SERMON IV.

JOHN XX. 21, 22, 23.

Then faid Jefus to them again, Peace be unto you. As my Father bath fent me, even so send · I you. And when he had faid this, he breathed on them, and faith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whofe-foever fins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whofe-foever fins ye retain, they are retained.

TH

HIS folemn delegation of the highest authority was imparted by Chrift to his Apoftles, after his refurrection from the grave, when he bestowed, in final benediction, the perfect charter and ratification of a Divine commiffion, and transferred to them the earthly government of his kingdom; in words which seem to import the deputation of the fame power which he had received from

K

1

from the Father, when he "made himself "of no reputation, and took upon him the "form of a servant *;" being invested with an office, to be fulfilled in the subserviency and obedience of the human nature. The communication was accompanied with the gift of the Holy Ghost, whose guidance was effentially and indifpenfably neceffary to direct the employment of fuch important authority as appears to have been entrusted to the Apostles, when affured that "whofe-foever fins they re"mitted fhould be remitted," and "whofe-fo"ever fins they retained fhould be retained :" fince the words lead us to understand no lefs than the conveyance of a judicial right to decide on the remiffion or retainment of fins, as to their final confequences and reward.

For the illuftration of the full extent of the commiffion thus configned to the Apostles, it may be expedient to confider what powers were exercised by Chrift in the ordinary difcharge of that miniftry, which "being found "in fashion, as a man he humbled himfelf” to accept ; fince as the Father had fent him, fo fent he the Apostles; with fimilar appointment to preach the Gofpel, and with equal

* Philip, ch. ii. ver. 7, 8.

affurance,

affurance, in his name, to apply the promifes of admiffion to, and continuance in, its privileges. In dependency on this enquiry, and with reference to our general theme, it is defigned to investigate the permanent rights which may be understood to be derived to the fucceffors of the Apostles, with respect to this great power, the fanction of the spiritual authority; as vindicated with the rejection of unfounded pretenfions, and the establishment of juft claims at the Reformation.

The abfolute and uncontrollable power of erecting the standard of good and evil, and of marking out the limits of obfervance and tranfgreffion, is the effential and eminent prerogative of God; of him who "maketh peace "and createth evil," who implanted the moral sense, and revealed the unerring rule,

-his exclufive right it must be to enforce or to relax the sternnefs of his requifitions upon principles of unfearchable wifdom †; to iffue out inexorable decrees, or to intimate conditional threats and promifes; to impute iniquity, or to vindicate fufpected righteousness; to diftribute wrath in the prefent life, or to

*Ifaiah, ch. xlv. ver. 7.

+ Exod. ch. xxxiv. ver. 7. αφιέναι αμαρτηματα γαρ μονω τω Ew duvaror. Chryfoftom. in 1 Cor. ch. xv.

K 2

withhold

1

withhold a proportioned reward, till the dispenfation of that final judgment, in which mercy will be mingled with unimpeachable juftice. That he who poffeffeth the power may delegate it however to his minifters, to exercife with fuch authority, and on fuch terms, as he appoints, can admit of no question.

་

That our bleffed Redeemer was true and

perfect God. That as the prophets had

defcribed the Meffiah *, and as on his appearance he was declared to be †, he was "one with the Father," we confider as an established truth. From this effential nature radiated the excellencies of that glory which exifted" in the beginning," and constituted the fufficiency of that character which alone could offer up an adequate atonement for the fins of mankind. This incorruptible per

* Ifaiah, ch. ix. ver. 6.

+ John, ch. x. ver. 30. and Mr. Hawtrey's Appeal to the New Teftament, p. 44-50. 1 John, ch. v. ver. 21. Luke, ch. i. ver. 16, 17. compared with Malachi, ch. iii. ver. 1. Matt. ch. i. ver. 23. John, ch. xiv. ver. 10. Rom. ch. ix. ver. 5. Revel. ch. i. ver. 7, 8. ch. xvii. ver. 14, 19.

Chrift, as God alone, could offer a fatisfactory oblation to the Divine juftice; and a body was " prepared for him," that he might have fomewhat to offer. Heb. ch. x. ver. 5. This statement folves the queftion, which has occafioned great difputes in the Lutheran Church, concerning the expiation, whether it were made by Chrift in his Divine or human character. Mofheim, cent, 16. fect. 3. p. 2.

fection