (though ſomtimes he wil uſe that way to ſtop men in the courſe of their ſins, and to force them to come in) he goes forth, and doth ſend his mercy, to ſtand before the Soul, and to ſpread the beauty, excellency, and glory of it before the heart of the ſinner, that ſo it might allure the ſinner to come in: ſo God ſpeaks of his people in the 2 Hoſea the 14. There was a great breach between Iſrael and God at the time, and God to make up the breach, (when he would be pacified towards Iſrael) he expreſſes it in this manner; Therefore behold, I wil allure her, and in the 11. of Hoſ. 4. mark! I draw them with the cords of a man, and with the coards of love; I delt with them in a ſuitable way, becauſe that mans Nature had rather be drawn, than driven) and cannot ſo wel bear to be driven with violence as to be drawn by love: Therefore (ſaith God) I wil deal with them according to their own Nature, and in a ſuiteable way. I draw them with the coards of a man and with bonds of Love; here are the gracious expreſſions of God unto wretched ſinners, to break their hearts that they may come in, and be reconciled to him: God takes away the terror of his greatneſs, and comes in loving, and ſweet waies to draw the hearts of ſinners. I appeal unto your conſciences, have not you that know what it is to be reconciled unto God, had the Lord ſetting the riches of his Grace before your Soules? have not you ſeen the alluring attributes of God preſented before you to gain your hearts unto himſelf.
CHAP. 69. The Ninth Argument. Manifeſting the exceeding willingneſs of God to be reconciled to ſinners.
ANother is this; that the Lord is willing to yeild unto his creatures, (as farr as may be) to yeild to the creature (I ſay) (as farr as he can with honor) for ſuch is the way of the Goſpel in bringing ſinners to God; that God hath yeilded to his creature… as farr as can be conceived to be done with honor (he cannot deny himſelf; and his Glory:) But take it thus farr, that God muſt have his Glory; it is impoſſible that God ſhould yeild further to the creature than he hath done, Whereas God might have required ſatisfaction in our own perſons, he hath yeilded to this; I wil take it in another; this is the condition of the Covenant of Grace, from that of the Covenant of works; the covenant of works required perfect obedience in our own perſons: ſo that if we did not obey, it required ſaitsfaction of us. Now in the covenant of Grace there is a high conſideration, (as it were) God is content to take it in a ſuerty; He wil be content for our parts if there be uprightneſs, if there be but endeavors, if there be but willingneſs of heart, (though he ſees that we do provoake him day by day) wel ſaith God, (whereas I ſtood upon perfect obedience in the Covenant of works) now ſaith God, I wil he ſatisfied with the wil for the deed, if there be but uprightneſs of heart, (though there be many weakneſſes) yet I wil be willing, and content with that. Now doth not a man ſhew himſelf willing to be reconciled unto another, when he ſhal ſay, wel let there be any terms, propounded that can be, I wil yeild to any tearms ſo far as I can with honor? I muſt not diſhonor my ſelf: but ſo farr as can be I yeild. God hath done thus; he profeſſes to the world, that ſo far as he can he hath yielded to us; Now if we ſhould not except of the termes that he requires (for they are ſuch tearms, ſo reaſonoble, ſo equal, that cannot be imagined leſs) there cannot be leſs required of the Creature, then is by the Creator.
Object, You ſay, beleeving is a great matter.
But conſider it in its ſelfe, it is not ſuch a great matter but only in relation unto Chriſt, in its own nature, it is but as a poor begger that puts forth his hand to take the almes, and it is God that gives it to us two: Now if we do any thing, what can we do leſs then receive, (eſpe…ially when we have a hand given us by God wherewith to receive) as if a begger had an alms promiſed him if he would come and take it. Oh! but ſaith the begger I am lame, I cannot go, and my hand is withered, I cannot ſtretch it forth. Wel, he that would give the alms ſaith, he wil help the beggar thither, he wil help him to legs to go, and he wil heal his hand and give it ſtrength whereby he ſhal put it forth to receive the alms; only do not ſtrugle againſt me, do not reſiſt me: I wil be with you, you ſhal leane upon mee, I wil give you ſtilts. Is not here as much conſideration as can be? and ſo it is in the work of reconciliation of ſinners unto God; he gives alms, and he gives the hand wherewith to receive it.