c H RI s T AN A p 0 s T L E. Book II. An A P 0 S T LE. him : He Jent for the Elder.r, and gave them charge, &c. Atls xx. St. Peter took care, that after his De– ceafe the Churches might be iecur– ed from Danger. V!II. The Apoftles had a Dif– penfation commi tted ro them, from which they were not to depart. A Difpenfation of the Gofpel is commit– ed to me. Wo is me, if I preach not the Gofpel, 1 Cor. ix. 17. "1hey alfo ordained other Minifters. IX. TheApoftles went through good and evil R eport unweariedly, till they had finifhed their Courfe, and then committed themfelves to him thatj udgeth righteouny,inEx– peCI:ation of a Crown of endlefs Glory, 2 Cor. vi. 8. .Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righte– oufnefs, &c. 2 'rim. iv. An A P 0 S T LE. .I. THE Apoftles were but mere Men, whofe Original was from the Duft. IJ. TheApoftles had but a fmall Meafure of the Spirit,and were not without Sin and Infirmities, 1 Cor. xiii. 9· PARALLEL. the Care of his Father : Keep through thine own Name tbofe that thou bafl given me, John xvii. 1 1 • VIII. Jefus Chrifr, a~ the great Apoftle had a D1fpen!auon committed to him: '!'he Work that my Father gi·ves me to do, jha/1 I not do it? John ix. 4I mufl work the Works of God. '!'ell tbat Fox, I do Miracles this Day, 'J'o,morrow, and the third Day Ijha/1 be perfetled, Luke xiii. 32. He had Power alfo to ordain other Officers and Mi– nifters. IX. Chrift fuffered great Contradiflions of Sin– mrs againfl him(e!J, Heb. xii. 3. fought as the Captain of our Salvation, with all Difficulties and Enemies, till he had finifl1ed his Work, and could fay, Father, it is finijhed, into thy Hands I com– mend my Spirit. He for the Joy that was Jet be– fore him, endured the Crofs, deJPifed the Shame, and is Jet down at the Right·hand of God, Heb. Xll. 2 . D IS PAR IT Y. I. CHRIST was Ernmanuel, lfa. vii. '4· the eternal Son of God, God, very God, of God, Lord of all, whofe Defcent was from Hea– ven, I came dow11 f•·om Heaven, Matt. i. 23. '!'he fecond Man was the L ord from Heaven, r Cw . XV· 47• John i. I I. I!. Chrift had the Fulnefs of the Divine Spirit dwell in him, and reft upon him. God gave dwelling in him, and refting upon him, not the Spirit to him by Meafure, John iii. 34· 'I'hrough the eternal Spirit he offered himfe!J to God without Spot, Heb. ix. 14. '!'he Prince of this World came, and found nothing in him, John iv. 30. He was holy, harmlefs, and rmdefiled, feparate from Sinners, Heb. vii. 26. Ill. The Apo(\les were but FelIll. But Chrift is Mafter, Head, Lord, Ruler, low-Servants, and not Lords over and Governor, a compleat Prince and King, as God's Heritage, 1 Pet. v. 3· not well as Prieft, Prophet, and Apoftle. He is Lord like fame we have had fince their of all, over at!, God btejfod for evermore. Whiclt Time. made Mary fay, '!'hey hav~. takm away my Lord, IV. The Apoftles did but flhew and direCt to a Savior, to Salva– tion, and eternal Life ; they were not able to fave, nor could they give Salvation to any: Was Paul crucified for you ? &c. John xx. 28. and 'l'bomas fay, My L ord, and ilfY God. IV. But Chri{\ did more than flJCw and direct to a Savior : He was that Savior himfelf, and the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him. He had Help laid upon him, being mighty to fave, Heb. v. 9· Pfal. lxxviii. 19. was born a Savior : 'J'o you is born in the City oJDavid a Sa·vior, which is Chrijl the Lord, Luke ii. 11. And that oreat Salvation is not to be negletled without imminent Danger: How fhat! we efcape, Jj we neglcfl fo great Salvation? Heb. ii. 3· I N F E R E N C E ~ I. BEHOLD the great Goodnefs of God to the Church and World! that he thould fend fo great an Apoftle, fa wife an Ambaffador, to treat with Souls, and for Souls, and to fettle, govern, and eftabliflh the Church. I!. What
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=