Chapter 76. The Sixteenth Argument: Manifesting the Exceeding Willingness of God to Be Reconciled to
compassion in the heart of Christ now as there ever was when he was here on earth. He has lost no compassion by ascending to heaven.
Therefore, know that Jesus Christ looks, even this day, upon this congregation, and at many particular souls. It is probable that Christ more specially focuses on some and says in his very heart, "Oh, that such a soul, such a servant, such a youth, oh, that they only knew the things that concern their peace! For now, the Gospel is opened to them, and a day of salvation is made known to them, and efforts are being made to draw them away from their evil ways to embrace me.
Oh, that they knew these things that concern their peace!"
And thus, it appears how willing God is to be reconciled.
I shall later show more about Christ in a more special manner, that sinners might come and be reconciled unto God.
Chapter 76.
The Sixteenth Argument: Manifesting the Exceeding Willingness of God to Be Reconciled to Sinners Further, there is another evidence of the willingness of God to be reconciled to sinners, and that is this: the Lord foresees that, after he has done all to be reconciled to sinners, let him do what he can, he sees how little honour he shall receive (at least for the present, in this world) from them. He knows that even after they are brought in, there will still be an abundance of corruption, and they will dishonour God greatly and grieve the Holy Spirit who draws them.
He sees that they will walk more offensively, and perhaps even scandalously, towards their brethren, and dishonour the profession of religion.
God foresees the trouble and effort he will have with those whom he brings to himself, and yet, despite all this, he continues with his work and labours with the hearts of sinners. Notwithstanding all that he foresees, he perseveres.
Then, lastly, after the Lord has used all these means to bring sinners in, and has worked to break their hearts that they might be reconciled to him—even though they stand out against him, plead, weep, and mourn—yet the Lord is content to wait, and to wait for a long time upon sinners, not taking advantage of their rejection of his grace that he offers to them.
That scripture I mentioned before is sufficient for this, in Isaiah 30:18: "And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious."
Oh! How many years has the Lord waited upon some of you? We have cause to stand in awe and admire the grace of God—that he would offer mercy to us even once, and that after so many offers and such earnest attempts to prevail upon our hearts, despite our obstinate rejection of his grace, God would still wait upon us to heal our souls and finally overcome us.
Oh! This truly manifests the goodness of God and the tenderness of his heart in his willingness to be reconciled to sinners. Therefore, in Jeremiah 13, note what God says to sinners in the last verse: "I have seen thy adulteries, and thy neighings, and the lewdness of thy whoredoms, and thine abominations. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem!
Wilt thou not be made clean? When shall it once be?" Saith God. Oh!
That it might be just once; I am content to wait again and again. Oh!
When shall it once be? Let not all my labour be in vain.
Oh! Here is the fullness of the expressions of God, and that place likewise in Isaiah 57 is noteworthy for this purpose, particularly verses 17 and 18: "For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him," etc.
Though he went on, and I was wroth, yet (saith God) "I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will not take advantage. I will be content, despite all their stubborn rejections of all the offers of grace, yet I will heal them for all that."
This frowardness refers not only to being unprofitable under afflictions, but also to when one is treated kindly and does not respond accordingly, insisting on having their own will—such a one goes on frowardly.
Now then, if we could combine all these things that have been mentioned regarding God's willingness towards sinners, to bring them in and be reconciled to him, oh Lord! How infinite would the grace and goodness of God appear? How greatly would God be glorified in his grace?
I see I cannot possibly address all these matters I previously intended to discuss, such as why all this is necessary and the reasons why God deals with us in this way.
A word or two at this time on why God does all this—why does God deal with sinners in such a manner?
Firstly, it is because mercy pleases Him. In Micah 7:18, God makes a large promise of pardon for sin, because mercy pleases Him. Now, whatever pleases a creature is something that the creature loves to do, and loves to do to the fullest, just as all forms of pleasure—eating, drinking, and recreation—are very pleasing to a voluptuous man,
who therefore desires to have them to the full. A large bag of gold pleases a covetous man, and he is never satisfied but would have it to the full. Honour pleases an ambitious man, and he never has enough.
In the same way, mercy pleases God, and therefore (if I may speak with holy reverence) God almost thinks He has never done enough to show the riches of His grace.
Secondly, God does this because the blood of His Son cries continually in His ears for mercy. It is of such infinite worth and value, and the obedience of His Son in shedding His blood has been so acceptable to God and still is, that whenever this blood is pleaded for, the Lord must grant mercy to the utmost. It is the blood of Jesus
Christ, shed for sinners, that pleads with God the Father that all this mercy might be shown.
It is said in Scripture that the blood of Christ speaks better things than the blood of Abel. The blood of Abel cries loudly for vengeance
—"Vengeance, Lord, against sinners!" But the blood of Christ cries loudly, "Mercy, mercy, Lord, for sinners!" And God hears the cry of His Son's blood. "What is this that cries out?" The blood of His Son for mercy for sinners: "Let them have mercy, yes, let them have mercy to the fullest." Then the floodgates of mercy open. If it were not for the blood of Christ, the patience of God might let out some common favours, but when God comes to satisfy the cries of the blood of Christ for mercy, He says, "Open all the floodgates now, and let in streams of mercy for sinners; let mercy be shown to the highest degree that can be." If the blood of His Son cries for it, it must be— though it requires wonderful mercy—it must be great, rich, and glorious mercy. It is not just a drop, but an ocean of mercy needed to answer it.