worship of Gon, the ordinances of the gospel, and the due discipline of the church, are dependent upon it. The religious and moral improvement of man, kind, in all the various forms of it, is almost inseparable from this institution. So intimate is the connex ion, that all the other means of religious and moral in, struction must be expected soon to follow the extinction of the gospel ministry. As a general neglect of religion would naturally succeed, all the other im portant sources of moral improvement would, for want of encouragement, rapidly disappear. The pious education of youth would decline, and finally cease, The hopes of a blessed immortality would be insensibly lost in the gloomy speculations of infidelity. By the perversion of public opinion, the common standard of morals would be continually reduced, and at last annihilated. The practice of morality could not survive this extinction of principle. Impiety and vice would acquire an unrivalled ascendancy. All the restraints, which prevent the prevalence of licen tiousness, or the commission of crimes, would be removed. The social affections and the tender sympathies of our nature would be obliterated, by the indulgence of selfish passions and unhallowed propensities. The decencies of life would give place to profligacy of manners. Sobriety of character would be succeeded by endless dissipation. Profusion would advance, attended with all the forms and shades of fraud, injustice, and violence. Poverty would be divested of the mantle, and robbed of the morsel, which charity had bestowed. In a word, nothing would eventually satisfy the universal taste, but greedy acquisition, intemperate indulgence, unchaste gratifica tion, or ambitious pursuit. The tranquil enjoyment

of private life would be lost in mutual animosity; and the general progress of society would terminate in lawless anarchy, or overwhelming despotism.

But, if the ministry of the gospel be of such indispensable necessity to the prosperity of the Church and the happiness of mankind, it cannot be deemed a subject unworthy of our particular investigation. As the preservation of christian order and discipline, the ordinances of the gospel, and the salvation of men depend so much upon this institution, a competent knowledge of it appears to be requisite for the satisfaction of every individual. No one, who regards the peace of his own mind or the approbation of GOD, can quietly sit down in ignorance of this important institution.

Now, as the christian ministry is a positive institution, it must depend entirely upon the will of the Founder. He alone is competent to establish its constitution, and direct its destination. No other power has a right to interfere and take this preroga tive out of his hand. If the rule of the great Founder be not observed, it ceases to be his institution, and degenerates into one derived from human invention, or resting upon human authority.

No sincere christian will persuade himself that he ought to desert the institution of his LORD and adhere to an invention of man. Nor will he imagine that he pays any respect to the Divine Author, if he bestows no attention to understand the regulations, which he has prescribed. And as there can be no possible reason to question, that the Great Head of the Church has given sufficient indications of his

Nor

will, in reference to every particular essential to the institution; if we neglect to enquire into the subject, we shall be destitute of any reasonable excuse. will any sincere christian think himself at liberty to follow his taste or his fancy, his humour or his interest, the opinion of men, or the fashion of the times, in making his decision respecting an important institution of his Saviour. Nor could he expect the blessing of his GOD and Redeemer, in discarding or neglecting an institution of divine appointment.

Go ye,

Now, the first thing, which presents itself to us for our investigation, is the grand Commission, given by our LORD after his resurrection." And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

In an examination of this great Commission, it is necessary to inquire into the following particulars-the authority from which it originated--the persons to whom it was given-the service for which it was designed the duration for which it was to continue --and the successors to whom it is applicable.

Let us enquire,

1. Into the authority from which it originated.

"And JESUS came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

B

This is the authority with which CHRIST, when he arose from the dead, was invested in his mediatorial character. By his resurrection, the Father, in the face of the world, acknowledged him to be the Son of GOD, the promised Messiah, and the King of Zion. He was "declared to be the Son of GOD with power,...by the resurrection from the dead."* He was manifested to be the true Messiah, or Saviour anointed by GoD, because he was not only "delivered for our offences," but "was raised again for our justification." And notwithstanding all the violence and ignominy, with which he was put to death, God, by raising him from the dead, fulfilled his promise, "Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion."+ Thus, "C we see JESUS, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor,"§ by his resurrection. His ha miliation terminated, and his exaltation commenced. "CHRIST JESUs... being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name, which is above every name; that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, andthings under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the glory of GOD the Father." In this manner was he invested,

*Rom. i. 4.

tiv 25.

xiii. 33, 36.

Heb, ii. 9.

Comp. Ps. ii. with Acts, Phil. ii. 5-11.

in his mediatorial character, with supreme authority and universal dominion. From the time of his resurrection, he was formally instituted, by GoD the Father, "to be head over all things unto the Church." He was "appointed Head or Supreme LORD of all things, for the formation, enlargement, and preservation of the Church."*

All this is precisely in conformity to the manner, in which our Saviour himself, after his resurrection, expressed the same investiture, when he declared the authority by which he gave the grand ministerial Commission; "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Thus was CHRIST set " upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it, with judgment and with justice, from henceforth even forever."t

It is important for us carefully to recollect, that this great ministerial Commission duly proceeds from this delegated authority, which our Saviour did not formally receive before his resurrection.

We proceed to enquire,

2. To whom was this commission given?

It was originally given to the Eleven Disciples, usually distinguished as Apostles of our LORD. This appears to be definitively settled by the context. St. Matthew introduces the account of the Commission by this particular information: "Then the Eleven Disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where JESUS had appointed them. And when they Eph. i. 22, passim. Macknight in lee. Isa. ix. 7.