thy name; there came a voice from heaven, saying, 1 have both glorified it, and will glorify it again," John xii. 28.

To all these great things he appealed, as proofs of his divine authority: referring men to the witness of John, the miracles he had wrought, and these testimonies from heaven, John v. 19, 20, 32-38. x. 25, 37, 38.

Beside the wonderful works done by him, he also manifested a clear knowledge of the thoughts and designs of men, and foretold frequently, and expressly, and with many circumstances, his own death and resurrection; the descent of the Holy Ghost upon his apostles; their sufferings and success; the destruction of Jerusalem, (at the prospect of which he was so affected, as to lament over that city with tears, Luke xix. 41,) and many other events; that when they came to pass, his disciples and others might be confirmed in their faith in him and his doctrine. John xiii. 19. He had likewise sent forth from him, for a time, his twelve disciples, and after that seventy other," with power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases, to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick :" which they did, and "returned with great joy," Matt. x. 1. Mark. iii. 15. Luke ix. 1. x. 1.

While God thus glorified him, he lived in a mean condition, without external state and splendor, and was meek and condescending in his behaviour toward his disciples, and all who resorted to him for instruction, or relief: at the same time freely declaring to all their duty, and impartially correcting the faults and failings of his disciples: and with a true prophetic resolution and intrepidity reproving the hypocrisy, pride, ambition, covetousness, false maxims, and vain traditions of the scribes and pharisees, and the chief men of the Jewish nation.

When he had fully taught and confirmed his doctrine, knowing that the time of his departure out of this world was nigh, and that the Father had put all things into his hands; he took his leave of his disciples in the most affectionate and instructive manner, and appointed a memorial of himself and his death. And then retiring to a private place, where he sometimes resorted with his disciples; and having resigned himself to the will of the Father, with regard to the bitter sufferings, of which he had a near and affecting prospect; he was betrayed by one of his disciples to the chief priests and council of the Jewish nation, by whom he was examined, and condemned, after he had in their presence solemnly avowed his great character: and then was by

them accused and prosecuted before Pontius Pilate, who at their earnest and clamorous importunity was prevailed upon, against his own conscience, to condemn him to be crucified. And he was accordingly crucified near Jerusalem, at the great feast of the passover, in the common place of execution, between two malefactors. However, during this very extraordinary scene of sufferings, there were some extraordinary testimonies given to his innocence and dignity. There was a darkness of three hours continuance over the whole land; the "vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent," John xiii. xiv. xv. xvi. xvii. Matt. xxvi. xxvii. Mark xiv. xv. Luke xxii. xxiii. John xviii. xix. Matt. xxvii. 45, 51.

Jesus having expired on the cross, and Pilate having received particular information that he was dead: the body was with his leave taken down from the cross, and laid in a sepulchre, in which "never man before was laid." And the Jewish council took care to have the sepulchre secured by a guard of Roman soldiers, lest, as they said, his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and then say to the people, he is risen from the dead, Luke xxiii. 53. Matt. xxvii. 64.

But notwithstanding these precautions of his enemies, who had all power and authority in that country; on the third day after his crucifixion and burial, early in the morning Jesus arose, and showed himself to his apostles, and others who were well acquainted with him. He was seen of them several times for the space" of forty days." They "of viewed him, they handled him, he discoursed and ate with them, and said to his apostles: "All power is given to me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore," says he, "and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you." And having renewed to them the promise of the Holy Ghost, and commanded them to "tarry at Jerusalem," till they were dued with power from on high; he led them out to Bethany," where he "was parted from them, and while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight," Matt. xxviii. Mark xvi. Luke xxiv. John xx. Acts i. 3, 9.

66 en

After which, at the motion of Peter for supplying the vacancy made by the apostasy and death of Judas, Matthias was added to the eleven apostles by divine appointment, Acts i. 26.

At the pentecost next following the passover, at which Jesus had been crucified, the promised gift of the Holy Ghost was bestowed upon the apostles, and the men that were with them, and they began to speak with divers tongues, Acts ii. 1. At the same time there were at Jerusalem, beside the stated inhabitants, from all parts of the world Jews, and proselytes of the Jewish religion; men of the greatest zeal, understanding, and prudence; who when they heard him speak "the wonderful works of God" in the languages of the several countries in which they resided, were "amazed and marvelled." Whereupon "Peter standing up with the eleven," informed them, that Jesus, whom the rulers of the Jewish nation had taken, and "with wicked hands had crucified," after he had been "approved of God by miracles, signs, and wonders, done by him in the midst of them," had been raised up by God: of which they, his apostles, were witnesses: and that the same Jesus, being "by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, had shed forth that which they now saw and heard." And concluded his discourse with these words: Acts ii. 36-38, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ." And when they were hereupon filled with much concern of mind, and said, "What shall we do?" Peter said unto them: "Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Such was the effect of this discourse, and these exhortations, consequent upon the wonderful effusion of the Holy Ghost, that many "gladly received the word, and were baptized, and the same day there were added unto the disciples about three thousand souls," Ver. 41. And by the hands of Peter, and the other apostles, "were many signs and wonders wrought among the people," which could not be disputed, Acts v. 12, 14. And "believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of men and women." All this multitude lived in the greatest harmony, "neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessed of houses or lands, sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man, according as he had need," Acts iv. 34, 35. But the care of making a proper distribution to so many persons being too great for the apostles, and some obstruction to them in their main work of preaching, and some complaints

likewise being made, there were chosen “ tend the daily ministration," ch. vi.

seven men to at

Beside the numerous church at Jerusalem, there were also in a short time several churches of the faithful gathered in other parts; in Judea, in Galilee, and Samaria, ch. ix. 31. And on those who believed were bestowed the gifts of the Holy Ghost, by prayer and the laying on of the hands of the apostles, ch. viii. 14—17.

This beginning and progress had the doctrine of the gospel, notwithstanding many hardships and sufferings endured by the apostles and the believers of every rank.

When this doctrine had been planted in the minds of great numbers of Jews and Samaritans, it was preached by Peter, ch. x. and then by others, to Gentiles, men uncircumcised, in the land of Judea, and in the neighbouring countries: and among them were converts made, upon whom also were bestowed gifts of the Holy Ghost.

In the mean time Šaul, called also Paul, who had been of the sect of the pharisees, educated by Gamaliel, a celebrated doctor among the Jewish people, and who had been a warm and violent opposer and persecutor of the disciples of Jesus, was converted to the same faith by an extraordinary appearance, Acts xxii. 3-10. Who received the full knowledge of the doctrine of the gospel by special revelation, and was appointed an apostle by Jesus Christ himself, without the interposition of any of those who had been apostles before, Gal. i. 1, 12. Eph. iii. 3. As the other apostles had done, he also spoke with tongues, wrought miracles in great variety and abundance, and conferred gifts of the Holy Ghost upon his converts.

Paul together with Barnabas and his fellow-workers in the gospel, taught, as Peter had done before, that God had raised up Jesus from the dead, exhorted men to repent, and believe in him whom God had sent, Acts xiii. 16-41. To the Gentiles he declared, that they should turn from idols to the worship of God that made the heaven and the earth, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance, or, live in the practice of virtue: "forasmuch as God had appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he has ordained, whereof he has given assurance unto all men, in that he has raised him from the dead," Acts xvii. He moreover strenuously asserted the acceptance of the Gentiles, and their right to all the privileges of the church and people of God, without the observation of the rites of the law of Moses.

In preaching this doctrine he also had great success, and formed churches of christians in many places, consisting of men converted from idolatry and vice to the worship of God, a faith in Jesus, and the practice of virtue.

a

e

The converts of each city, having been first baptized, were formed into religious societies and churches, which met together for the performance of religious worship: in which assemblies they worshipped God by prayers and praises, had discourses and exhortations, and readings of sacred writings, and celebrated the memory of the death of Jesus Christ, by eating together bread, and drinking wine in a solemn manner. And they were directed by the apostles to pray for kings,' and governors, and " all who are in authority." These assemblies were ordinarily held at least every first day of the week, called the Lord's day,' in memory of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead: on which day, they were directed also to " lay by in store, as God had prospered them," for the relief of their necessitous brethren.

6

And that the worship of these assemblies might be performed in an orderly and decent manner, for general profit, and instruction in the principles and practice of piety; and that the necessities of each member might be duly provided for, and true religion preserved among them in a flourishing condition; there were at the very time of forming such societies, or soon after, appointed in them officers and ministers, called m bishops, or elders, or pastors, or teachers; and deacons men who had been before approved, as persons of integrity and capacity for the work to which they were appointed, 1 Tim. iii. 10. The peculiar work" of the former of whom was to preach the word, and feed the flock, of which they were overseers, with wholesome and sound doctrine and instruction; "to reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." Of the latter, the peculiar work, according to the primitive institution, was the "serv

a Acts ii. 41. viii. 12. Rom. vi. 3. 1 Cor. 1. 13-16.

b Gal. i. 2.

"to the churches of Galatia." 1 Cor. xiv. 33. " as in all the churches of the saints." xvi. 19, the "churches of Asia salute you." 2 Cor. viii. " the churches of Macedonia," and many other places. c Acts i. 14, 24. ii. 42. vi. 4. 1 Cor. xiv. 14-17. 1 Cor. xiv. throughout. Acts xviii. 11. xx. e Coloss. iv. 16. 1 Thess. v. 27. 8 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. h Acts k 1 Cor. xvi. 2. 1 See Whitby's

7. Gal. vi. 6. Hebr. xiii. 7.

f Acts ii. 42. xx. 7. 1 Cor. xi. 23. xx. 7. i Rev. i. 10.

m

"To all the

Annotations on 1 Cor. xiv. 32. Gal. vi. 3. and the Paraphrase on 1 Thess. after Mr. Locke's manner; the note on chap. v. 12. saints which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." Philip. i. 1. " See Acts xx. 28. the epistles to Timothy and Titus. 1 Pet. v. 1.