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authority, "as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled unto God." And if we are asked by what authority we speak, and who gave us this authority, we have our credentials at hand; "whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted, and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." "Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." "He that heareth you, heareth Me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me, despiseth Him that sent Me." (Vid. St. Matth. xviii. St. Luke x. St. John XX.)
If ever, then, we are tempted to be ashamed of Christ and of His words, or to allow His high and heavenly mission to be thought lightly of in the person of His Deputies and Ministers, let us remember, that it is no matter of personal consideration, that two sacred interests are involved, the glory of God and the edifying of His people. Let us remember that, as Christ received of the Father "a commandment," so we too have received a commandment from Him, the "commandment" as well as the "power" to declare to His people the message of forgiveness; that Christ has commanded us to teach all nations to observe whatsoever He has commanded us, and then He will be with us alway, even to the end of the world. And above all, let us not be silenced by the sense of past unworthiness and neglect, whether in ourselves individually, or in the Church at large; this would be but to add sin to sin. Rather, seeing we have this Ministry, this glorious ministration of righteousness, (2 Cor. iv. 1. comp. ch. iii.), let us not faint, but strive how we may shew ourselves "dutiful and thankful to that Lord who hath placed us in so high a dignity." The world would fain silence our glorying, and would have Christ rebuke His disciples, but let us not be ashamed of the good confession; for with such powers and graces, given to us by Christ Himself, as Ambassadors for Him, and Workers together with God, if we should hold our peace, the very stones would immediately cry out.
These Tracts may be had at Turrill's, No. 250, Regent Street, London.
W. KING, PRINTER, ST. CLEMENT'S, OXFORD.
