[is not God a God of infinite mercy and compassion? Search the scriptures: see the representations which he gives of himself: how often is it said, "His mercy endureth for ever!" If then "he delighteth in mercy," who are we that we should presume to limit him in the exercise of it towards ourselves?

Do not his promises extend to all the sins that you have ever committed? You know that he hath said, "All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men." Moreover, read the words of our text; and doubt if you can. But, perhaps, you will reply, that the sin against the Holy Ghost is excepted; and that that is the sin which you have committed. To that we answer, that if you desire to repent and turn unto God, It is not possible that you should have committed it; because, if you had committed it, you would have arrived at such a degree of obduracy, that you would glory in your shame, and never wish to repent at all—

Have not the vilest of sinners already found acceptance with God? Look at the character given of the Corinthians; and see whether you can be in a worse state than they: yet "they were washed and sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." If you are alarmed about backslidings after conversion, see whether you have been worse than David and Peter: yet they were restored to the divine favour as soon as ever they repented themselves of their iniquities. And myriads of others, once as vile as they, are at this very moment around the throne of God, rejoicing and triumphing in redeeming love. What bar then can there be to your acceptance through "him that loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood?”

We forbear to urge other considerations, because if you can withstand these, there is no hope than any others could be urged with effect.]

ADDRESS

1. Those who still hold out against God

[We call heaven and earth to witness against you, that you are most unreasonable creatures. The ox and the ass are indeed more rational, than you are in relation to your souls. They seek their true interests, and acknowledge their benefactor: would to God that you might be brought to do the same!]

2. Those who are convinced by his reasonings

[Beware how you listen to the dictates of flesh and blood. You know how you have been deceived; be on your guard against fresh deceits. Regard not the laughter of a blind in

1 Cor. vi. 9-1].

fatuated world. They may call you mad; but they, and they only, are "come to themselves," who have been brought to say, "I will return and go to my Father."]

CCCCXXXV. THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. 2 Cor. v. 19, 20. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 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 unto God.

NATURAL as well as revealed religion teaches us that God is the author and giver of all good things. He originally formed man out of the dust of the earth, and still brings us into existence in our successive generations. He appoints the time and place of our birth: he bestows the talents we severally possess: he preserves the health of our bodies, and the vigour of our minds: "in him we altogether live, and move, and have our being." Nor is it less evident that redemption also is the work of his hands: for he formed the plan alone, and executed it without the creatures aid. He sent his Son; and qualified him for his office; and upheld him in it. He laid our iniquities on him; and accepted his vicarious sacrifice; and commissioned his apostles to declare these tidings to the world. All this is plainly asserted in the passage before us; from which we shall

I. Shew what God has done to save us

There are two things particularly specified in the text,

1. He has wrought salvation for us

[Man in innocence walked with God as a friend; but, as soon as he had fallen, shunned his presence, and fled from him as an enemy. Since that time "the carnal and unrenewed mind has been in a state of enmity against God;" and all the children of men have shewn themselves "enemies to God in their minds by wicked works." To effect a reconciliation for themselves was impossible:- but God, in his infinite mercy, opened a way for their restoration to his favour. He assumed our nature, and, in the person of Jesus Christ, be

came our substitute and surety; that, by his own obedience to the law which we had broken, and his enduring of the penalties which we had incurred, he might make satisfaction to his injured Justice, and pardon us without any dishonour to himself. By this means "he has reconciled the world unto himself;" "nor will he impute to any their trespasses," if they will accept the reconciliation which he offers them.]

2. He has sent salvation to us

[God has in every age raised up men to whom "he has committed the word of reconciliation," on purpose that they might publish it to their fellow-creatures. He has not committed it to angels, whose presence would confound us, and who, from their never having tasted the bitterness of sin, would probably be unable to sympathize with us: but he has appointed those to speak to us, who are "encompassed with the same infirmities," and who need the same forgiveness, as ourselves. To these "he has given the ministry of reconciliation." He sends them forth, not to tell men how to purchase his favour, or how (as the common expression is) to make their 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 thus contracted.

Be careful too 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."a]

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 "ambassadors 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."

you

And is this an unreasonable request? Is it not, on the contrary, most reasonable that should be reconciled to him, who never afforded you any just cause of complaint; and, who has never rendered any thing to you but good, in return for all the evil you have done against him? Is it not madness to continue in rebellion against him, who must prevail at last? And is it not better to bow to the sceptre of his grace, than to be "broken in pieces with his rod of iron?"

What would you reply, if God should intreat you by a voice from heaven? would you still refuse? Know then, that "God himself beseeches you by us;" and if you continue to pour contempt on this mercy, your "punishment will be sore" indeed.]

APPLICATION

[What account now shall we give to him who sent us? Must we return and say, "Lord, we have spoken to them; but they will not hear; we have invited; but they all begin with one consent to make excuse?" O think with yourselves, how soon "this day of acceptance and salvation" may be passed; and how aggravated will be your condemnation, if you reject these overtures of mercy! Let not our embassy be unsuccessful; but be prevailed upon to "seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near." Remember however that, if you be restored to God's favour, you must also be reconciled to his government: you must not assume a subject's name, and retain a rebel's heart: if you "name the name of Christ, you must depart from all iniquity.")

Some have thought that because we are called upon to be reconciled to God, the enmity subsists only on our part. But not to mention a multitude of passages that represent God as "angry with the wicked," the very term diaaaayy is used by our Lord himself as expressive of the offending party secking pardon from the offended, Mars. v. 24.

CCCCXXXVI. INVITATION TO BACKSLIDERS.

Jer. iii. 22. Return, ye back-sliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God.

THOUGH the conversion of men is the result of God's purpose, and solely the effect of his grace, yet it is wrought by rational means-He calls upon them as free agents, and enforces his exhortations with the most cogent motives-By these means he convinces their judg inent, and makes them willing to comply with his solicitations-In the preceding context he had determined to effect his purpose by the constraining influence of his grace; nevertheless he does not omit the use of means, but repeats his former invitations with still stronger arguments than before-In this way he produces the change upon the reluctant soul, and makes it thankfully to embrace his proffered mercy

In discoursing on the words before us, we shall consider

I. The Lord's address to backsliders

The persons addressed are either mere nominal Christians, or real Christians in a declining state

[The term "backsliding" refers to an unruly heifer that either will not at all draw in its master's yoke, or that performs its work unsteadily-In the former view, it comprehends all those who in name and profession are his, but in reality are altogether regardless of his will-Alas! how many are there of this description in every place!-Who amongst us may not consider the text as addressed to himself in particular? Who has not cast off the yoke of God, and said, like Pharaoh, "I know not the Lord, neither will I obey his voice?"-In the latter view, it may describe those who, having begun to serve the Lord, turn back again in some measure to the world and to sin-And where is there a child of God who must not acknowledge himself to have been, at some time, of this number, however diligently he be serving God at this moment?-Who can say that he has invariably, from the very first, pursued the path of duty in one uniform

* Hos. iv. 16.