liis counsfl, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation,' &c. Now, the greater secvnity God enables his ambassadors to offer ]iooY sinners for the salvation they preach in his name, the more prodigiously provoking is their unbelief and impcnitcncy who reject it. When Titus Vespasian came into Jerusalem, and saw the unspeakable miseries which the besieged had endured from those thi'ee sore plagues, sword, pestilence, and famine, which had so long raged among them, it is said that he broke out into these words : ' I am not guilty of all this blood which hath been shed, nor of the miseries this people have endured ; they, by their obstinacy, have brought it upon their own heads.' O, how much more may the ambassadors of Christ wash their hands over the heads of impenitent sinners, to whom they have so often proclaimed pardon and peace in God's name, and say. We are free from j'our blood; it is your own obstinacy and desperate impenitency which hath undone your precious souls.
Section IV. — Secondly, Such as come to offer an alliance by marriage between one state and another. This is one great part of the ministers' embasy : they are sent to let the world know what good- will the God of heaven bears to poor sinners ; that he can be content to bestow his only Son and heir in marriage upon them, if they also like the match ; nay, more, both Father and Son do earnestly desire it ; it is a match Avhich God himself first thought on for his Son : it sjjrang from the counsel of his own will, and when this great intendment was transacted between Father and Son, (as it was before the foundation of the world,) tUe Son declared his approval of it to his Father ; yea, expressed the dear affection he bore to mankind ; for then it was that he rejoiced in the habitable parts of the earth, and his delights were with the sons of men. In pursuance of which, when the fulness of time was come, he took his progress from heaven to earth, that, by marrying our nature, he might enter into a near alliance with the persons of believers. Tliis is the match God's ambassadors come to negotiate ; and the Scriptures are their credential letters, which confirm, under God's own hand and seal, the truth of all they ofler in his name. There you have the picture of this heavenly Prince they woo thy affections for, drawn to the life, in his glory, love, and loveliness ; that, by knowing him, you may the better take a liking to his person. There are the rich bracelets of the promises, which his messengers are, in his name, to deliver to those willing souls that shall declare their consent to take him for their Lord and Husband ; yea, they have authority to pronounce the contract, and to promise marriage in Christ's name, which at the great day he will perform imto them : ' I have espoused you to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ,' 2 Cor. xi. 2. Stand here and adore, ye children of men, this low stoop ofthe Divine Majesty ! O, that ever it should enter into the heart of the great God to unite his Son unto his creature ! and that not of the noblest liouse among them, for he took not upon him the nature of angels, but of man ; not in its primitive state, but when it was lapsed and degraded of its primitive glory. For a high-born prince to take a poor damsel out of the beggar's row, were not so strange as to take her from the jail or bar, where she is condemned for treason against his royal person ; yet this is the very case, — the Lord offers to lift up the head of his rebel creature out of prison, where it lies under a sentence of death for treason against his crown and dignity, to take him into his bed and bosom. Truly, I know not at which most to wonder, whether the mercy of God in making love to us, or our pride and folly, which are so coy and hard to be persuaded to entertain the motion. Though Abigail confessed herself unworthy to be David's wife, yet^ she was too wise to stand in her own light by letting such an opportunity escape for her preferment: therefore it is "said, ' She made haste to go with David's servants.' But, alas! how do we either broadly refuse, or foolishly make excuse, and hold God's messengers in suspense from day to day .'
Section V. — Thirdly, Such as come with embassies for commerce and trade. Suppose a jprince had in his kingdom such rich commodities as could not be found elsewhere, and without which the neighbouring nation could not exist ; if this prince should send an ambassador to this people, and offer them a free trade, that they might come as often as they pleased, and take ofthe good things of his land, how joyfully would such an embassy be embraced ! Man's ha])piness
FOR WHICH I AM AN AMBASSADOR. §J9