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

4. We are to consider, that though this be the goodness of God to his people, yet he doth expect that his people should go on with him in the way of his goodness, should close with him in the way of his mercy, or otherwise there may be a great interruption for the present, in Hosea. 7.1. God complaineth thereof his ⟨p. 285⟩people, saith he, when I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, when I would have healed them, God many times is in a way just of healing his people, and when he would have healed them when he is in a way of mercy, and he expects that they should follow him in this way of Mercy, why, then their iniquity is discovered, and then they break out into notorious iniquities, and sins, and they come and make a stop, and shut the door of mercy against them, so that (I say) as we are to be warned in regard of our public sins, now God is in a gracious way of public mercies, there was never a time wherein we had need of more warning to be watchful, to take heed what we do, that our iniquity may not be discovered, for now God is about to heal us, he is thinking to heal us, Oh! let us now take heed of our lives, and so it should be particularly the care of every soul. Is God about to heal, is God in a way of mercy to thy family, to thy body, to thy soul at any time? now take heed to thy self, that thy iniquity be not discovered, for now will the devil come, and tempt thee to break out in some notorious sin, that he might cut off the way of Gods Grace, that he might shut that door of mercy that God is now opening to thee; in Zechariah 8 15.16. Saith God there, So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah, fear you not, (mark you what follows) and let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour, and love no false oaths, for all these things are the things that I hate saith the Lord, mark the expression of God, it doth very nearly concern us, now we may well apply that 15.

4. We are to consider, that though this be the goodness of God to his people, yet he doth expect that his people should go on with him in the way of his goodness, should close with him in the way of his mercy, or otherwise there may be a great interruption for the present, in