love, climbed over all these mountains, and happily conquering all these difficulties, attained the desired end. Worthy ambassadors, follow this generous leader in promulgating the peace he hath purchased; tread his steps that endured the cross and despised the shame, and your journey's end shall be suitable to his who is set down at the right hand of the Father. Well did St. Paul study this copy when he said, I know that bonds abide me every where; but I care for none of these things, so I may finish my course with joy." The looking over that great end, is the great means of surmounting the hardest things that intervenes. The eyeing of that much, will make an undaunted ambassador: and that this lesson of courage is very pertinent for them, will appear by Christ's own urging it upon the first legates he sent out, when he dwelt here below: Fear not, saith he, them that can kill the body, &c. where methinks he propounds, as the chief incentive of courage to these ambassadors, the joint consideration of those to whom they are sent, and of him that sends them: for seriously considered, it must needs be found most incongruous, that ambassadors of God should be afraid to speak to men. Fear not them; the utmost they can do reacheth no farther than the tabernacles of clay; nor can they touch that without permission, not a hair of their head falls without notice of their Master. But suppose the highest, let them kill the body; thither goes their rage, and no farther but fear him that can kill both body and soul; fear not, but fear. As this fear hath better cause, so it is the only expelling cause of the other fear. Nothing begets so generous and undaunted spirits as the fear of God; no other fear, none of those base ones that torment worldly men, dare claim room where that fear lodgeth. The only cause of these legates fears, is the inconsideration of Matt. x. 28. * Acts XX. 22---25. their Master; would they remember him much, it would ennoble their spirits to encounter the hardest evils of life and death itself couragcously in his service. Their reward is preserved for them and they for it; yea, it alone puts them into full possession; for their Master, beyond all kings, hath this privilege, he can not only restore life lost in his service, but for a life subject to death, yea, a dying life, immortality; and for their sufferings, light and momentary, an eternal weight of glory. Let them be impoverished in his service, it is the best bargain in the world to lose all for him. Let them be scourged and stigmatized for the ignominy of these sufferings, the spirit of glory shall rest upon them. If that Persian prince could so prize his Zopyrus, that was mangled for his service, how much more will this Lord esteem those that suffer so for him? He is the tenderest King over his servants in the world. They that touch them, touch the apple of his eye. Let his messengers, then, despise the worst the world can do against them; yea, let them say of death as he said of it to his adversaries, Anytus and Melitus, Kill me they may, but they cannot hurt me. The lessons to those to whom they are sent, are, first of not indignifying them. Remember David and the king of Ammon. No king resents this so much as God: He that despiseth you, despiseth me. 2. Secondly, slight not their message; know whence it comes. This not discerning of holy things is the pest of Christians: the apostle specifieth it in the Lord's body; it is so in the Lord's word; he condescends, in using earthly creatures, to explain the choicest of heavenly mysteries; and earthen vessels to convoy these treasures. And if that which he intended for their advantage, the wretched sons of men make it a stumbling-block; and if they contemn the grace, for the meanness of the persons that are made conveyors and instruments of it, what may they expect? 3. Thirdly, respect even the ambassadors for his sake they represent, counting them worthy of double honour for this is the will of your Lord and their Lord, your King and their King. And to this King immortal, be all honour, and glory, and praise, by all the churches, world without end. Amen. |