related one to another in the Flesh I. Husbands to Wives and Wives to Husbands Of Marriage c. AND the Lord said It is not good that the man should be alone I will make him a help meet for him c. Adam said This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of man Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh Gen. 2. 18 23 24. God commanded Abraham to hearken to his wife in the case of Ishmael and Isaac Gen. 21. 14. Jacob loved Rachel more then Leah c. and when the Lord saw that Leah was hated he opened her womb but Rachel was barren Gen. 29. 30 31. And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children Rachel envied her sister and said unto Jacob give me children or else I die And Jacobs anger was kindled against Rachel and he said Am I in Gods stead who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb Gen. 30. 1 2. 1 Sam. 1. 5. Zipporah the wife of Moses said to him a bloody Husband art thou to me Exod. 4. 25 26. Moses sanctified the people c. and he said unto them be ready against the third day come not at your wives c. Exod. 19. 14 15. None of you shall approach unto any who is near a-kin unto him or remainder of his flesh to uncover nakedness I am the Lord the nakedness of thy father or thy mother c. Lev. 18. 6 7 8 9 10 11 to the 19. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them c. Deut. 7. 3 4. The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth to a man neither shall a man put on a womans garment for all who do so are an abomination unto the Lord thy God Deut. 22. 5. Hannah wept and did not eat Then said Elkanah her Husband to her Hannah why weepest thou and why eatest thou not and why is thy heart grieved am not I better unto thee than ten sons so Hannah rose c. 1 Sam. 1. 8. Saul sent messengers to Davids house to watch him and slay him c. And Michal Davids wife told him c. And let him down through a window and he went and fled and escaped 1 Sam. 19 11 12 13 c. Israels sin in taking strange wives and their sorrow and reformation Ezra 9. ch 10. Jobs wife said unto him Dost thou still retain thine integrity curse God and die But he said unto her Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh What shall we receive good c. Job 2. 9 10. 1 Kings 11. 1 4. Ch. 21. 25. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband but she who maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones Prov. 12. 4. ch 18. 22. The contentions of a wife are a continnal dropping c. A prudent wife is from the Lord Prov 19. 13 14. It is better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious and an angry woman Prov. 21. 19. Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands c. Prov. 31. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16. c. ch 14. 1. Whosoever shall put away his wife saving for the cause of fornication causeth her to commit adultery and whosoever shall marry her who is divorced committeth adultery Mat. 5 31 32. ch 19. 9. The Pharisees said Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause And he answered and said unto them Have ye not read that he who made them at the beginning made them male and female c. Wherefore they are no more twain but one flesh What therefore God hath joyned together let no man put asunder c. Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered c. But it was not so from the beginning it is good not to marry c. he said all men cannot receive it c. he that can let him receive it Mat. 19. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. The woman who hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth but if the husband be dead she is free from the law of the husband So then if while her husband liveth she be marryed to another man she shall be called an adultress but if her husband be dead c. Rom. 7. 2 3. It is good for a man not to touch a woman nevertheless to avoid fornication let every man have his own wife and let every woman have her own husband Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence and likewise also the wife unto the husband The wife hath not power over her own body but the husband and likewise also the husband hath not power of his but the wife Dcfraud you not one the other except with consent for a time that you may give your selves to fasting and to prayer and come together again that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency c. I say to the unmarryed and widows it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain let them marry for it is better to marry than to burn And unto the marryed I command not I but the Lord Let not the wife depart from the husband but if she depart let her remain unmarried c. Let not the husband depart from his wife c. And if any brother hath a wife who believeth not and she be pleased to dwell with him let him not put her away c. for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife c. else were your children unclean but now they are holy c. For what knowest thou O wife whether thou shalt save thy husband c. The time is short it remains that they who have wives be as though they had none c. An unmarried life commended 1 Cor. 7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 29 32 33 to the end Have we not power to lead about a sister a wife as well as other Apostles and the brethren of the Lord and Cephas 1 Cor. 9 5. The head of the woman is the man c. The man is not of the woman but the woman of the man Neither was the man created for the woman but the woman for the man c. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman neither is the woman without the man in the Lord for as the woman is of the man even so is the man also by the woman c. 1 Cor. 11. 3 8 9 11 12. Let your women keep silence in the Churches for it is not permitted to them to speak 〈◊〉 under obedience as also
3. Of the Churches Duties towards their Ministers and such others who labour amongst them 231 4. Of the Elections and Ordination of Officers in Churches ibid. 12. Of laying on of Hands upon the several Occasions and to the several ends in Scripture mentioned 232 13. Of the several Ordinances of Christ to be observed in and by the Churches of Christ and elsewhere Page 232. 1. Prayers 232 See more in Prayer at large Chap. 16. Page 92. See Praising at large Chap. 16. Page 92. 2. Reading Teaching Preaching of the Word of God Prophesying 232 See more of Ministers in general Chap. 26. Page 219. And of Gifts of Church-Members Page 226. 3. Baptisms 234 4. Breaking of Bread or the Lords Supper 235 5. Discipline Church-Censures or removing of Scandals c. 236 See more of Rebuking one another Chap. 17. Page 149. Chap. XXVIII Of Hypocrites and Hypocrisie The Spirits and Practices of such who are very format and earnest in and about the external Parts of Worship and Profession and in a shew for God yet high in their Opposition of Christ the Truth of the Gospel and Power of Godliness in others 237 See more of their persecuting Temper Chap. 22. Page 181. The Danger of Hypocrisie and of Formality and end of Hypocrites 242 Also see Sincerity Chap. 16. Page 134. Chap. XXIX Of the Conscience 243 Chap. XXX Of the Devil of his subtilty wiles and ways by himself and in and by his Instruments wicked Men false Teachers Deceivers and Seducers The Description of them and what concerns the Saints therein 244 1. Of Satan the Devil himself his subtilty c. 244 See more sinners Bondage Chap. 5. Pag. 18. 2. The Instruments of Satan Seducers Deceivers c. And the Saints Duties about it 246 Chap. XXXI Of Consideration Meditation pondering upon and serious weighing of the things of God his Word and Works our selves c. 249 Chap. XXXII Of the Thoughts Mind and Affections Page 251 Chap. XXXIII Of Repentance in the general wherein God cannot repent and wherein or how he is said to Repent Repentance in Man and of his turning to God from sin and in such who have backsâ—idden from following of God and otherwise Page 253 1. Wherein God cannot repent and wherein or how he is said to repent 253 2. Repentance in Man in general and of back-sliders returning c. ibid. Also see God's reasonings with Sinners Chap. 16. Page 125. Chap. XXXIV Of Death the laying down of these Tabernacles Page 256 Chap. XXXV Of the Resurrection from the Dead Page 259 Chap. XXXVI Of Christ's second Coming to the Judgment and rendring unto every Man according to his Deeds done in the Body whether good or bad Page 260 Also see Waiting for Christ's coming Chap. 16. Page 134. Chap. XXXVII Of the Glory prepared for the Saints and reserved to be given to them at the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ Page 262 Also see the End of the Wicked Chap. 5. Page 23. Chap. XXXVIII Of Knowledge and Understanding in and about Divine things and of the want thereof Ignorance about such things and the evil thereof Page 264 See more of the sottish Nature of Man Chap. 5. Page 21. See also the Giver of Knowledge Chap. 20. Page 166. Chap. XXXIX Of this present World and the Titles Honours Pleasures and other things in this World The use of them the Snares and Temptations in them and of the Saints Duties in relation to them Page 270 Chap. XL. Of Idolatry setting up and Worshiâ—ping strange Gods graven Images c. Page 276 Also see Worshipping the true God Chap. 16. Page 88. Chap. XLI Of the Angels their appearing to Men what they are and do Page 280 Chap. XLII Of the Parable and Similitudes which Christ spake Page 282 Chap. XLIII Of the Miracles and wonderful Things which were done by Christ and his Apostles Page 283 Chap. XLIV Of the Kings of Israel and Judah how they came to their Power and Office Page 286 Also see Magistrates at large Chap. 24. Page 211. Chap. XLV Of Sacrifices and Altars and calling upon the Name of the Lord before the giving of the Law Page 286 Chap. XLVI Christianity a difficult thing or it 's hard to be a Christian indeed ibid. Chap. XLVII Of Time or Opportunity Page 287 Chap. XLVIII Of the Signs of the end of the World Page 289 Chap. XLIX Encouragements to wait for hope in and cry to God in a time when our Case seems desperate ibid. Chap. L. God takes notice of a little good in any Page 290 Chap. LI. Of Vowes and Promises to God ibid. Chap. LII Of Blasphemies Page 291 Chap. LIII Of Israel's Murmurings Page 292 Chap. LIV. Of Diligence in our Calling Page 294 Chap. LV. Of Voices Dreams and Visions by which God declared his mind of old Page 295 Chap. LVI Of the Call and Commission of the Apostles equal without Superiority Page 296 Chap. LVII Of Israel's return from the Countries into which they are scattered Page 297 Chep LVIII Of the Seventh Day and the Laws about it And the Change of the first day of the Week Page 299 Chap. LIX Of Usury Page 300 Chap. LX. Of Envy Hatred Emulation Discontent Strife Page 301 Chap. LXI Of Murder the taking away of the Life Man Page 302 Chap. LXII Of Adultery Page 303 Chap. LXIII Of Drunkenness Page 305 Chap. LXIV That great outward Privileges nor our own Righteousness will be security against Judgment here or Damnation hereafter no cause of boasting Page 306 Chap. LXV Of Words and Deeds neither true nor good yet spoke and done to effect things designed or prevent Dangers Page 307 Chap. LXVI Of Words and Sayings expressive of Choice only not binding Page 308 Chap. LXVII Of sensible sick lost Sinners hungry thirsty Souls longing ones such whom Christ came to seek heal satisfie and save Page 309 Chap. LXVIII Of departed Soul's ignorance of Men and Things here in this World Ibid. Chap. LXIX Of Mary the Mother of our Lord according to the Flesh her having of Children by Joseph her Husband Ibid. CHAP. I. Of the Scriptures Written Word of God the Word of Truth their Authority Use End and Excellency Heb. 1. 1. chap. 2. 3 4. Prov. 23. 23. WHAT nation so great that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day Deut. 4. 8. Psal 119. 138 172. Therefore shall ye lay up these words in your heart and in your soul and bind them for a sign upon your hand that they may be as frontlets between your eyes And you shall teach them your children speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way when thou lyest down and when thou risest up And thou shalt write them upon the dore-post of thy house and upon thy gates that your days may be multiplied c. Deut. 11. 18 19 20. ch 6. 6 7 8. Thou shalt read the law before all Israel in their
All these evil things come from within and defile the man Mark 7. 20 21 22 23. Matth. 15. 18 19 20. Jam. 4. 1. Matth. 12. 35 36. His citizens hated him c. saying We will not have this man to reign over us c. Luke 19. 14. John 7. 7. Certain of the Jews banded together and bound themselves with a Curse saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul More than forty Acts 23. 12 13. Light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light c. John 3. 19 20. They became vain in their imagination and their foolish heart was darkned c. and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image c. Wherefore God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts c. Who changed the truth of God into a â—ye and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator c. For this cause God gave them up to vile affections for even the women did change the natural use to that which is against nature c. Being filled with all unrighteousness fornication wickedness covetousness maliciousness full of envy murther debate deceit malignity whisperers back-biâ—ers haters of God despightful proud boasters inventers of evil things disobedient to parents c. covenant-breakers without natural affections implacable unmerciful c. Not only do the same but have pleasure in them who do them Rom. 1. 21 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 31 32. They are all gone out of the way c. Their throat is an open sepulchre with theirtongues they have used deceit the poyson of Asps lies under their lips whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness Their feet are swift to shed blood c. There is no fear of God before their eyes Rom. 3. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19. Psal 5. 9. When we were yet sinners c. enemies we were reconciled Rom. 5. 8 10 12. The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be c. Rom. 8. 7. Now the works of the flesh are c. adultery fornication uncleanness c. Gal. 5. 19 20 21. James 3. 14 15. You who were dead in trespasses and sins wherein in times paâ—t ye walked c. In the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of our flesh Ephes 2. 1 2 3. Col. 2. 13. Other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their minds c. being alienated from the life of God Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness c. The old man which is corrupt Ephes 4. 17 18 19 22. The enemies of the cross of Christ c. Whose god is their belly whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things Phil. 3. 18 19. You who were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works Col. 1. 21. The Jews who kiâ—â—ed the Lord Jesus and their own Prophets and have persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary to all men forbidding us to speak c. To fill up their sins alway for the wrath c. 1 Thes 2. 14 15 16. Who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious but I obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1. 13. A Description of the desperate Wickedness of some in the last Age of the World 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 c. We our selves were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating one another Tit. 3. 3. John 8. 34. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed and when lust hath cenceived it bringeth forth sin James 1. 14 15. ch 4. 1 2. ch 3. 14 15. Ye rich men c. ye have â—ived in pleasures c. been wanton ye have nourished your selves c. James 5. 1 2 3 4 c. Your vain conversation by tradition from your fathers 1 Pet. 1. 18. The time past of our lives may suffice us c. when we walked in lasciviousness lusts excess of wine revellings banquetings and abominable idolatries wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess 1 Pet. 4. 3 4. They have eyes full of adultery who cannot cease from sin 2 Pet. 2. 14. We know that c. the whole world lieth in wickedness 1 John 5. 19. Ungodly men turning the grace of God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord c. Jude vers 10. When God poured out his Viol of Wrath Men blasphemed and repented not Rev. 16. 9 10 11 21. ch 9. 18 19 20 21. See more of Sin Chap. 16. See more of Persecutors Chap. 22. See the Spirits and Practices of Hypocrites Chap. 28. II Ignorant and sottishly opposing the true God and his Ways and adoring Idols of Stocks and Stones WHen Jacob went from Laban Laban complains that he had stolen his Gods Gen. 31. 30. Pharaoh said Who is the Lord that I should obey him c. I know not the Lord Exod. 5. 2. Israel by Aaron made a molten Calf and they said these be thy gods O Israel which brought thee out of Egypt c. They built an altar and offered sacrifice to it Exod. 32. 4 5 6. The Men of Ashdod were so sottish that when Dagon their Idol-God had fallen down before the Arâ— twice and was broken in pieces and themselves had confessed the Hand of the God of Israel to be sore against them and their God yet they continued to call him their God and neither the Priest nor any who came into Dagon's House would after tread upon the Threshold whereon Dagon fell 1 Sam. 5. 2 3 4 5 7. ch 6. 5 6. The wicked say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit should we have if we pray unto him Job 21. 14 15. Who said unto God Depart from us and what can the Almighty do for or by them Job 22. 17. They are those who rebel against the light they know not the way thereof nor abide in the path thereof Job 24. 13. Great men are not wise neither do the aged understand judgment Job 32. 9. The fool hath said in his heart There is no God Psal 14. 1. But unto the wicked God said What hast thou to do to declare my statutes c. seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee c. Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thy self Psal 50. 16 17 21. They slay the widow c. yet they say The Lord shall not see neither shall the God of Jacob regard Understand O ye brutish c. He who planteth the ear shall c. Psal 94. 6 7 8. Evil men understand not judgment Prov. 28. 5. The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master's crib Israel doth not know my people do
let him eat at home 1 Cor. 11. 17 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 33 34. V. Discipline Church-Consares or removing of Scandals IF a soul sin and hear the voice of swearing and is a witness whether he hath seen or known of it if he do not utter it then shall he bear his iniquity Levit. 5. 1. If there were a leper in the camp of Israel he was to be pronounced unclean and his habitation without the campalone Levit. 13. 44 46. When he was to be brought into the camp again he was first to be pronounced clean by the Priest after he had viewed him and offered sacrifices for him and performed other things so for other uncleannesses they were to be separated from the congregation c. and so brought in again Levit. 14. 1 2 3 4 5 c. ch 15. March 8. 4. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart thou shalt in any wise rebake thy neighbour and not suffer in upon him or that thou bear not sin for him Levit. 19. 17. If the people of the land do any way hide their eyes from the man when he giveth of his seed unto Molech and kill him not then I will set my face against that man and against his family Levit. 20. 3 4 5. The Priests or people who were unclean c. by any uncleanness were not to eat or touch the holy things that they might not prophane the holy name of the Lord if they did before they were cleansed they were to be cut off from the presence of Godâ— no it anger was to eat of the holy thing Levit. 22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 14 15. Put out of the camp every leper and every one who hath an issue c. both male and female shall â—e put out c. that they defile not their camp in the midst whereof I dwell and the children of Israel did so c. Numb 5. 1 2 3 4. Deut. 23. 14. Numb 5. 3◠〈◊〉 the King was a leper and being in the temple the Priests thrust him out from thence c. he dwelt in a several house being a leper 〈◊〉 he was cut off from the house of the Lord 2 Chron. 26. 15 20 21. The people of Israel the Priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the people of the land c. for they have taken of their daughters c. so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people c. yea the hand of the princes and 〈◊〉 have been chief in this trespass c. Ezra 9. 1 2. They read in the book of Moses c. that the 〈…〉 should not come into the congregation◠〈◊〉 God for ever c. Now it came to pass when they had heard the 〈◊〉 that they separated from Israel all the mixed mâ—titude Neâ—em 13. â— â— He who spareth his rod hateth his son but he who loveth him c. Prov. 13. 24. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself and discover not a secret to another or the secret of another Prov. 25. 9. Open rebuke is better than secret love Pro. 27. 5. If thou take forth the precious from the vile thou shalt be as my mouth Jer. 15. 19. Her Priests have violated my law and have prophaned mine holy things they have put no difference between the holy and prophane neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean Ezek. 22. 26. They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and prophane and cause men to discern between the unclean and the clean Ezek. 44. 23. Ephraim hath mixed himself among the people c. a cake not turned Hosea 7. 8. Jesus said unto Peter c. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Matth. 16. 18 19. If thy brother shall trespass against thee go and tell him his fault between him and thee if he will hear thee thou shalt gain thy brother but if he will not hear thee then take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established and if he shall neglect to hear them tell it to the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth c. Matth. 18. 15 16 17 18. John 20. 21 22. 23. If thy brother trespass c. rebuke him and if he repent forgive him c. if seven times a day Luke 17 3 4. I beseech you brethren mark them who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them for they are such who serve not our Lord Jesus but their own bellies c. Rom. 16. 17 18. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you and such c. and ye are pussed up and have not rather mourned that he who hath done this deed might have been taken away from among you c. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus c. know ye not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump c I wrote to you in an Epistle not to keep company with fornicators yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world c. But if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous or an idolator c. with such a one no not to â—at for what have I do with them who are without do not ye judge them who are within c therefore put away from among your selves that wicked person 1 Cor. 5. Sufficient to such a man was this punishment or censure which was inflicted of many so that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him and comfort him c. wherefore I beseech you that you would confirm your love to him c. to whom ye forgive any thing I also forgive 2 Cor. 2. 6 7 8 9 10 11. Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers c. What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness c Are ye not the temple of the living God c come out from among them and touch no unclean thing c. 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 16 17 18. When Paul had written to the Galatians about some who troubled them and would pervert the Gospel of Christ c. had preached the circumciâ—ion c. he said to them Ye did run well who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth this perswasion cometh not from him who calleth you a little leaven leaveneth the whole