peace with God ; but to inform them, that " Christ is our peace," and that " God, for Christ's sake, is ready to forgive us all our trespasses." This is the sum and substance of the Gospel. This is the "treasure which God hath put into us earthen vessels," for the enriching of the poor, and the saving of the lost. And, in having thus sent the tidings of salvation home to our own doors, he has done what will leave us without excuse for ever.]
That such grace may not be displayed in vain, let us, II. Urge you to accept salvation —
The message we are commissioned to deliver to you, is, *' Be reconciled to God" —
[^Acknowledge that you have indeed been enemies to God. Surely none of us can doubt whether such have been our state. Let us only look back upon our violations of his law, and they will bear ample testimony to this melancholy truth.
Being convinced of your enmity against God, be humbled for it in dust and ashes. It is not possible to bewail too deeply the guilt which you have contracted.
Be careful to seek reconciliation with God in the way which he has pointed out. Beware of attempting to make satisfaction, as it were, for your sins ; for you owe ten thousand talents, and cannot pay one single mite. God in Christ has taken your debt upon himself; and he is willing " frankly to forgive you all." Go to him then, and receive mercy at his hands "without money, and without price ^"]
As ambassadors of Christ we would urge our suit with becoming earnestness —
[Though we are neither inspired, nor empowered to work miracles, like the Apostles of old, yet are we truly *' ambassa- dors from Christ" to a guilty world ; and we come in his name and stead to treat with you respecting peace. We proclaim an eternal amnesty, if you return to your allegiance: and though, as God's representatives, we might command, yet, after Christ's example, " we beseech you to be reconciled to God."
And is this an unreasonable request ? Is it not, on the
a Some have thought that because we are called upon to be recon- ciled to God, the enmity subsists only on our part. But not to men- tion a multitude of passages that represent God as " angry with the wicked," the very term haXXayijdi is used by our Lord himself as expressive of the oSending party seeking pardon from the offended, Matt. V. 24.