GOSPEL-RECONCILIATION, OR Christs Trumpet of Peace TO THE WORLD. › Chapter 12: Doct. Our Reconciliation with God is made in Christ. Seven things propounded for openin…, Gospel reconciliation, or, Christ's trumpet of peace to the world by Jeremiah Burroughs (1657) | AskReformation

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:197p. 73–74

For the first, The necessity of Christs coming in for our Reconciliation; and surely this is that which is to be in culcated, and beaten upon you again & again, for you neither know God nor Christ, nor your own estates, except you know the necessity of Christs coming in to undertake in the work of Reconciliation. I suppose if we should ask any of you, how you hope to be saved; ⟨p. 74⟩you will presently answer, by Jesus Christ. But the understanding of the absolute necessity that there was of Christs coming in to reconcile us, and God together, is not so ordinary; therefore I beseech you seriously weigh it. The necessity of it in a word is this: There was such a distance made between God, and his Creatures through sin, as did put a necessity upon a Mediator to come between; the distance was so great; for God being the infinite first being, and we being his Creatures, the distance must needs be great; it is sin that made the distance between God, and us; and that was so vast, and wide, that it did necessarily require a Mediator to come between, and especially upon this ground; because the Lord was resolved to have that wrong that was done unto him by the sin of man perfectly made up; sin had wronged God, and God was resolved upon it, he was set upon it to have this wrong completely made up, and that he himself would be perfectly righted; and this Gods Justice calls for; and thus stood the terms between God, and Man; Man having wronged God, and God and He are now at variance, and God stands upon it, and is resolved with himself thus; though I be willing to be at peace with them, yet I will be at peace with them, so as I will have the wrong that is done made up; my Justice shall be fully, and completely satisfied; I must be righted, for I am God; and there shall not be such a flaw remaining in my Justice to eternity, as that such and such Creatures should sin against me, and I pass it by without having any satisfaction; for saith God, this would be a flaw in my Justice for ever, and that I will not have, and therefore I will be righted in that wrong that is done me by the fall of Man. It is true, when one man comes to treat about peace, and Reconciliation with another, it is sometimes necessary for him to pass by an offence without any satisfaction at all, especially when that poor Creature that hath offended is not able to make satisfaction;

FOr the first, The necessity of Christs coming in for our Reconciliation; and surely this is that which is to be in culcated, and beaten upon you again & again, for you neither know God nor Christ, nor your own estates, except you know the necessity of Christs coming in to undertake in the work of Reconciliation. I suppose if we should ask any of you, how you hope to be saved; ⟨p. 74⟩you wil presently answer, by Jesus Christ. But the understanding of the absolute necessity that there was of Christs coming in to reconcile us, and God together, is not so ordinary; therefore I beseech you seriously weigh it. The necessity of it in a word is this: There was such a distance made between God, and his Creatures through sin, as did put a necessity upon a Mediator to come between; the distance was so great; for God being the infinite first being, and we being his Creatures, the distance must needs be great; it is sin that made the distance between God, and us; and that was so vast, and wide, that it did necessarily require a Mediator to come between, and especially upon this ground; because the Lord was resolved to have that wrong that was done unto him by the sin of man perfectly made up; sin had wronged God, and God was resolved upon it, he was set upon it to have this wrong compleatly made up, and that he himself would be perfectly righted; and this Gods Justice cals for; and thus stood the tearms between God, and Man; Man having wronged God, and God and He are now at varience, and God stands upon it, and is resolved with himself thus; though I be willing to be at peace with them, yet I wil be at peace with them, so as I wil have the wrong that is done made up; my Justice shal be fully, and compleatly satisfied; I must be righted, for I am God; and there shal not be such a flaw remayning in my Justice to eternity, as that such and such Creatures should sin against me, and I pass it by without having any satisfaction; for saith God, this would be a flaw in my Justice for ever, and that I will not have, and therefore I will be righted in that wrong that is done me by the fal of Man. It is true, when one man comes to treat about peace, and Reconciliation with another, it is somtimes necessary for him to pass by an offence without any satisfaction at al, especially when that poor Creature that hath offended is not able to make satisfaction;

:198p. 74–76

but it is not so between God and ⟨p. 75⟩Man; though one Man being at variance with another, when he sees that he that hath done him the wrong cannot make satisfaction, he then is indeed to pass it by; but Gods mercy did never work after that manner, though the mercy in a man may work him to such a Reconciliation, and though God be a God of infinite mercy, infinitely more merciful than any Creature can be, yet the way of the working of Gods, mercy is a different way from the working of the Creatures mercy; neither doth it argue that there is not as much mercy in God as there is in the Creature; but that the way of the working of Gods mercy is different from that of the Creatures, and this is the way of the working of Gods mercy, not to pass by the wrong done, but to provide some means or other himself to satisfy that wrong, to the end that he may have his Justice satisfied; and because that this was necessary, hence it comes to pass of our being reconciled unto God through Jesus Christ. The necessity of Christs being a Mediator is not so much this, that we are grievous sinners, and so we have need of abundance of mercy from God; if there were nothing but these two only; that we are great sinners, and so have need of great mercy, there would not come a necessity of Christ; But we are great sinners, and we have need of the mercy of God, and the wrong that sin hath done unto God must be made up, and his Justice fully satisfied, and here comes in the necessity of a Christ. And thus God was Reconciling himself to the world in this regard. And the truth is, though some of you have heard the sound of this oftentimes; yet you must know, this is the great mystery of the Gospel, and by our presenting this unto you again, and again, perhaps God will give you a further insight into this truth; It is this that the Angels desire so much to pry into; they know this, that Gods Justice must be satisfied, but they know it not so, and so as the Church knows it, and as the Saints know it, and therefore they pry more, and more into it to see the further depths of it; ⟨p. 76⟩as indeed there is greater and greater depths in this mystery which we can never fathom, and which is only reserved for the time of the Resurrection. Most people think, that when they are to seek for Reconciliation with God, they have to do with God only as a merciful God;

but it is not so between God and ⟨p. 75⟩Man; though one Man being at variance with another, when he sees that he that hath done him the wrong cannot make satisfaction, he then is indeed to pass it by; but Gods mercy did never work after that manner, though the mercy in a man may work him to such a Reconciliation, and though God be a God of infinite mercy, infinitly more merciful than any Creature can be, yet the way of the working of Gods, mercy is a different way from the working of the Creatures mercy; neither doth it argue that there is not as much mercy in God as there is in the Creature; but that the way of the working of Gods mercy is different from that of the Creatures, and this is the way of the working of Gods mercy, not to pass by the wrong done, but to provide some means or other himself to satisfie that wrong, to the end that he may have his Justice satisfied; and because that this was necessary, hence it comes to pass of our being reconciled unto God through Jesus Christ. The necessity of Christs being a Mediator is not so much this, that we are grieveous sinners, and so we have need of abundance of mercy from God; if there were nothing but these two only; that we are great sinners, and so have need of great mercy, there would not come a necessity of Christ; But we are great sinners, and we have need of the mercy of God, and the wrong that sin hath done unto God must be made up, and his Justice fully satisfied, and here comes in the necessity of a Christ. And thus God was Reconciling himself to the world in this regard. And the truth is, though some of you have heard the sound of this oftentimes; yet you must know, this is the great mistery of the Gospel, and by our presenting this unto you again, and again, perhaps God wil give you a further insight into this truth; It is this that the Angels desire so much to pry into; they know this, that Gods Justice must be satisfied, but they know it not so, and so as the Church knows it, and as the Saints know it, and therefore they pry more, and more into it to see the further depths of it; ⟨p. 76⟩as indeed there is greater and greater depths in this mistery which we can never fathom, and which is only reserved for the time of the Resurrection. Most people think, that when they are to seek for Reconciliation with God, they have to do with God only as a merciful God;

:201p. 76–77

The second thing propounded in the twelfth Chapter is this. How Christ comes to be a fit Reconciler; it is he who is the great Peace-maker; and therefore in the Scripture he is called the Prince of peace; it is he that is Melchizedek, King of righteousness, and King of peace; But how comes he to be so? by being a Mediator between the Father and us: and so you shall find he is called in the Scripture. Heb. 8, 6. But he hath obtained a more Excellent Ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant, that is, of a Covenant of grace, and not of that covenant of works. Now Christ he is a fit mediator to come in, and to mediate between ⟨p. 77⟩God, and us. As amongst men when there is a Breach between two, and they are at a Distance; the Breach is such as requires one to come in, and to mediate between them; It is not always necessary between man and man where there is a Breath, that one should come and mediate; but there being a Breath between God, and us, it was absolutely necessary that a mediator should come in to treat between God and us, and there could never have been the least parley, the least treaty between God, and fallen man, had not a mediator stepped in between and this mediator is Jesus Christ, and it is he that is only fit to be our Reconciler, and Peace-Maker.

THe second thing propounded in the twelfth Chapter is this. How Christ comes to be a fit Reconciler; it is he who is the great Peace-maker; and therefore in the Scripture he is called the Prince of peace; it is he that is Melchezedeck, King of righteousness, and King of peace; But how comes he to be so? by being a Mediator between the Father and us: and so you shal find he is called in the Scripture. Heb. 8, 6. But he hath obtained a more Excellent Ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant, that is, of a Covenant of grace, and not of that covenant of works. Now Christ he is a fit mediator to come in, and to mediate between ⟨p. 77⟩God, and us. As amongst men when there is a Breach between two, and they are at a Distance; the Breach is such as requires one to come in, and to mediate between them; It is not alwayes necessary between man and man where there is a Breath, that one should come and mediate; but there being a Breath between God, and us, it was absolutely necessary that a mediator should come in to treat between God and us, and there could never have been the least parly, the least treaty between God, and fallen man, had not a mediator stept in between and this mediator is Jesus Christ, and it is he that is only fit to be our Reconciler, and Peace-Maker.

:203p. 77

You will Say; How doth this make him fit? Thus; The Sin that was committed in the first transgression was more directly against the first Person, God the Father. Why, will you say, was it against one Person rather than against another? It was indeed against them all; but it was more directly against the first Person; and this is the reason of it, because mans first sin was against that perfection which God gave him in his creation; against that created righteousness that was put into him which was especially the work of the first person in trinity; for Creation is attributed to the first person; and man sinning against that work of Creation, hence it comes to pass that the first is more directly, and immediately offended. Now therefore the second Person in the Trinity, he comes next in Order, and therefore it is he that is fit to be a Reconciler between the father and us, because we having sinned against the work of Creation, God the father unto whom that work is attributed, is more especially offended.

You wil Say; How doth this make him fit? Thus; The Sin that was committed in the first transgression was more directly against the first Person, God the Father. Why, wil you say, was it against one Person rather than against another? It was indeed against them al; but it was more directly against the first Person; and this is the reason of it, because mans first sin was against that perfection which God gave him in his creation; against that created righteousnes that was put into him which was especially the work of the first person in trinity; for Creation is attributed to the first person; and man sining against that work of Creation, hence it comes to pass that the first is more directly, and immediatly offended. Now therfore the second Person in the Trinity, he comes next in Order, and therefore it is he that is fit to be a Reconciler between the father and us, because we having sinned against the work of Creation, God the father unto whom that worke is attributed, is more especially offended.

:204p. 77–79¶2

2 But not only so, for if he had been but only the second person; if he had been but only the Son of God, he could not have been the reconciler of us unto God, and therefore there must be somewhat else. When we ask you what Christ is; you Ordinarily answer the Son of ⟨p. 78⟩God: but if that had been all, if he had been only the Son of God, and the Second Person in Trinity, he could not (according to that way which God hath revealed in his word that he will be reconciled unto Sinners by) have been a fit mediator for us. Therefore in the Second place, that he might be a fit mediator to make our peace, and to reconcile God, and us together, he comes and takes our nature upon him, and is made a very man; so that the same Person is now God, and man; he having taken up the nature into a personal union with the Son of God; so that he partakes of both those natures which is to be reconciled, observe it well. Christ who is to be the Reconciler, his business is to reconcile God and man, between whom there was so vast a Breach. Now to the end that he might be fit for this work and reconcile these two, God and man, he partakes of both natures, and is become, by uniting the nature of man which he took to himself, into Personal union with the Godhead, both God, and man, and having the nature of them both, he hath interest in them both; he hath interest in God the father as being the same God coequal with the father, though not the same in a Personal regard, but the same God with the Father: and he hath interest likewise in man, as he hath the same nature with him; and thus he partaking of God, and partaking of man, comes to have interest in both, and in that regard becomes a fit mediator between God and us. Here is the great work of God to reconcile man to himself; and in this, God must do a work that is far greater than the making of Heaven, and the Earth. It had not been so great a work for God to have made ten thousand worlds over again, as for God to make a mediator to become God and man in one Person. The union of the two natures of Christ is the greatest work that ever God did from all eternity, or ever shall be done, and yet this was required to reconcile us to himself; and surely you may well conclude, that the work of reconciliation of a sinner to God, is a greater business, seeing that ⟨p. 79⟩Heaven and Earth must be moved about it;

2 But not only so, for if he had been but only the second person; if he had been but only the Son of God, he could not have been the reconciler of us unto God, and therefore there must be somwhat else. When we ask you what Christ is; you Ordinarily answer the Son of ⟨p. 78⟩God: but if that had been al, if he had been only the Son of God, and the Second Person in Trinity, he could not (according to that way which God hath revealed in his word that he wil be reconciled unto Sinners by) have been a fit mediator for us. Therefore in the Second place, that he might be a fit mediator to make our peace, and to reconcile God, and us together, he comes and takes our nature upon him, and is made a very man; so that the same Person is now God, and man; he having taken up the nature into a personal union with the Son of God; so that he pertakes of both those natures which is to be reconciled, observe it wel. Christ who is to be the Reconciler, his business is to reconcile God and man, between whom there was so vast a Breach. Now to the end that he might be fit for this work and reconcile these two, God and man, he partakes of both natures, and is become, by uniting the nature of man which he tooke to himselfe, into Personal union with the Godhead, both God, and man, and having the nature of them both, he hath interest in them both; he hath interest in God the father as being the same God coequal with the father, though not the same in a Personal regard, but the same God with the Father: and he hath interest likewise in man, as he hath the same nature with him; and thus he partaking of God, and partaking of man, comes to have interest in both, and in that regard becomes a fit mediator between God and us. Here is the great work of God to reconcile man to himself; and in this, God must do a work that is far greater than the making of Heaven, and the Earth. It had not been so great a work for God to have made ten thousand worlds over again, as for God to make a mediator to become God and man in one Person. The union of the two natures of Christ is the greatest work that ever God did from al eternity, or ever shal be done, and yet this was required to reconcile us to himself; and surely you may wel conclude, that the work of reconciliation of a sinner to God, is a greater business, seeing that ⟨p. 79⟩Heaven and Earth must be moved about it;

:206p. 79

Thirdly, Christ is a fill Mediator in this; That he knows fully the mind of the Father; and throughly understands, even to the utmost what wrong the Father hath received by our sin. If one should come to Mediate between one Man, and another, and should desire the party offended to be at peace; He will say; you speak thus unto me; but do you know what wrong such a one hath done me? if you understood the wrong he hath done me, surely you would not think it so easy a matter for me to be at peace; and the truth is, if all the Angels in Heaven, and all the men in the world should come to interpose, and to make peace between God, and any sinner for any one sin; God would presently Answer them, and say, what do you do to come to undertake this work of making peace with me and a sinner; alas you do not understand what wrong is done unto me by his sin; you know not what injury I have received by his sin, therefore you are not a fit party to be a Mediator. And in this regard no Angel in Heaven could possibly be a fit Peace-maker between God and Man, for they know not what wrong sin hath done unto God; But Jesus Christ knows to the utmost, he understands throughly, and fully all the wrong, and injury that is done unto the Father by the sin of Man; he knows what prejudice his Father sustained by all the sins of all the men of the world, which no Creature else, Angels, nor Men could ever do. Nay, they are so far from knowing the wrong that is done to God by the sins of the world, as they are not able to understand the wrong that is done unto God by one of the least sins that can be committed.

Thirdly, Christ is a fil Mediator in this; That he knows fully the mind of the Father; and throughly understands, even to the utmost what wrong the Father hath received by our sin. If one should come to Mediate between one Man, and another, and should desire the party offended to be at peace; He wil say; you speak thus unto me; but do you know what wrong such a one hath done me? if you understood the wrong he hath done me, surely you would not think it so easie a matter for me to be at peace; and the truth is, if al the Angels in Heaven, and al the men in the world should come to interpose, and to make peace between God, and any sinner for any one sin; God would presently Answer them, and say, what do you do to come to undertake this work of making peace with me and a sinner; alas you do not understand what wrong is done unto me by his sin; you know not what injury I have received by his sin, therefore you are not a fit party to be a Mediator. And in this regard no Angel in Heaven could possibly be a fit Peace-maker between God and Man, for they know not what wrong sin hath done unto God; But Jesus Christ knows to the utmost, he understands throughly, and fully al the wrong, and injury that is done unto the Father by the sin of Man; he knows what prejudice his Father susteined by al the sins of al the men of the world, which no Creature else, Angels, nor Men could ever do. Nay, they are so far from knowing the wrong that is done to God by the sins of the world, as they are not able to understand the wrong that is done unto God by one of the least sins that can be committed.