1 Friends.---There was a time when the apostles preached Christ that died at Jerusalem; and they witnessed
2 him forth, and brought (for proof) the prophets' testimonies who prophesied
of him. And they that preached
3 Christ's sufferings at Jerusalem, showed the fulfilling of the prophets and
the law, and all that was written of
4 him. And after, the apostles preached Christ the substance (the end of the types and figures) amongst them that
5 had the prophets' words, and the law, and the outward temple; and they showed
them out of the prophets' words,
6 and out of the law, that that was the Christ that died at Jerusalem, and
suffered without the gate.
7 And then there was a time that the apostles preached Christ in them, to them
that did believe and had
8 received him; 'Know ye not, that Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?'
And, 'Christ in you, the hope of
9 glory.' And, 'If Christ be in you, the body is dead.' And, 'They that are
Christ's, have crucified the affections and
10 lusts, and all things are become new.' But this was spoken to them that
believed, who were the saints, to them
11 'Christ in them' was preached, the substance of what the prophets prophesied
of; and to believe in him who was
12 risen, the resurrection. But to the world the apostles preached repentance,
and to believe in Jesus Christ; and
13 taught faith towards God. But to them who were redeemed out of the world,
in and to whom the son of God has
14 made manifest, (who were brought to God, the judge of all, and to the church
in God, and to the innumerable
15 company of angels, and to the spirits of just men, who were made perfect
in him through faith towards God,)
16 preaching repentance and the doctrine of baptism was needless, in whom it
was fulfilled, to and in such as were
17 brought to God. He that can receive this may, for to it there is no private
meaning.
18 There is a time of preaching faith towards God; and there is a time to be
brought to God. But such as are
19 here deny the first priesthood, and witness the second with the eternal
spirit of God; who witness him without
20 father or mother, a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedeck.