The Wells of Salvation Opened, Section 6
SECT. VI.
1. THE Apostle speaks unto the Gentiles concerning God, v. 34. and 35. Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. Two things he gives them to understand concerning God.
1. His gracious disposition to accept of Men.
2. His good will towards the Gentiles.
1. He lets them know how gracious God was in being willing to accept of men, of any men, without respect of persons, whatever their sins had been, so that they did turn from them, in his fear, and wrought righteousness for the future. This is needfull for sinners to know, that they might be encouraged to seek after salvation: For if they apprehend God only as he is holy, and just, and jealous, if they are told only that he is powerful and furious, and a sin-revenging God; when they reflect upon their guilt, they will be ready to fly away from him, under a slavish fear of punishment, and in discouragement and despair go on in the practice of sin as long as they can: Therefore Ministers must represent God unto sinners as gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, pardoning iniquity, transgression and sin, as he sets forth himself to Moses, Exod. 34.6, 7. they must tell sinners, that God is gracious, and ready to accept of all those that fear him, and turn from their evil waies, and resolve to work righteousness for the time to come, and that he will be found of, and give a reward unto all such as diligently seek him, Heb. 11.6. He that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of all them that diligently seek him. O that you who are going on in sin, were perswaded of this, how gracious and merciful the Lord is, whom you do so highly offend by sin, and how ready he is to accept of you, if you would but turn from sin: He hath given us Ministers commission to tell you, that there is an accepted time, and a day of salvation for your souls, which he yet lengthens out unto you: Yea, we are sent as his Embassadours to entreat and beseech you that you would be reconciled unto God, 2 Cor. 5.20. And when God declares by us that he is so willing to accept of you, that he desires you to accept of his salvation, and beseecheth a reconciliation, when he can so easily avenge himself upon you, and glorifie his justice and wrath in your destruction, and standeth in no need of you, only for your own sake entreats you to be reconciled, that you might not be destroyed, that you might not even force him to punish you, which he will do with a witness, and with a vengeance, if you refuse: Methinks this amazing condescention and kindness of God should astonish you, and stop you in the way of sin, and make you tremble, and let fall your weapons out of your hand, with which you have been fighting against him, and cast your selves with shame and self-loathing at his feet, grieving at the very heart, that ever you offended a God of such infinite loving kindness.
2. Peter tells them further of Gods good will towar…s the Gentiles, that in every Nation whoever feared him should be accepted with him. They were Gentiles whom he preached unto, and they might have feared that salvation was only to be found amongst the Jews; and that however God were gracious and ready to receive men unto favour that feared him, yet that God having made choice of but one Nation in the world to be his peculiar people, and they being none of that Nation, that no grace or mercy was attainable by them, who were Heathens, who are called the people of his wrath. Therefore Peter gives them to understand, that however God had set narrow bounds to his Church formerly, and confined his mercy to one Nation, yet that now the hedge and middle wall of partition was broken down, and any Nation might find acceptance. This was the first appearance and breaking forth of Gods mercy towards the Gentiles, in that he declares himself now to be no longer a respecter of Nations, but that other Nations should taste of his favour as well as the Iews. This was intended from the beginning by God, and foretold long before by the Prophets. See Isa. 49.18, 19, 20, 21, 23. Lift up thine eyes (speaking to the Church) round about; behold all these gather themselves together, and come to thee: as I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament, and binde them on thee, as a Bride doth; the Land shall be too narrow; the children which thou shalt have after thou hast lost the other, shall say in thine ears, the place is too strait for me, give place to me that I may dwell. Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate? and who hath brought up th…se? Thus saith the Lord, Behold I will lift up mine hand unto the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people, and they shall bring thy Sons in their arms, and thy Daughters shall be carryed upon their shoulders, &c. And chap. 54.1, 2, 3. Sing O barren that didst not bear, break forth into singing and cry aloud, Thou that didst not travel with child, for more are the children of the desolate, than of the married wife, saith the Lord. Enlarge the place of thy Tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: Spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand, and on the left, and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate Cities to be inhabited, &c. And the Apostle Paul writing to the Gentile Romans, which were converted to the Christian Faith, makes mention of divers Prophecies together, of Gods good will which he intended to shew unto the Gentiles, through his Lord Jesus Christ; as you may read, Rom. 15.9, 10, 11, 12. And that the Gentiles may glorifie God for his mercy, … it is written, for this cause will I confess unto thee amongst the Gentiles, and sing unto thy Name. And again he saith, Rejoyce ye Gentiles with his people. And again, Praise the Lord all ye Gentiles, and laud him all ye people. And again Isaiah saith, There shall be a root of Iesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, and in him shall the Gentiles trust. And this he writes for their encouragement and comfort, that they might be filled with all joy and peace in believing, vers. 13. Now the time was come for the fulfilling of these Prophecies, when Christ was come, who had reconciled unto God both Jew and Gentile in one body by the Cross, breaking down the middle wall of partition between them, and destroying that which was an occasion of enmity, even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances, for to make in himself of twain one new man so making peace, Ephes. 3.14, 15, 16. Therefore he gave Commandment to his Disciples, after his resurrection, to preach the Gospel unto all Nations, and here sends Peter to Cornelius, and them that were with him. This is ground of singular comfort and encouragement unto us who are Gentiles, that the Lord hath good will for us, and hath sent his Gospel to be preached amongst us by his Ministers, which may give further hopes of your attaining salvation, when God hath given you the means, and sends his Ministers to preach to you such words whereby you may be saved.