CHAPTER III.

A VIEW OF THE DESIGNS AND WORKS OF GOD, IN THE PREPARATION AND EXECUTION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. The Almighty had this work in contemplation from the beginning of the World.-He promised it to the ancient Patriarchs.-He foretold it by his inspired Prophets. -He exhibited a Type and Model of this great Work, in the Institutions of the old Law, and in the most remarkable Events which occurred under the Mosaic Dispensation.-All these were accomplished in the History of the Life and Mysteries of Christ, and in the Institution and Establishment of the Christian Religion.

CHRISTIANITY is not a human institution. It is a divine work, planned by the wisdom, and executed by the power of God. It is not an institution of recent date. It was in preparation from the beginning of the world. It entered into those eternal designs, which the Almighty conceived in his mercy and love, when he saw that state of guilt and misery, into which the whole human race was cast, by the sin of its first parent and moral head. To the Lord was his own work known, from the beginning of the world. (Acts xv. 18.) God then decreed to send a divine Mediator and Saviour, who should make atonement for the sins of the world; who should bring the light of his heavenly truths, to dispel the darkness of ignorance, which sin had spread over the human intellect; who should pour forth his sanctifying graces on the hearts of men, defiled with the corruptions of iniquity; who should cleanse to himself an acceptable people, a pursuer of good works; and should lead those, whom he had sanctified by his blood, into eternal glory.

This great blessing was promised to the ancient Patriarchs, was foretold by the Prophets, was prefigured in the old law,

CHAPTER II.

THE REVELATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION IS A SERIES AND COLLECTION OF PUBLIC FACTS.

Exemplified in the History of Christ, and in the ministry of his Apostles,―The propagation of the Law and Religion of Christ over Judea and the Gentile world, by the ministry of the Apostles, and of apostolic men sent by them.-The Apostles make ecclesiastical laws for the preservation of unity in faith, and for the regulation of matters of discipline.

1st. THAT Jesus, the son of Mary, of the house and family of David, lived in Judea in the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius, and that he proclaimed himself to be the Christ, the promised Messiah, and the Son of God-these are public facts.

2d. That he wrought many stupendous miracles to prove his claim to this title, and particularly that he raised himself from death to life-a miracle which he had pledged himself to perform, in proof of his being the Son of God-these are public facts.

3d. That he announced his doctrines in person to multitudes, and that he confirmed his authority to teach, by miracles wrought in their presence-these are public facts.

4th. That he delivered his doctrines, precepts, and sacred rites, in particular to twelve men, whom he had chosen to be his Apostles; that he commanded them to teach these doctrines and precepts, and to administer these sacred rites to all nations-these are facts, to which these same Apostles have borne testimony by their blood.

5th. That these Apostles taught certain doctrines and precepts, as doctrines and precepts which they had heard from Christ; that they administered certain sacred rites to men, as institutions, which they had received from Christ-these are public facts.

6th. That the authority with which they had acted, as com

missioned by Christ to teach his doctrines and precepts, and to administer his sacraments, was sanctioned and confirmed by undeniable miracles-this is a public fact.

7th. What were the particular doctrines and precepts which the Apostles taught, as the doctrines and precepts of Christ, what were the sacred rites which they administered as the institutions of Christ? These are questions of fact, which may be inquired into and ascertained, in the same manner. as other public historical facts relating to the laws and customs of any civil state or kingdom.

8th. Nothing can be more satisfactory to the human mind, nothing more sure, than this method of attaching to public facts, and to public testimony, the communication of the certain knowledge of the divine establishment of the Christian religion, and of what Christ really taught and commanded all to believe and practise, in order to obtain salvation through him.

This method was ordained by the will of God, for the promulgation of the faith and law of Christ ; which, having begun to be declared by the Lord, was confirmed to us by them that heard him. God also bearing them witness by signs and wonders, and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will. (Heb. ii. 3, 4.)

In this solid manner were the foundations of the church of Christ laid in Sion. In this manner was the constitution of his kingdom published, his law promulgated, and his spiritual empire established.

The Apostles remained for a few years in Judea and the surrounding countries. By their preaching, which was supported by miracles, the church spread widely on every side. They ordained other ministers to co-operate with them in the same work. They received a powerful addition to their apostolic body, by the conversion of Saul, of whom Christ said, in a vision, to Ananias, This man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Israel. (Acts ix. 15.)

The will of God, relative to the vocation of the Gentiles to the faith and grace of Christ (an event which had been foretold by the Prophets), was particularly manifested to St. Peter by a heavenly vision, and by the admission of Cornelius to the church, who was sent by the direction of an angel to

Peter, to hear from him all things whatsoever are commanded by the Lord (Acts x. 33), "whereby he and his house should be saved." (Ibid. xi. 14.)

The Apostles went forth into different countries to propagate in them the kingdom of Christ, and to bring all nations unto obedience to his faith and law. Whilst Peter was labouring, at first, chiefly among the Jews, Paul was the most illustrious leader in the conversion of the Gentiles.

What an undertaking! The conquest of the whole world to Christ! The establishment of his spiritual kingdom in all nations, to be effected, not by the power of the sword, but of the cross; not by carrying desolation, but happiness, to the countries, that were brought under subjection to him!

Peter, by the disposition of Providence, soon fixes his seat in Rome. This great city, which was the capital of the most extensive temporal empire on earth, by being made the episcopal see of the Prince of the Apostles, becomes the capital of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, the common centre of unity in faith, and in ecclesiastical government.

By the preaching of the Apostles and of apostolic men, whom they ordained and associated with themselves as cooperators in the work of the ministry, the church was propagated with great rapidity over many countries, and the eross of Christ was soon planted in nations, into which the Roman eagles had never penetrated.

The Apostles and their successors being commissioned by Christ to enforce every where the observance of his commands, were consequently authorized to make such practical ordinances and ecclesiastical laws, as they deemed necessary for the due execution of their commission; as temporal governors are authorized to determine by civil regulations, the practical observance of many general precepts of the law of nature, relating to justice and right order.

Many of the commands of Christ were delivered by him in a general manner, If the time and mode of observing them had been left to the free choice of individuals, they would probably have been much neglected, or there would have been very great confusion in the performance of them.

Therefore, with a view to preserve unity in faith, and to establish right order in what relates directly to the worship of God, to the administration of the sacraments, and to the

observance of the precepts of Christ, the Apostles, and their successors, have, in different ages, exercised their spiritual powers, in passing such decrees, and in making such ecclesiastical laws, as they judged necessary for those ends.

Thus the Apostles and ancients decided, in the council of Jerusalem, that it was no longer necessary to observe the ritual and ceremonial law of Moses. By this decision, they condemned the doctrine of some who, without any authority from the Apostles, had troubled the Gentile converts concerning the present obligation of the old law, and had subverted their souls. (Acts xv.) The Apostles added an ecclesiastical precept of abstinence from blood, and from things strangled. And Paul went through Cilicia, confirming the churches, commanding them to keep the precepts of the Apostles and the ancients. (Ibid. v. 41.)

Thus, the Apostles transferred the time prescribed for keeping holy one day in the week, from Saturday, the day of the Jewish sabbath, to Sunday, the Christian sabbath-day, sacred to the greatest mysteries of our redemption.

Thus, the festival of Easter was regulated and commanded to be observed with particular solemnity, in honour of the resurrection of Christ.

Thus, the precept of fasting, which Christ had delivered in general, was practically and particularly enforced by the apostolical institution of the fast of Lent.

Thus, St. Paul ordained, by a particular regulation, as St. Augustin observes, that the holy sacrament of the eucharist should be received by the communicant before any other food was taken, in order, among other reasons, to prevent such irreverences as had occurred in the church at Corinth. (1 Cor. xi.)

Thus, the same Apostle determined certain ecclesiastical irregularities, according to which, persons affected by them were excluded from the priesthood. He prescribed what qualifications are requisite for holy orders; and in what manner a Bishop should proceed in regard to charges brought against his clergy. (1 Tim. iii. and v.) St. Paul, in the following words, reminded Titus of the charge he had given him, when he appointed him to exercise episcopal jurisdiction in Crete: For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set