An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

If Moses and the Prophets may be heard when dead and gone, then much more may we hear Christ, since he died and rose, and his Apostles who are dead. And whereas some have an opinion that they do not know the mind of Christ, or that they cannot reform the Church or their Churches till Christ himself come from heaven to do it, or till there be Apostles sent personally to do it (they wanting an Apostle, cannot order the worship and ordinances of God, and therefore conclude against a present Church-state) I say to such, if that be your ground that you must have Christ and his Apostles to settle all for you; you have your desires. Look into the works and word of Christ, into the writings and practices of his Apostles, both for your rule and pattern. If Abraham could say, they have Moses and the Prophets, they may hear them: surely, we may say much more, we have Christ and his Apostles whom we may hear and consult about all the institutions and orders that concern the frame of his Church. We need not stay till Christ come down in person from heaven, or till new Apostles are sent, and furnished with instruction for this work, for we have Christ and his Apostles already, we hear what Christ spake, we read the rules which he gave concerning the ways of his worship and government of his Church (in all the essential and constitutive parts of either) to the end of the world.

If Moses and the Prophets may be heard when dead and gone, then much more may we hear Christ, since he died and rose, and his Apostles who are dead. And whereas some have an opinion that they do not know the minde of Christ, or that they cannot reform the Church or their Churches till Christ himself come from heaven to do it, or till there be Apostles sent personally to do it (they wanting an Apostle, cannot order the vvorship and ordinances of God, and therefore conclude against a present Church-state) I say to such, if that be your ground that you must have Christ and his Apostles to settle all for you; you have your desires. Look into the vvorks and vvord of Christ, into the vvritings and practices of his Apostles, both for your rule and patern. If Abraham could say, they have Moses and the Prophets, they may hear them: surely, vve may say much more, we have Christ and his Apostles vvhom vve may hear and consult about all the institutions and orders that concern the frame of his Church. We need not stay till Christ come down in person from heaven, or till new Apostles are sent, and furnished vvith instruction for this vvork, for we have Christ and his Apostles already, vve hear what Christ spake, vve read the rules vvhich he gave concerning the vvaies of his vvorship and government of his Church (in all the essentiall and constitutive parts of either) to the end of the world.