It may happen that I shall myself often be bad, that I shall be false to my mission ; all this cannot for a moment destroy the meaning of my life : " To shine with that light which is in me, so long as I am able, so long as there is light in me."
The conviction of the ambassadorship has the following practical effect upon me (I speak for myself and, I know, for others also).
Outside the physical necessities, in which I try to confine myself to the least, as soon as I am drawn to some activity, — speaking, writing, working, — I ask myself (I do not even ask, I feel it) whether with this work I serve Him who sent me, I joyously surrender myself to the work and forget all doubts and — fly, like a stone, and am glad that I am flying.
But if the work is not for Him who has sent me, it does not even attract me, I simply feel ennui, and I only try to get rid of it, I try to observe all the rules given for messengers. But this does not even happen. It seems to me that a man can live in such a way as to sleep, or in such a way as with his whole soul, with delight, to serve Him who sent him.^
2. The ambassador must use the most persuasive modes of speech. He must entreat and beseech those to whom he is sent. It is, indeed, a strange thing that men should need beseeching to take what is the greatest good, and indeed the only good, that the human soul can gain — reconciliation with God. But it is a fact * Tolfitoy, ThougfUs and Aphorisms ( Works, xix. 100).
2 COR. V, 20 215
that all of us need beseeching, and most of us who have come to Christ have come because some dear voice entreated. And it is the duty of every Christian to use every art of entreaty, every sanctified art of entreaty — argument, reasoning, pleading — but also literally beseeching, wooing, winning, pleading with men to be reconciled to God.
Entreating and beseeching — these are wonderful words to use in regard to God's dealings with men. We can understand how fitting it is for man to beseech God for those Divine gifts without which he must perish. We can understand also that man should entreat God to be gracious unto him with strong crying and tears. But that God should beseech and Christ should entreat men to accept the greatest gifts is marvellous indeed. But such is the fact, such are the terms of a minister's commission. " We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God."
f There was put up in the town of Bedford, some twenty-five or thirty years ago, a statue to the memory of John Bunyan. On the pedestal of the statue are engraved these words : " It had eyes lifted up to Heaven, the best of books in his hand, the law of truth was written upon its lips, the world was behind his back ; it stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over its head." This was the picture which Christian saw in the Interpreter's house, and this is the picture which the sculptor has sought to embody in his bronze. " It stood as if it pleaded with men " — what better picture could we have of the great Apostle ? Thrice in the one short passage (v. 20-vi. 1) is the word of entreaty on his lips, with such tender solicitude did he urge upon his readers, and does he urge upon us, " Be ye reconciled to God."i
^ It was after midnight that Jamie rose and crept to Leeby's bedside. Leeby was shaking the bed in her agony. Jess heard what they said.
" Leeby," said Jamie, " dinna greet, an' I'll never do't again."
He put his arms round her, and she kissed him passionately.
" Oh, Jamie," she said, " hae ye prayed to God to forgie ye ? "
Jamie did not speak.
" If ye was to die this nicht," cried Leeby, " an' you no made it up wi' God, ye wouldna gang to heaven. Jamie, I canna sleep till ye've made it up wi' God."
But Jamie still hung back. Leeby slipped from her bed, and went down on her knees.
* G, Jackson, Memoranda Paulina, 261,
2i6 AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST
" O God, 0 dear God," she cried, " mak' Jamie to pray to you ! "
Then Jamie went down on his knees too, and they made it up with God together.^
3. The ambassador must use all dispatch in executing his commission. He must be urgent as well as persuasive. " He who has before his mental eye the Four Last Things," says Newman, " will have the true earnestness, the horror, or the rapture, of one who witnesses a conflagration, or discerns some rich and sublime prospect of natural scenery. His countenance, his manner, his voice, speak for him, in proportion as his view has been vivid and minute. The great English poet has described this sort of eloquence when a calamity had befallen —
Yea, this man's brow, like to a title-leaf, Foretells the nature of a tragic volume. Thou tremblest; and the whiteness in thy cheek Is apter than thy tongue to tell thy errand.'^