Communion with God. in two sermons preached at Paul'sCommunion vvith God. in two sermons preach'd at Paul's

Hearken every one of you, that is unconverted, this is thy case: Thou art the sin-sick Rebel: He that believeth not, is condemned already. Brimstone is scattered upon thy habitation. God needs not thy service, yet he sends one Ambassador after another, to urge thee with terms of Peace. I do now in my Masters name beseech thee to receive a pardon upon thy bare Homage. God offers to make thee higher then the Kings of the earth, his subjects are altogether Kings. God doth, as it were, tempt thee with glory: And wilt ⟨p. 33⟩thou not for all this be persuaded? Perhaps thou dost not think God thus entreats thee; consult that place, 2 Cor. 5.20. Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christs stead, be you reconciled unto God. Observe here, the Ministers of the Gospel are not only Legati Dei, but Surrogati Christo: this is that, wherein the least of the Ministers of the New Testament excel the greatest of the old: The Prophets they were Gods Ambassadors to the people, but 'twas not for Christ, nor in Christs stead. To make this plain to you: When a Prince sendeth a Messenger unto another, that Messenger is only an Ambassador, the Prince being not bound to carry the message himself: But now Jesus Christ, he is the Fathers Ambassador, and Christ is thereby bound to bring the message of Peace; but being necessarily employed elsewhere (in the same design of grace) he constitutes us his Officers: so that we do not only come in the name of God, but in the place of Christ, to do that work which is primarily his. John. 20.21. As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And this was the commendation of the Galatians, Gal. 4.14. That they received the Apostle Paul even as Christ Jesus. Now do but consider, how low God stoops to take you up into communion with himself. And wilt thou not sign the Articles of agreement? shall some base inconsiderable lust [which thou art ashamed to plead for, while thou huggest it] shall such a lust stand in competition with God? lay claim to thy heart, and carry it. And wilt thou never turn to God? If at all, why not not now? Is it fit for God to hold the candle of his grace for thee to sin by? But if you will not by all this be persuaded, I must turn to those that will: and to them I come with a use (I hope they long for, it is a use) of