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

And further observe, with what lovingness, gentleness and sweetness he doth it; what a gracious invitation we have in Math. 11. Come unto me all you that are weary, and heavy leaden, and I will give you rest: and he professes in John 6.37, None that comes to me will I cast of. I will not cast of any that do come to me: Yea he tells us, that he will not quench the ⟨p. 354⟩smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed; to encourage sinners he tells them if there be but any stirrings of the heart unto him, but as the smoking flax, and as the bruised reed; yet he will not break one, nor quench the other: but he will encourage new beginnings though never so small in sinners coming unto him. These are the expressions of Christ towards sinners to show them how tender he is over them, and when the time drew near for Christ to suffer, then (if ever) one would think (if the heart of Christ were not much in it) Christ would draw back; not only when he was to come into the world: but in the work of his Mediation when he was to suffer the violence of the wrath of his father; to be poured out upon him. But mark how he doth express himself in Luk, 22. verse, 15. And he said unto them, with desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer. Why did Christ desire? he desired, that is, strongly desired to eat this passover; why? because he knew, that as soon as ever he had eaten it, he should be called to suffer for mans sin; and to accomplish the great work of redemption for sinful men. Then it was to be done, Why? Was there any such cause that Christ should be so strongly upon it to desire this passover? One would have thought, that above all passovers Christ should have been afraid of this: because this was to put a period to his life: for then Christ was himself to be made the passover to suffer: when this passover came once, he knew that he was to be made the paschal Lamb, and yet he doth desire above all to eat this passover, thereby showing, what a mind he had to finish the work whereby sinners might come to be reconciled unto God. And another expression there is, I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished? Christ was straitened in his heart till the work was done.

And further observe, with what lovingness, gentleness and sweetness he doth it; what a gratious invitation we have in