[At this hour do " we preach peace to you by Jesus Christ y;" and " as ambassadors of God, we beseech you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." To all without exception is this invitation given. For every sinner in the universe has Christ " purchased reconciliation through the blood of his cross ;" and to every one does he address those memorable words, " Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth2." Will any of you then be content to continue at enmity with God, and to have God an enemy to you ? O lay down the weapons of your rebellion, and seek your happiness in God. Surely " in his favour is life ; and his loving-kindness is better than life itself." Only begin this day to rejoice in your God; and " there shall be joy amongst the angels in the presence of God on your account."]
2. Let all seek the highest attainments in the divine life —
[There is a holy ambition which all should feel. We should not any of us be content to obtain reconciliation with God : we should seek to rejoice in God. We should say with David, " I will go unto the altar of God, of God my exceeding joya." It is greatly to be lamented that the generality of Christians live far below their privileges. If only they have peace with God, and can rejoice in hope of his glory, and can glory in tribulations for his sake, they are ready to think, that they are in as good a state as they need to be. But, brethren, whilst we rejoice that ye are so far advanced, we would have you " not only so" we would have you " forget what is behind, and press forward towards that which is before." We would have you " covet earnestly the best gifts." It is your privilege " to rejoice in God all the day," yea, to " rejoice in him with joy unspeakable and glorified13." Nor is it your privilege only, but your duty also : for it is said, " In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory c." I call you then to live nigh to God, and to " delight yourselves in God," and to have even now " the earnest" of heaven in your soulsd. " Let Israel then rejoice in Him that made him; and the children of Zion be joyful in their Kinge."]
y Acts x. 36.
z Isai. xlv. 22.
a Ps. xliii. 4.
h 1 Pet. i. 8.
c Isai. xlv. 25.
d Eph. i. 14.
e Ps. cxlix. 2.