Are ministers ambassadors? This shews the gospel ministry to be an ofiice peculiar to some, not a work connnon to all. An ambassador, we know, is one that hatli his commission and credential letters from his prince to shew for his employment ; it is not a man's skill in state atl'airs that makes him an ambas- sador, nor ability in the law that makes a man a magistrate, bxit their call to these places ; neither do gifts make a man a ministei-, but his mission ; ' How- can they preach, except they be sent?' The rules which the Spirit of God gave about the minister's admission into his function, were all to no purj)()se, if it lay open to every man's own choice to make him a preacher: ' Lay hands suddenly on no man,' 1 Tim. v. 22 : that is, admit none to the ministry with- out good proof and trial ; but why should any be set apart for that which every one may do ?
Section I. — First, An exhortation to the people. Be persuaded, in the fear of God, to hearken to the message these ambassadors bring. What mean you to do in the business they come to treat about? Will 3'ou be friends witli God, or not? — take Christ by faith into your embraces, or resolve to have none of liini .' We are but ambassadors, back again we must go to our Master that sent us, and give an accoimt what has become of our negotiation. Shall we go and say, Lord, we have been with the men thou sent us to, and thy message was delivered by us according to our instructions ; we told them that ruin and damnation would come upon them, if they did not repent and turn : we laid both life and death before them, and spared not to reveal the whole counsel of God ; but they believed not a word we spake ; we were to them as those that mocked, or told what we had dreamed in the night, and not the words of truth and faithfulness. God forbid, that this should be the report which at their return they make to God of their negotiation ! But the more to affect you with the importance of their message, consider. First, The wonderful love of God in sending you these ambassadors. It is not a prince that sends to one of his own rank, but a God to his rebel creature, against whom he might have sent an army of judgments to destroy him : it is not against rebels that are intrenched in some place of strength, or in the field with a force wherewith you are able to I'esist his power ; but to his prisoners, fettered and manacled, to you that liave your traitorous heads on the block : it is not any need that he hath of your life that makes him desire yoiu" salvation. A prince sometimes saves his rebellious sub- jects, because he needs their hands to fight for him, and weakens himself by shedding their blood ; but God can ruin you, and not wrong himself; if you perish, it is without his damage. Luke vii. 30, the Pharisees are said to reject the counsel of God against themselves.
Section II. — Secondly, Consider what an intolerable afl'ront is given to the Majesty of heaven by rejecting his grace. Princes' requests are commands : who dare deny a king what he asks ? And darest thou stand against thy Maker? It is charged upon no less than a king, as an act of insufterable pride, 'that he did evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet, speaking from the mouth of the Lord,' 2 Chron. xxxvi. 12. But what ! must a kuig come down from his throne, and humble himself before a poor prophet, that was his own subject ? Yes, when he represents the ])erson of that King, to whom he was himself a subject: God will have him tremble and bow, not to Jeremiah, but to 'Jeremiah speaking from the mouth of the Lord.' O, consider this, ye that think it childish and simple to weep at a sermon, to humble 3'ourselves at the reproof of a minister : your carriage under the word preached declares what your thoughts of God himself are. When Nahash slighted David's ambassadors, and abused them, the king took the scorn upon himself. ' 1 v,ill jjublish the name of the Lord,' saith Moses : ' ascribe ye great- ness unto our (jod,' Deut. xxxii. o. How should they ascribe greatness to God while Moses is preaching to them? Surely he means by their humble at- tendance on, and ready obedience to, the word he delivered in God's name. Tliirdly, Consider how nuich the heart of (Jod is engaged in the message his ambassadors bring. When a prince sends an ambassador about a negotiation,
FOR WHICH 1 AM AN AMBASSADOR.