A30581:525
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.
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;
IF God and Christ do speak in the ministry of his word; Then O! what a dreadful point is this to al 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 backe 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 shal be abominable: what dost thou turn away thine ear from hearing the word? God professes that he wil turn away his ear from hearing thy prayers, and thy prayers shal be abominable, for thou turnest away thine eare from hearing of Christ speake to thy soul. For it is in Christs stead (saith the Appostle) There wil be a time when thou wouldst fain have the eare of God to hear thee. As you would have God to hear you then: so do you hear him now; marke that text in the 1. Prov. 24. against those that turn away their eare from hearing God speak. Because I have called and ye refused; I have streetched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught al my councels, and you would have none of my reproofe: howsoever you thought it was but the word of such and such a man: yet you have set at naught al my councels, and you would have none of my reproofe; your hearts fretted, and vext that such a man reproved you: no, it is my reproofe, (saith God, and mark what a doom follows in the 26. vers. you ⟨p. 304⟩you shal cal (Saith God) and I wil not hear. There was a time friend when I cald to you by such a sermon, and you know that I spak to your hearts, and you turnd a deaf ear to me; you shal cal your hearts out and I wil not hear you, and there wil come a time that you shal cal to Gods ministers to pray for you. What? would you have God to hear his ministers for you, and wil not you hear his ministers from God? It was a speech of Ambrose to Theodosius the Emperor, saith he, wil 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 heare me: now that was the speech to Theodosious after he hade fallen to a great sin, comming to reprove him for his sin; what (saith he) wil 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 al men that live in any way of sin;
Hear Gods ministers now, for a day will come, when you will be glad that God should hear his ministers for you; O! hear us when we come in the name of God; we would not have you to hear us if we speak our own fancies; This concerns those that neglect the word.
Hear Gods ministers now, for a day wil come, when you wil be glad that God should hear his ministers for you; O! hear us when we come in the name of God; we would not have you to heare us if we speake our owne fancies; This concerns those that neglect the word.
Now a word or two to those that disobey the word; they will set their judgments against the judgments of the ministers, & let him say what he will, it is but his opinion. Do you know what you say? this rebellion is against God & against Christ: as if there were this language in your hearts; Christ saith, I will have this done; thy lusts say they will have this done: O! this will be charged upon thee one day; that the voice of the devil was more strong with thee than the voice of Christ: but specially it is to contemn the word, to set at naught Gods counsels; to go away & contemn the word. Dost thou know what thou dost? let me apply but these two scriptures to thee, thou that Despisest and Scornest the word, that canst go to company, and there talk of what thou dost hear in a contemning manner; consider but of these two ⟨p. 305⟩texts; I pray, first Consider of the text out of which the Point is Raised of Gods Speaking to thee, thou dost despise, and dost thou so? Consider what the text in Isa. 39.23. Saith, when thou gettest into company, and there art warm with wine, Oh! then thou liftest up the voice, and laughest; against whom hast thou lift up thy voice? thou thinkest it is against Hezekiah; No, it is against the Holy one of Israel; thou thinkest it is against such a man that preacheth such a day; no, it is against the Holy God, and Jesus Christ, and this is upon thy score written in Heaven; here is one that hath reproached the Holy one, and Jesus Christ, In Luke 10.16. He that heareth you, heareth me, &c. That is true (not only of the disciples, that were there for the present upon the earth) but of all the faithful ministers to the end of the world, for Christ saith, when he sends them out, I will be with you to the end of the world. They were dead more than a thousand years ago, and Christ yet had promised to be with them, that is, those that should succeed them; he would be with them to the end of the world. And this Text concerns every faithful minister as well as the disciples of Christ; all that time you despise Jesus Christ, and God his Father, when you despise the ministry of his word; for the Lords sake take heed what you do; when you have to deal with the word, you have to deal with an edge tool; it is that, that will either save you, or destroy you for ever.
Now a word or two to those that disobey the word; they wil set their judgments against the judgments of the ministers, & let him say what he wil, it is but his opinion. Do you know what you say? this rebellion is against God & against Christ: as if there were this language in your hearts; Christ saith, I wil have this done; thy lusts say they wil have this done: O! this wil be charged upon thee one day; that the voice of the divel was more strong with thee than the voice of Christ: but specially it is to contemne the word, to set at naught Gods councels; to go away & contemn the word. Dost thou know what thou dost? let me apply but these two scriptures to thee, thou that Despisest and Scornest the word, that canst go to company, and there talke of what thou dost heare in a contemnning manner; consider but of these two
You that have been guilty of neglecting the word, the Lord strike and humble your hearts, and for a Cordial for time to come I will apply but one scripture further to you, and that is that, in Heb. 12.25. What is that? that in the faithful ministry of the word, God and Christ speaks unto people. Then take this exhortation; So that ye refuse not him that speaketh. If they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away him that speaketh from Heaven. The Ministry of the gospel, ⟨p. 306⟩and the Ministry of the Law are compared, One speaking from Earth, the other from Heaven; though the truth is, they were both from Heaven. But now in the Ministry of the Gospel, God hath sent his own Son to you. In the latter days, he hath spoken by his Son saith the Apostle in 1. Heb. the beginning; God who at sundry times spake in times past to the Fathers by the Prophets, hath in these last times spoken to us by his Son &c. In former times God spake by his Prophets; there was the voice of God (but it is not so clear that there was the voice of God, though it is true Christ did speak then by the prophets) but in comparison Christ is not said to speak by them) But now in these days, God hath spoken by his Son, and God hath reserved the Ministry of his Grace, and his eternal counsels concerning the Children of men; God hath reserved this for his Son; and not only his Son personally, but his Son in the Ministry of his word. Now you will say, If Christ did preach (as you say he doth) there would be more power. We find that when Christ did preach that the Pharisees derided him; in the original it is; they blew their noses at him, and mark! they that were covetous they derided him, they even derided Jesus Christ himself. A worldly heart that is grown rich; that hath gotten from a low estate to a far greater; he will deride the most excellent preaching in the world. Take heed that you do not despise the Ministry, for certainly the voice of Christ will prevail one day. If it doth not prevail here in the word; it shall prevail one day when Christ shall say depart from me ye cursed; though thou dost not obey the present voice of Christ, yet thou shalt obey the other voice at that day. I must wind up this point with a word of Exhortation.
SEEing God and Christ doth speak to us in the Ministry of the word: Let us come with other manner of thoughts to hear the word, than heretofore we have done. I remember I spake before that the word cannot be effectual till we come to know the voice of Christ in it; as in that of Samuel; I will give you another text to show what an admirable effect it will work upon the hearts of men, and women; if they come to hear the preachings of the word as the voice of God and Christ: and that is in Acts 10.33. You shall find there; that Cornelius had sent for Peter to come to him immediately: Therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast well done that thou art come; Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear allthings that are commanded thee of God. Here is a gracious disposition of heart in Cornelius a soldier, and other Soldiers, and friends that he had. Presently when Peter came, now saith he are we here all present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God, and we all here entertain whatsoever thou shalt reveal to us from God, as the word of God: then Peter (indeed) preached with a courage, and when people shall (by their behaviour) with that reverence, and affection attend, as if they did attend to know something of the mind of God; this encourages a preacher, and then as soon as ever Peter had done his Sermon, nay before he had done his Sermon; (the text saith) in verse, 44. That while Peter yet spake these words, the holy spirit fell upon all them which heard the ⟨p. 308⟩word: No marvel, they came with such a disposition of heart. We are here all of us to know, and hear what is commanded of God; (coming with such a frame of spirit.) Now, while Peter was yet speaking, the holy spirit fell on them which were to hear the word, and so it will be with you; when you are alone before you come, say, Oh Lord! that thou wouldest speak to my heart, even so as you have it in Isa. 2. Come let us go up to the house of the Lord. An excellent speech for those that are coming to hear, in Isa. 2.2. There is a prophecy of the times of the Gospel, there is an excellent resolution, an excellent temper of heart for people that are going to hear sermons; come ye let us go up to the mountain of the Lord; to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. [We are all here to hear what God will say to us;]
when at any time there is any truth made known to you, you should receive it with such an affection. God this day hath revealed some part of his mind that I did not find to be so before, and when you hear of any sin revealed; you should bless God, and say, the Lord hath met with my heart this day; Oh! think it not an evil, but bless God that Christ will think of thee: And so thou shouldest behave thy self. Is there an exhortation to any duty? God and Jesus Christ hath exhorted thee this day; thou shouldest look upon it as if God and Christ hath been a persuading and exhorting thee; and is there any word of comfort and promise applied unto thee? thou shouldest look upon it as if God, and Jesus Christ had spoken a word of comfort to thy heart this day. Oh! if you would come with such a disposition as to receive all from God, and Jesus Christ, then you may expect that the Holy Spirit should fall upon you. No marvel though when people come through custom, and merely because others come; or through some other vain respect: that then they come, and go away, and never feel any work of the Holy Spirit. But such as come with ⟨p. 309⟩teachable hearts, they may expect that the holy Spirit should come and fall upon them. When the very people of Nineveh did repent, they believed God, so then the stoutest and proudest heart; yea and the hardest heart in the world, if it comes to believe God, then it will repent. I am the willinger to be the more large in this, because this Sermon may make profitable many other Sermons, and for want of that true work of this point upon your hearts, it is that so many Sermons do so little good.
when at any time there is any truth made known to you, you should receive it with such an affection. God this day hath revealed some part of his mind that I did not find to be so before, and when you hear of any sin revealed; you should bless God, and say, the Lord hath met with my heart this day; Oh! think it not an evil, but bless God that Christ wil think of thee: And so thou shouldest behave thy selfe. Is there an exhortation to any duty? God and Jesus Christ hath exhorted thee this day; thou shouldest look upon it as if God and Christ hath been a perswading and exhorting thee; and is there any word of comfort and promise applied unto thee? thou shouldest look upon it as if God, and Jesus Christ had spoken a word of comfort to thy heart this day. Oh! if you would come with such a disposition as to receive al from God, and Jesus Christ, then you may expect that the Holy Spirit should fal upon you. No marvail though when people come through custom, and meerly because others come; or through some other vaine respect: that then they come, and go away, and never feel any work of the Holy Spirit. But such as come with
The former part of this verse treated of several Conclusions in it. A third Doctrine propounded in the 45 Chapter is,
THe former part of this verse treated of several Conclusions in it. A third Doctrine propounded in the 45 Chapter is,
That the consideration of the excellency of the Gospel that is committed to the Ministers of it to preach, makes them that are faithful to be very earnest in their Ministration.
Now unto us is committed the word of Reconciliation. Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ stead &c. Now then upon this that the word of Reconciliation is committed to us, and we pray you in Christ stead, O! it is this that puts us on to the earnestness that you see in us.
Now unto us is committed the word of Reconciliation. Now then we are Embossadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ stead &c. Now then upon this that the word of Reconciliation is committed to us, and we pray you in Christ stead, O! it is this that puts us on to the earnestness that you see in us.
First, that the consideration of the excellency of the Gospel that is committed to the Ministers of it, is that that should make them earnest in their ministration, and to labour with all their might to draw people to that love of the Gospel.
First, that the consideration of the excellency of the Gospel that is committed to the Ministers of it, is that that should make them earnest in their ministration, and to labor with al their might to draw people to that love of the Gospel.
The same that you have heard in this Chapter, you have it again in the beginning of the next Chapter. The Apostle having the word again and again; that it is the Ministry of Reconciliation that is committed to them. After that he tells them, that he beseeches, and prays in Christs stead & then he comes over it again in the beginning of the next Chapter, as if he had not done enough. O this Ministry of Reconciliation! it is the Grace of God unto people; O we beseech you saith the Apostle, Do not receive this Grace of God in vain, the Apostles, & so other faithful Ministers satisfy not themselves merely in performing a task (yet they can come & speak an hour, and speak to people such things as may please their Ears) but they look after what they do to be solicitous, and earnest for fear it should be in vain. O! then we as Ambassadors &c. And I will show you another Text that is very remarkable, in the 1. Col. 25. I am made a Minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfil the word of God, and then he falls a commending of this Ministry of his in the Mystery that hath bin hid from ages, and from generations, but now is made manifest to the Saints. It may be carnal hearts look upon it as a mad and unsavoury thing: But it is made manifest to the Saints; to whom God would make known, what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery amongst the Gentiles. Now then mark how our point comes in, in the 28. ver. the Apostle would fain gain every man; he is loth to lose any one of his Auditors; every man, every man, every man, three times in one verse, Whereunto also I labour striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily. What Phrases are here heaped one upon another? I do not ⟨p. 311⟩make the work of the ministry an idle work; as if I went about all the day from one company to another; from Tavern, to Tavern all the week, and then think to come and preach upon the Lords day to you, and so make it an idle business: but it is my labour, and not only so, but I strive, and how doth he strive? (not merely according to humane strength, he strives beyond that) I labour striving according to his working; It is the word of God I confess, and my labour, and striving, it is according to his working. Yet still this is not enough, according to his working which worketh in me, Which worketh in me mightily.
The same that you have heard in this Chapter, you have it again in the beginning of the next Chapter. The Apostle having the word again and again; that it is the Ministry of Reconciliation that is committed to them. After that he tels them, that he beseeches, and prayes in Christs stead & then he comes over it again in the beginning of the next Chapter, as if he had not done enough. O this Ministry of Reconciliation! it is the Garce of God unto people; O we beseech you saith the Apostle, Do not recive this Grace of God in vain, the Apostles, & so other faithful Ministers satisfie not themselves meerly in performing a task (yet they can come & speak an hour, and speak to people such things as may please their Ears) but they look after what they do to be solicitous, and earnest for fear it should be in vain. O! then we as Embassadors &c. And I wil shew you another Text that is very remarkable, in the 1. Col. 25. I am made a Minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfil the word of God, and then he fals a commending of this Ministry of his in the Mystery that hath bin hid from ages, and from generations, but now is made manifest to the Saints. It may be carnal hearts look upon it as a mad and unsavory thing: But it is made manifest to the Saints; to whom God would make known, what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery amongst the Gentiles. Now then mark how our point comes in, in the 28. ver. the Apostle would fain gain every man; he is loth to lose any one of his Auditors; every man, every man, every man, three times in one verse, Whereunto also I labor striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily. What Phrases are here heapt one upon another? I do not
The work of God that worketh in me mightily according to that I labour, & so again writing to the Thessalonians in the first Epistle, 2.2.4. O! this is the trust that is committed unto us; we are allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel; even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, we are upright in that we dare not be but faithful in so great a trust which is committed to us, and then upon this he tells them in verse 8. we were willing to impart our own souls; because this Gospel, we knew it would be to excellent. We might be very large in this; I will give you the ground of it in a very few words.
The work of God that worketh in me mightily according to that I labor, & so again writing to the Thessalonians in the first Epistle, 2.2.4. O! this is the trust that is committed unto us; we are allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel; even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, we are upright in that we dare not be but faithful in so great a trust which is committed to us, and then upon this he tels them in verse 8. we were willing to impart our own souls; because this Gospel, we knew it would be to excellent. We might be very large in this; I wil give you the ground of it in a very few words.
You that have been guilty of neglecting the word, the Lord strike and humble your hearts, and for a Cordial for time to come I wil apply but one scripture further to you, and that is that, in Heb. 12.25. What is that? that in the faithful ministery of the word, God and Christ speaks unto people. Then take this exhortation; So that yee refuse not him that speaketh. If they escaped not who refused him that spak on Earth, much more shal not we escape if we turne away him that speaketh from Heaven. The Ministery of the gospel, ⟨p. 306⟩and the Ministery of the Law are compared, One speaking from Earth, the other from Heaven; though the truth is, they were both from Heaven. But now in the Ministery of the Gospel, God hath sent his own Son to you. In the latter daies, he hath spoken by his Son saith the Apostle in 1. Heb. the begining; God who at sundery times spak in times past to the Fathers by the Prophets, hath in these last times spoken to us by his Son &c. In former times God spake by his Prophets; there was the voice of God (but it is not so cleer that there was the voice of God, though it is true Christ did speak then by the prophets) but in comparison Christ is not said to speak by them) But now in these daies, God hath spoken by his Son, and God hath reserved the Ministery of his Grace, and his eternal counsels concerning the Children of men; God hath reserved this for his Son; and not only his Son personally, but his Son in the Ministery of his word. Now you wil say, If Christ did preach (as you say he doth) there would be more power. We find that when Christ did preach that the Pharises derided him; in the original it is; they blew their noses at him, and marke! they that were covetous they derided him, they even derided Jesus Christ himself. A worldly heart that is growen rich; that hath gotten from a low estate to a far greater; he wil deride the most excellent preaching in the world. Take heed that you do not despise the Ministery, for certainly the voice of Christ wil prevaile one day. If it doth not prevaile here in the word; it shal prevail one day when Christ shal say depart from me yee cursed; though thou dost not obey the present voice of Christ, yet thou shalt obey the other voice at that day. I must wind up this point with a word of Exhortation.
SEEing God and Christ doth speak to us in the Ministery of the word: Let us come with other manner of thoughts to hear the word, than hertofore we have done. I remember I spake before that the word cannot be effectual til we come to know the voice of Christ in it; as in that of Samuel; I wil give you another text to shew what an admirable effect it wil work upon the hearts of men, and women; if they come to hear the preachings of the word as the voice of God and Christ: and that is in Acts 10.33. You shal find there; that Cornelius had sent for Peter to come to him imediately: Therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast wel done that thou art come; Now therefore are we al here present before God to hear althings that are commanded thee of God. Here is a gracious disposition of heart in Cornelius a souldier, and other Souldiers, and friends that he had. Presently when Peter came, now saith he are we here al present before God, to hear al things that are commanded thee of God, and we al here entertaine whatsoever thou shalt reveal to us from God, as the word of God: then Peter (indeed) preached with a courage, and when people shal (by their behavior) with that reverence, and affection attend, as if they did attend to know something of the mind of God; this encourages a preacher, and then assoon as ever Peter had done his Sermon, nay before he had done his Sermon; (the text saith) in verse, 44. That while Peter yet spake these words, the holy spirit fel upon al them which heard the ⟨p. 308⟩word: No marvil, they came with such a disposition of heart. We are here al of us to know, and heare what is commanded of God; (comming with such a frame of spirit.) Now, while Peter was yet speaking, the holy spirit fel on them which were to heare the word, and so it wil be with you; when you are alone before you come, say, Oh Lord! that thou wouldest speak to my heart, even so as you have it in Isa. 2. Come let us go up to the house of the Lord. An excellent speech for those that are comming to hear, in Isa. 2.2. There is a prophesie of the times of the Gospel, there is an excellent resolution, an excellent temper of heart for people that are going to hear sermons; come ye let us go up to the mountaine of the Lord; to the house of the God of Jacob, and he wil teach us of his waies, and we wil walk in his paths. [We are al here to hear what God wil say to us;]
