Col. I. 20.] by the blood of christ. 501
1 Tim. i. 16. Therefore all penitent believers may be assured that this sacrifice is sufficient, and will avail for their acceptance with God. AVe take it for a good token of a healing water when we see the crutches of cripples that had been cured. All the blessed saints in heaven are witness to a sincere soul — they all obtained this blessed condition through the blood of his cross reconciling them to God. There is none in glory but had his pardon sealed through the blood of Christ.
4. How and upon what terms is it applied to us ? for we have con- sidered hitherto only how Christ hath made peace or made the atone- ment. Yet if we receive not the atonement we may perish for ever for all that ; besides the work done on the cross by Christ alone, there is a work to be done in our hearts ; the work of making peace is suf- ficiently done by Christ, there needeth nothing to be added to it, no other ransom, nor sacrifice, nor propitiation. Christ hath so fully satisfied divine justice, that he hath obtained the new covenant ; but we are not actually admitted into this peace till we have personally accepted the covenant. Now here it sticketh. God hath been in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, there was the foundation laid ; but, therefore, we pray you to be reconciled, 2 Cor. v. 20. There is our title, claim, actual right, security. But how do we receive this atonement ? or how are we interested in it ? The conditions and terms are gracious, such as the nature of the business calleth for. As to our entrance into this peace, no more is required but faith and repentance. The gospel is offered to all ; but the penitent believer, as being only capable, is possessed of it.
1. Faith is required ; that we believe what the Son of God hath done and purchased for us : Kom. v. 1, ' Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.' If we sincerely em- brace the gospel, we are reconciled to God and accepted with him. The faith that justifieth is partly an assent to the truth of the Christian religion, especially the fundamental truth that Jesus is the Son of God and Saviour of the world ; and partly an acceptance of Christ as God offers him, a serious, thankful, broken-hearted acceptance of Christ as your Lord and Saviour : serious, because of the weight of the business ; broken-hearted, because of the condition of the person accepting, a self-condemning sinner, or one that hath an awakening- sense of his sin and misery. Thankful, because reconciliation with God and fruition of them in glory is so great a benefit : and you take him as Lord ; for every knee must bow to Christ, he is a Saviour by merit and efficacy. By his meritorious righteousness you obtain all benefits; by the efficacy of his Spirit you perform all duties. The last thing is trust and dependence, Eph. i. 13. Trust is such an expec- tation of the benefits offered by Christ, that forsaking all other things you entirely give up yourselves to the conduct of his word and Spirit.
2. The next thing is repentance, which is a turning from sin to God. We turn from sin by hatred, and we turn to God by love. We turn from sin by hatred ; hatred of sin is the ground of all mortification. There is a twofold hatred— of abomination and of enmity. We turn to God by love, which is the great principle to incline us to God, aud is
502 RECONCILIATION WITH GOD [SeR. VIIL
the bottom of vivification or living to God. Now all this is necessary to actual peace, for our refreshing begins in conversion, Acts iii. 19. There is no peace allowed to the wicked ; we must take Christ's yoke, or we shall find no rest for our souls, Mat. xi. 29, We are not recon- ciled to God till our enmity be broken and overcome : then, of enemies, we become friends ; of strangers, intimates — then we are reconciled. This, then, is required of you ; only let me add this caution, what is at first vows and purposes must be afterwards deeds and practices; and having engaged yourselves to God, to live to him, to keep your- selves from sin, and to follow after holiness, this must be your busi- ness all the days of your lives, for so you continue your peace and interest in God: Gal. vi. 16, ' And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and on the Israel of God.'
Use 1. To exhort you to enter into this peace, that you may be partakers of the fruit of Christ's blood, and the virtue of his cross may be effectual in you.
[1.] Let me reason, a periculo, from the danger. Consider what it is to be at odds with God, and how soon and how easily he can revenge his quarrel against you, and how miserable they will be for ever that are not found of him in a state of peace : Ps. vii. 11-13, ' God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword ; he hath bent his bow, and will make his arrows ready.' There the psalmist representeth God and man as in a state of hostility against each other. The wicked man affronts his holiness, questions his justice, slights his wrath, breaks his laws, wrongeth his people, and saith. Tush! I shall have peace though I add drunkenness to thirst. God for a while giveth time and warning ; but every moment can break in upon us, for he is able easily to deal with us, comminus, hand to hand, for he hath his sword ; eminus, at a distance, for he hath his bow. He is not only able to deal with them, but ready, for he is whetting his sword and hath bent his bow, the arrow is upon the string, though not as yet sent or shot out. What remedy, then, is there ? There is but one exception: ' if he turn not.' If he be not reduced and brought home to God by a timely repentance, he falleth into the hands of the living God. Now, no persons are in so dangerous an estate as those that have peace offered and despise it : Isa. xxvii. 4, ' Let him take hold of my strength ; ' when God is ready to strike. A man that is fallen into the power of his enemy will take hold of his arm. We are always in God's power, his vengeance may surprise us before we are aware. AVhat is our business, but to be found of him in peace ?