to redundance unto his enemies, hath not hitherto forfaken me, and hath promifed he never will? Why then is my foul thus difquieted in me! Surely there is no caufe it fhould be fo.

Inf. 6. If the faints are fo nearly united to Chrift, as the members to the head: Ŏ then, how great a fin, and full of danger is it for any to wrong and perfecute the faints! For in fo doing, they must needs perfecute Chrift himself.

"Saul, Saul (faith Chrift) why persecutest thou me ?" Acts ix. 4. * The righteous God holds himself obliged to vindicate oppreffed innocency, though it be in the perfons of wicked men; how much more when it is in a member of Chrift?" He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye," Zech. ii. 8. And is it to be imagined that Chrift will fit ftill, and fuffer his enemies to hurt. or injure the very apples of his eyes: No, "He hath ordained "his arrows against the persecutors," Pfalm vii. 13.

O it were better thine hand fhould wither, and thine arm fall from thy fhoulder, than ever it should be lifted up against Christ, in the pooreft of his members. Believe it, firs, not only your violent actions, but your hard fpeeches are all fet down upon your doom's-day book; and you fhall be brought to an account for them in the great day, Jude 15. Beware what arrows you shoot, and be fure of your mark before you shoot them.

Inf. 7. If there be fuch an union betwixt Chriß and the faints, as hath been defcribed, upon what comfortable terms then may believers part with their bodies at death?

Chrift your Head is rifen, therefore you cannot be loft: nay, he is not only rifen from the dead himself, but is alfo "become the "Firft-fruits of them that flept," I Cor. xv. 20. Believers are his members, his fulness, he cannot therefore be complete without you: a part of Chrift cannot perish in the gravet, much less burn in hell. Remember, when you feel the natural union diffolving, that this mystical union can never be diffolved: the pangs of death cannot break this tye. And as there is a peculiar excellency in the believer's life, fo there is a fingular fupport, and peculiar comfort in his death; "To me to live is Chrift, and to die is gain," Phil.

Agefilaus was wont to fay, That he very much wondered, that those were not reckoned up in the number of facrilegious perfons, who injured those who made fupplication to God, or worshipped him: By which he fignified, that not only thefe fhould be reckoned injurious, who robbed the gods themselves, or their temples, but even these chiefly who affronted their fervants or heralds. Emyl

Prob.

To fay that the temple of God, in which the Spirit of the Father dwells, the members of Chrift, fhall not partake of falvation, but be brought into perdition; what is it but the greatest blafphemy? Iren. lib. 5.

Inf. 8. If there be fuch an union betwixt Chrift and believers, How doth it concern every man to try and examine his eftate, whether he is really united with Chrift or not, by the natural and proper effects which always flow from this union? As,

First, The real communication of Chrift's holinefs to the foul. We cannot be united with this root, and not partake of the vital fap of fanctification from him; all that are planted into him, are planted into the likenefs of his death, and of his refurrection, Rom. vi. 5, 6. viz. by mortification and vivification.

Secondly, They that are fo nearly united to him, as members to the head, cannot but love him and value him above their own lives; as we fee in nature, the hand and arm will interpofe to fave the head. The nearer the union, the stronger always is the affection.

Thirdly, The members are fubject to the head. Dominion in the head muft needs infer fubjection in the members, Eph. v. 24. In vain do we claim union with Chrift as our head, whilft we are governed by our own wills, and our lufts give us law.

Fourthly, All that are united to Christ do bear fruit to God, Rom. vii. 4. Fruitfulness is the next end of our union; there are no barren branches growing upon this fruitful root.

Inf. 9. Laftly, How much are believers engaged to walk as the members of Chrift, in the visible exercifes of all thofe graces and duties, which the confideration of their near relation to him exacts from them, As,

First, How contented and well pleafed fhould we be with our outward lot, however providence hath caft it for us in this world! O do not repine, God hath dealt bountifully with you; upon others he hath beftowed the good things of this world; upon you, himself in Chrift.

Secondly, How humble and lowly in fpirit fhould you be under your great advancement! It is true, God hath magnified you greatly by this union, but yet do not fwell. " You bear not the root, but the root you," Rom. xi. 18. You fhine, but it is as the ftars, with a borrowed light.

Thirdly, How zealous fhould you be to honour Chrift, who hath put fo much honour upon you! Be willing to give glory to Christ, though his glory fhould rife out of your fhame. Never reckon that glory that goes to Chrift, to be loft to you: when you lie at his feet, in the moft particular heart-breaking confeffions of fin, yet let this please you, that therein you have given him glory.

Fourthly, How exact and circumfpect should you be in all your ways, remembering whofe you are, and whom you reprefent! Shall it be faid, that a member of Chrift was convicted of unrighteousness and unholy actions! God forbid. "If we fay, we have "fellowship with him, and walk in darknefs, we lie,” i John i. 6.

"And he that faith he abideth in him, ought alfo himself to walk " even as he alfo walked," 1 John ii. 6.

Fifthly, How ftudious fhould you be of peace among yourselves, who are fo nearly united to fuch a Head, and thereby are made fellow-members of the fame body! The Heathen world was never acquainted with fuch an argument as the apoftle urges for unity, in Eph. iv. 3, 4.

Sixthly, and laftly, How joyful and comfortable should you be, to whom Chrift, with all his treasures and benefits, is effectually applied in this blessed union of your fouls with him! This brings him into your poffeffion: O how great! how glorious a perfon do thefe little weak arms of your faith embrace!

Thanks be to God for Jefus Chrift.

SERMON III.

Of the Nature and Ufe of the Gospel-ministry, as an external Mean of applying CHRIST.

2 COR. V. 20.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Chrift, as though God did befeech you by us: we pray you in Chriff's flead, be ye reconciled to God.

THE

HE effectual application of Chrift principally confifts in our union with him; but, ordinarily, there can be no union without a gofpel-tender, and an overture of him to our fouls; for, "How fhall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? "and how fhall they hear without a preacher? and how fhall they "preach, except they be fent ?" Rom. x. 14.

If God be upon a design of efpoufing poor finners to his Son, there must be a treaty in order to it; that treaty requires interlocution betwixt both the parties concerned in it; but fuch is our frailty, that, fhould God speak immediately to us himself, it would confound and overwhelm us: God therefore graciously condefcends and accommodates himself to our infirmity, in treating with us in order to our union with Chrift, by his ambasadors, and these not angels, whofe converfes we cannot bear, but men like ourselves, who are commiffionated for the effecting of this great business betwixt Chrift and us. "Now then, we are ambaffadors for God, c. In which words you have,

Firft, Chrift's ambaffadors commiffionated.
Secondly, Their commission opened.

"Now then, we

Firft, Chrift's ambaffadors commiffionated. "are ambaffadors for Chrift." The Lord Jefus thought it not fufficient to print the law of grace and the blessed terms of our union with him in the fcriptures, where men may read his willingness to ́receive them, and fee the just and gracious terms and conditions upon which he offers to become theirs; but hath alfo fet up and eftablifted a standing office in the church, to expound that law, inculcate the precepts, and urge the promises thereof; to woo and efpoufe fouls to Chrift, "I have espoused you to one Husband, "that I may prefent you as a chafte virgin to Christ," 2 Cor. xi. 20. and this not fimply from their own affections and compaffions to miferable finners, but alfo by virtue of their office and commiffion, whereby they are authorized and appointed to that work. "We "then are ambaffadors for Chrift."

Secondly, Their commiffion opened: Wherein we find, 1. Their work appointed,

2. Their capacity defcribed,

3. And the manner of their acting in that capacity prefcribed. Firft, The work whereunto the minifters of the gospel are appointed, is to reconcile the world to God; to work thefe finful, vain, rebellious hearts, which have a strong averfion from God naturally in them, to clofe with him according to the articles of peace contained in the gofpel, that thereby they may be capable to receive the mercies and benefits purchased by the death of Chrift, which they cannot receive in the state of enmity and alienation.

Secondly, Their capacity defcribed: They act in Chrift's flead, as his vicegerents. He is no more in this world to treat perfonally with finners, as he once did in the days of his flesh; but yet he still continues the treaty with this lower world, by his officers, requiring men to look upon them, and obey them as they would himfelf, if he were corporally prefent, Luke x. 16. "He that "heareth you, heareth me; and he that defpifeth you, despiseth

"me."

Thirdly, The manner of their acting in that capacity prescribed; and that is, by humble, fweet, and condefcending entreaties and befeechings. This beft fuits the meek and lamb-like Saviour whom they reprefent: thus he dealt with poor finners himself, when he converfed among them; he "would not break a bruifed reed, nor "quench the fmoking flax," Ifa. xlii. 3. This is the way to allure and win the fouls of finners to Chrift. From hence the note is,

Doct. That the preaching of the gospel by Chrifl's ambaffaders, is the mean appointed for the reconciling and bringing home of finners to Chrift.

This is clear from Rom. x. 14. 1 Cor. i. 21. and many other fcriptures.

Here we shall take into confideration these three things.

Firft, What is implied in Chrift's treating with finners by his ambaffadors or minifters.

Secondly, What is the great concernment they are to treat with finners about.

Thirdly, What, and when is the efficacy of preaching, to bring finners to Chrift.

First, We will open what is implied and imported in Chrift's treaty with finners, by his ambaffadors or minifters.

And here we find thefe fix things implied.

1. It neceffarily implies the defection and fall of man, from his eftate of favour and friendship with God: If no war with heaven, what need of ambaffadors of peace? The very office of the ministry is an argument of the fall. Gofpel-ordinances and officers came in upon the fall, and expire with the Mediator's difpenfatory-kingdom, I Cor. xv. 24, 25. "Then shall he deliver up the kingdom

to God, even the Father?" Thenceforth no more ordinances, no more minifters; What use can there be of them, when the treaty is ended? They have done and accomplished all they were ever intended and defigned for, when they shall have reconciled to God all the number of his elect, that are difperfed among the loft and miserable pofterity of Adam, and have brought them home to Chrift in a perfect state, Eph. iv. 12, &c.

2. It implies the fingular grace and admirable condefcenfion of God to finful man. That God will admit any treaty with him at all, is wonderful mercy, it is more than he would do for the angels that fell, Jude, ver. 6. « They are referved in everlasting chains, “under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day." Chrift took not on him their nature, but fuffered myriads of them to perish, and fills up their vacant places in glory, with a number of finful men and women, to whom the law awarded the fame punishment.

But that God will not only treat, but entreat and befeech sinful men to be reconciled, is yet more wonderful. Barely to propound the terms of peace had been an aftonishing mercy; but to woo and befeech ftubborn enemies to be at peace, and accept their pardon, oh, how unparalleled was this condefcenfion.

3. It implies the great dignity and honour of the gospel-ministry. We are ambasadors for Chrift*? Ambaffadors reprefent and perfonate the prince that fends them; and the honours or contempts

We are ambaffadors among thofe who ferve the King of kings; we reprefent the perfon of God and Chrift: never any yet defpifed us with impunity, nay, without being injurious to God and Chrift. Bowles' Præfat. ad Poft. Evan.