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

VES. 4. If God and Christ speak in the word how, dreadful ought it to be to the Neglectors, Disobeyers, and Contemners of the word?

ƲES. 4. If God and Christ speak in the word how, dreadful ought it to be to the Neglectors, Disobayers, and Contemners of the word?

IF God and Christ do speak in the ministry of his word; Then O! what a dreadful point is this to all the neglecters, disobeyers, and contemners of the, ministry of the word? Thou neglectest the word; O! what dost thou do when thou neglectest the word? thou turnest thy back upon Jesus Christ, and wilt not hear him: and therefore I suppose you know the place; He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, his prayers shall be abominable: what dost thou turn away thine ear from hearing the word? God professes that he will turn away his ear from hearing thy prayers, and thy prayers shall be abominable, for thou turnest away thine ear from hearing of Christ speak to thy soul. For it is in Christs stead (saith the Apostle) There will be a time when thou wouldst fain have the ear of God to hear thee. As you would have God to hear you then: so do you hear him now; mark that text in the 1. Prov. 24. against those that turn away their ear from hearing God speak. Because I have called and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsels, and you would have none of my reproof: howsoever you thought it was but the word of such and such a man: yet you have set at naught all my counsels, and you would have none of my reproof; your hearts fretted, and vexed that such a man reproved you: no, it is my reproof, (saith God, and mark what a doom follows in the 26. vers. you ⟨p. 304⟩you shall call (Saith God) and I will not hear. There was a time friend when I called to you by such a sermon, and you know that I spake to your hearts, and you turned a deaf ear to me; you shall call your hearts out and I will not hear you, and there will come a time that you shall call to Gods ministers to pray for you. What? would you have God to hear his ministers for you, and will not you hear his ministers from God? It was a speech of Ambrose to Theodosius the Emperor, saith he, will not you hear me? seeing you desire that I should be heard for you? you desire saith he, that I should be heard for you, and therefore be you willing to hear me: now that was the speech to Theodosius after he had fallen to a great sin, coming to reprove him for his sin; what (saith he) will not you hear me? you would be willing that I should be heard for you; therefore be you willing to hear me: so say I to all men that live in any way of sin;