Ghoft, could infallibly fecure them from all future Error, in delivering it to others; or create fuch a degree of Probability, as might deferve the Affent and Belief of Mankind in all future Ages.

I

Thus I have fhewn the Reasons of that Ignorance of the Apoftles, which is fo remarkable through all the History of the Gofpels, and for which our Saviour promiseth fo extraordinary a Remedy in the Words of my Text; and withal demonftrated, that there is nothing in all this Conduct of the Apostles continuing under that Ignorance, till the Af cenfion, and of our Saviour permitting it till that time, difadvantagious to the Truth, and Divinity of the Chriftian Religion. It remains, that I draw fome few Conclufions from what hath been faid, which was the third and laft Proposal.

First then, if, as we before fhewed, our Saviour and the Apoftles, who were unqueftionably infallible, never fet up themselves for infallible Judges, nor required from their Hearers a blind Affent to their Dictates; if they fubmitted their Doctrines to the Examination of Scripture and Judgment of all private Men; in vain do any at this day pretend, in vertue of an Authority derived from them, to fet up themselves for infallible Judges of Controverfie; from whom lyeth no Appeal, either to Scripture or Reason; and thereby exercise a Jurifdiction, which they never claimed. But I wave that Particular; and

choose

choose rather to infift on some more practical Confiderations. Of which,

The firft is, That if the Knowledge of the Christian Religion was fo difficult to the Apostles, who enjoyed fo many, and fo great Advantages under the Inftruction, and Government of their Divine Mafter, the Author of this Religion; if after the fight of his Miracles, the Enjoyment of a Triennial Converfation, and the conftant hearing of his Divine Difcourfes, they continued ignorant of the true Spirit, and Nature of Chriftianity; this ought to excite us to a great Diligence in learning, and studying the Myfteries of our Religion, and enquiring the true Sense of those Revelations, which our Saviour conveyed to the World.

It is indeed the peculiar Excellency and Glory of the Chriftian Religion, that its admirable Simplicity hath fitted it to the Underftandings and Capacity of all Men; that it is not fuch an abftruce Science, as furmounts the ordinary Reach of Mankind, and must intirely be confined to the Discipline of the Schools, and Knowledge of Learned Men; the acquifition and understanding of it, is poffible, and even eafie to all Men. But then God in propofing this Religion, intended not purely to fupercede the Labours of Men, and confult their Eafe. Some Conditions are alfo neceffary on our fide, that we diligently fearch the Truth, examine the Scriptures, hearken to the Inftruction of our Paftors, careVOL. I.

D

fully

fully weigh the Reasons of Things, and bring a Mind ready difpofed to affent to any Truths, which shall evidently appear to us; how contrary foever they may be to our Paffions and Inclinations. For although we labour not with Prejudices, of a temporal Kingdom to be founded by the Meffias, or expected from him, which fo long clouded the Understandings of the Apostles, and hindred them from entertaining true Notions of that Mystery; although having the Happiness to be brought up in a Chriftian and Orthodox Church, we fuck in true Notions of the Chriftian Religion in general, even from our Infancy: Yet the Prejudices which arife from our Paffions and corrupt Affections, are no lefs violent, and betray us to no lefs fatal Miftakes. These not

only defeat the Benefit of that Affiftance of the Holy Ghoft, in the inquifition of Truth, which God hath promifed to all well-difpofed Perfons, who rightly ask it of him; but also directly introduce the fouleft and moft pernicious Errors, by prompting us to form fuch Notions of Religion, as may be moft adapted, and favourable to thofe corrupt Inclinations. And this Diligence in the Inquiry, and Examination of our Religion, will be fo much the more neceffary, if we confider, that God had indeed provided an effectual Remedy for all the Miftakes of the Apoftles, by the plentiful Effufion of the Holy Ghoft upon them; but hath left us to the ordinary Emanations, and Affiftance of the Divine Spirit; which will lead

us

us into all neceffary Truths, if our own Endeavours be not wanting: But upon defect of thofe, or any other due Difpofition of the Mind, will not only, not produce this happy Effect, but also depart from us.

II. The Sense of this great and inestimable Benefit conferred this Day upon the Apostles, and then upon the whole Church, and our felves in particular; ought to excite us to the utmoft Gratitude, and engage us to endeavour not to render our felves unworthy of it, at least, not permit our felves to be ungrateful for it. For this Benefit was not confined to the Perfons of the Apostles; it brings down with it many great and ineftimable Advantages to the Church, which continue till this Day.

By this we are affured, that the Chriftian Religion hath received the laft Degree of Confirmation; by this we know that Chrift hath really afcended into Heaven, and there taken Poffeffion of his Kingdom: That however he hath removed his Corporeal Prefence, he ftill continues to be Present with us, by the Influences and Operations of the Holy Ghoft; that he ceased not at his Afcenfion, to govern and take Care of the Church; but abundantly provided for the Neceffity and Convenience of it, by fending the Third Perfon of the ever Blessed Trinity, who might actuate and direct it; and performing the Office of a Paraclet, teach, exhort, comfort, and intercede for every fingle Member of it. By this the drooping Spirits of the Apostles were erected, their Fears

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Fears difpelled, and their Minds enlightened; by this the Truth of the Chriftian Religion, was put paft all Difpute; and the Church invigorated with fuch an affurance of Divine Affiftance, as might fecure it from all Dangers, and place it beyond the Rage of Men, or Fury of Tyrants.

We alfo at this day partake of the blessed Effects of this great Benefit; we fhare in the Joys of the Apostles, and experience the the Influences of that Divine Spirit. By this they were inabled to convey down to us infallibly the Chriftian Religion; and found a Church, of which to be Members we esteem our greatest Happiness. By this Spirit we are united to the Body of the Church; to Christ our Head; and to one another. By this we are excited to Vertue and the practice of our Duty, are affifted in the fearch of the Truth, are comforted in Afflictions, and upheld in Dangers. This Spirit our Saviour promifed, ver. 16. should abide with us for ever; not in that measure indeed, and abundance which was conferred on the Apostles, but according to the proportion of our Neceffities, and the Improvement of that prefent Portion, which it already conferred on us. Let us endeavour by an exact discharge of our Duty, and daily improvement in Piety, to augment our Intereft in the Benefits of this Day, and Favour of the Holy Ghoft: At leaft let us take care, leaft by our Negligence and degenerate Behaviour we forit our Title to them both.

Lastly,