T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S the promise is true, and extended con ditionally to you, as well as others; and that heaven is no fancy; but a true felicity. If you ask, Where is your commis sion for this offer? among a hundred texts of Scripture, I will show it to you in these few: First, you see it here in my text, and the following verses, and in the 18th of Ezekiel, as plain as can be spoken; and in 2 Cor. v. 17-21 you have the very sum of our commission: “ If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and hath com mitted unto us the word of reconcilia tion. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled unto God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” So Mark 16:15, 16: “ Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth (that is with such converting faith as is ex pressed ) and is baptized, shall be saved; and he that believeth not shall he damned.” And Luke 24:46, 47: “ Thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance (which Is conversion) and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations.” And Acts 5:30, 31: “ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, and hanged on a tree: him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a prince and a Savior, to give repentance, to Israel, and forgiveness of sin.” And Acts 13:38, 39: “ Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that
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at the call of Christ, and be converted, and become new creatures, and we have not a word of damning wrath or death to speak against you. I do here, in the name of the Lord of life, proclaim to you all that hear me this day, to the worst of you, to the greatest, to the old est sinner, that you may have mercy and salvation, if you will but turn. There is mercy in God, there is suffi ciency in the satisfaction of Christ, the promise is free and full, and universal; you may have life, if you will but turn. But then, as you love your souls, re member what turning it is that the Scripture speaks of. It is not to mend the old house, but to pull down all, and build knew on Christ, the rock, and sure foundation. It is not to mend somewhat in a carnal course of life, but to mortify the flesh, and live after the Spirit. It is not to serve 'the flesh and the world, in a more reformed way, without any scandalous, disgraceful sins and with a certain kind of religious ness; but it is to change your master, and your works, and end; and to set your face the contrary way and do all for the life that you never saw, and dedicate yourselves and all you have to "God. This is the change that must be made, if you will live. Yourselves are witnesses now, that it is salvation, and not damnation, that is the great doctrine I preach to you, and the first part of my message to you. Accept of this, and we shall go no further with you; for we would not so much as affright, or trouble you with the name of damnation, without neces sity. But if you will not be saved, there is no remedy, but damnation must take place; for there is no middle place be tween the two; you must have either life or death, And we are not only to offer you life, but to show you the grounds on which we do it, and call you to believe that God means indeed, as he speaks; that
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