270 SERMONS upon Serm;p; SERMON XXXI. JOHN XVII. 18. As thou haft Pent me into the World, even fo have I afo fent them into the World. Secondly, Come to the Miffion of the Apoftles, So have I feet them into the World, as thouhaft Pent me. The words intimate a comparifon be- tween God's fending of Chrift into the World, and Chrift's fending the Apoftles into the World. But how doth the Comparifon hold good ? Chrift was lent to Re- deem, they to Preach, the Apoilles were no Redeemers ; Chrift was fent, not only as a Prophet, but as a Prieft, as we have Peen before. And again, for the manner, Chrift was fent by being Incarnate, God -Man in one Perlon, he mutt be Man, if Pent; but they were Men, and therefore there is a difference. Chrift was Cent as the Supteam Officer of the Church, as God with Original Authority, they as Minillers and Servants. Chrift could teach immediatly, outwardly by his Word, in- wardly by his Spirit ; they only outwardly. How then could it be laid, .de those haft feat me into the World, fo have I feet them into the World ? I Anfwer, There is an 4to:ózsts, not an ïovzns, loin Likenefs, but not an Equality. As the Union of the Apoftles, is compared with the Unity of the Trinity ; fo the Mifú- dn of the Apoftles, with the Miffion of ,Chrift. The Similitude holdethin leveral Things, they were Authorized Minifters, and Officers of the Church as Chrift was ; Chrift was authorized by God, and the Apoftles by Chrifb; they were his Deputies ànd Reprelentatives, as he was God's, that is the Notion of .ifpoftle, or one fent in the New Teltament, not as bare Meffengets, but as Proxies, [ fee Hammond ] ; and we I'M of Megenget.rof the Churches, ï<.arosts oi, the Churches Deputies and Reprefentatives. Yea, they had Powerto fend others, as Chrift had. The Wdrld was bound to as knowledg them for filch. To defpife Chrift, was to delpile God, whole Deputy he was ; and to defpife them, was to defpife Chrift ; to hear them, was to hear Chrift and to hear Chrift, was to hear God. Mat. so. 4o. He that receiveth you, receiveth me ; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that fens me. And, Luke so. i6. He that beareth you, heareth me; and he that de(pifeth you, deifeth me; and he that defpifeth me, defpifeth hiwu.SbaeCent me. But why doth Chrift urge this Argument in this place, 7 ey were at, and feint as I was feat ? I Anfwer ; It is an Argument as to God, And it is a ground of Hope to the Apo - files. An Argument fit to be urged to God in Prayer, they are feat as I was. Thou didit fend me to redeem the World out of thy Grace, and they are fent to preach this l(edeütpfgsçs and therefore it is fit they thould be preferved and fanûifred. It is a fit ground of Hope for the Apoftles to meditate upon, they were fent as Chrift was. If they be in great Poverty, want the help and aßiftance of the World, fo did Chrift. All God's Witneffes prophecy in Sackcloth. Well then, here we have the firlt rife of a Golpel-Miniftry ; Chrift was tent by God, the Apofiles by Chrift, and others are their Succeffors, authorized and fent by them. The Points which I (hall handle, are two. Firft, The Neceffity of a Call to the Minifiry. Secondly, The Dignity of thofe that ,are fo called. Both are implied in the word feat. Before
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