[1.] An humble confession of our former sinfulness and rebellion against God. I have been a grievous sinner, a rebel, and an enemy to God, and this to the grief and shame of his heart : Jer. iii. 13, ' I am merciful, and will not keep anger for ever ; only acknowledge thine iniquity which thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and disobeyed my voice, saith the Lord ; ' and 1 John i. 9, ' If we confess and forsake our sins, he is just and faithful to forgive us our sins.' When they begged the favour of the king of Israel, they came with ropes about their necks, 1 Kings xx. 31. The creature must return to his duty to God, in a posture of humiliation and unfeigned sorrow for former offences.
[2.] We must lay aside our enmity, and resolve to abstain from all offences which may alienate God from us. If we have any reserve, we draw nigh to God with a treacherous heart, to live like rebels under a pretence of a friendship : Heb. x. 22, ' Let us draw nigh with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water ; ' and Job xxxiv. 31, 32, ' Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more. That which I see not teach thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do so.no more.' Unless you put away the evil of your doings, the anger continueth ; and it is in- consistent with a gracious estate to continue in any known sin without serious endeavours against it. ' What peace as long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel remaineth ? '
[3.] We must enter into covenant with God, and devote ourselves to become his : 2 Chron. xxx. 8, ' Yield yourselves unto the Lord ; ' and Eom. vi. 13, ' But yield yourselves unto God.' There must be an entire resignation and giving up ourselves to be governed and ordered by him at his will and pleasure : Acts ix. 6, ' Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? ' Give up the keys of the heart, renouncing all
VeK. 20.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIAIsrS V. 295
beloved sins. We then, depending upon the merit of his sacrifice, put ourselves under the conduct of his word and Spirit, and resolve to use all the appointed means in order to our full recovery and return to God.
3. Om' being reconciled to God implieth our loving God, who loved us first, 1 John iv. 19. For the reconciliation is never perfect, till there be a hearty love to God ; there is a grudge still remaining with us ; faith begets love, Gal. v. 6. Kepentance is the first expression of our love ; the sorrowing, humbling part of it is mourning love ; the covenanting part, either in renouncing, is love, abhorring that which is contrary to our friendship, into which we are entered with God ; the devoting part is love, aiming at the glory of him who hath been so good. All our after-carriage is love, endeavouring to please. You will never have rest for your souls till you submit to this course, and be in this manner at peace with God: Mat. xi. 28, 29, ' Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly, and you shall find rest for your souls ; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.' God complaineth of his people by the prophet, that ' they forget their resting-place,' Jer. 1. 6. Men seek peace where it is not to be found, try this creature and that, but still meet with vanity and vexation of spirit ; like feverish persons, who seek ease in the change of their beds.
SERMON XXXIX.
Noiu then, ive are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did heseecli you hy us : lue pray you in Christ's stead, he reconciled to God. —2 Cor. v. 20.
Doct. The great business of the ministers of the gospel is to persuade men to reconciliation with God.
Use. Let me enter upon this work now — (1.) To sinners. (2.) To those reconciled already, as these were to whom he wrote ; lie presseth them further to reconcile themselves to God.
First, To sinners.
Will you be reconciled to God, sinners ? Here I shall show you — (1.) The necessity of reconciliation. (2.) God's condescension in this business. (3.) The value and worth of the privilege. (4.) The great dishonour v/e do to God in refusing it.
1. Tlie first motive is the necessity of being reconciled, by reason of the enmity between God and us : Col. i. 21, 'And you that were some- times alienated, and enemies in your minds by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.' We are enemies to God, and God is an enemy to us. I shall prove both : the one to convince, the other to excite and rouse us up. By sin man is an enemy to God, and hateth him. As to the punishment, God is an enemy to mnn, and will avenge himself upon him. What greater sin than to be enemies to God ? What greater misery than that God sliould be an enemy to us ? Surely where both