A30581:508
Gospel reconciliation, or, Christ's trumpet of peace to the world wherein is showed (besides many other gospel truth) ... that there was a breach made between God and man ... to which is added two sermons / by Jeremiah Burroughs.Gospel reconciliation, or, Christ's trumpet of peace to the world wherein is shewed (besides many other gospel truth) ... that there was a breach made between God and man ... to which is added two sermons / by Jeremiah Burroughs.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1657
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
No, Paul was an admirable Scholar, a most Eloquent man, he was brought up under the feet of Gamaliel; And yet this man came not with excellency of speech, or Wisdom of words declaring to them the excellencies of God, for saith he in the 2. vers. I determined not to know any thing amongst you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified, &c. This makes the word powerful; when it comes in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit, and not with enticing words of mans Wisdom, that your faith should not stand in the Wisdom of man, but in the power of God: howbeit we speak Wisdom amongst those that are perfect; There is Wisdom in preaching.
No, Paul was an admirable Scholler, a most Eloquent man, he was brought up under the feet of Gamaliel; And yet this man came not with excellency of speech, or Wisdom of words declaring to them the excellencies of God, for saith he in the 2. vers. I determined not to know any thing amongst you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified, &c. This makes the word powerful; when it comes in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit, and not with entising words of mans Wisdom, that your faith should not stand in the Wisdom of man, but in the power of God: howbeit we speak Wisdom amongst those that are perfect; There is Wisdom in preaching.
You will say, why? should preachers be fool?
You wil say, why? should preachers be fool?
No, God forbid, there should be the greatest Wisdom that can be, and this is no warrant for one to come into the Pulpit, and to speak extempore, we do not come to justify a raw and empty discourse, that hath nothing in it but mere words, and a noise, but hath no solidity; No, let Ministers study, and Labour to be as solid as they can, & search into the mysteries of the Gospel, & open the secrets of God, & so it will prevail with the consciences of men, & if Ministers have any parts, there is matter enough to express the parts of those that are most able, and that which requires their study; and so the Apostle would have Timothy to study, and therefore it is no justifying of those that do not study.
No, God forbid, there should be the greatest Wisdom that can be, and this is no warrant for one to come into the Pulpet, and to speak extempore, we do not come to justifie a raw and empty discourse, that hath nothing in it but meer words, and a noise, but hath no solildity; No, let Ministers study, and Labor to be as sollid as they can, & search into the misteries of the Gospel, & open the secrets of God, & so it wil prevail with the consciences of men, & if Ministers have any parts, there is matter enough to express the parts of those that are most able, and that which requires their study; and so the Apostle would have Timothy to study, and therefore it is no justifying of those that do not study.
But we must remember we come to speak in Christs steed; Christ certainly did not come with empty words, ⟨p. 298⟩but he came to open the counsels of his Father, and he did reveal the, great Mysteries of the Gospel, it was in a solid way, & so the Apostle, that which they spake was weighty and solid (though it was not with vain words and phrases as I spake before.) But this I name the rather, (not that I direct my speech so much to Ministers as to you people; seeing you hear that this is our point; that God & Christ speaks in the Ministry of the word, that therefore you should desire, and affect such a kind of Ministry wherein God speaks most, wherein Christ speaks most; wherein you can hear the voice of God, and of Christ, And I know no one argument that doth more fully evidence the difference between a carnal heart, and a gracious spiritual heart than this. What Ministry doth thy heart most savour, and relish? •hereby you may know the temper of your hearts, One may know the temper of the body by knowing what food one doth most savour: so we may know the temper of the heart, by knowing what food it doth most relish; if thou dost relish frothy food thy heart is according to it▪ but if thou dost relish and Savour a spiritual Ministry that comes in the power and authority of God and Christ, that speaks to thy heart and conscience; this is an evidence, and sign of a gracious disposition in thy heart. And the truth is, in one that is fallen (or in a great measure) from God; if there be any sparks of grace remaining, they will appear in this as much as in any thing; that though his heart be grown more loose than it was: yet still he cannot but acknowledge he doth find more power in such a spiritual Ministry than in another. But your carnal hearts they will savour and relish of a Ministry, that is a mere word ministry, that hath least of God and Christ; where there is but little of God and Christ in the heart, there the Ministry that hath least of God and Christ is most relished. Some Women, and some that are ignorant; if they hear a Sermon that hath a great deal of Greek, & latin in it that they cannot understand; they go away and commend his Sermon though
I have heard of an excellent story of a poor beggar (in Queen Blizabeths time) who heard a Sermon at the Court, and heard a great many Latin Sentences, and Eloquent speeches, and the poor beggar, he follows the Minister when he was going away, and blesses God, and says, Oh! Master Doctor; I bless God, and thank God at my heart. The Minister turns about and asks him, what the matter is? Oh! Master Doctor says he, I hope the old Religion is coming in again.
I have heard of an excellent story of a poor begger (in Queen Blizabeths time) who heard a Sermon at the Court, and heard a great many Latine Sentences, and Eloquent speeches, and the poor beggar, he follows the Minister when he was going away, and blesses God, and says, Oh! Master Doctor; I bless God, and thank God at my heart. The Minister turns about and asks him, what the matter is? Oh! Master Doctor saies he, I hope the old Religion is comming in again.
But have not the Prelates Silenced those men that wrought most upon the heart, and conscience? If any did preach so, as that their Ministry came to be powerful; end to prevail upon the hearts and consciences of men; the Prelates would not let them stand.
Now you will say, How shall I know, what kind of Ministry it is wherein God did speak most?
NOw you wil say, How shal I know, what kind of Ministry it is wherein God did speak most?
For the Answer to that, I appeal to your consciences; what kind of preaching do you think in your consciences there would be if Christ himself were preaching to you? How do you think that Christ himself would preach if he were here upon the Earth? That which comes nearest to what Christ would preach; that you must favour certainly. Christ would not preach to defend superstitious vanities; for Christ (when he came to preach) preached so, as the people many times derided him, and scorned him: One time when he had done his Sermon they carried him to the brow of the hill of the City, and would presently have broken his Neck. Do but read that Sermon of Christ in the 5, 6, 7. Math. What ⟨p. 300⟩preachers would you think your Courtiers to be if Christ were preaching to you? that, that comes nearest to that; that Christ would preach, that you must most favour, and affect.
For the Answer to that, I appeal to your consciences; what kind of preaching do you think in your consciences there would be if Christ himself were preaching to you? How do you think that Christ himself would preach if he were here upon the Earth? That which comes neerest to what Christ would preach; that you must favor cerrainly. Christ would not preach to defend superstitious vanities; for Christ (when he came to preach) preached so, as the people many times derided him, and scorned him: One time when he had done his Sermon they carryed him to the brow of the hil of the City, and would presently have broken his Neck. Do but read that Sermon of Christ in the 5, 6, 7. Math. What ⟨p. 300⟩preachers would you think your Courtiers to be if Christ were preaching to you? that, that comes nearest to that; that Christ would preach, that you must most favor, and affect.
Secondly, That kind of preaching you think in your consciences doth most prevail in the authority of the word, hath humbled most hearts, and converted most souls, that Christ hath set his seal unto. I appeal unto you, what kind of preaching hath humbled most souls, and done most good? Hath not some poor country preacher, that hath preached in the evidence, and demonstration of the spirit, converted more souls unto God than an hundred Bishops? so that he may be able to say, at the great day of judgment (according to his measure) as our blessed Saviour said, Here am I, and those whom thou hast given me.
Secondly, That kind of preaching you think in your consciences doth most prevaile in the authority of the word, hath humbled most hearts, and converted most souls, that Christ hath set his seal unto. I appeal unto you, what kind of preaching hath humbled most souls, and done most good? Hath not some poor country preacher, that hath preached in the evidence, and demonstration of the spirit, converted more souls unto God than an hundered Bishops? so that he may be able to say, at the great day of judgment (according to his measure) as our blessed Savior said, Here am I, and those whom thou hast given me.
Thirdly, Examine of what side you be; those that be of Gods side, they know his voice; (my sheep hear my voice) but a stranger they will not follow, take any town, and divide the people, and see how the Minister is liked, some are for, and some against him. But now look into the difference of their lives; of both these kinds of men of those that are for, and those that are against the Minister; see their different walkings; come into such a place as this, (Because they say there is a thousand ale-houses belonging to this place, of Stepney; I think there be hardly five that do savour the Ministry of the word, and all your profane ones (generally) they speak against the Ministers. Now I appeal to your consciences, (if you were to stand before God at the day of judgment) of which side would you be? either of the side of those that are drunkards, swearers, unclean persons, and railers at the Ministry of the word: or of the side of those that are willing to take pains to hear the word of God, and bless God for the Ministry of his word. Certainly, that preaching hath most of Christ in it that those that have most of the Spirit of Christ do most savour; for they know the voice of Christ, and a stranger they ⟨p. 301⟩will not hear; they can understand it, though wicked and ungodly ones cannot. That is the Second use.
Thirdly, Examine of what side you be; those that be of Gods side, they know his voice; (my sheep hear my voice) but a stranger they wil not follow, take any town, and divide the people, and see how the Minister is liked, some are for, and some against him. But now look into the difference of their lives; of both these kinds of men of those that are for, and those that are against the Minister; see their different walkings; come into such a place as this, (Because they say there is a thousand ale-houses belonging to this place, of Stepny; I think there be hardly five that do savor the Ministery of the word, and al your prophane ones (generally) they speak against the Ministers. Now I appeal to your consciences, (if you were to stand before God at the day of judgment) of which side would you be? either of the side of those that are drunkards, swearers, uncleane persons, and raylers at the Ministery of the word: or of the side of those that are willing to take paines to heare the word of God, and bless God for the Ministery of his word. Certainly, that preaching hath most of Christ in it that those that have most of the Spirit of Christ do most savour; fot they know the voice of Christ, and a stranger they ⟨p. 301⟩
A Third Use of the point is this; Is the ministry of the word such, as hath God and Christ speaking in it? Oh then! How should we delight in it? How should we bless God for it? With what greediness should we come to hear at any time? What? is not the voice of Jesus Christ sweet unto us? We have Christ wooing of us, Christ exhorting of us, and Christ comforting of us. When we come to the Word, O! with what readiness, and cheerfulness should we come to hear the voice of Christ? [If you be Godly, Christ doth delight in your voice] when you are gotten alone in your Closets, and can speak but brokenly, O then! your voice is delightful to him: Therefore the voice of Christ should be very delightful unto you. I will give you a Text or two for proof of this; Cant. 2.14. It is a speech of Christ to the Church; O my dove! that are in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs: let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely. O! let me hear thy voice my dove; O! thou that art in the secret places of the stairs; Art thou got alone into a hole to prayer? got alone behind the door in the secret places? (for it is spoken here of the estate of the Church in times of persecution that they dare not come together openly, (howsoever wicked men will rail at them, and say, they get into corners to do thus and thus) but saith Christ, thou that art in the clefts of the rocks; in the secret places of the stairs, let me hear thy voice; for thy voice is sweet, ⟨p. 302⟩and thy countenance is comely. Against in the 4. Cant. 11. Thy lips drop as the honey-comb, O my Spouse! When the Saints speak of Christ, or speak to Christ, their lips do drop before Christ as the honey-comb. Now what an argument is this? Shall thy lips be so sweet to Christ, and shall not Christs lips be as sweet to thee? the Ministry of the word is as if Christ did entreat thee, and beseech thee; O! how sweet should it be to thee if thou hast the Spirit of Christ? the Church of Christ doth answer what Christ said of her lips, and of her Voice, and of her Mouth: so the Church doth answer to Christ in the 5. Cant. mark what the Church saith of his Mouth, what an Echo is here, and an answer to prayer? saith Christ to the Church, Thy lips (O my Spouse) are as the honey-comb: And thy mouth (O my Saviour) is most sweet. In John. 3.29.
he saith there, That the friend of the Bridegroom which stands, and hears the Bridegrooms voice, rejoiceth greatly. If thou be the spouse of Christ, thou wilt rejoice to hear the voice of the Bridegroom, and every time thou comest to hear a conscionable Sermon, thou dost come to hear the very Voice of the Bridegroom, and thou canst not but rejoice in it, O! how sweet is one word of Christ to a gracious heart? and the spiritual communion with Christ here upon earth; it is in his ordinances; we shall hereafter be always in his presence, and see his face: But if he would have any evidence that we shall have communion with him in heaven, we must Rejoice in the hearing of his word.
he saith there, That the friend of the Bridegroom which stands, and hears the Bridegroomes voice, rejoiceth greatly. If thou be the spouse of Christ, thou wilt rejoice to hear the voice of the Brdegroom, and every time thou comest to hear a conscionable Sermon, thou do'st come to hear the very Voyce of the Bridegroom, and thou canst not but rejoyce in it, O! how sweet is one word of Christ to a gracious heart? and the spiritual communion with Christ here upon earth; it is in his ordinances; we shal hereafter be alwaies in his presence, and see his face: But if he would have any evidence that we shal have communion with him in heaven, we must Rejoyce in the hearing of his word.
But we must remember we come to speak in Christs steed; Christ certainly did not come with empty words, ⟨p. 298⟩but he came to open the counsels of his Father, and he did reveal the, great Misteries of the Gospel, it was in a sollid way, & so the Apostle, that which they spake was weighty and sollid (though it was not with vain words and phrases as I spake before.) But this I name the rather, (not that I direct my speech so much to Ministers as to you people; seeing you hear that this is our point; that God & Christ speaks in the Ministry of the word, that therefore you should desire, and affect such a kind of Ministry wherein God speaks most, wherein Christ speaks most; wherein you can hear the voice of God, and of Christ, And I know no one argument that doth more fully evidence the difference between a carnal heart, and a gratious spiritual heart than this. What Ministry doth thy heart most savour, and rellish? •hereby you may know the temper of your hearts, One may know the temper of the body by knowing what food one doth most savour: so we may know the temper of the heart, by knowing what food it doth most rellish; if thou dost rellish frothy food thy heart is according to it▪ but if thou dost rellish and Savour a spiritual Ministry that comes in the power and authority of God and Christ, that speaks to thy heart and conscience; this is an evidence, and sign of a gracious disposition in thy heart. And the truth is, in one that is fallen (or in a great measure) from God; if there be any sparks of grace remayning, they wil appear in this as much as in any thing; that though his heart be grown more loose than it was: yet stil he cannot but acknowledg he doth find more power in such a spiritual Ministry than in another. But your carnal hearts they wil savour and relish of a Ministry, that is a meer word ministry, that hath least of God and Christ; where there is but little of God and Christ in the heart, there the Ministry that hath least of God and Christ is most rellished. Some Women, and some that are ignorant; if they hear a Sermon that hath a great deal of Greek, & latin in it that they cannot understand; they go away and commend his Sermon though ⟨p. 299⟩they understand not any one thing of it.
