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. 43. How we ought to have the word.

Ʋse. 1.

SEEing God and Christ doth speak to us in the Mi∣nistery 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 ef∣fectual 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: There∣fore 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 souldi∣er, and other Souldiers, and friends that he had. Pre∣sently 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 re∣verence, 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

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;] when at any time there is any truth made known to you, you should receive it with such an affection. God this day hath re∣vealed 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 should∣est 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

teachable hearts, they may expect that the holy Spirit should come and fal upon them. When the very people of Niniveh did repent, they beleeved God, so then the stoutest and proudest heart; yea and the hardest heart in the world, if it comes to beleeve God, then it wil re∣pent. 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 lit∣tle good.