we are ambassadors for Christ; as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead," by every thing endearing or awful, accept the offered grace, and "be ye reconciled to God."

Never let us overlook, my brethren, this most awakening truth contained in our text; That when the Gospel is preached, though by frail dying men, Jesus, the Divine Mediator, speaks from heaven. Ministers are but as the trumpets by which he proclaims his will and tenders his grace.

This consideration should be regarded as a solemn momento to ministers themselves. It should make them humble and diligent in searching the Scriptures, to know the mind of Christ, lest the trumpet give an uncertain sound. It should make them faithful in delivering the whole counsel of God. It should engage them, with purity of intention and singleness of heart, to seek their Master's glory and it should make them earnest and importunate in seeking that Divine influence and energy, without which their most serious and importunate addresses will be like an arrow shot from a deceitful broken bow which will drop short of the mark, will never reach the heart. And how ought their minds to be impressed with the consideration of the vast importance of this embassy! What tremendous consequences hang upon it! With what an heart-felt concern does the Apostle speak of it, 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16. "We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in

:

them that perish." Whatever be the issue of our ministry, God, who knows our principles and aims, our diligence and fidelity in his service, is well pleased with us. Yet we cannot but be greatly affected when we think of the winding up of the scene that while "to the one we are the savour of life unto life, we are to the other the savour of death unto death: and who is sufficient for these things?" Who, without the special assistance of Christ, is able to discharge so important a work in a manner sufficiently humble and faithful, and diligent and affectionate?

But, my dear hearers, this is a subject which likewise demands your attention: When the Gospel is preached, though by frail dying men, Jesus, the adorable Mediator of the new covenant, speaketh from heaven.

This is a consideration which, methinks, should gain us a ready acceptance among you. It is reason enough why you should give us the most serious attention. We come not as heralds to proclaim war between Heaven and you; but as ambassadors of peace, to propose conditions, the most gracious on God's part, and the most beneficial on your's. But then, still remember, your ministers are at best but messengers and instruments. If saving good be done, and the Gospel prove a ministration of life to your souls, it is the grace of God that does it, and he will not give his glory to another. He

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be assured he knows and pities you. He fully knows your down-sitting and your up-rising, and understandeth your very thoughts afar off. He compasseth your path when most retired, and is acquainted with all your ways.

And can you not look back to some partieular seasons, when this blessed Redeemer, under a sermon, or by the admonition of some serious friend or minister, or by the reflections of your own conscience, has spoken to your heart, and given you a solemn and awakening sense of your sin and danger? Perhaps he has sometimes hedged up your way with thorns, and brought you into deep adversity, that you should not be able to indulge in the lusts of your heart; but that in the solitude and darkness of affliction, you should be constrained to consider your ways and your doings which have not been good, and turn unto the Lord. Perhaps, thoughtless as you now may be, there was a time when the sorrows of death compassed you, and the pains of hell gat hold upon you, and vows and resolutions expressed the consternation and horror of your spirit. And after all, must the Saviour stretch out his hand in vain? Must he still grieve for the hardness of your heart? Must he hearken and hear, and "no man repent him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done! but every one return to his course," his dangerous soul-destroying course, 86. as the horse rusheth into the battle?"

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Oh! let me beseech you, look upon Him whom

you have pierced, and mourn.

Behold him in all

the bitterness of his sufferings, when he was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities." And can you then insult his woes, and crucify the Son of God afresh, by going on still in your trespasses? Can you pierce that heart afresh that poured out its vital blood to wash away sin? O! stop a moment, and think what the end of these things must be. Surely ingratitude like this, so strange and so vile, must fill the vials apace; must cause the wrath of God to burn with a ten-fold vengeance, and sink the monster into the lowest hell. 3

But, methinks I hear some poor trembling sinner, some wandering sheep, who knows the Shepherd's voice, and has been listening with a melting heart to his awakening and gracious call, eagerly crying out, "Lord! what wilt thou have me to do? I never knew till now my dreadful state of sin and wrath. Oh what a wretch have I been! What authority and what love has this hardened heart resisted! Oh, my sins! my sins! what have I done? Innumerable

evils compass me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up: they are more than the hairs of mine head; therefore mine heart faileth me. I remember my own evil ways, and my doings which have not been good, and I loath myself in my own sight for my iniquities and for my abominations. Against thee, O Lord! against thee only, have I sinned, and done continued evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified when

thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.— But, O blessed Jesus, thine inviting voice bids me hope. Lord! if thou canst do any thing, have compassion upon me and help me. Turn thou me, and I shall be turned. O pity my wanderings, compassionate my miseries, and hide thy face from my sins. Lord! I am oppressed, undertake for me, and let thy precious blood wash away all my guilt; so shall the blessing of one that was ready to perish come upon thee."-Well, my dear friend, be of good cheer: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Such a cry as this reaches the highest heavens. It reaches the ear, the heart, of the blessed Jesus—of him whose compassions are represented in the conduct of the father of the prodigal, who, "when he was yet a great way off, saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” He who, with so much delight, heard Ephraim bemoaning himself, will graciously say of you as he did of him, "Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord."

Hark! he speaks again, and in accents of love invites your confidence, and even commands you to believe. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth;