Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Body of Chrift; that we henceforth be no more Children, toffed to and fro, and carried about with every Wind of Doctrine, by the Slight of Men and cunning Craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but fpeaking the Truth in Love, may grow up into him in all Things, which is the Head, even Chrift; from whom the whole Body, fitly joined together and compacted, maketh Increafe, unto the edifying itfelf in Love.

[ocr errors]

Jefus chofe twelve of his Difciples, whom alfo he nained Apoftles; and he ordained them, that they should be with him, and that he might fend them forth to preach. And accordingly while he lived, he fent them to preach the Kingdom of God and after his Refurrection, he faid unto the Difciples, As my Father hath fent me, even fo fend I you. And he breathed on them, and faith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghoft.-Vide p. 101. The Works whereunto thefe and other Apofiles afterwards were called and feparated by the Holy Ghoft, was to minifter the Gofpel of God; to teach and preach Jefus Chrift; to baptize in his Name for the Remiffion of Sins; to break the Bread, which is the Communion of the Body of Chrift, and to blefs the Cup, which is the Communion of the Blood of Chrift, and to do this in Remembrance of me..

[ocr errors]

• Moreover of those whom God hath fet in the Church, the Apostles are first, and to them, alfo the Lord gave Authority for Edification, and not for Deftruction. For he faid unto them, What

[blocks in formation]

foever ye fhall bind on Earth fhall be bound in Heaven, and whatfoever ye fhall loofe on Earth fhall be loofed in Heaven: Whofe-foever Sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whofefoever Sins ye retain, they are retained.

The Lord appointed other Seventy alfo ; and fent them forth as Labourers into his Harvest.

Now when Jefus was taken up into Heaven, the Apafles whom he had chofen being come together, with the other Difciples which had companied with them all the Time that the Lord Jefus went in and out among them, they appointed two, out of which one was chofen by Lot, to take Part of the Miniftry and Apostleship, from which Judas by Tranfgreffion fell. And he was numbered with the eleven Apoftles, and ordained to be a Witness with them of the Refurrection of Christ.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghoft; and they taught the People, and preached through Jefus the Refurrection from the Dead. And the Lord added to the Church daily fuch as should be faved.

And in thofe Days, when the Number of Difciples was multiplied, they by the Direction of the Twelve chofe feven Deacons, whom they fet before the Apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid their Hands on them: And the Bufinefs over which they were appointed was to diftribute what was given to the Poor. They affted likewife in preaching the Things concerning the Kingdom of

[blocks in formation]

God, and baptizing those that believed in the Name of Jefus Christ.

Afterwards the Apoftles having preached the Word in many Cities, and confirmed the Souls of the Difciples, they ordained them Elders in every Church. And as they went through the Cities, they delivered them the Decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the Apoftles and Elders at Jerufalem. And fo were the Churches established in the Faith, and increased in Number daily.

Thefe Elders of the Church were made Overfeers over the Flock by the Holy Ghost, and their Bufinefs was to feed the Church of God. Some of which by the laying on of the Hands of the Apoftles were appointed to ordain more Elders, and to fet in order the Things that were wanting in every City, as there was Occafion, and these were in a more peculiar Manner ftiled Bishops.

w To thofe Bishops did the Apostles likewife give in Charge that they should appoint others to use the Office of a Deacon; being first proved and found blameless.

The Lord gave the Word, great was the Company of thofe that published it.

Y Thus was the Church of the living God eftablifhed, which is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth: The Church that was built by Chriftupon a Rock; and the Gates of Hell fhall not prevail against it.

[blocks in formation]

CHRIST fhall JUDGE the World.

z I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter Day upon the Earth : And though after my Skin Worms destroy this Body, yet in my Flefh fhall I fee God.

a The fame Jefus, who was taken up from his Disciples into Heaven, fhall fo come in like manner as he was feen by them to go into Heaven. And he fhall judge the Quick and the Dead at his appearing.

God hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness, by that Man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given Affurance unto all Men, in that he hath raised him from the Dead.

We must all appear before the Judgmentfeat of Chrift, that every one may receive the Things done in his Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad; in the Day when God fhall judge the Secrets of Men by. Jefus Chrift, according to his Gofpel.

a Then fhall the Son of Man come in his Glory, and all the holy Angels with him. The Lord himfelf fhall defcend from Heaven with a Shout, with the Voice of the Archangel, and with the Trump of God; and before him fhall be gathered all Nations.

e Behold he cometh with Clouds, and every Eye fhall fee him, and they also which pierced him; and all Kindreds of the Earth fhall wail because of him,

[blocks in formation]

f All that are in the Graves fhall hear his Voice, and thall come forth. And the Dead, both small and great, fhall ftand before God; and the Books fhall be opened, and the Dead fhall be judged out of those Things which are written in the Books, according to their Works.

As Chrift hath once appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself; so unto them that look for him fhall he appear the fecond Time without Sin unto Salvation. But in that Day fhall those that obey not the Gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Prefence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his Power.

There'fhall come in the laft Days Scoffers, walking after their own Lufts, and faying, Where is the Promife of his coming? For lince the Fathers fell asleep, all Things continue as they were from the Beginning of the Creation. But the Day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the Night; in the which the Heavens being on Fire, fhall be diffolved, and thall pass away with a great Noife; and the Elements thall melt with fervent Heat: The Earth alfo, and the Works that are therein,. fhall be burnt up; nevertheless we, acer cording to his Promife, look for new Heavens, and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteoufnefs.,

This is that glorious Appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jefus Chrift, which we look for; but of that Day and Hour knoweth no Man, no not the Angels in Heaven, but the Father only.

Rev. 20. 12.

f John 5. 28, 29. 2 Theff. 1. 10, 8, 9. i Titus 2. 13. Mat. 24. 36.

g Heb. 9. 26, 28. h2 Pet. 3. 3, 4, 10, 12, 10, 13. FATHER.

F 6

« AnteriorContinuar »