So the apostle assures us, 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4, " If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost : in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glo- rious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." If you receive not this word, if it be hid from you, it is from the power and efficacy of Satan upon your minds. And what will be the end? Perish you must and shall, and that for ever.
Ver.4.] EXHORTATIONS UNTO BELIEVING FORGIVENESS. 521
Remember the parable of our Saviour: Luke xiv. 31, 32, " What king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that Cometh against him with twenty thousand? or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace." That which he teacheth in this parable is, the necessity that lies on us of making peace with God, whom we have provoked, and justly made to be our enemy; as also our utter impo- tency to resist and Avithstand him when he shall come forth in a way of judgment and vengeance against us. But here lies a difference in this matter, such as is allowed in all similitudes. Amongst men at variance, it is not his part who is the stronger, and secure of success, to send to the weaker, Avhom he hath in his power, to accept of terms of peace. Here it is otherwise : God, who is infinitely power- ful, justly provoked, and able to destroy poor sinners in a moment, when now he is not very far off, but at the very door, sends himself an ambassage with conditions of peace. And shall he be refused by you ? will you yet neglect his offers ? How great, then, will be your destruction !
Hear, then, once more, poor sin-hardened, senseless souls, ye stout- hearted, that are far from righteousness. Is it nothing unto you that the great and holy God, whom ye have provoked all your days, and whom you yet continue to provoke, — who hath not the least need of you or your salvation, — who can, when he pleaseth, eternally glorify himself in your destruction, — should of his own accord send unto you, to let you know that he is willing to be at peace with you on the terms he had prepared ? The enmity began on your part, the danger is on your part only, and he might justly expect that the message for peace should begin on your part also ; but he begins with you. And shall he be rejected? The prophet well expresseth this, Isa. xxx. 15, " Thus saith the Lord GoD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved ; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not." The love and condescension that is in these words, on the one hand, on the part of God, and the folly and ingratitude mentioned in them on the other hand, is inexpres- sible. They are fearful words, " But ye would not." Remember this against another day. As our Saviour says, in the like manner, to the Jews, " Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Whatever is pretended, it is will and stubbornness that lie at the bottom of this refusal.
Wherefore, that either you may obtain advantage by it, or that the way of the Lord may be prepared for the glorifying of himself upon you, I shall leave this word before all them that hear or read it, as the testimony which God requires to be given unto his grace.
522 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM cxxx. [Ver.4.
There are tenns of pence with God provided for and tendered unto you. It is yet called To-day; harden not your hearts like them of old, who could not enter into the rest of God by reason of unbelief, Heb. iii. 19. Some of you, it may be, are old in sins and unac- quainted with God ; some of you, it may be, have been great sinners, scandalous sinners; and some of you, it may be, have reason to appre- hend yourselves near the grave, and so also to hell ; some of you, it may be, have your consciences disquieted and galled ; and it may be some of you are under some outward troubles and perplexities, that cause you a little to look about you; and some of you, it may be, are in the madness of your natural strength and lusts, — " your breasts are full of milk and your bones of marrow," and your hearts of sin, pride, and contempt of the ways of God. All is one: this word is unto you all ; and I shall only mind you that " it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." You hear the voice or read the words of a poor worm ; but the message is the message, and the word is the word, of Him who shaketh heaven and earth. Consider, then, well what you have to do, and what answer 3^ou will return unto Him who will not be mocked.