SERMON I.

MINISTERS AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST.

2 CORINTHIANS, V. 20.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: We pray you in Christ's stead, Be ye reconciled to God.

ST. PAUL, in this passage, shews what is the Office which the ministers of Christ bear; what is the Object which, in discharging this office, they have in view; and what is the Way in which they are to seek the attainment of this object. For however the ministers of Christ may be designated by different titles, may hold different ranks, or may live in different countries or ages; yet in the great features of their character, they have a strong resemblance to each other. They all, in fact, bear the same Office. They have all, if faithful to their office, the same Object in view. They must all seek to attain this object in the same Way.

I will say a few words separately on each of these points; and then, in an humble dependance on the divine blessing, will make an application of the subject to ourselves. Let us consider,

I. The Office of the ministers of Christ.

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They are ambassadors for Him." Ambassadors are persons whom a king employs to go in his stead, and to carry on business in his name. If he has a matter of war or peace, of law or commerce, to be settled in another country, he does not go himself, in his own person, but he sends his ambassadors with authority to act for him, and to manage the concern according to instructions committed to them. Such is the office of the ministers of Christ. They are His ambassadors. They come in the name of Him, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. They are employed by Him to treat with sinners on a subject of the greatest importance. They have authority to act according to the instructions given to them. These instructions are contained in the Holy Scriptures; and "whatsoever," according to these instructions," they bind on earth, is bound in heaven; whatsoever they loose on earth, is loosed in heaven."

Ambassadors are the subjects of the king who employs them; and though he is pleased to confer on them so great an honour as to

send them in his name, they are yet greatly inferior to him in dignity and station. Thus it is with Christ and his ministers. He condescends to employ his subjects as His ambassadors. But who can attempt to describe the distance between them? "He charges even His angels with folly: how much more men who drink in iniquity like water!" In condescending to employ them, He confers on them the highest honour, and invests them with an office to which they have naturally no pretensions.

Sinners

Ambassadors are also usually inferior to those to whom they are sent. In rank and station, in abilities and acquirements, they may be greatly below them. Thus it often is with the ambassadors of Christ. themselves, they have no natural superiority over the sinners to whom they are sent. In many respects they are, and in many respects they feel themselves to be, greatly below them. Men of like passions with others, they claim no honour on their own account: all their honour they derive from their office, and from the fidelity and diligence with which they discharge it. For themselves, they are content to be the ministers of all, the servants of all. They desire not to lord it over the consciences of others: they would only be helpers of their joy, and furtherers of their salvation. At the same time, they

would magnify their office and exalt their heavenly Master, in whose name they come. They are willing that the light be in an earthen vessel, so that the excellency of the power may appear to be of Him. They are willing to feel and admit their own insufficiency for the great work to which they are called, so that their sufficiency may be seen to be from Him.

Ambassadors are also required to be faithful to him who employs them. If they are unfaithful, they are the worst of traitors. If they neglect their Master's cause, if they injure it, if they betray it, they will have far more to answer for than others. In proportion to the office which they bear, to the confidence placed in them, to the honour conferred on them, are their accountableness and responsibility. Much is given to them, and therefore much will be required of them.

These remarks may serve to explain the office of Ministers, insomuch as they are "Ambassadors for Christ." I point out,

II, The Object, which they have in view. This, we learn from the text, is to prevail with men to be reconciled to God. "We pray you in Christ's stead, Be ye reconciled to God." Reconciliation presupposes a state of previous enmity. When two parties are said to be reconciled, we understand that there has been a difference between them.