Wherefore let us remember, as the Apostle exhorts the Ephefians upon this Topick, Eph. ii. 11, 12, 13. that we also in Time paffed, or before the Converfion of our Nation from the Pagan Idolatry, were Gentiles in the Flesh as well as they, and at that Time without Chrift, being Aliens from the Commonwealth of Ifrael, and Strangers from the Covenants of the Promife, having no Hope, and without God in the World; but that now in Chrift Jefus, we who sometimes were far off, or who were shut out from the Privileges. of the Chriftian Covenant, are made nigh, or admitted to them, by the Blood of Chrift. Let us, I fay, so remember all this, that as we in Times past, or in the former Days of Ignorance and Darkness, did not believe God, yet have now obtain'd Mercy, and believe in him, even fo these alfo who now believe not, may, thro' our Mercy, inftructing them in the Faith which we profefs, obtain Mercy; as St. Paul

ex

exhorts the Romans, in the xith Chap. 30, and 3 Verfes. 31

OUR bleffed Saviour in the vth of St. Matthew 14th Verfe, calls all his Disciples and Followers, but more especially his Apostles, and their Succeffors, The Light of the World; Ye are the Light of the World; which was the fame Title that, at another Time, he took upon himself, John viii. 12. And the Reason of his tranfferring this Character upon all Chriftians, or all his Disciples, was to convey to their Minds, under that Notion, a juft Sense of the Obligation they were under, to make Ufe of their Light for the Inftruction of their ignorant and unconverted Brethren in the Knowledge and Practice of his holy Religion; which if they fail'd to do, they would by no Means anfwer the Character that he had given them, nar behave themselves as Lights of the World, whatever their own Proficiency in

the

the Knowledge of Chrift and his Gospel might otherwife be.

BUT to fome of these first Lights of the World, as particularly to his Apostles, he gave it in Commiffion, Matth. xxviii. 19, 20. to go abroad, and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft; teaching them to obferve all Things whatsoever he had commanded them; and then he promised to be alway with them, i. e. with them and their Succeffors in the Ministry of the Gofpel, to whom this Commiffion is doubtless extended, even unto the End of the World. And this Commiffion was fo faithfully and diligently executed by those holy Men who firft undertook it, and was immediately attended with fuch wonderful Succefs, that it has paffed with all, who have well confider'd it, as truly miraculous.

BUT what they did not or could not do, (which we have not Time C

now

now to confider) though we have Reason to think they exceeded themfelves, or their own natural Strength and Ability, in what they did; what was impoffible with them, (as we may well suppose it was impoffible they should Preach the Gospel to the undiscover'd Parts of the World, of which they had never heard, as impoffible as it was for thofe of whom the Prophet fpeaks, to call upon or believe in him of whom they have not heard;) Whatever I fay was impoffible for them to do, and what it may be, has been in a great Meafure undone again by those who have openly Apoftatiz'd from the Chriftian Faith, or who have traduc'd or deny'd it by their wicked Lives, has been left as a Work to be perfected and compleated by after Generations; and, as it undoubtedly requires the Affiftance of this, is therefore the laudable and

just

juft Occafion of our meeting toge

ther at this Time.

AND here we may obferve with how much Zeal, but withal with how great a Mixture of Error, Superstition, and Idolatry, the Romish Miffionaries have endeavoured to Propagate what they call the Catholick Faith in thofe Infidel Nations to which they are at any Time fent ; and let it be a Means further to provoke and excite us of the Reform'd Church, who have the Light of the Gofpel fhining among us in its pureft and brightest Luftre, to be the more concern'd and induftrious for the Propagation of it, wherever we go, in the fame Simplicity, with which it has been convey'd and deliver'd to us; to have our Converfation honest among the Gentiles; ( Pet. ii. 2.) and. to let our Light fo fhine before them, that they may see our good Works, be induc'd thereby to embrace our ReC 2 ligion,