Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 9 · Part 14
Miniſters compared to Ambaſſadors.
2 Cor. 5.20. We are Ambaſſadors for Chriſt, &c.
Eph. 6.20. For which I am an Ambaſſador in Bonds, &c.
THe Words, Ambaſſador, Legate, or Meſſenger, are ſynonimous Terms, properly ſuch as are commiſſionated or deputed betwixt diſtant Parties, to tranſact Affairs of Moment. The Term is applied to the Miniſters of the Goſpel; and it ſets forth, 1. The Dignity, 2. The Duty of Miniſters.
Note. Faithful Miniſters are Chriſt's Ambaſſadors, &c.
| Ambaſſador. | Parallel. |
| AMbaſſadors are authorized and ſent abroad by Princes, about the great Affairs of their Kingdoms. | MIniſters are authorized, empowered, and ſent by the Lord Jeſus, the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, on the great Affairs of his Glory, and Man's Good. |
| II. Ambaſſadors uſually are Perſons of Eminency; 'tis an Office that a Prince will not confer upon any of his Subjects, but on ſuch as are of great Eſteem in his Court, ſuch as are fitly qualified for that great Truſt confided in them; in a word, great Honour and Dignity is conferred upon them. | II. Faithful Miniſters of Chriſt, ſuch as are Miniſters indeed, are eminent Perſons, ſuch as are great Favourites to the Court of Heaven. What higher Dignity doth Chriſt confer upon any of his Saints here below! They alſo are Men fitly qualified for this great Employment; and what their Qualifications are, and muſt be, you may ſee in 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. viz. Blameleſs as the Stewards of God, 1 Tim. 3. 1 to 7. Tit. 1.7, 8, 9. not ſelf-willed, not ſoon angry, not given to Wine, no Striker, not given to filthy Lucre, a Lover of Hoſpitality, a Lover of good Men, ſober, juſt, holy, temperate, holding forth the faithful Word, able by ſound Doctrine to ſtop the Mouths of Gainſayers, &c. not a Brawler, not Covetous, one that rules well his own Houſe. |
| III. The Dignity of Ambaſſadors appears in the Greatneſs of their Prince from whom they come; they have uſually reſpect according to the Rank and Quality of their Maſter. | III. Now true faithful Miniſters are ſent as Ambaſſadors from the great God, who is King of Heaven and Earth: By whom Kings reign, and Princes decree Judgment. With him is terrible Majeſty, he rules and reigns over all, and who can ſay unto them, What doeſt thou? |
| IV. An Ambaſſador appears according to the Dignity of the Perſon whom he repreſents, and whoſe place he ſupplies. | IV. True and faithful Miniſters repreſent the Perſon of Jeſus Chriſt; O! and what Honour is this! They are employed in his ſtead, they are his Deputies: He is the chief Ambaſſador, called therefore the Meſſenger of the Covenant; Mal. 3.1. from him they receive their Authority. |
| V. The Excellency of the Meſſage Ambaſſadors are ſent about, ſhews further the Dignity of the Officers. Now there are three ſorts of Ambaſſies in the World: Gurnal,1. Ambaſſies of Peace. 2. Ambaſſies of Marriage. 3. State-Ambaſſies, which reſpect Trade and Commerce, &c. | V. Miniſters come with a threefold Ambaſſy; 1. Of Peace. 2. Of Marriage. 3. Of heavenly Commerce and Trade, &c. |
| 1. An Ambaſſador is welcom, when he comes from a Prince about Peace; and that eſpecially, | 1. Chriſt's Miniſters are welcom when they come with an Ambaſſy of Peace; and needs they muſt be ſo, if we conſider theſe Things following. |
| (1.) When he comes from one that is formidable, mighty in Power, and whoſe Armies are irreſiſtible; now to a poor, weak, and naked People, how welcom is his Approach! | (1.) Theſe Ambaſſadors come from that great God that is dreadful in Power, that if he ſpeak but in his Wrath, the Earth trembles, whoſe Armies are alſo ready; who offers not Peace, becauſe he cannot make War, or ſtands in need of our Friendſhip, but meerly from his great Love wherewith he hath loved us, &c. What can Sinners do to withſtand his Power? Doth he fear their Hoſtility? Can they ſhoot their Arrows as high as Heaven? If they ſtrike at him, he makes their Swords turn into their own Bowels. O how gladly ſhould theſe Ambaſſadors be received! Who would not tremble to think of this God! |
| (2.) An Ambaſſador is welcom, when he is ſent to a People that have felt already the Impreſſion of his Power, and are pining under the bleeding Miſeries of his Anger. | (2.) So a Miniſter of Chriſt is welcom to poor Sinners, who find the Arrows of divine Vengeance ſticking in their very Hearts, and the Curſe of God cleaveth to every Faculty of their Souls, who lie bleeding under his heavy Anger. |
| (3.) An Ambaſſador is welcom, when the Terms he offers are honourable and eaſy; not like the Peace that Nahaſh offered to the Men of Jabeſh-Gilead, viz. That they ſhould have every one his right Eye thruſt out, and lay it as a Reproach to Iſrael. | (3.) Now the Miniſters of the Goſpel offer honourable and eaſy Terms: God might require the perfect keeping of the whole Law, he might demand Satisfaction for all the Wrongs and Injuries we have done to his Juſtice; but they offer Terms of Peace and Pardon, upon the Acknowledgment of Sin, and laying down our Arms, and to hold no League or ſecret Friendſhip with Sin or Satan any longer, to take hold of Chriſt, and plead the Atonement of his Blood: Believe on the Lord Jeſus, and thou ſhalt be ſaved. |
| (4.) An Ambaſſador is welcom, when he offers Peace from a Prince that is real to his Word, and gives good ſecurity for the performance of what he promiſes. | (4.) Now God doth by his faithful Miniſters give the greateſt aſſurance imaginable of the performance of whatſoever he offers to poor Sinners; He hath paſt his Word, nay, more, 'tis upon Oa…h, Heb. 6. |
| 2. Ambaſſadors ſometimes offer an Alliance, by Marriage, between one State and another. | 2. And this is one great part of a Miniſter's Ambaſſy, he is ſent to let Sinners know what good Will the God of Heaven and Earth bears to them, and that he is deſirous to beſtow his own dear Son, the Heir of all Things, in Marriage upon them; what Favour and Grace is this! Can Sinners be ſo ſottiſh, fooliſh, and ungrateful, as not readily to receive and embrace this Offer? |
| 3. Sometimes (as we minded before) Ambaſſadors come with an Ambaſſy for Trade, that there may be an open Trade and Commerce between ſuch and ſuch Princes and States, &c. | 3. The Miniſters of the Goſpel come with Ambaſſies for Commerce; God is willing, in Chriſt's Name, to trade with Man again: For no ſooner had Adam ſinned, but a War was commenced, and all Trade forbidden: but now through Chriſt there is a free Trade opened again to Heaven; Convinced and repenting Sinners may be ſtored with all Things they need, as Pardon, Peace, Union▪ and Communion with God, and eternal Life, even all the Riches of Grace and Glory: Ho every one that will, — Come, buy; — and you that have no Money, come, buy, Iſa. 55.1. and …at; yea, come, buy Wine and Milk without Money, and without Price. |
| VI. Thoſe that honour an Ambaſſador, honour the Prince that ſent him; but thoſe that abaſe, ſlight or deſpiſe him, do alſo deſpiſe the Prince or State that ſent him. We cannot deſpiſe this Meſſenger, and yet honour his Maſter, (ſaith Mr. Gurnal.) | VI. So thoſe who receive and ſhew all due reſpects to Chriſt's faithful Miniſters, honour Chriſt, whoſe Deputies they are, and whoſe Perſon they repreſent. Few are ſo bold, as to ſay with that proud King, Who is the Lord, Exod. 5.2. that I ſhould obey him? Yet many dare ſay, Who is the Miniſter, that I ſhould obey his Meſſage, or repent at his Summons, or tremble at the Words he ſpeaks? What's he? Do I not know him? What's he better than us? Shall I mind what he ſays? A Ruſh for his Doctrine. &c. But let ſuch read that Word, He that heareth you, heareth me; Luk. 10.16 and he that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me; and he that deſpiſeth me, deſpiſeth him that ſent me. |
| VII. An Ambaſſador ſhould take heed he caſt no Indignity upon his Office, by any baſe or unworthy Practice; he ſhould behave himſelf with all Wiſdom and Gravity, and avoid all dirty and unſeemly Actions; for in ſo doing, he would bring much Honour and Renown not only to himſelf, but to his Maſter alſo that ſent him. | VII. So Miniſters muſt be holy Men, that they bring not themſelves, and the Dignity of their Function, into Contempt. A wiſe, grave, and gracious Behavior exceedingly becomes a Miniſter. Paul ſaith, he magnified his Office: O then let others take heed they do not vilify and debaſe it. That which another Man may do without much Reproach, you cannot do, but it will be to your great Blemiſh and Diſhonour, nay, and to the Diſhonour of Chriſt, and of his Truth alſo. |
| VIII. An Ambaſſador is to do his uttermoſt endeavour to negotiate and accompliſh ſuch Matters he is ſent about; he muſt ſee to his Charge: For if the Treaty of Peace, or Marriage, or Ambaſſy for Commerce and Trade, ſucceed not, the Ambaſſador is ſure to be called to an account, how he hath diſcharged his Place, &c. | VIII. So Miniſters muſt ſee the Work of their Place and Function. They are (ſaith Gurnal) 'called Ambaſſadors, in regard of their Duty, as well as Dignity; where there is Honor, there is Onus, Places of Honour are Places of Truſt. Many like well enough to hear the Miniſters Dignity; with Diotrephes, they love Preheminence, yet would willingly be excuſed the Work that attends it. None have a greater Truſt repoſed in their Hands, than Miniſters; 'tis tremendum Onus, a Weight that made the Apoſtle tremble under it: I was among you, ſaith Paul, with much fear and trembling. They have the Charge of Souls committed to them, one of which is more worth than all the World, no leſs than the Price of Blood, the precious Blood of Jeſus Chriſt. To them is committed the Word of Reconciliation: Hence they pray and beſeech, and uſe all Means imaginable to bring the Souls of Men to Terms of Peace and Reconciliation with God, through Chriſt; they knowing the ſad and dreadful Effects, if they ſpeed not in their Ambaſſy: Knowing the Terror of the Lord, we perſuade Men. And in another place, ſaith Paul, We pray you in Chriſt's ſtead, be you reconciled to God. For if the Treaty of Peace between God and Sinners doth not ſucceed, the Miniſter is ſure to be called to an account, how he diſcharged his Truſt in the Buſineſs, &c. |
| IX. An Ambaſſador is to keep cloſe to his Inſtructions; he is in nothing to act contrary to, or derogate from his Commiſſion. | IX. So Miniſters muſt ſee they keep cloſe to the Word of God; they had need to take their Errand well before they come into the Pulpit, or Aſſembly of God's People: I have received of the Lord, what I delivered unto you. They muſt ſpeak nothing, require nothing, preach nothing, but what is according to the Authority of God's Word, which is above the Church, Senates, General Councils, or any Authority whatſoever. Theſe Ambaſſadors muſt act and do exactly according to their Commiſſion, &c. |
| X. An Ambaſſador muſt not only act according to his Commiſſion, as to Matter, but muſt deliver his Meſſage alſo with much Zeal, and with all due reſpect had to his Maſter or Prince that ſent him: He muſt not proſecute his Buſineſs coldly; or after he hath had Audience, give himſelf to the Pleaſures of the Court where he is reſident, and mind his Affairs no more, or not regard how his Maſter's Buſineſs ſucceeds. What Anſwer will he be able to return? Surely, if he ſhould do thus, he could not ſay, he had done the Work of a faithful Ambaſſador, &c. | X. So Miniſters muſt be fitted with Zeal, and act diligently in their Places, or proſecute their Buſineſs vigorouſly; their Hearts muſt be deeply engaged in their ſpiritual Ambaſſy. They are to preach with all fervency, as having the Senſe of Chriſt's Honour, and the Worth of immortal Souls upon their Hearts; and not only ſay, Thus and thus ſaith the Lord, and be ſatisfied to ſee People willing to give them the hearing: Tho they may thank them for that Civility, yet they muſt not quit them, unleſs they ſee they accept of the Terms of Peace and Reconciliation, offered to them in Chriſt's Name, through the Goſpel. They muſt ſhew them the Profit that will accrue to them, if they do comply; and the Danger, on the other hand, if they do refuſe; and that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment, than for them. |
| XI. It behoveth an Ambaſſador to be faithful in all things to his Maſter's Intereſt, and not to become a Penſioner to a Foreign Prince; for ſuch an on… is utterly unworthy of ſuch an honourable Employment. | XI. So Miniſters muſt not comply with Chriſt's Enemies, or ſeek for Reward from them, ſuch as would betray his Intereſt, whatever is proffered them. But as we are allowed of God to be put in Truſt with the Goſpel, even ſo we ſpeak, 1 Theſſ. 2.4, 5. not as pleaſing Men, but God, which trieth our Hearts: For neither at any time uſed we flattering Words, as ye know, nor a Cloak of Covetouſneſs, God is Witneſs. |
| XII. An Ambaſſador ought to ſeek the Intereſt of his Fellow-Subjects, and ſhew much Love, Care, and Tenderneſs to them, ſo far as the Intereſt of his Prince will bear; and not to do any thing to the ſpoiling of their Trade, &c. | XII. So Miniſters ought to ſeek the Good and Welfare of all the Saints and Church of God, and help them by their Counſel and Prayers at all times; and not to weaken, but ſtrengthen their Hands, and protect them from the Scorn, Reproach, and Oppreſſion of the Enemy, as much as lieth in them, &c. |
| XIII. When a Prince finds his Ambaſſadors cannot ſucceed in their Buſineſs, but that all Terms of Peace are rejected, he calls them home, and then bloody Wars commonly follow. | XIII. So when God ſees, that the Meſſenger, and Meſſage he ſends by his faithful Miniſters, is ſlighted, and that Sinners remain obſtinate, after long patience, he calls home his Miniſters, perhaps takes them away by Death, and reſolves to treat with that People or State no more, but contrary-wiſe, to let out his Wrath upon them. And thus it fared with Iſrael of old: The Lord God of their Fathers ſent to them by his Meſſengers, riſing early, and ſending them, &c.2 Chron. 36.15, 16. But they mocked the Meſſengers of God, and deſpiſed his Word, and miſuſed his Prophets, until the Wrath of the Lord aroſe againſt his People, till there was no Remedy. |
Inferences.
THis ſhews what great Dignity God hath conferred upon his faithful Miniſters; and this Title ſhould procure an honourable Eſteem of them in the Hearts of all Perſons to whom they are ſent. And this is more neceſſary to the good Succeſs of their Meſſage, than is generally thought; tho 'tis evident, what Miniſters ſpeak upon this Subject is miſconſtrued, as if they herein rather ſought themſelves, than to befriend the Goſpel, or advance the Honour of their Maſter. Men are ready to interpret it as a Fruit of their Pride, and an Affectation they have of ſome outward Grandure, and worldly Pomp, which they deſign to gain by ſuch a magnificent Title. The Apoſtle himſelf was ſenſible of this, and yet would not deſiſt to magnify his Office;1 Cor. 4.5 and therefore ſaith he, Let Men ſo account of us, as Miniſters of Chriſt, and Stewards of the Myſteries of God, and that they ſhould judg nothing before the Time.
Object. But ſome may ſay, If God will uſe Ambaſſadors to treat with Sinners, why doth be not uſe Angels? &c.
2 Cor. 4.7.Anſw. 1. The Apoſtle anſwers this: We have this Treaſure in earthen Veſſels, that the Excellency of the Power may be of God, and not of us.
2. Miniſters being Men, have the Advantage many ways above Angels for this Work. (1.) They are more concerned themſelves in the Meſſage they bring, than Angels are: What greater Argument for a Man's Care, than his own Intereſt! (2.) They have a more deep Senſe ariſing in their Hearts, upon the account of the Temptations they are ſubject to, &c. (3.) The Sufferings which Miniſters meet with for the Goſpel's ſake, are of great advantage to their Brethren; had Angels been the Ambaſſadors, they could not have ſealed to the Truth of their Doctrine with their Blood, they cannot die, &c. (4.) Beſides, the Preſence of Angels might terrify and afrighten us, their Glory is ſo great, &c.
II. This ſhews, that Miniſters have a ſpecial Commiſſion: How ſhall they preach, except they are ſent? Rom. 10.They muſt have a lawful Call to this Office, as Ambaſſadors have.
III. Let poor Sinners from hence be perſuaded to hearken to them, and carefully receive the Meſſage Miniſters bring from the great God, and accept of Terms of Peace, and cloſe in with Jeſus Chriſt.
IV. It ſhews the wonderful Love of God, and the great Care he hath of Men's Souls.
V. It ſhews what an intolerable Affront is offered to the Majeſty of Heaven, by thoſe that abuſe or deride the Miniſters of the Goſpel; and much greater, by them that perſecute and impriſon them for delivering their Meſſage. Paul was an Ambaſſador in Bonds, &c.
VI. It ſhews the Weight and Importance of the Preachers Meſſage; it is not a ſlight or ſleeveleſs Errand they come about:Deut. 30.15. Joh. 3.36. Mark 16.15, 16. I ſet before you this day Life and Death. — Hear, and your Souls ſhall live. He that believeth not, the Wrath of God abideth on him. Go into all the World, and preach the Goſpel to every Creature. He that believeth; and is baptized, ſhall be ſaved; but he that believeth not, ſhall be damned.