Gospel reconciliation, or, Christ's trumpet of peace to the world

but though the promises that are made to us in the Gospel are sweet; yet the promise that was made to the Son of God, is infinitely more sweet. And this is the thing that I should have showed you: not only how this was promised unto Christ; but the excellent comfort that this is unto the Saints; that they are now to look upon all that is done unto them, and upon all the works of Gods grace to them, not as a new thing; not as an accidental thing that comes. As if we should have peace here in the Commonwealth it would be precious to us, if it should be upon these terms, and we would all rejoice ⟨p. 143⟩much in what should befall us in a way of a safe peace: But our peace with God is not wrought with God so, as if we were perishing, and then Gods providence came and turned all about again. No, our peace with God is a thing plotted from all eternity; God did as it were contrive it in Heaven before any world was made: God thought of this work of Reconciling himself unto the world; yea, unto thee in particular if thou beest a Believer, a broken hearted sinner, before even the Havens, or the Earth were made, God had actual thoughts of thee still; and there was a Covenant between God the Father and the Son, for thy soul in particular; and though God foresaw thou wouldest sin against him, and turn enemy to him, yet there was a consultation between the Father, and the Son from all eternity to bring thy soul home unto God, and to pardon thy sin. So that thou art to look upon all the works of Gods grace towards thee here in bringing thee to his Son, and upon all the comforts thou hast from his Son, as the fruit of Gods eternal plot, of Gods eternal counsel with his Son: and that although it doth but now break forth, yet it was that which was in the bosom of the Father, and the Son from all eternity; and this indeed will sweeten our Reconciliation with God, and all means tending thereunto. As, doth God send but the word of Reconciliation to bring you home unto Christ? this was that which there was a Contrivance of in the heart of God from all eternity. That in such a time, such a man should live, in such a place, and such a Minister should be sent amongst them, and such a text of scripture should be opened, and such truths should be preached, and if thou findest God bringing of these truths home to thy soul:

but though the promises that are made to us in the Gospel are sweet; yet the promise that was made to the Son of God, is infinitly more sweet. And this is the thing that I should have shewed you: not only how this was promised unto Christ; but the excellent comfort that this is unto the Saints; that they are now to look upon al that is done unto them, and upon all the works of Gods grace to them, not as a new thing; not as an accidental thing that comes. As if we should have peace here in the Commonwealth it would be pretiouse to us, if it should be upon these tearms, and we would al rejoyce