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| Chapter I.—The apostles did not commence to preach the Gospel, or to place anything on record until they were endowed with the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit. They preached one God alone, Maker of heaven and earth. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
1. We have learned from none others
the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the Gospel has
come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a
later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to
be the ground and pillar of our faith.3309 For it is unlawful
to assert that they preached before they possessed “perfect
knowledge,” as some do even venture to say, boasting themselves as
improvers of the apostles. For, after our Lord rose from the dead, [the
apostles] were invested with power from on high when the Holy Spirit came
down [upon them], were filled from all [His gifts], and had perfect
knowledge: they departed to the ends of the earth, preaching the glad
tidings of the good things [sent] from God to us, and proclaiming the
peace of heaven to men, who indeed do all equally and individually
possess the Gospel of God. Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the
Hebrews3310
3310 On this and
similar statements in the Fathers, the reader may consult Dr.
Roberts’s Discussions on the Gospels, in which they are
fully criticised, and the Greek original of St. Matthew’s Gospel
maintained. | in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were
preaching at Rome, and laying the foundations of the Church. After their
departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, did also hand
down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter. Luke also, the
companion of Paul, recorded in a book the Gospel preached by him.
Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His
breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in
Asia.
2. These have all declared to us that
there is one God, Creator of heaven and earth, announced
by
the law and the prophets; and one Christ the Son of God. If any one do
not agree to these truths, he despises the companions of the Lord; nay
more, he despises Christ Himself the Lord; yea, he despises the Father
also, and stands self-condemned, resisting and opposing his own
salvation, as is the case with all heretics. E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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