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II.

eousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes CHAP. and Pharisees, (which is of the law,) ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Matt. V

24. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment." 25. "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I 27. unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already ' in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee: For it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."

say

33, &c.

26. Again, "Ye have heard that it hath been said Matt. v. by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil."

27. "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy: But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.-Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

28. Thus the life and ministry of JESUS, both by precept and example, was that which never before had either been understood or practised by mankind. The true intent of the law was wholly unknown, and the letter itself was but the sayings of those of old time.

29. Who then, of all the human race, ever fulfilled the law of God until JESUS fulfilled it? He was the first who kept his Father's commandments. By him the divine perfections of the GREAT FIRST CAUSE were first taught.

30. In him were found the treasures of true wis

II.

CHAP. dom and knowledge. In him was the example of patience, meekness, long-suffering, universal benevolence and love, and every practice that became the Son of God, the Prince of peace. And such an one it behoved to be the Saviour of mankind, who was Heb. vil holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners.

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Luke

31. It is evident from the sacred writings, concerning the life and ministry of JESUS, that he was the CHRIST; that is, that he was the ANOINTED Of God, to bring salvation to men-that he came to redeem the souls of men from under the bondage of sin, and from oppression of every kind.

32. And it is further evident, that CHRIST JESUS was the beginning of a new creation, the first foundation and chief corner-stone of a spiritual kingdom, which had no connexion with the generation, population, increase, or government of this world, but merely as it respected the redemption of mankind.

83. JESUS knew that his testimony would cost him his life; but seeing that for the cause of righteousness he came into the world, he willingly chose to suffer and die in the accomplishment of that very design, for the benefit of mankind.

34. He foretold his disciples that he must suffer avii. 25. many things, and be rejected of this generation, and of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, [or writers,]

Mark vil. 31.

-that they would put him to death, and that he should rise again the third day. In all of which his followers would be included according to his saying, John xv. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.

20.

35. And accordingly, being put to death in the flesh, through the envy of the chief priests and rulers, he rose again the third day: and by many infallible proofs shewed himself alive after his passion, unto his disciples, whom he had instructed during the time of his ministry, and chosen to be witnesses of his name ; appearing to them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

36. And having through the Holy Ghost, given commandment to his apostles, to teach all nations in his name, beginning at Jerusalem, charged them to Xxiv.47- tarry there until they should be endued with power from on high; and having led them out as far as

Luke

52.

III.

Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. CHAP. And while he blessed them, a cloud received him out of their sight, and they worshipped him; and re- Acts i. 8, turned to Jerusalem with great joy, and continued 9. there with one accord until the day of Pentecost.

CHAPTER III.

The Institution of the Primitive Church.

T is evident from the scriptures, that the apostles of our Lord and Saviour, had received no real spiritual understanding of the nature of his kingdom,. until they were baptized with the Holy Ghost.

2. Although it is written, that John was filled with the Holy Ghost, that Zechariah and Elizabeth were filled with the Holy Ghost, and that the prophets and holy men of God in old time, spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost; yet after all this, it was said that the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that John và Jesus was not yet glorified.

3. When therefore, the prophets or holy men of God are represented as having the Holy Ghost, or the spirit of Christ, before Christ was fully made manifest in the church his true body, it means nothing more than their being enlightened by the Holy Ghost, which influenced them, at certain times, to prophesy of things to come, but did not abide and remain in them, as the constant spring of all their actions.

4. There was evidently an extraordinary measure and manner, in which the Holy Ghost was to be received according to the promise of Christ, which could not possibly take place, until the work of regeneration was completed in him, and till he was glorified, and received that fulness of the Spirit which was the promise of the Father, and which was to flow from him, to such as were united to him by faith and obedience, as members of his body.

5. Jesus could, and did administer a measure of his spirit to his disciples, while he was with them;

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CHAP. and they could go forth in faith, and speak in his name; and in the power of that spirit which they received from him, they could cast out unclean spirits, and perform many miracles. But they had not the fountain abiding in them, from which that power flowed; and therefore they followed Jesus from place to place, and received their ministrations from him.

Heb. vii.

2 Cor. vi.

10.

6. This was signified by the tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness, which was followed by the children of Israel, until the ark of the testimony found a fixed habitation in the temple of Solomon.

7. Christ Jesus, while in the body of his flesh, was 2. ix. 11. the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man. And the Primitive Church was the temple of the living God, where his mind and will was made known; which was prefigured by the first temple at Jerusalem.

8. Christ Jesus, while visible on earth, asked his Matt. disciples, saying, "Whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

15-19.

Duet. xxxii. 4.

1 Cor. iii.

11.

F.ph. n.

20.

9. And Jesus answered, and said unto him, "Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter,* and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven."

10. "God is the rock. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. The Revelation of God through Christ, was therefore the rock, upon which he promised to build his church. And though this revelation was in all the apostles, and was the same by which the prophets had prophesied of Christ; yet, according to the promise of

His former name was Simon, and the name Peter (in the original Petros, i. e. a Rock or Stone) was given him by Christ, siguiying that in him should be manifested the Revelation of God; and by this Revelation through Christ, he was constituted the foundation or chief corner stone of the Primitive Church after Christ, and the leader of the twelve apostles. See Matt. xvi. 18. and John i. 42. N. B. Kephas, or as it is in our translation Cephas, is said to be a Syriac word, and signifies the same thing which Peter does in Greek, namely, a Rock or Stone.

Christ, Peter was ordained to be the leader among the apostles in the Church.

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11. At the same time that the disciples of Jesus manifested their faith concerning him, he charged Matt.xv them to tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. By s0. which it may be clearly seen, that although he had given them great authority from time to time, respecting their future mission; yet while he was visibly present with them, they could not exercise that authority, until they had received an abiding seal of the Holy Ghost.

12. Christ could never be seen by mortal eye, nor the nature of his kingdom be understood by human wisdom. He was only known by Revelation. The disciples of Jesus themselves, were far from having a perfect understanding either of Christ or his kingdom, until the day of pentecost, after they had received the spirit of promise, by which they remembered and understood what Jesus before had taught them.

21-23.

13. When Jesus spake to them, that he must suf- Matt.xvi. fer many things of the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day; Peter began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me Satan; thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." 14. The disciples believed, and knew that Jesus was the Christ of God, but he had often occasion to complain of the dulness of their apprehension. How xvi. 13 is it that ye do not understand?

15. Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: beAt that day ye shall John xiv. cause I live, ye shall live also. know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and Iin 19, 20. you. And again: These things have I spoken to you xvi. H in proverbs; but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak to you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

16. From which it is plain that, although they knew that he came from God, yet they did not know what it was to be in Christ, and to have Christ dwel

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