But when JESUS CHRIST, _our great high-priest of good things to come, had, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, to bear the sins of many_; and had _by this one offering of his own body, perfected them that are sanctified_, the service of the first tabernacle was set aside, and as to any utility, or divine authority, ceased forever; as an emblem of which, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, at the very moment of expiation; when Christ our high-priest, by sheding his vital blood and pouring out his soul unto death, _offered his one great sacrifice for sins_. So great, however, was the power of early and national prejudice, that the apostles did not, for some time, understand the extent of their commission. They had, before, been sent on a short mission, on which occasion it was ordered, that they should not go _into the way of the Gentiles_, nor even _enter into any city of the Samaritans_; and they seem to have thought, that by going _into all the world_, and _preaching to every creature_, no more was intended, than that they should go to the seed of Abraham now widely dispersed among the nations. But this veil was soon removed, by a particular revelation made to Peter in a vision; and by the calling of Paul to the apostleship, who, from the beginning, received commission to go to the Gentiles, and was, in a peculiar manner, designated and directed, _to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ_. DR. ALEXANDER’S MISSIONARY SERMON. Footnote 62: Εις τὸ ὁνομα. Footnote 63: Εις Χριστόν. Footnote 65: _See vol. II. Quest. XXXI, XXXII. Page 167, & 185._ Footnote 66: _There is a common aphorism among them, that the sacraments, and baptism in particular, confer grace, ex opere operato._ Footnote 67: _See vol. II. page 166-216._ Footnote 68: The Gospel is glad tidings of great joy, not a system of new and terrifying restrictions and exclusions; so far from retracting formerly conceded privileges, and confining the church within narrower limits, it publishes peace and salvation, and invites the whole human family to participate in these blessings. It must either be referred to the impressions it has made, or to uninterrupted usage that females have, by a general consent, been deemed to possess an unquestionable right to approach the holy communion, though neither precept for it is found, nor an example of it recorded in the Scriptures. This baptism of infants was still less necessary to be enjoined by, and less likely to have been noticed in the short history given us of apostolical transactions.