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.

CHAP. 31.

Use, 2. Discovering of Mistakes about Recon∣ciliation.

2 IF God hath reconciled himself to the world in Christ. Hence we are to take notice of the great mistakes there are in the world in the point of Reconciliation with God. Certainly if this be a truth; that the only way of making up our peace with God is in Christ; then the world doth gennerally mistake in the great matter of Reconciliation with God; and a mistake, in this, is an undoing mistake, a damning mistake; a Soul may perish eternally meerly thorugh a mistake in the matter of Reconciliation. A man may be troubled for sin, and cry out of his sin, and may break off the practice of his sin, and cry unto God in Prayer that he would pardon him, and be reconciled unto him, and yet mistaking here, and not understanding that it must be God, in, and through Christ that reconcileth himself: the mistake in this may prove an undoing mistake to that Soul; and although they should be Crying out of their sins al their daies, they may perish at last if they do not know, and rightly understand how to close with Gods mercy as it is in Christ: if they do not understand, that it is God in Christ that reconcileth himself to the world. We know the greatest part of people look for their Recon∣ciliation with God meerly in a natural way; they have sinned against him, and they wil cry unto him for mercy, and for pardon, and so they think al may be made up between God and them. I remember Luther hath a notable speech concering this in his meditation about the way which God hath appointed for reconciling of man to himself, that it is in Christ. It is intollerahle

and horrible blasph••my (saith he) to faigne any worke by which thou mayest presume to please God; and he gives the reason of it. It is therefore intollerable, and hor∣rible blasphemy for any to faigne any worke by which they shal presume to pacifie God, when they shal see, and hear that God cannot be pacified any other way, but by such a way, as the blood of his Son one drop where of is more preciouse then the whole Creation. And upon this ground being meditating of Gods reconciling the world to himself, and that it was by such a way as the blood of his Son, and that one drop of his blood is of more value then al the Creatures in Hea∣ven, and Earth; hence it was that he affirmes is to be horrible, and intolerable blasphemy for any man to think to pacifie God any other way. Nay, when God by such a way hath appointed Reconci∣liation, for a man to neglect this, and to think, that any work of his own shal pacify God; especially those that heare the Gospel preached to them, when they shal think of any other way of their own, and so neglect the way that God hath appointed this is indeed a most in∣tollerable, and horrible blasphemy: and Certainly it is that which provoketh the Lord exceedingly; that when a sinner shal be made apprehensive and sensible of the Breach that is made between God and him; for that sinner to think the Breach to be no greater then may be made up with any work of Repentance, or good mean∣ing or good works; the Lord disclaineth to look upon that sinner in this his folly; that a man should think that the Breach between God, and him is a matter of no greater moment. No, my Brethren, you must know, that the Breach between God, and you by sin, is a mat∣ter of another manner of Consequence then can be made up by prayers, or feares, or any thing else that you can do al this is untempred Morter. It is true, when there is Repennance, and turning unto God, it is a good signe that God is at work with your hearts; but that cannot

do the deed; it is in Christ; it is the blood of the Son of God that must make Satisfaction for sin; it is that which must make the Reconciliation. This is that which is indeed the great doctrine of the Gospel; and til you receive this into your understandings, into your hearts al other things that we preach are to no purpose at al, it wil never do you good, till you have imbraced this, you wil never Sanctify Gods name, nor gloryfy God in your Conversations, nor have any true peace within your doores, til you come to receive this point into your hearts; that God is in Christ Reconciling the world to himselfe. Take heed therefore of any mistakes in this point. That is the second Use.