The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Introduction
• Of the Nature and Qualification of Religion, In Reference to Civil Society, &c.
• §i.
• §2.
• §3.
• §4.
• §5.
• §6.
• §7.
• §8.
• §9.
• §10.
• §11.
• §12.
• §13.
• §14.
• §15.
• §16.
• §17.
• §18.
• §19.
• §20.
• §21.
• §22.
• §23.
• §24.
• §25.
• §26.
• §27.
• §28.
• §29.
• §30.
• §31.
• §32.
• §33.
• §34.
• §35.
• §37.
• §38.
• §39.
• §40.
• §41.
• §42.
• §43.
• §44.
• §45.
• §46.
• §47.
• §48.
• §49.
• §50.
• §51.
• §52.
• §53.
• §54.

§18.

The Apostles propagated the Doctrine of Christ. Christ, after having withdrawn himself from Human Conversation, did Substitute in this Kingdom of Truth his Apostles, but not in the same Rank with himself; not as Kings, but as Ministers and Heralds, to publish his Doctrine. As my Father, said he, had sent me, even so send I you.52 But how had the Father sent him? viz. To preach the Gospel to the Poor, to heal the broken Hearted, to preach Deliverance to the Captives, as it is expressed by Isaiah53 and St. Luke;54 So, that the Title of King, of Truth, was a peculiar Title, appertaining to Christ alone. He tells them, Be you not called Masters, for one is your Master, Christ.55 And their Calling was, to Teach all Nations, to observe all things whatsoever Christ had Commanded.56 St. Paul called his Function a Ministry which he had received of the Lord Jesus, to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God.57 The Apostles had the first Rank among Christ’s Followers,58 but the word Apostle implies as much as a Missionary, or one that is sent by another. So, that they had no other Power or Authority from themselves, to Teach their Doctrine, but to Instruct others in what they had received from Christ. And, when, after the Death of our Saviour, they were quite dejected, and put into a panick Fear, He, by sending the Holy Ghost did so comfort and strengthen them, that they appeared in Publick, and in spite of the Jews, and all the Danger that threatned them, preached the Doctrine of the Gospel. But the diversity of Languages being a main obstacle towards the spreading abroad of any Doctrine,59 the Apostles were by the Holy Ghost upon Whitsunday, Endowed with the Gift of speaking various Languages,60 to enable them, to bring the Nations into one Union of Faith; It being otherwise a Maxim of State received by those that intend to lay the Foundation of a new Commonwealth, to take care, that no more than one Language be used among their Subjects. It is also worth our taking Notice of, that among those Languages which the Apostles spoke,61 there were Languages of some Nations, that were then Subjects to the Parthian Empire, which was at that time in the same degree of Enmity and Hatred with the Romans, as may now a days be observed betwixt the Germans and Turks. Notwithstanding this mortal Hatred betwixt these several Nations, and the difficulties which were to be surmounted in keeping a Correspondence betwixt them, which could not but be a main Obstacle to their being ever united under one Head or Government, the Union of Faith was introduced among them, under the Kingdom of Truth.

[52.]John 20:21.

[53.]Isa. 61:1.

[54.]Luke 4:18.

[55.]Matt. 23:10.

[56.]Matt. 28:20.

[57.]Acts 20:24.

[58.]Ephes. 4:11.

[59.]Cor. 14:9, 10.

[60.]Acts 2:4.

[61.]Acts 2:9, 10, 11. [Puf.]