Chapter 36 Use 1: Seeing God has excepted none from mercy, let none except themselves
especially to them (though ungodly men have a right by gift, as He gives the earth to the children of men). But not by inheritance, as the saints have, as servants have a right to their food and drink by what is given to them; but the children have a right by inheritance. Thus, the saints have a right to this world as well as to Heaven, and there is a time coming when they will possess their inheritance. Then the text will be true literally.
And thus, you have been given the reasons for this phrase; and this may suffice for explaining the point that it is the world that God was reconciling Himself to.
Chapter 36 Use 1: Seeing God has excepted none from mercy, let none except themselves By way of application now, and that very briefly, only two particulars.
First, seeing God offers reconciliation in such general and large terms to the world, if God has not excluded anyone, let none exclude themselves. Are you a person living here in the world? There need be no further qualification for the offer of grace, for the gospel is offered to you with this one condition: that you live in the world. God does not call for qualifications such as being a person of a certain rank, dignity, or having committed certain sins. Nor does He require that you must first be terrified, humbled, or have undergone certain experiences. No, we are commissioned to preach the Gospel to
anyone who has no other qualification than simply being alive in the world.
Indeed, if you had left this world, even if you had only one sinful thought to answer for, we could not preach the Gospel to you. Even if it were possible for an angel to come to your soul after it had departed from this world, yet it could not, nor dare to, preach the Gospel to you. But while you are in this world, we are appointed to preach the Gospel to you and extend the offer of grace and mercy to you.
There is no counsel of God revealed either to angels or men that has excluded anyone in the greatest congregation of people from reconciliation with God. And you who hear or read what I now say, you may bless God that you are included. Bless God when you hear and read this: there is no counsel of God against you made known either to angels or men that excludes you from reconciliation. Every particular person, as far as we know, in any congregation, may be reconciled to God and have eternal life.
Oh, only take heed not to abuse this grace of God; look to it that you make good use of this grace. This is what we are bound to tell you, and in the name of God, we declare it to you. God presents this
Gospel to us in these broad terms, that you may be left utterly without excuse if you perish. None of you, if you perish, can say, "I was such a vile sinner that I was afraid I would never be received by God, even if I humbled myself and came to Him." For God will answer you, "Were you such a vile sinner? Did I not reveal my Gospel in such general terms that none might exclude themselves? Did I not say I was reconciling myself to the world? And did I make any exceptions of you in particular? You should have come in with the rest and ventured your soul upon the offer of my free grace."
Indeed, there can be no other encouragement but this for the first step. Whoever believes at any time does so not because any personal qualification gives them a right to it, but because God has reconciled the world to Himself and has offered the promise of grace generally.
He has said, "Whosoever will, let them come in and believe; whosoever is thirsty, let them come." This word of His is my warrant; that indefinite promise that God has made is a sufficient encouragement. If I can entrust my soul to this, it is what grants me a right and interest in the grace of God, and whoever has been saved has been saved on these terms.
The first step has always been a kind of venture; they have risked their souls upon this grace of God, thus generally and indefinitely offered. You should do the same in your private prayers. You whose consciences condemn you of great and notorious sins, when you hear of this general offer—even though you do not know whether you are elected or not—do not trouble yourself with such thoughts but venture to cast your soul upon this free grace of God in Christ, with the resolve to give yourself to the service of God from now on.
Though you may not have the ability in yourself, who knows?
Perhaps at that very instant, God's Spirit may come to enable you to do it. This is what God requires. And if God persuades your heart to this, it is a good sign that mercy is intended for you. Every time God offers the Gospel to you, if it stirs your heart to conclude, "Well, I will venture my soul upon this offer; God has not excluded me, so why should I exclude myself? God has not cast me away, so why should I make myself a castaway?" do not despair but believe.