to God in his name and mediation. But if we willS E RM. chufe other mediators for ourselves, of whom we LXXIII. are not sure that they can either hear or help us, we may fall fhort of that falvation, which the apoftle tells us we are fecure of by the mediation of JESUS CHRIST; " for he is able," &c.

But this hath been fhewn fo abundantly in the former part of this difcourfe, and is fo clearly confequent from the whole, that I fhall here conclude my discourse upon the second propofition I laid down from the words of my text, viz. that there is but one mediator between Gop and men, the man CHRIST JESUS,

As to the third propofition contained in the text, viz. that this one mediator, JESUS CHRIST, gave himself a ransom for all, I have treated on that fubject particularly, on another * occafion.

* A Ser

tion of

And as to the fourth and laft propofition, viz. mon concerning that the mediation or interceffion of JESUS CHRIST the facriis founded in his redemption of mankind; and be-fice and cause he gave himself a ransom for all, therefore he fatisfac and he only is qualified to intercede for all men, in Chrift. virtue of that facrifice which he offered for the fal- Printed in 1693. vation of mankind, I judge nothing more needful to be added, to what has fallen in concerning that fubject, in my handling the second propofition, in this and the two former fermons.

SER

Preached

on afcen

fion day.

SERMON LXXIV.

The general and effectual publication of the gofpel by the apoftles.

MARK XVI. 19. 20.

So then after the LORD had spoken unto them, he was received up 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 figns following.

SERM. IN thefe words you have thefe two great points of chriftian doctrine.

LXXIV.

1. 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 effect or confequence of his afcenfion and exaltation, which was the general and effectual publication of the gofpel; "they went forth, and preached

every where, the LORD working with them, and "confirming the word with figns following." And both these are very proper for this day; but I shall at this time handle the latter point, namely, the effect or confequence of our SAVIOUR'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 confirming the "word with figns following."

And

And these words contain two things in them. ́

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I. The general publication of the gospel, by the apoftles; they went forth and preached every "where."

II. The reafon of the great efficacy and fuccefs of it; namely, the divine and miraculous power, which accompanied the preaching of it; "the LORD "wrought with them, and confirmed the word "with figns following."

I. The general publication of the gospel by the apostles; "they went forth, and preached every "where." And indeed the industry of the apoftles, and the other difciples, in publishing the gospel, was almost incredible. What pains did they take? what hazards did they run? what difficulties and discouragements did they contend withal in this work? and yet their fuccefs was greater than their industry, and beyond all human expectation: as will appear, if we confider these five things.

1. The vast spreading of the gospel in so short a fpace.

2. The wonderful power and efficacy of it, upon the lives and manners of men.

3. The weakness and meanness of the inftruments that were employed in this great work.

4. The powerful oppofition that was raifed against it.

5. The great difcouragements to the embracing the profeffion of it. I fhall speak briefly to each of these.

1. The vast spreading of the gofpel in fo fhort a fpace. This is reprefented, Rev. xiv. 6. by " an angel flying through the midst of heaven, and "preaching the everlasting gofpeb to every nation, "and kindred, and tongue, and people." No fooner

3

was

SERM.

LXXIV.

LXXIV.

SER M. was the doctrine 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 teftament, Gem xlix. 10. "That when Shiloh (that is the Meffias) fhould come, to him should the gathering of the people "be" and Ifa. ii. 2. "That in the last days the "mountain of the LORD's house fhould be efta"blished in the top of the mountains, and be ex"alted above the hills, and that all nations should "flow unto it." Ifa. lx. 8. the prophet speaking of mens ready fubmiffion to the gospel, and the great number of those that should come in upon the preaching of it, they are faid," to fly as a cloud, and as "the doves to the windows."

So quick and ftrange a progress did this new doctrine and religion make in the world, that in the fpace of about 30 years after our SAVIOUR's death, it was not only diffused through the greatest part of the Roman empire, but had reached as far as Parthia and India. In which we fee our SAVIOUR'S prediction fully verified, that before the deftruction of Jerufalem, the gospel should be preached in all the world, Matt. xxiv. 14. "This gofpel of the kingdom fhall be preached in all the world, for a witnefs unto all nations, and then fhall the end "come." But this is not all: men were not only brought in to the profeffion of the gospel ; but,

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2. This doctrine had likewife a wonderful power and efficacy upon the lives and manners of men. The generality of thofe that entertained the gofpel, were obedient to it in word and deed, as the apostle tells us, concerning the Gentiles that were converted to chriftianity, Rom. xv. 18. Upon the change of

LXXIV.

their religion, followed alfo the change of their man- SER M. ners, and of their former course of life. They that took upon them the profeffion of christianity, "did "thenceforth not walk as other Gentiles did, in the "lufts of the flesh, and according to the vicious "courfe of the world; but did put off concerning "their former conversation, the old man, which was corrupt, according to the deceitful lufts; and were "renewed in the spirit of their mind, and did put on "the new man, which after GOD was created in

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righteousness and true holiness." So strange an effect had the gospel upon the lives of the generality of the profeffors of it, that I remember Tertullian, in his apology to the Roman emperor and fenate, challengeth them to inftance in any one, that bore the title of Chriftian, that was condemned as a thief, or a murderer, or a facrilegious perfon, or that was guilty of any of those grofs enormities, for which fo many pagans were every day made examples of public juftice, and punished and executed among them.

And this certainly was a very admirable and happy effect, which the gospel had upon men, to work fo great and fudden a change in the lives of thofe who entertained this doctrine, to take them quite off from thofe vicious practices which they had been brought up in, and accustomed to; to change their fpirits, and the temper of their minds; and of lewd and difhonest, to make them fober and juft, and "hcly in "all manner of converfation;" of proud and fierce, contentious and paffionate, malicious and revengeful to make them humble and meek, kind and tenderhearted, peaceable and charitable.

And that the primitive Christians were generally good men, and of virtuous lives, is credible, because their religion did teach and oblige them to be fuch;