understood not. which Christ teaches us in these words; these things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you

This is plainly that

ALL THINGS, AND BRING ALL THINGS TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE, WHATSOEVER I HAVE SAID UNTO YOU, John xiv. 26. These last words apparently explain the foregoing, He shall teach you all things.

In effect, there is nothing in the doctrine of the apostles, which Christ had not told them; and in leaving them, he gave them no other order for the preaching of the gospel, but to teach all people to observe all those things which he had commanded them. And the apostles observe in several places, that it was not till after they had received the Holy Spirit, that they remembered, and understood divers things which Christ had told them when he was here below. These things understood not the disciples at the first, says St. Joh. xii. 16. but when Jesus was entered into his glory, then remembered they that these things were written of him. See the same evangelist, II. 22. and Acts xi. 16.

This is, in my opinion, the sense of Christ's words; at least I find nothing among the interpreters, that answers so well to the event; which thoroughly convinces me that Christ must have meant some such thing. For after all, whatsoever may be said, the promise ought to be understood by its correspondency with the accomplishment, and there is no better interpreter of prophecies than their execution. This being so, the infallibility of the apostles, according to my judgment, consisted in this. They knew clearly the general principles of the Jewish religion, which had been taught them from their cradle; they had heard Christ often tell what the gospel added to Judaism; or if you will, Christ had explained to them more clearly the will of God, and had shown them the errors of the Pharisees; He had instructed them coneerning the Messiah, and had made appear to them by many proofs, that himself was HE; God had raised him from the dead, and they had conversed with him after his resurrection; and in the last place, they had seen him ascend into Heaven, from whence he assured them he would come one day to judge the quick

and the dead. They preached faithfully that which they had heard, that which they had seen with their eyes, that which they had observed with attention, and that which they had touched with their hands. They could declare, without any mistake, what they had seen; they could preach what they had heard. For the doctrine of Jesus Christ was comprised in a few articles, plain enough to be understood, and consequently easy to be remembered. Thus they related infallibly what they had seen and heard; and therein it is that their infallibility consisted. Perhaps also the spirit of miracles which Christ sent them, strengthened their memories, and opened their minds after a manner we comprehend not. But it is certain, as I have made it appear, that this spirit directed them not in so miraculous a manner, as to make it necessary for us to regard all they said or writ with the same respect as the words of Jesus Christ, the only master, and the only infallible doctor that ever was amongst men. He was the only mystical ark, in which the godhead dwelt bodily, from whence proceeded nothing but oracles.

Some may ask, perhaps, whether it might not so happen that the apostles might abandon the truth of the gospel, and preach a false doctrine; and if it might be so, how we can be assured that they were not deceivers? I confess, that though it was very unlikely, that after having received so many illuminations and graces, they should fall into apostacy; yet it was not absolutely impossible. But in that case God would not have approved by miracles the doctrine they taught; and thereby it is that we may know they were no seducers. There crept in, during their time, many false prophets among the Christians; but they were presently discovered, because they could not maintain by miracles, a doctrine contrary to that of the apostles, which was confirmed by an infinity of wonders. God made appear, by those prodigies, that the apostles declared nothing but what was conformable to his will, nor any thing that could be hurtful to piety; for it is impossible that God would favour a doctrine which should turn men from holiness. But we must not believe, as I have already observed, that because God wrought miracles in favour of any person,

it therefore follows that all things pronounced by that person, were immediately inspired, and ought to be received as the infallible decisions of him that never errs. Provided that person maintained the substance of the gospel, and said nothing but what conduced to piety, God would not cease to bear witness to his doctrine, although all his reasonings were not demonstrations. God would not that this mark of his approbation should be interpreted, as if he had thereby declared that he would have all the words of those that had miraculous gifts received as oracles. To be fully convinced hereof we need but read the first epistle to the Corinthians.

I must nevertheless ingenously confess, that there is mention made in this epistle of some miraculous gifts, which seem to have been pure inspirations; and which ought to make the speakers attended unto, as if they were the simple interpreters of the Holy Spirit. The spirit, says St. Paul, 1 Cor. xii. 8. gives to one the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge. It seems as if he meant thereby the gift of prophesying; that is to say,