The last general head in the words, is the argument with which the apostle backs his request, the more eftectually to provoke them to the rememhrance of him in their prayers ; and it is double : first from his office, — ' For which I am an ambassador:" the second, from his present afflicted state, — ' An ambassador in bonds.' First, His office. Ambassadors being messengers of state, sent abroad by princes about the great affairs of their kingdom, it behoves all good subjects to wish them success in their embassy. Upon this account Paul being sent from the great God on an embassy, as the apostle of the Gentiles, desires the church's prayers for a happy success to his message.
Section I. — Ministers of the gospel ai-e God's ambassadors. The apostle does not monopolize this title, as if none were so besides himself; for else- where he reads others in the commission, — ' We are ambassadors for Christ,' 2 Cor. V. 20 ; that is, we apostles, who are now upon the place, and in the em- ployment of the gospel, and such also as shall be dispatched after us to the end of the world upon the same errand. The authority of the apostles' extraordi- nary commission, and that which ordinary ministers after them have, is the same for substance ; only they had their mission immediately from Chi'ist's mouth, and were oecumenical, whereas ordinary ministers receive it from the church by an authority derived from Christ, and are to lie as ambassadors in some one place, whither they are sent. In handling this point, we shall observe thi-ee particulars : First, Why are ministers called ambassadors ; and that is. First, To set out the dignity. Secondly, To shew the duty of their function.
First, The dignity. God by this title would procure an honourable esteem of the ministers' calling in the hearts of all those to whom they are sent ; this is more necessary to the good success of their message than is generally thought. I know very well tliat what ministers say on this subject, is thought to have something in it of kindness to themselves rather than of friendship to the gospel. Men are prone to interpret it as a fruit of their pride, and an affectation they have of some outward grandeur, and worldly pomp, which they design to gain by such a magnificent title ; the apostle himself was sensible of this, and therefore, 1 Cor. iv., when in the first verse he had called for that respect which was due to the minister's function, — ' Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God;' he gives a caveat, ver. 5, that they would 'judge nothing before the time,' until the Lord come.' Then shall it be known from what spirit it is that we mag- nify our office, and have been actuated by in our function ; and by what spirit they are moved, who vilify and despise both it and our persons, for our calling's sake.
Section II. — Now the dignity of gospel ambassadors will appear in three things. First, The majesty of the prince from whom they come. Ambassadors have their respect according to the rank of their master that sends them ; the greater the prince, the more honourable is his messenger. Now the ministers of the gospel come from the great God, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords, by whom they reign, and of whom they hold all their principalities ; this is their master, in whose name they come ; therefore Moses, when he was to deliver his message to Israel, bids them ascribe greatness to that (iod, whose name and will he was to publish, Deut. xxxii. .3. The potentates of the world have found, to their cost, how deeply God thinks himself concerned in the affronts that are done to his servants. What brought Israel's flourishing kingdom to ruin, l)ut their mocking his messengers, and ill-using his prophets ? ' The wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy,' 2 Chron. xxxvi. 16. We cannot despise the messenger, and honour his master that sends him, Luke X. 16. Few are so bold as to say with that proud king, 'Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice?' Exod. v. 2. But too many dare say. Who is the minister, that I should obey his message, repent at his summons, tremble at the words he delivers? Forgetting, alas! that they have God's authority for what
glQ FOR WHICH I AM AN AMBASSADOR.