of CHRIST, and Stewards of the Myfteries of God; fo they faithfully difpens'd those Mysteries to the World, and carefully inftructed Mankind in the Belief of them. They made it their Bufinefs to acquaint their Hearers with the whole Will of God, without adding any Thing to it, for the Advancement of their own Interest or Power.

They did not promise Men that their Sins fhall be blotted out, upon cafier Terms than Repentance, and Converfion: Neitheir to those who repented, and forsook their Sins, did they deny the Hopes of Mercy.

They pretended not to grant any Indulgence to countenance their Converts, in the Tranfgreffion of God's Laws; because they were thoroughly perfuaded, that he would never confirm fuch a Licence: Neither did they offer to fet Pardons to Sale; because they well knew that thofe being the free Gift of God, could not be purchased with Money.

They invented no fuch Bugbear as Purgatory, where the Souls of true Believers, fhould undergo Pains like those of Hell, till the Debt of temporal Punishment, which they ow'd, and had not paid in this Life fhould be clear'd off; becaufe they

they rightly Believed that fuch would be exempted from all kind of Pain after Death, upon account of the Sufferings their Redeemer endured: Neither did they teach it as a Place, wherein they should be purified from any Pollution, they might contract upon Earth; becaule they were fully affured that the Blood of CHRIST was fufficient to cleanse them from all Defilement.

They did not affirm, that his Bcdy was prefent in the Sacrament of his Supper; because they had learnt, that the Heaven's must contain that until the Reftitution of all Things; and could not imagine,- that any Thing fo abfur'd as Tranfubftantiation, ought to be delivered for a Truth: Neither did they prefume to cut a funder, (or rather destroy) that Sacrament, by denying the Cup to the People; because they were fenfible that from the original Inftitution, they had as good a Title to the Wine, as to the Bread.

They truly understood that God only fhould be worshipped; and that there was but one Mediator between God and Man, who gave himself a Ranfom for All; and therefore they never directed Men to the Adoration of Reliques, and Images; or to the Invocation of Angels, and Saints.

G

Thefe

Thele, and Doctrines of the like Stamp they received no Orders to publifh: They had been unfaithful to their Commiffion, if they had publifh'd them; But they no where attempted to impofe fuch Points upon Men's Belief, and Practice. For they were not as many who corrupt the Word of God; who debauch and mingle it with their own Fancies; but as of Sincerity, but as of God, in the Sight of God Spake they in CHRIST. Thus by keeping back nothing that was neceflary to be known; and by revealing nothing for God's Will, but what ought to be rereceived as fuch; the Apoftles difcharged their Office with the greatest Fidelity, and left a fafe Rule for us to walk by, in order to attain everlafting Happiness.

Laftly, They behaved themfelves with the moft fervent Zeal. They contended earnestly for the Faith which was delivered unto them to propagate; and pur forth their utmost Diligence and Power to fpread it all over the World. What painful Journies did they take? travelling up and down from one City to another; To ffers and Gentiles; to the Wife, and to the Unwife; to Countries that were near, and to Countries that were far diftant; and all this, that the everlasting Gospel might

be

be preached to every Nation, and Kindred, and Tongue, and People?

But though they had fuch an hearty Concern to make known the Religion of CHRIST to all Mankind; though they had such a mighty Zeal as to be continually compaffing Sea and Land to gain Profelytes to it; yet they never used violent Methods to force Men to embrace it. They had no Racks, nor Fires; they had no Courts of Inquifition, nor Troops of Dragoons; nor any other Inftruments of Cruelty, wherewith to deftroy or torment those who would not come over to them: No, their Zeal was accompanied with Meekness, Longfuffering, and Forbearance: They laboured to convince Men's Understandings of the Truth of the Gofpel in a fair and reasonable Way: Herein they were indefatigably induftrious; and by being fo, together with their holy Living; their Conftancy in fuffering; their Patience in dying for the Sake of it; and above all, by the Power of God working with them, and confirming the Word with Signs following, they brought People to be in Love with the Beauty of the Chriftian Difpenfation; and it had fuch a wonderful and amazing Succefs, that before the Destruction of Jerufalem (which happened

G2

about forty Years after our Saviour's Crucifixion) it was received by great Numbers in all Parts of the then known World.

After this manner was the Church of CHRIST at first planted in the Earth. And lo effectually was it done by thefe Means; that by the Blefling of Heaven, it has continued from that Time to this; and fo it fhall continue throughout all fucceeding Generations: Our Saviour ha ving promised to be with it always even unto the End of the World; and that the Gates of Hell fhall not prevail against it.

And from hence we may fee, how great a Benefit Men receive from the Descent

3

4

of the Holy Ghoft upon the Apostles, throughout every Age from the Time in which it happened; and confequently what abundant Cause there is for their hearty Thanksgivings to Almighty God upon that Account. For 'twas the Holy Ghost which enlighten'd the Apostles with the Knowledge of all neceffary Truths: 'Twas the Holy Ghoft which furnished them with the Faculty of fpeaking all Languages: Which attended them with the Power of Miracles: Which inspired them with Courage, Fidelity, and Zeal in the Difcharge of their Office: In short, which enabled them to eftablish the Re