John Howe (1630–1705) on What the Gospel Reveals

Notice in the following quote that John Howe relates various controversial passages (such as 1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9 and John 3:16) to the revealed will of God, and speaks of this will as a “propension” (like R. L. Dabney) and “desire” (like John Calvin and John Murray).

3. It [the Gospel] also represents God to you as reconcileable through a Mediator. In that gospel peace is preached to you by Jesus Christ. That gospel lets you see God in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, that sin may not be imputed to them. That gospel proclaims "glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will towards men." So did the voices of angels sum up the glad tidings of the gospel, when that Prince of peace was born into the world. It tells you God desires not the death of sinners, but that they may turn and live; that he would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth; that he is long-suffering towards them, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance; that "he so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The rest of the world cannot but collect, from darker intimations, God's favourable propensions towards them. He spares them, is patient towards them, that herein his goodness might lead them to repentance. He sustains them, lets them dwell in a world which they might understand was of his making, and whereof he is absolute Lord. They live, move, and have their being in him, that they might seek after him, and by feeling find him out. He doth them good, gives them rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling their hearts with good and gladness. He lets his sun shine on them, whose far extended beams show forth his kindness and benignity to men, even to the utmost ends of the earth. For there is no speech or language whither his line and circle reaches not. But those are but dull and glimmering beams in comparison of those that shine from the Sun of righteousness through the gospel revelation, and in respect of that divine glory which appears in the face of Jesus Christ. How clearly doth the light of this gospel day reveal God's design of reducing sinners, and reconciling them to himself by a Redeemer!

John Howe, “The Redeemer’s Tears Wept Over Lost Souls,” in The Works of John Howe, 3 vols. (London: William Tegg, 1848; repr., Ligonier, PA: Soli Deo Gloria, 1990), 2:336–337.

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