144 Vol. L Preached on Afcen- fion.day, e688. SERMON Xy. The general and Effe&ual Publication of the Gofpel by the Apoftles. MARK XVl. 19, 20. So then after the Lord had fpoken unto them, he was receivedup into Heaven, and fat on the right Hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming. the Word with Signs following. N there Words you have there Two great Points ofChriftian Do&rine. I. Our Saviour's Afcenfion into Heaven, and Exaltation at the right hand of God ; he was received up into Heaven, and fat on the right hand of God. II. The Effett or Confequence of his Afcenfion and Exaltation, which was the general and effe&ual Publication of the Gofpel ; they went forth, and preach- ed every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with ftgns following. And both thefe are very proper for this Day ; but I fhall at this time handle the latter Point, namely, the Effe& or Confequence of our Sa- viour's Afcenfion into Heaven, and Exaltation at the Right-hand of God ; they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and con- firming the Wordwith Signs following. And there Words contain two Things in them. I. The general Publication of the Gofpel by the Apoftles They went forth andpreached every where. II. The Reafon of the great Efficacy and Succefs of it; namely, the Divine and Miraculous Power, which accompany'd the Preaching of it ; The Lord wrought with them, and confirmed the Wordwith Signs following. I. The general Publication of the Gofpel by the Apoftles; They went forth and preached every where. And, indeed, the Induftry of the Apoftles, and the other Difciples, in publifhing the Gofpel, was almoft. incredible. What Pains did they take ? What Hazards did they run ? What Difficulties and Difcouragéments did they contend withal in this Work ? And yet their Succefs was greater than their Induftry, and beyond all Human Expe&ation : As will appear, if we con- . fider thefefive Things. t. The will Spreading of the Gofpel in fo short a Space. 2. The wonder/id Power and Efficacy of it upon the Lives and Manners of Men. 3. The Weaknefs and Meannefs of the InftrumentsThat were employed in this great Work. 4. Thepowerful Oppofition that was railed againft it. 5. The great Difcouragements to the embracing the Profefiìon of it. I than fpeak briefly to each of thefe. I. The vafl Spreading ofthe Gofpel in fo Ihort a Space. This is reprefented, Rev. 14.6. by an Angel flying through the mid/l of Heaven, and preaching the everla/ling Gofpel to every Nation, and Kindred, and Tongue, and People. No foonei was the Dofirine of the Chriftian Religion publifhed, and made known to the World,.'but it was readily embraced by great Numbers, almoft in all Places where it came. And, indeed, fo it was foretold in the Prophecies of the Old Tefta-
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