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

BUT further, it may be said; why will not God immediately himself preach this Doctrine of the Gospel, The Mystery of Reconciliation? we see many infirmities in men; Men are ready enough to stumble at all infirmities of the Ministers of the Gospel (which by the way should teach Ministers of the Gospel to have a care how they walk) but because there are so many things to be excepted against men we would be ready to think, if God would himself preach the gospel from heaven men would regard it more.

BUT further, it may be said; why wil not God immediately himself preach this Doctrine of the Gospel, The Mistery of Reconciliation? we see many infirmities in men; Men are ready enough to stumble at al infirmities of the Ministers of the Gospel (which by the way should teach Ministers of the Gospel to have a care how they walk) but because there are so many things to be excepted against men we would be ready to think, if God would himself preach the gospel from heaven men would regard it more.

No, but God will not do so, though God will assist the Ministry to make it effectual in the hearts of those that shall be saved; yet he will not speak himself from Heaven, but he will send men like themselves, and let men hear or not, and howsoever, (though men think, if God should speak himself they would hear him) yet if they hear not men, they would not hear God. God spake himself from heaven in the delivering of the Law, but men did not keep the Law; but now God will rather speak by men; because he doth delight to make use of every creature according to the capacity of it. The Lord takes a wonderful delight in the use of all means that is suitable to a creature, And therefore you shall find (which is very observable) that though God did begin to speak from Heaven to Saul that he did convert (who afterwards was called Paul) Christ spake at first from Heaven, but mark, he would not do the whole work himself immediately; but before the work should be accomplished there should be means ⟨p. 265⟩used in Acts, 9.4. There Christ speaks from Heaven; but I beseech you observe it, what doth Christ speak from Heaven? he doth not preach the gospel; it is only the word of conviction Saul, Saul, Why persecutest thou me? This was enough to strike Saul with astonishment so that he fell upon the earth, and said Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? But mark, what answer is given him? Go into the City and it shall be told thee. You must not think though I begin to speak from Heaven to you, but that you must be content to set upon means, and so he did with Saul, he arose from the Earth in verse, 8. God made him stay a good while before he would tell him what he should do; he was three days and nights and eat nothing, and was praying all the while unto the Lord, and then in vers, 10. Saith the Lord to Ananias (a Minister of his) Go to such a place, and there thou shalt open to Saul my Mercy: this Doctrine of Reconciliation. It is true, I begin to think upon him; but I will not go on in the work; you shall do it, and he shall attend upon your Ministry to let him know, what my mercy in Christ to his Soul is, and I will bless your Ministry unto his Soul.