Book II. C Il R I S T AN A P 0 S T L E. 397 any one that tru!led in him confounded or· put to ihame. There was never a Caufe left by any Man, to the wife Counfd and Management of this mofl powerful and holy Advocate, but it carried the Day. f-le is not only able ro fave, but able to Jaw to tbe ut – termofl, not only fome, but all thofe that come unto God b)' bim, Jeeing he e-ver liveth 10 make Intercejjion for tbem, lleb. vii. 25. Ill. Who then would refufe coming to Jefus Chrifl, or neglect to make t:fe of this Advocate? IV. It alfo !hews the Caufe why M en periih, and mifs of God's Favor, and lofe eternal Life: It is not for want of free Tenders ofGrace, or becaufe ther.e is no Ad– vocate to plead for them; but it is becaufe they will not open at his Knock, nor take his Counfel, f.;;' c. '!'hey will not come unto him, that the)' might have Life, John v. 40. Laflly; Let all Saints, who through Satan's T emptations have been overcome, and have finned, and wounded their Confciences, remember, that there is an Advocate for them with the Father, Jefus Chrifl the Righteoru, 1 John ii. t, 2 , CHRIST AN A P 0 S T L E. Confider the /lpofl!e and High-Priefl ofyour ProfejJion, Chrifl Jefus, lleb. iii. 1 . AN /lpofl!e fignifies in the Greek, o;ze fent; and it hath fom crhing peculiar to it, to diftinguifil the Office from other Offices, appertaining to the Gofpel, and the Church: For though JohnBaptifl was one fent, with many others, yet were they not called Apoflles, but dignified by fame other Names, Titles, or Epithets; as Fore-runner, Difcip!e, and Servant ofthe Church, &c. Now inafmuch as ono Rank and O rder of Men have this Title given them, and by it are diflinguiihed from others concerned in Divine Service, we may fuppofe it to fignify their Commiffion and ~alification for their defignetl Work; which Commiffion, ~Jalification, and deligned Work, leems to be com– prehenfive of thefe three Things, viz. 1. Immediately fent. 2. MarvellouOy in– fpired. 3· The Mafler-Builders of the Gofpel-Foundation for the Chriflian Religion. That all thefe are declared and fet forth concerning Jefus Chrifr, is evident. There– fore in that Chrifr is here called an /lpofl!e, it mufr or may fignify, that he was fent after a higher and more extraordinary M anner than common Melfengers. An A P 0 S T LE. I. AN ApoiHe was immediately . fent by Chrifl. II. The Apoflles in pttrfuit of their Commilfwn, wem up and down p reaching the Gofpel, &c. Ill. The Apof\les had Chrifl al– ways with them in their 'vVork, in an extraordinary Manner. IV. An Apo!lle was to bear witnefs to the Truth, and to Chrifl's N ame. V. The A ponies were to open Myfreries that had been ktpt hid. VI. The Apoflles were endued with Divine Power to do Vvonuers and mighty \Vorks. VII. The Apo!lles were to take care of the Church whilfl they liv– ed; and after their Deceale Paul had the care of all the Churches upon PAR A LLEL. I. CHRIST Jefus was immediately fent by God : He came not of himfe!f, but the Father fent bim. I!. Chrifr Jefus wen t about preaching the Gof– pel, doing good, and healing all that were op– prelfed, /ltls x . 38 . Ill. Chrifl Jefus was not alone, bur the Fa – ther was with him, Johnvi1i. 16. God was with him in an extraordinary Manner, beyond what he ever was with any Mortal. IV. Chrifl, as the great and chief Apoflle, bore wirnefs to the Truth : For this caufe carne f into the World, &c. J ohn x·Ji ti. 37· V. The Lord J efus came, as the chief Apollle, to op;n Myfleries that had been kept l1id, Luke IV. 18. VI. Chri!l Jefus had not tbe Spirit by meofu rc, bllt was filled with the Sp~rit to do and lpeak mighty Things, John iii. ~ 4· VII. Chri!l: more efpectally took care of his Church before he !tft them. He forcwm1rd ther.J of Evils 10 come, he cautioned them ag••infl: Fears and Apoil:aciesJ and committed them to 5 I th~ \
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=