godly sincerity: "the law of truth was to be in their mouth, and no iniquity was to be found in their lips." At the same time, they were so to "walk with God in peace and equity," that their whole life might be a visible lesson to the people, of all that God required of them.]
Such " messengers " are the Christian priesthood —
[Ministers should not only study the Gospel, but be able to declare it from their own experience; saying, "What my ears have heard, my eyes have seen, and my hands have handled, of the word of life, that same declare I unto youk." In truth, brethren, "we are ambassadors from God:" we come in the name, and stand in the very place, of God himself. We bring to you from him "a covenant of life and peace1:" we set before you the terms on which he will accept you to his favour : and " we beseech you, in Christ's stead, to be recon- ciled to Godm." The word which we deliver is God's, and not our own; and "it must be received, not as our word, but God's n." And what we deliver with our lips, we are bound to exemplify in our lives, so as to be living " epistles of Christ, known and read of all men0." We should ourselves be living witnesses of its excellency and power, so as to address you in the words of St. Paul; "Whatsoever ye have seen and heard in me, do ; and the God of peace shall be with youp." Nor should you account it any indignity to look up to us for infor- mation, and to "receive the word at our mouth." True, you have the Scriptures in your hands ; and by them should you "try every word that proceeds from usq:" but, whatever we deliver in accordance with them must be received by you as from God himself: for be ye assured, "if you despise it, you des- pise not us who deliver it, but God himself" who revealed itr.]
In the discharge of this office, God gives him many promises for,
III. His encouragement —
The Jewish priests were instruments in God's hands, to "turn many from iniquity" —
[God had promised to all his faithful servants, that, though they should not all be crowned with equal success, no one of them should labour in vain. And this he casts in the teeth of the false prophets: "I have not sent these prophets ; yet they ran: I have not spoken unto them ; yet they prophesied. But
k 1 John i. 1—3.
1 Ezek. xxxvii. 26, 27. Mark the agreement of this with the text. m 2 Cor. v. 18—20. n i Thess. ii. 13. ° 2 Cor. iii. 3.
p Phil. iv. 9. il Thess. v. 21. 1 John iv. 1.
r 1 Thess. iv. 8. with Luke x. 16.