2 Cor. vi. 1, 2. fFe then, as workers together ivith him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee : behold, now is the accejited time ; behold, now is the day of salvation.
" THE grace of God," mentioned in the words be- fore us, is the same with that which in the preceding context is called *' the word of reconciliation :" it is the declaration, that " God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." This is elsewhere called, " the Gospel of the grace of God ;" and a wonderful display of divine grace it is : because from the first devising of this plan of reconciliation in his eternal counsels, to the last bestowment of its blessings on any child of man, it is altogether of grace : grace laid the foundation ; grace raised the superstructure ; and, when the head-stone shall be brought forth, the universal shout will be, " Grace, grace unto it^" In bringing men into a state of reconciliation with God, we ministers are fellow-labourers with God^ Not that we do, or ever can do, any thing towards perfecting the work of Christ ; (that was finished by him upon the cross, when he offered himself a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world ;) but we are ambassadors from God, and speak to men in Christ's stead, and thus are " workers together with God :" and in this character we beseech you, as the Apostle did the Corinthians, " not to receive the grace of God in vain."
That we may proceed agreeably to the example set before us in our text, we shall consider, I. The exhortation here given —
And here we shall separately notice,
1. The subject-matter of it: "Receive not the grace of God in vain" —
^ Zoch. iv. 7. ^ I Cor. iii. 9. with the text.
2024.1 tiOD's GRACE NOT TO BE RECEIVED IN VAIN. 533
[The generality of those to whom the word of reconci- liation comes, hear it to no purpose. Many pay no attention at all to it, but, like Gallio of old, care for none of these things. Many hate it, and oppose it with all their might ; either regarding it as foolishness, through their philosophic pride, or making it a stumbling-block, through their self- righteous habits. To all such it comes in vain, or rather, worse than in vain, seeing that it proves to them a savour of death to their more aggravated condemnation. In truth, all receive it in vain, who do not welcome it into their hearts, and conform to it in their lives. O that it might be embraced thus by all to whom it now comes ! Receive it, brethren, as the most stupendous effort of Divine Wisdom for the salvation of your souls ]
2. The manner of it : " We, as workers together with God, beseech you" —
[We come not in our own name, when we announce these glad tidings, but in the name of our God and Saviour. We have no private ends to accomplish : it is the work ol God, and that only, that we endeavour to advance : we have the same end in view that God himself had, when he sent his only dear Son into the world ; the same that Christ had, when he died upon the cross : the ministry of reconciliation is committed to us; and, in the exercise of this ministry, '^ we are fellow-workers with God." In this capacity we might command you all : but we choose rather, like the Apostle, to use the language of entreaty : yes, " We beseech you ;" in the very name and stead of Christ himself, we beseech you, that ye receive not this grace in vain. If ye will not listen to us, listen to that God in whose name we speak ; and, if ye will not bow to his commands, resist not his entreaties ; for it is he himself who beseeches you, by our mouth, " Be ye reconciled to God."]