Voice of the Arch-angel and with the Trump of God: and the Dead in Chrift fhall rise first; and they which are alive and remain fhall be caught up together with them in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, and so shall we be ever with the Lord".

SERMON XVII.

2 COR. V. 20.

Now then we are Embassadors for Christ, as though God did befeech you by us; we pray you in Chrift's Stead, Be ye reconciled to God.

HE Minifters of the Gospel ought ever

THE

to have in their Minds the End of their Office, that they may diligently use the right Means to attain it: and the People under our Care should be no less attentive to it, in order to receive, by co-operating faithfully with us, the Benefits intended to be conveyed to them through our Hands. Now the Nature of our Commiffion is fet forth in the Text; where you have

VOL. III.

Bb

1. The

I. The Character, in which we act, Embaffadors for Chrift.

II. The Errand, on which we are fent, to

pray Men that they would be reconciled to God.

I. Our Character is that of Embassadors for Christ, which Means inftead of Christ, as the fame Word is tranflated in the latter Part of the Verfe. God fent his Son into the World, as the Meffenger of his Covenant; the Perfon, by whom he notified his gracious Promises, and the Conditions of them to Mankind. When he ceafed to inftruct them perfonally, his Words to his Apoftles were, as the Father hath fent me, even fo fend I you". Nor did he fend the twelve only, but gave to his Church other Paftors and Teachers alfo, for the Work of the Ministry, for the edifying of his Body, till we all come unto perfect Men in Chrift, and promised to be with them alway even unto the End of the World'. Such therefore the Apostles appointed in every City; deputed them to work the Work of the Lord, as they themselves did; directed fome of these to appoint others, as Feeders of the Flock, under Chrift the chief

Shepherd; required them to exhort and rebuke with all Authority, and commanded Chriftians to fubmit to them, as Watchmen over their Souls, who must give Account".

God forbid, that you should have Caufe to be alarmed at the highest of these Claims. The fame Scripture, on which they are founded, guards against it fufficiently. As to temporal Matters: our Saviour's Kingdom is not of this World' ; nor have his Minifters, as fuch, any peculiar Right to interfere in the Affairs of it. The Lord indeed hath ordained, that they who preach the Gospel, fhould live of the Gospel. But what Provifion fhould be made for that Purpofe, he hath left entirely to the Conscience and the Prudence of Men. Our Authority of demanding even a Maintenance from the unwilling, and certainly then the further Privileges that any of us enjoy, are derived folely from the voluntary Gift of the civil Power. And as to fpiritual Concerns: the very Apostles were bound to teach only what their Master commanded. And they indeed could not miftake any Part of it but we may; and therefore you are not obliged to believe implicitly what we affirm. So far ftill as Per