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only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

* Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word ; that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish.

Jesus, the great shepherd and bishop of our souls, gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body, fitly joined together and compacted, maketh increase, unto the edifying itself into love.

* Jesus chose twelve of his disciples, whom also he named apostles; and he ordained them that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach. And accordingly while he lived, he sent them to preach the kingdom of God; and after his resurrection, he said unto the disciples, As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive the Holy Ghost.--Vide p. 89*.

• The works whereunto these and other apostles afterwards were called and separated by the Holy Ghost, was to administer the Gospel of God; to

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1 Eph. v. 25, 26, 27. 2 Heb. iii. 20. 1 Pet. ii. 25. Eph. iv. 11, 12. 14, 15, 16.

3 Luke vi. 13. Mark iii. 14. Luke ix. 2. John xx. 21, 22.

4 Acts xiii. 2. Rom. xv. 16. Acts v. 42.

teach and preach Jesus Christ; to baptize in his name for the remission of sins; to break the bread, which is the communion of the body of Christ, and to bless the cup, which is the communion of the blood of Christ, and to do this in remembrance of me.

1 Moreover of those whom God hath set in the Church, the apostles are first, and to them also the Lord gave authority for edification, and not for destruction. For he said unto them, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them: and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

2 The Lord appointed other seventy also; and sent them forth as labourers into his harvest.

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Now when Jesus was taken up into heaven, the apostles whom he had chosen being come together with the other disciples which had companied with them all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among them, they appointed two, out of which one was chosen by lot to take part of the ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles, and ordained to be a witness with them of the resurrection of Christ.

*And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: and they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved.

"And in those days, when the number of disciples

2 Cor. x. 8.
2 Luke x. 1, 2.

Matt. xviii. 18.

4 Acts ii. 4.

Acts viii. 12.

Matt. xvi. 19.

3 Acts i. 11. 2.
Acts iv. 2.

Acts vi. 10.

15. 21. 23, Acts ii. 47.

Acts viii.

1 1 Cor. xii. 28. John xx. 23.

24. 26. 25, 26. 22.
5 Acts vi. 1. 5. 2, 3. 6. 3. 1.
13, 12.

was multiplied, they, by the direction of the twelve, chose seven deacons, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them: and the business over which they were appointed was to distribute what was given to the poor. They assisted likewise in preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and baptizing those that believed in the name of Jesus Christ.

Afterwards, the apostles having preached the word in many cities, and confirmed the souls of the disciples, they ordained the elders in every church. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

And so were the Churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

2 These elders of the Church were made overseers over the flock by the Holy Ghost, and their business was to feed the Church of God. Some of which, by the laying on of the hands of the apostles, were appointed to ordain more elders, and to set in order the things that were wanting in every city, as there was occasion, and these were in a more peculiar manner styled bishops.

3 To those bishops did the apostles likewise 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 those that published it.

Thus was the Church of the living God established, which is the pillar and ground of the

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Acts xiv. 14. 25. 21, 22, 23. Acts xvi. 4, 5. 17. 28. 2 Tim. i. 6. Titus i. 5. 3 1 Tim. iji. 10.

2 Acts xx.

4 Psal.

truth; the Church that was built by Christ upon a rock; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

CHRIST SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD.

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'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

flesh shall I see God. · The same Jesus, who was taken up from his disciples into heaven, shall so come in like manner as he was seen by them to go into heaven. And he shall 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 assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, 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 shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to his gospel.

Then shall the Son of man come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and before him shall be gathered all nations.

Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.

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3 Acts

1 Job. xix. 25, 26. ? Acts i. 11. 2 Tim. iv. 1. xvii. 31. 4 2 Cor. v. 10. Rom. ii. 16.

5 Matt. xxv. 31. 1 Thess. iv. 16. Matt. xxv. 32.

6 Rev. i. 7.

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* All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth. And the dead, both small and great, shall stand before God; and the books shall be opened, and the dead shall be judged out of those things which are written in the books, according to their works.

2 As Christ hath once appeared, to put away sn by the sacrifice of himself; so unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin unto salvation. But in that day shall those that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since 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, shall be dissolved, and shall pass away with a great noise; and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up; nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

* This is that glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, which we look for; but of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels in heaven, but the Father only.

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1 John v. 28, 29. Rev. xx. 12. 2 Heb. ix. 26. 28. 2 Thess. i. 10, 8, 9. 3 2 Pet. iii. 3, 4. 10. 12. 10. 13. 4 Titus ii. 13. Matt. xxiv. 36.

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