CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

But secondly, Our Saviour after he had called them from their ordinary vocations, he did not presently make them Church•Officers, but as diligent Interpreters and Harmonists show, They were two years with Christ under his Discipline and information, ere they were appointed •o this Office, and then at last, when they were to exercise their Apostolical-Office to the whole Church, they were endowed with admirable abilities from above, so that they could speak ⟨p. 374⟩in all tongues, and were filled with the Spirit of God, and infallibly assisted by him, to interpret the Scripture of the Old Testament: But this by the way. We see by degrees men were prepared to this Apostolical Office in the Church, and Judas was one of these: Now this was the highest pinnacle of the Temple. There was not a greater place of honour and trust, then to be an Apostle, they are called the pillars and the foundations. Hence Paul begins his Epistle with this Title, Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ, which is as great a glory, saith Chrysostom, as when any Officer under the Emperor writes himself next in place to the Emperor. It would be impertinent at this time, •o expatiate in the dignity and excellency of the Apostolical-Office. The Ancients said they were Pedes Christi, oculi Dei, and Ecclesiae mammae, Christs feet, Gods eyes, and the Churches breasts. These had infallibility in Doctrine, had power to work miracles, to expel devils, to open and shut heaven (as it were) and yet the son of perdition is one of these Apostles.

But secondly, Our Saviour after he had called them from their ordinary vocations, he did not presently make them Church•Officers, but as diligent Interpreters and Harmonists shew, They were two years with Christ under his Discipline and information, ere they were appointed •o this Office, and then at last, when they were to exercise their Apostolical-Office to the whole Church, they were endowed with admirable abilities from above, so that they could speak ⟨p. 374⟩in all tongues, and were filled with the Spirit of God, and infallibly assisted by him, to interpret the Scripture of the Old Testament: But this by the way. We see by degrees men were prepared to this Apostolical Office in the Church, and Judas was one of these: Now this was the highest pinacle of the Temple. There was not a greater place of honour and trust, then to be an Apostle, they are called the pillars and the foundations. Hence Paul begins his Epistle with this Title, Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ, which is as great a glory, saith Chrysostome, as when any Officer under the Emperour writes himself next in place to the Emperour. It would be impertinent at this time, o expatiate in the dignity and excellency of the Apostolical-Office. The Ancients said they were Pedes Christi, oculi Dei, and Ecclesiae mammae, Christs feet, Gods eyes, and the Churches breasts. These had infallibility in Doctrine, had power to work miracles, to expell devils, to open and shut heaven (as it were) and yet the son of perdition is one of these Apostles.