one hand, that if their teftimony and preaching is true, the gofpel is true; fo it follows alfo on the other (as St. Paul does not fcruple to affirm) that if "they (the apostles) are found false witneffes, and their preaching is vain; then is our faith vain, "and we are yet in our finsi." 66 Nor were the apoftles only the fountains of divine knowledge to the bulk, or the lower ranks, of chriftians, but to "the highest or"ders of them:" none of them all received any immediate revelations concerning the nature, doctrine, or laws of Chrift's kingdom themselves; but deriving all the knowledge they had of them from these first ministers, and ambassadors of the Most High. The twelve apostles were reprefented in the revelations as the twelve foundations of the wall of the new Jerufalem *. But Timothy, an evangelist, and a pillar in the house of God, was to teach what he " had learnt of an apostle "". And Apollos, an eminent teacher, was not even instructed by Paul at first, but by Aquila and Priscilla, who had been inftructed by Paul. And this, perhaps, is the reason, why Providence ordered it so, that the one hundred and twenty, and others to a great number, should continue at Jerufalem for near a year; and that nothing should drive them thence during that time; namely, that they might, i1 Cor. xv. 14-18. k Rev. xxi. 14. 2 Tim. ii. 2. and iii. 14. m by hearing the apoftles, who preached the word inceffantly, be fo fully inftructed in the christian scheme, as to be able to teach others; and then Providence directs a ftorm to arife, that should scatter them all (but the apostles) in order to their preaching the word elíewhere though with this diftinction, that as the apoftles preached the "word of God"," that is, the word that came to them directly from God, even in a higher sense than the Old Teftament prophets, or John Baptift did: fo all others only preached the word of the apoftles. For it was through "their word that the world was to believe? And as the apoftles had the fulness of wisdom, and high degrees of prophetic knowledge, they not only teftified in order to make difciples; but wrote "epiftles to them, whom they "had made fo," in order to the inftructing them more fully in the doctrine and myfteries of the chriftian religion. They fent likewise evangelifts, with full inftructions to finish "what was wanting " And the things which they had communicated to those evangelifts, those evangelists ❝ were to com"mit to faithful men, who fhould be able to "teach others alfo;" as St. Paul directly m Acts viii. 14. xi. 19. 66 n 1 Thef. ii. 13. and in divers other places, John xvii. 20. Concerning this word of the apostles, the following texts may be confulted, Rom. x. 18. 2 Theff. iii. 14. Jude 17. P1 Tim. i. 3, 4. Tit. i. 5. charges A 66 And thus Clement charges Timothy to do. fays, in his epiftle to the Corinthians 1, "the apoftles have preached to us from our "Lord Jefus Chrift: Jefus Chrift from God. "Chrift therefore was fent by God, the apof"tles by Chrift. So both were orderly fent according to the will of God. For the "apoftles receiving their commands, having "a full confidence through the refurrection "of our Lord Jefus, and faith in the word "of God, and a fulness of the Holy Spirit, "went forth publishing the gospel of the kingdom which fhould come. And preaching through countries and cities, they ap"pointed the first fruits of their converfation "to be bifhops and deacons over fuch as "should afterwards believe, having first proved "them by the Spirit." 66 And forafmuch as the fulnefs of chriftian knowledge was to be derived from the apoftles, it was neceffary, in order to their bearing their teftimony to the great facts of christianity, and for the fpreading the knowledge of the whole fcheme of its doctrines in the world, that they should be endued with a fuperior degree of boldness and utterance:” that fo they might never want resolution to testify, to teach, and to foretel these great events, before the greatest perfonages, and in 66 the greatest danger; nor a readiness in delivering themselves on all occafions. Our Saviour acquaints the twelve, that though they "fhould be brought before "councils, kings, and governors, yet they "need not take any thought, or have fear "or concern about it; for that the Spirit "fhould give them in that hour what to 66 fay" or, as he elsewhere expreffes it", "That he would give them a mouth and "wifdom, which all their adverfaries fhould "not be able to refift or gainfay." He likewife promised the Holy Ghoft as their Comforter, in his abfence, and who fhould make them. bolder than his prefence with them had ever done. According to this promife, immediately after the defcent of the Holy Ghost, Peter and the eleven (instead of keeping any longer in their upper room, where they ufed "to "meet privately with the doors fhut, for fear "of the Jews w," fpeak openly to the multitude that came together (probably in the temple, at the time of the feast). After this, Peter and John speak to the people with great boldness and majefty, pertinency and propriety; and to the council. Infomuch that the council," perceiving the boldness of 8 W Matt. x. 17-20. * See alfo Mark xiii. 11. and Luke xii. 11. • Luke xxi. 15. w Ibid. xx. 19. y Ver. 12-47. ▾ John xiv. 16, 18. xv. 26, 27. * Acts ii, 6. Ibid. iv. 8-13. "Peter 66 "Peter and John, marvelled, and took "notice that they had been with Jefus." And it is obferved by St. Luke, that this boldness was an effect of their being filled with the Holy Ghost, for he fays, "then "Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost, said "unto them, &c." And after the remarkable prayer they made to God for boldness, on their first being threatened by the council', it is also observed by St. Luke, that in answer to that prayer, they were "all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the word with bold"nefs." The firmnefs of Peter and the reft of the apostles is remarkable; and we are told, that "they departed from the presence "of the council, rejoicing, that they were "counted worthy to fuffer for his name." St. Luke acquaints us, that "Paul and Bar"nabas waxed bold at Antioch, and fpake "boldly, for a long time at Iconium 8." And we find them do fo on every occafion, where their difcourfes are recorded, with great courage and energy, and with a great flow of fuitable expreffions. And St. Luke informs us, that "Paul preached the kingdom of "God-with all confidence" (or boldness, μετά πάσης παῤῥησίας) during the two years he 'dwelt at Rome h. a Acts iv. 8. • Ver. 36-42. e Ver. 41. Ibid. xiv. 3. b Ver. 24-31. I do |