tween what he, and what the Lord in Perfon, spoke "; between Points in which he had an exprefs Commandment, and Points in which he gave his Fudgement, as one that had obtained Mercy to be faithful": that is, in the Truft of the Apostlefhip. And if fuch a Person was thus careful, much more ought the Ministers of Religion in these later Ages, who can have no certain Acquaintance with it, but from his Writings and the reft of Scripture, be folicitous not to preach any other Gofpel, than that they have received; nor build, on the Foundation of Jefus Chrift, Superstructures that will not abide the Trial ", teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. They, who affume this Power, ufurp a Dominion over their Fellow-Servants, to which only their Mafter in Heaven hath a Right and they who obey this Power, fo far worship God in vain, who hath never required this at their Hands". I have now gone through the second Part of the Text: the Duties, which the Apostles and their Succeffors were to enjoin. And therefore I proceed to fet before you, III. The Protection and Happiness, of which m 1 Cor. vii. 10. 12. Pr Cor iii. II, 12, 13, I n v. 25. Matth. xv. 9. C 2 • Gal. i. 9. 'If. i. 12. both both they who faithfully preach the Gospel, and they who fincerely embrace it, may be asfured. Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the End of the World. Amen. Amongst Men, chufing to be with any one is not only a natural Confequence of having a Regard for him, but, on many important Occafions, a neceffary Means of fhewing that Regard to his Advantage. In Condefcenfion therefore to common Language, God, though prefent every where, is defcribed in holy Writ as peculiarly drawing nigh unto, being, and dwelling with, those, who by a Temper and Conduct of Piety and Virtue intitle themselves to his Love and fatherly Care: whereas he is reprefented as departing from Perfons of a contrary Character, not vouchfafing to look upon them, or beholding them afar off, till he returns to execute Judgement on them. Of this Kind is the Manner of Speech used in the Text: where our bleffed Lord, being about to leave the World, and go unto the Father, tells his Followers, that though his vifible and bodily Prefence was to be withdrawn very foon, he should be still as really prefent upon Earth, as ever not only seeing, but watching, directing, and defending them continually. And there fore, fore, notwithstanding St. Matthew thought fit to abstain from subjoining in his Gospel any Words of his own to these most folemn ones of our Saviour, yet his Afcent into Heaven is almost as well understood by them, as if it had been exprefsly related. This gracious Promise was doubtless immediately, and in the firft Place, made to the Apoftles. But as the Ufe, for which it was made, is perpetual; and the Term, for which it is expreffed to be made, cannot poffibly be confined to themselves; but must signify either, as we translate it, to the End of the World, or to the End of the Gospel Age, which is to laft as long as the World; it must neceffarily be extended to those, who should at any Time fucceed the Apostles in teaching the Faith and Duties of Christianity. And fince the Prefence of Chrift with the Teachers of his Religion is defigned for the Benefit of those, who are taught it: therefore all fuch, in all Ages, have a Share in the Affurance of the Text. Accordingly, in many Places of Scripture, the Presence, not only of the Son of God, but of the Father and Holy Spirit, is promifed to every true Believer without Exception. St. Paul declares, If any Man have not the Spirit of Chrift, he is none of his. And Christ himself declares, If a Man love me, my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our Abode with him '. many If then, as the Church of Rome pretends, fuch Expreffions as thefe convey a Promise of Infallibility, or Security of not departing from the right Faith, to their Church, or any Perfon or Perfons in it; they convey the fame to every Church, and every Perfon in it. But our Saviour's Declaration is, not that any one or more Churches may not, if they will, intirely throw off the Faith; and even all Churches, as well as all Men, fall both into many Errors and Sins but that this fhall never happen through his forfaking them, but their forfaking him and that, how great foever the Apoftacy of the latter Times may be, (as St. Paul hath foretold it should be a very grievous one ;) how much foever at any Time the Church of Chrift may be obfcured, it shall never be extinguished: for it must continue to the End of the World, fince he hath promifed to be with it to the End of the World. In different Ages he is present to it in different Manners, as the Circumftances of • Rom. viii. 9. John xiv. 23. ✓ Tim. iv. t. each each require. His Apostles he directed by Inspiration into all Truth: and strengthened them with Power to work Miracles in Confirmation of it. When Religion, by their Means, was known and proved fufficiently, these extraordinary Effects of his Prefence gradually ceased: but thofe, which remained ftill needful, were ftill experienced. And to this Day, wherever his Minifters teach Men to believe and do what he hath commanded, there he is alway with them and wherever two or three of his Difciples are gathered together in his Name, there he is in the Midft of them : protecting his whole Church, and every Member of it, outwardly against their temporal Enemies to fuch Degree, as infinite Wisdom fees to be fit; and inwardly against their fpiritual ones, fo that nothing, but their own wilful Sins and Perfeverance in them, fhall hazard the Salva→ tion of any one of them. But fo far as Men allow themselves to teach, believe, or practise, contrary to his Commands, they forfeit their Title to his gracious Prefence, which evidently depends on their Obedience to thofe Commands. And confequently no Set of Men in the World have a Right to argue, as the Ro w Matth. xviii. 20. manifts |