Gospel Reconciliation, Chapter 71
CHAP. 71. The eleventh argument: Manifeſting the exceeding wilingneſs of God and Chriſt to be reconciled to ſinners.
THe next argument that ſhewes the willingneſs of God to be reconciled unto ſinners is this; The Lord in his word, doth uſe very powerful, and ſtrong arguments to draw the heart to come in to be reconciled; this is that evidence; (I ſay,) that the Lord is willing, by the ſtrong reaſons that God doth uſe in his word to gain upon the hearts of ſinners, to bring them in to be reconciled, he doth not meerly offer mercy; he doth not meerly ſet before the ſoul his mercy. But the Lord labors with ſtrong reaſons, motives, and arguments to perſwade and gain the hearts of ſinners unto himſelf; to come in to be reconciled unto him; as now when a man doth offer peace, it is ſomewhat, and when he doth it in a generous loving way of curteſie that is more: but then, when he doth ſend ſtrong arguments, to perſwad, & wil not readily take a denial, but ſends ſuch & ſuch arguments, & doth conſider before hand what wil be moſt likely to perſwade the heart of ſuch a man. What can I conceive wil gaine his heart moſt? What can I think? Suppoſe there ſhould be a man, between whom & you there hath been a falling out, & you ſhould know that when he is alone in his cloſſet, he is thinking thus with himſelf; What arguments can I conceive may take the heart of ſuch a man to perſwade him: to come in to be at peace with me? what can I think may be the moſt prevalent? That wil I certainly uſe to perſwade him. But undoubtedly it is ſo with God. God looks upon the Children of men, and doth conſider what argumentt wil take their hearts moſt? the ſcripture is exceeding ful of prevalent, & powerful arguments, to perſwade the hearts of men to come in, to be reconciled unto God: [Arguments] ſometimes taken from the equity of Gods waies towards them, and their unequal wayes towards him; Are not my wayes equal ſaith God, and your wayes unequal? Is there any thing that I require of you but righteous? do not I ſpeak righteous? Sometimes he uſes arguments from the abſolute neceſſity that lies upon ſinners to come and be reconciled unto God, ſhewing them that certainly they wil be loſt, undone, and eternally damned if they do not come in. He that beleeveth not, the wrath of God abides upon him. You are loſt and undone creatures except you do come in. And ſometimes arguments taken from the excellency of the benefit, and profit that there is in comming in to God, and being reconciled unto al the Glorious promiſes of the Goſpel, are ſo many powerful arguments to draw the hearts of ſinners to run in to be reconciled unto God. I might be very large in this; in ſhewing of the particular arguments that God doth uſe: but take that one ful argument that we have to perſwade ſinners to come in, In Prov. 1.23. Turne you at my reproof; behold I wil pour my ſpirit upon you; I wil make known my word unto you: He ſpeaks here to ſimple ones, Scorners, Fools; [Turne you at my reproofe; behold, I wil pour my ſpirit out upon you] (ſaith God) as if God ſhould ſay, though you are Scorners: yet the truth is; my heart works towards you, my heart doth yearn towards you, and if you would but turne to me, I would pour forth my heart to you: you ſhal have my very ſpirit, my very heart let out unto you, if you wil turne unto me. What an argument is here to prevail with the hardeſt hearts in the world? For God himſelf to come and ſay unto a ſinner, to one that hath Scorned him and his wayes, and to a Fool that hath gone on in waies of folly, and wickedneſs; for God to come and ſay unto him; Oh wretched ſinner! come in, come in, turne to me, turne to me, for my heart is ful, my heart is top ful, turn to me; I wil pour forth my heart to thee; Al thoſe promiſes of giving reſt to thy ſoul; of giving life eternal, eternal ſalvation, Glory, Peace, and Comfort, and a Kingdom, ſhal al be made good to thee. The Lord therefore ſuites himſelf unto us in ſuch arguments, ſo cloſe as may out-bid other comforts that we have in the word in any waies of ſin: and therefore tels them of Hony, and Milk, and Rayment, and Gold, and Silver, and al ſuch things as are precious in the eyes of men; ſuch as are of eſteem with us, and tenders his Son unto us upon ſuch kind of notions that every one of them might be prevalent arguments to gaine the hearts of ſinners to come in unto God: this is the way of God; that he comes into the hearts of his people, with the moſt prevalent arguments; ſuch reaſons as one would think were impoſſible to be gainſaid. I appeal to the hearts of thoſe who have been acquainted with the work of God upon them. How did God come to your hearts? did he not come with mighty ſtrong arguments to you? The Devil he tempted, and he comes with ſtrong arguments, and God he comes, and tempts with ſtrong arguments; the Devil draws, and God draws; Gods mercies draw ſtronger than the Devil can: Oh! it was mercy to that ſoul, and (the truth is) when the Lord pleaſes to work effectually upon the ſoul, he can preſent ſtronger arguments to draw the heart of a ſinner to him, than it is poſſible for the Devil to prevaile againſt.