SERMON iv.

Acts ii. 33.

Therefore being by the Right Hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the Promife of the Holy Ghoft, he hath fhed forth this, which now fee, and hear.

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N my foregoing Difcourfe from these Words, I propofed to confider there three Things.

First, The Exaltation of CHRIST. Secondly, The Defcent of the Holy Ghost after CHRIST'S Exaltation. And Thirdly, The Behaviour of the Apostles after this Defcent upon them.

Under the First of thefe Heads I fhewed; That the Exaltation of CHRIST CONfifted in the Enjoyment of that Power, Happiness, and Glory, to which his hu man Nature was advanced by his Refurrection from the Dead; by his Afcenfion

into Heaven; by his fitting at the Right Hand of God; and by his being appointed Judge of the whole World.

Under the Second of them, I fhew'd; that, by the Defcent of the Holy Ghost after CHRIST's Exaltation, the Apostles were furnished with a true Knowledge of all Points relating to the Salvation of Mankind, which were neceffary to be revealed to them: That they were likewife endow'd with the Gift of Languages, whereby they could deliver them to People of any Nation under Heaven: And could alfo perform miraculous Works in Confirmation of the Truth of what they deliver❜d.

It remains now, that I proceed to the Third Thing propofed; namely, To confider the Behaviour of the Apostles ofter this Defcent of the Holy Ghost upon them.

From hence we may fee, that the World has been mightily beholden to this Defcent of the Holy Ghost ever fince: And that the Virtue of thofe extraordinary Gifts is at firft communicated to the Apostles, reaches in a high Degree to all fucceeding Ages. For thofe extraordinary Gifts were not bestowed upon the Apoftles for the Advantage of Themfelves only,

but.

but for the good of Mankind in general. They were appointed by CHRIST to plant his Religion in the World, whereby Men fhould become acquainted with the Terms of Salvation; and be directed in the fure Way to everlasting Happiness. This was the Office they were call'd to: And 'twas for the effectual Discharge hereof that they were fo wonderfully endu'd with Power from on High. Which when receiv'd, they presently fet about their important Business; and in the Prosecution of it we may take notice;

First, That they behaved themfelves with the greatest Courage. This appears from their undaunted Boldness in preaching the Gospel of a crucified Saviour; and from their Patience under the Sufferings they endur'd upon that Account. Tho' they forefaw that they should be bated of all Men for the Sake of CHRIST; that they should be fcourged in the Synagogues; and caft out of 'em; that they should be brought before Magiftrates; and that those who killed them, should think they did God Service; yet they openly maintain'd the Cause of their Mafter, even in that very City at which he was murder'd: And even in the Presence of thofe very Men, and Magistrates, who had but lately embru'd

their Hands in his Blood. They declared to them, that God had railed up JESUS from the Dead, whom they had flaid, and banged on a Tree; that he was exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour; and that there was none other Name under Heaven given among Men, whereby we must be Javed. This Freedom of the Apostles, no doubt, enrag'd the High-Prieft, and Elders, and the rest of the Council, to a very high Degree: And they commanded. them not to Speak at all, nor Teach in the Name of JESUS. But with what a noble Air of Greatnefs were they anfwered upon this Head! Whether it be right in the Sight of God, to hearken unto you, more than unto God, judge ye: For we cannot but speak the Things which ye have feen, and heard.

After this, when they were a fecond Time brought before the fame Council, and tharply reprimanded for not obeying its Orders; they reply'd in the fame fearless Manner as they had done before; we ought to obey God rather than Man. And though they were then beaten,, and again forbidden to speak in the Name of JESUS; yet inftead of being terrified, or difcouraged by fuch Ulage, they departed from the Prefence of the Council, rejoycing that

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they were counted worthy to fuffer Shame for bis Name: And daily in the Temple, and in every tou e, they ceafed not to teach and preach JESUS CHRIST. With fuch an undaunted Boldness did the Apoftles begin the Work of the Ministry, in a Place inhabited by its bitterelt Enemies: With fuch unfhaken Conflancy did they perfift therein,notwithstanding the Puniment inflicted on them for it.

And when through the Coufe of their Ministry, in other Parts of the Earth, they experienced the Malice of their Enemies in a far greater Degree; when they were made as the Filth of the World, and the Off-fcouring of allThings; when they came to fuffer Revilings, Buffetings, and Death it felf, in the Caufe of CHRIST; their Patience ftill fhone out with a triumphant Brightness, and fpread an uncommon Glory round about them: They were afraid of no temporal Punishment having a Respect unto the Recompence of eternal Reward; but couragiously bore any Mifery or Sorrow, which they met with in this Life, for the Joy that was fet before them in the Next.

Secondly, The Apostles behaved themfelves with the greatest Fidelity. As they were in a most eminent Degree, Minifters

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