* To reconcile is nothing else than to make up that friendship which was broke by some grievous offence, and thus to bring enemies back into their former state oi concord. Dav. on Col, i. 20.
SERM. III. THE METHOD OF GRACE. 55
high degree of the malignity of their sin, who sinned in the light of heaven ; partly because it was decent, that the first breach of the Divine law should be punished, to secure obedience for the future. And besides, the angelical nature was not entirely lost, myriads of angels still continuing in their innocency and glory ; when as all mankind was lost in Adam.
But we must remember still the law made no distinction, but awarded the same punishment, and therefore it was mercy alone that made the difference, and mercy for ever is to be admired by men ; how astonishing is the grace of God, that moves in a way of recon- ciliation to us, out of design to fill up the vacant places in heaven, from which angels fell, with such poor worms as we are ! Angels excluded, and men received. O stupendous mercy !
Thirdly ', That God should be wliolly and thoroughly reconciled to man, so that no fury remains in him against us ; according to that scripture, Isa. xxvii. 4. is still matter of further wonder.
The design he sends his ambassadors to you about, is not the al- laying and mitigating of his wrath, (which yet would be matter of great joy to the damned) but thoroughly to quench all his wrath, so that no degree thereof shall ever be felt by you. O blessed em- bassy ? " Beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them that " bring such tidings." God offers you a full reconciliation, a plenary remission.
Fourthly, That God should be freely reconciled to sinners, and discharge them without any, the least satisfaction to his justice from them is, and for ever will be, marvellous in their eyes.
O what mercy would the damned account it, if after a thousand years torment in hell, God would at last be reconciled to them, and put an end to their misery ! But believers are discharged with- out bearing any part of the curse, not one farthing of that debt is levied upon them.
Object If you say, how can this be, when God stands upon full satisfaction to his justice before any soul be discharged and restored to favour? freely reconciled, and yet fully satisfied, how can this be?
Solid. Very well, for this mercy comes freely to your hands, how costly soever it proved to Christ ; and that free remission, and full satisfaction, are not contradictory and inconsistent tilings, is plain enough from that scripture, Rom. iii. £4. " Being justified " freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Je- " sus :" freely, and yet in the way of redemption.
For though Christ, your Surety, hath made satisfaction in your name and stead, yet it was his life, his bloody and not yours, that went for it, and this Surety was of God's own appointment, and
56 THE METHOD OF GRACE. SERM. III.
providing, without your thoughts or contrivance. O blessed re- conciliation ! happy is the people that hear the joyful sound of it.
Fifthly, and lastly, that God should be finally reconciled to sin- ners, so that never any new breach shall happen betwixt him and them any more, so as to dissolve the league of friendship, is a most ravishing and transporting message.
Two things give confirmation and full security to reconciled ones, viz. the terms of the covenant, and the intercession of the Mediator.
The covenant of grace gives great security to believers, against new breaches betwixt God and them. It is said, Jer. xxxii. 40. " And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will " not turn away from them to do them good, but I will put my " fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me." The fear of the Lord is a choice preservative against second revolts, and therefore taken into the covenant. It is no hinder ance, but a special guard to assurance.
There is no doubt of God's faithfulness : that part of the pro- mise is easily believed, that he will not turn away from us to do us good : all the doubt is of the inconstancy of our hearts with God, and against that danger, this promise makes provision.
Moreover, the intercession of Christ in heaven secures the saints in their reconciled state, 1 John ii. 1,2. " If any man sin, we have " an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he " is the Propitiation."" He continually appears in heaven before the Father, " as a lamb that had been slain," Rev. v. 6. And as the bow in the clouds, Rev. iv. 3. So that as long as Christ thus appears in the presence of God for us, it is not possible our state of justification and reconciliation can be again dissolved.
And this is that blessed embassy gospel-ministers are employed about ; he hath committed to them the word of this reconcilia- tion.
In the last place, we are to enquire what, and whence is this ef- ficacy of preaching, to reconcile and bring home sinners to Christ.
That its efficacy is great in convincing, humbling, and changing the hearts of men, is past all debate and question. " The wea- " pons of our warfare (saith the apostle) are not carnal, but migh- " ty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, cast- " ing down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth " itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity " every thought to the obedience of Christ," 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. No heart so hard, no conscience so stupid, but this sword can pierce and wound ; in an instant it can cast down all those vain reason-
SERM. III. THE METHOD OF GRACE. 57
ings and fond imaginations, which the carnal heart hath heen building all its life long, and open a fair passage for convictions of sin, and the fears and terrors of wrath to come, into that heart that never was afraid of these things before. So Acts ii. 37. " When " they heard this, they were pricked to the heart, and said unto " Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what " shall we do ?"
What shall we do ? is the doleful cry of men at then* wits end ; the voice of one m deepest distress : and such outcries have been no rarities under the preaching of the word ; its power hath been felt by persons of all orders and conditions ; the great and honour- able of the earth, as well as the poor and despicable. The learned and the ignorant, the civil and profane, the young and the old, all have felt the heart-piercing efficacy of the gospel.
If you ask, whence hath the word preached this mighty power ? The answer must be, neither from itself nor him that preaches it, but from the Spirit of God whose instrument it is, by whose bles- sing and concurrence with it, it produceth its blessed effects upon the hearts of men.