CONTENTS The Authority of Christ's Ministers. 1 Cor. iv. 1. 2. Let a man so account of us, as of the minis- ters of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.- JOHN XX. 21, 22, 23. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you. As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosesoever 69-88 Матт. xxviii. 19, 20. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things They brought young children to him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily, verily I say unto you, whosoever HEB. vi. 2. And of laying on of hands. DISCOURSE VI. Of the Holy Eucharist. 126-143 LUKE xxii. 19. This do in remembrance of me. DISCOURSE VII. Observations on the History of the Sabbath. Gen. ii. 2, 3. And on the seventh day God ended his work, which he had made : And he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the sev- enth day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work, which God created and made. DISCOURSE VIII. Of Christian Unity. EPHES. vi. 3. 4, 5, 6. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling : One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 144-162 163-181 182-193 The Descent of Christ into Hell. Acts ii. 25, 26, 27. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad: moreover also, my flesh shall rest in hope. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thy holy One to see cor- Observations on the Creation of Adam. GEN. ii. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life : and PART II.. The same Subject Continued. DISCOURSE XI. PART I. 210-223 Observations on the History of Cain and Abel. GEN. iv. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering un- to the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering; but unto Cain and to his of- fering, he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted ? And if thou do- est not well, sin lieth at the door. his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. PART II. The same Subject Continued. DISCOURSE XII. Observations on the Wickedness and Destruction of the Old World. GEX. vi. 3. My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: Yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 224-234 235-243 244-255 : The Fatal Effects of obstinate Unbelief and Impenitency. LUKE XI. 24, 25, 26. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and MATT. XXV. 29. To every one that hath shall be given, and; DISCOURSE I. > PART 1. THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST'S MINISTERS. 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. UPON reading this epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthi ans, it will be evident that it was written to correct several errors in doctrine and discipline, which, after his departure, had risen in that church. It appears that the doctrine of the resurrection was disbelieved by some, doubted by others, and generally misunderstood : that disputes and divisions had sprung up among them concerning the eating of flesh which had been first offered to idols, and then exposed to sale in the shambles-the propriety of women's teaching in the public congregations-the administration of the holy communion, and the conduct of their love-feasts-the variety and pre-eminency of spiritual gifts in the exercise of the christian ministry; and concerning the superior excellency of some of the preachers of the gospel above others, which they estimated by their personal appearance, by their spiritual attainments, either real or assumed, by the popular arts of preaching, and by the number of their converts and adherents. The ill conduct of those teachers who were left by St. Paul at Corinth, or came there after his departure, seems VOL. I. B |