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

Reason. 3.

Thirdly, Another Reason of it is this. That God might show, that in the Ministry of the Gospel, none shall be excluded, No, not the worst of sinners that are in the world; and therefore God doth not say in the Ministry of the Gospel; this, or that particular man or woman Christ died for; but generally, he died for the world. Because he would hereby show, that he hath not excluded the worst, and vilest sinner in the world; and that those that are the most notorious, and the greatest sinners in the world may come in and be Reconciled. If God had expressed it thus; There are some in the world that I have been reconciling my self unto from all eternity: Then may a sinner say; surely, if there be but some, God never intended me that have been so wicked a wretch, so notorious a sinner. But therefore God would not express it so, but in the most general terms, to the end that there should not be any one sinner in the world have this plea: Lord, I was excluded. No, saith God, I will have the Ministry of my Gospel go in such general terms, as that every sinner shall have encouragement to come in, and receive mercy. Therefore you shall find in that last of Mark. 15. where Christ gives his Commission to his disciples to preach. He saith; go in to all the world, and ••each the Gospel to every Creature; that is, to man, who is a little world, an Epitome of every creature. To the Gentiles also, who had been denied this favour of the Gospel, as if they had been none of Gods creatures. If thou beest a creature, the Gospel is to be preached to thee. There is to be a general tender of Grace, and mercy to every Creature throughout the whole world, to the greatest sinners that live upon the face of the Earth. Great sinners, and small sinners, all of them are to have the offer of Reconciliation with God; And the Ministers of the Gospel are to preach in the name of God, that the Lord ⟨p. 165⟩