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

First because God having to work with a rational creature, he will work suitable to the nature of that creature that he is working upon. If God were to work merely upon stones, to raise out of the stones children unto Abraham, then God would but only speak the word and say let it be done, & it should be done, but the Lord loves to do it in a way suitable to a rational creature, now that way is this.

First because God having to work with a rational creature, he wil work suitable to the nature of that creature that he is working upon. If God were to work meerly uppon stones, to raise out of the stones children unto Abraham, then God would but only speak the word and say let it be done, & it should be done, but the Lord loves to do it in a way sutiable to a rational creature, now that way is this.

First that the understanding should be enlightened, and the heart should be gained and wrought upon, they knowing what it doth, it should come to do what it doth freely and willingly (though we have no free will at the first) yet when we do embrace the gospel, then the Lord doth cause the hearts of men to embrace it willingly, and this is a great part of the gospel of God to show himself to his creature, he will work his own work: but such a way as shall be suitable to his creature. Again, (if the Lord should bring in sinners to himself by his almighty power) then there would not so much of the beauty, and riches of his grace appear as there doth this way. If God should effectually work it by his own hand (I say) the glory of his grace would not so gloriously shine forth. Now it is the special design that God hath in all his works about redemption; that the glory of the riches of his grace might appear to men, and Angel's that they might magnify it. Now what can be more to magnify grace? then when a sinner shall come ⟨p. 360⟩to view the several workings of Gods mercy towards him; how the lord hath provided a way of Reconciliation, and that (though the soul were backward, and hung of) yet the Lord still followed on, and put on the soul, and would not suffer the soul to die, and perish in the sins of it. What will magnify Grace more than this? the way of bringing in sinners to be reconciled unto himself will be a principal subject for the Saints to be blessing of God to all eternity. And therefore you Christians that have found the work of God bringing in your hearts to himself, observe what Gods work is; mark the several ways of Gods working with your souls! For know that those several ways of Gods working with your souls now, will be the subject of your eternal praises in Heaven. And hence it is that God doth go on in such several expressions, that the riches of his Grace might appear the more fully. Yea, and further, that by this means he might gain the hearts of sinners everlastingly to himself; there is nothing will gain them so unto God, as this declaration of the riches of his Grace in the Gospel. And when the sinner shall see, (not only that God is reconciled) but how God hath set his heart upon it, how earnest God hath bin in it, this will engage the heart of a sinner for ever unto God, and hence it is;