The Fountain of Life Opened

First, As for the person that did this, he was very eminent by reason of that dignity Christ had raised him to. He was one of the twelve. A person retained not in a more general, and common: but the nearest, and most intimate and honourable relation and service to Jesus Christ. There were in Christs time several sorts and ranks of persons, that had relation to Christ. There were secret Disciples: men that believed, but kept their stations, and abode with their relations in their callings.

There were the seventy also, whom Christ sent forth; but none of these were so much with Christ, or so eminent in respect of their place as the twelve. They were Christs family; day and night conversant with him: it was the highest dignity that was conferred upon any: and of this number was Judas. The Ancients have much extolled the Apostolical dignity. Some styled these twelve pedes Christi the feet of Christ, because they as it were carried Christ up and down the world. Others oculi Dei, the very eyes of God; they were his watchmen, that took care for the concernments of his name and Gospel in the world. Others mammae Ecclesiae, the breasts of the Church. They fed, and nourished the children of God by their doctrine. Now to be one of this number, one of the twelve, what a dignity was this?

There were the seventy also, whom Christ sent forth; but none of these were so much with Christ, or so eminent in respect of their place as the twelve. They were Christs family; day and night conversant with him: it was the highest dignity that was conferred upon any: and of this number was Iudas. The Antients have much extolled the Apostolical dignity. Some stiled these twelve pedes Christi the feet of Christ, because they as it were carried Christ up and down the world. Others oculi Dei, the very eyes of God; they were his watchmen, that took care for the concernments of his name and Gospel in the world. Others mammae Ecclesiae, the breasts of the Church. They fed, and nourisht the children of God by their doctrine. Now to be one of this number, one of the twelve, what a dignity was this?