allowance of our Liberties in the service of God according to his Word we must notwithstanding not forsake the a assembling of our selves together but walk together in the obedience of Christ and b confession of his Faith and Gospel even through the midst of all Trials not accounting our c Goods Lands d Wives Children Father Mother Brethren or Sisters nor our own e Lives dear unto us so as we may finish our f Course with Joy remembring we ought to obey g God rather than Man that so when we have finished our Course and have kept the Faith we may certainly expect to be given unto us the Crown of Righteousness which is laid up for all that love his appearing so that in the mean time we labour to give unto God the things that are h Gods and unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto all men that which i belongeth to them so endeavouring to have a k Conscience void of offence towards God and towards Man and having hope in God that the Resurrection of the l dead shall be of the just unto Life and of the unjust unto Condemnation everlasting If any take this to be m Heresy then do we with the Apostle confess after the way they call Heresy we worship God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ believing all things that are written in the Law and Prophets and Apostles on which foundation all true Christian n Faith is built Christ being the chief Corner-stone Now unto him that is able to keep us that we fall not even to the only wise God and our Saviour be Glory Majesty Dominion and Power both now and for ever Amen a Heb. 10.25 b Mat. 10.32 Rom. 10.9 1 John 4.15 c Heb. 10.34 d Luke 14.26 27. e Acts 21.13 f 2 Tim. 4.7 8. g Acts 4.19 2 Tim. 4.8 h Mat 22.21 i Rom. 12.17 and 13.8 k Acts 24.15 16. l Luke 14.14 Acts 23.6 1 Cor. 15. John 5.29 m Acts 24.14 n Eph. 2.20 A Description of the true Church of Christ with the Practice of all her Ordinances in that holy Order and Government which Christ by his Apostles established the Primitive Churches in as a Pattern for all true Christians to follow the Lamb on Mount Sion in the performance of his Worship With several grounded Reasons from the holy Scriptures to prove that the first Day of the Week is the Gospel-Sabbath With many-useful Observations needful to be known in this Age for the unfolding of the Right Use and Benefit of every Ordinance according to Gods holy Order SEeing glorious things are spoken of the City of God Psal 87.3 let us therefore take a view how and by whom this City or true Church of God was first planted in this Island of Great-Britain The Welch or British People the first Inhabitants of this Land as Gildas affirmeth received the Gospel in the time of Tiberius the Emperor under whom Christ suffered Acts and Mon. Book 2. Pag. 95. He also saith that Joseph of Arimathes after the dispersion of the Jews was sent of Philip the Apostle from France into Britain about the Year of our our Lord 63 and remained in Britain all his time who with his fellows laid the first foundation of the Christian Faith among the British People Gild. de lib. Vict. Aurelii Ambrosii Onesephorus saith that Simon Zelotes did spread the Gospel of Christ to the West Ocean and brought the same into the Isle of Britain Oneseph lib. 2. cap. 4. And thus we see the British People received the faith of Christ and not from Rome fulfilling the Words of the Prophet The Isles shall wait for his Law Isa 42.4 As is expounded by Christ The Gentiles shall trust in his Name Mat. 12. And thus the Gospel was preached to every Creature to wit of Mankind under Heaven Col. 1.22 And the Lords Name was great among the Heathen Mal. 1.11 as was promised to be given to Christ for his Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for his Possession And thus Christ by the preaching of the Gospel being King of Saints is set upon his holy Hill Mount Sion Psal 2.6 8. Rev. 14.1 Where all his Elect are gathered in the dispensation and fulness of times Eph. 1.10 to serve the Lord whose Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of his Kingdom under the whole Heavens hath no end Dan. 7.13 14 27. Luke 1.33 So that in all Nations him that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him Acts 10.35 And thus Christ in his Church doth reign on Earth over both Jews and Gentiles Rom. 15.11 12. and yet no earthly Monarch as will further appear in handling the Ordinance of Christs Government in his Church or Kingdom Now having shewed how and by whom the Church of Christ and his Gospel was first planted in England among the British People In the next place let us behold this Church of Christ how she was planted and established in her primitive Beauty in this Island as in other parts of the World by the heavenly Builders the Apostles 1. Forasmuch as the Scriptures hold forth unto us that every true Church of Christ is a Company of a faithful People called and b separated from the World 〈◊〉 all false Worships c gathered and joyned together with their seed into a holy d Covenant or Marriage-state with the Lord to serve him according to his written Word and thus the Govenant is the Form of the Church by which the faithful and their seed entring into the same do become members of Christs Mystical Body as the Scriptures shew a 1 Cor. 1.2 Rev. 18.4 John 15.19 Acts 19.9 10. and 2.40 b 2 Cor. 16 17. c Isa 60.4 d Esay 62.4 5. Jer. 50.5 2 Cor. 11.1 2. Deut. 26.17 18 19. and 29.10 11. Ezra 9.2 compared with 1 Cor. 7.14 Luk. 18.16 Isa 49.5 2. This Church being thus joyn'd together have power from their Head and Husband Christ Jesus to elect and ordain by a free consent of the whole Church that are come to understanding some from among themselves being found fitly qualified with Gifts and Graces to the office of a Pastor and Teacher for the work of the Ministry and Administration of the Signs or Seals of the benefit of Christs death to wit Baptism and the Lords Supper and likewise to chuse some to be b Elders with the Pastor and Teacher for the Oversight and Guidance of the Church and others to be Deacons c for the gathering the Contribution of the Saints to distribute to the maintenance of the Ministers and relief of the poor and when Widows for helpers be found fit for both Age and Qualifications the Church may likewise enjoy the same as d Deaconists to look after the sick as these Scriptures shew a 1 Tim. 3. Acts 14.23 b 1 Tim. 5.17 c Acts 6.2 3 4. d 1 Tim. 5.9 10. 3. Unto this Church thus gathered and constituted the Lord Jesus hath given his Ordinances every one of them in that holy Order he himself hath
the Ministers of Christ should disdain to be maintain'd with Pope Pascalis his Provision Tithes which he appointed for his Massing Priests in the Year of our Lord 827. as Mr. Bacon in his Book entituled the Reliques of Rome makes appear For before that time all true Ministers of Christ were fed of the Flock they fed and drank of the Vineyard they dressed Therefore let not such say they are Christ's Servants that take Antichrist's wages forasmuch as the Lord Christ who walketh in the midst of his Church is Lord and Lawgiver to the same From whose Throne we may hear his Voice saying Behold I make all things new a new People 1 Pet. 2.10 new Ordinances new Ministry new Maintenance new Time And therefore is the first Day of the Week rightly call'd the Lord's Day by the Spirit of God Rev. 1.10 the Gospel Sabbath As doth also appear further For as the next immediate time after the Lord had finished the work of the old Creation was the seventh day sanctified a Day of holy Rest for the Service and Worship of God Even so the next immediate time after the Lord Jesus had finished the new Creation or Man's Redemption by his Resurrection was the first Day of the Week sanctified a Day of holy Rest by the example of Christ and his Apostles with the Churches whose example in all things they joyntly practised with the Churches as they did keep the first Day of the Week for the Gospel-Sabbath are sufficient Commands for all Christians to follow because it is written Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 And again Be ye followers together of me and mark them which walk so as you have us for an Ensample Phil. 3.18 So that all things the Apostles joyntly practised with the Churches are exemplary Commands to bind us to follow them but they did joyntly with the Churches keep the first Day of the Week to be the Gospel-Sabbath in performing with the Churches the Ordinances ordained by Christ for his Worship So that it is further written If any man think himself to be a Prophet or Spiritual let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the Commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant of this let him be ignorant 1 Cor. 14.37 38. Yet that the first Day of the Week is the Gospel-Sabbath is confirmed by a second Reason That as the Light was created in the first Day with which the Lord deck'd the World as with a Garment Psal 104.2 Unto which Work of the Lord in the first Day is the Spiritual Light compared by the Apostle in the new Creation as it is written 2 Cor. 4. God who said that out of Darkness Light should shine hath shined in our hearts That they that once were in Darkness might be made light in the Lord Eph. 5.8 And thus on the first Day of the Week by Christ's Resurrection was Life and Immortality brought to light by the Gospel in the glad tidings of Christ's Resurrection who was risen for the Justification of those he died for Therefore is it a Day of everlasting Joy to all such as are made Partakers thereof never to be forgotten but to be kept in holy remembrance of God's Love to Man in Christ and in performing Christ's Ordinances in which the Love of God in Christ shineth and is evidently set forth unto them And thus much to convince them that say Christ hath not appointed any particular Time for his Gospel-Worship The next Place to answer the seventh day Sabbath Keepers Argument for the seventh Day in opposition to the first Day who say The seventh Day Sabbath is not abolished because it was commanded to be kept by a Moral Precept Ans Though the seventh Day was commanded to be kept by a Moral Precept so likewise the Ordinances for the Worship of God then appointed and chiefly performed on the seventh Day were commanded by a like Moral Precept in the second Commandment And as the Ordinances for Worship then all christians grant are now abolished by Christ though commanded by a Moral Precept being Figures of good things to come by Christ Even so by the like reason the seventh Day Sabbath figuring rest in Christ is abolished by Christ though commanded to be kept by a Moral Precept So though the Ceremonial Ordinances with the Time under the Law are ended yet the Spiritual Equity remaineth of both second and fourth Commandments As for Example as the second Commandment bound all Israel to worship the Living God with the Ordinances given by the hand of Moses and likewise forbid them all Inventions of Men in God's Worship and all Christians grant these Ceremonial Ordinances of the Law are abolished yet the second Commandment remains binding to all Christians now as of old to worship the living God with those Ordinances appointed by the Lord Jesus and no other and likewise forbiddeth all Inventions of Men in the Worship of God under the Gospel Col. 2.20 21 22. So likewise though the seventh Day Sabbath is abolished yet the fourth Commandment remaineth binding to all Christians now to keep one Day in seven holy to the Lord and who should appoint us which Day of the seven but Christ's Example with his Disciples John 20. and his Apostles whose Examples as aforesaid in what they joyntly practised with the Churches are Commands for us to follow as is afore proved Therefore the first Day is the Gospel Sabbath And that all the Sabbaths under the Law are ended is proved by the same Apostle to the Churches Let no Man judg you in Meats or in Drinks or in respect of an holy Day or of the New-Moons or of the Sabbaths which are shadows of good things to come but the Body is of Christ Col. 2.16 17. And thus by the Day-break of the Gospel the Shadows Cant. 2.17 are gone yet not one Tittle of the Moral Law in the Spirituality thereof is abolished Mat. 5.17.18 As doth further appear By the Number Seven in the Law of Moses were many Mysteries shaddowing good things in Christ to be fulfilled To instance a few of many as the sprinkling of the Blood seven times before the Lord signifying a full cleansing of all our Sins by the Blood of Christ Heb. 9.18 1 John 1.9 And seven times sprinkling the Leper Lev. 14.17 And seven days consecrating the Priests Lev. 8.8 The seventh Year a Year of Rest Lev. 25.3 4. and seven times seven Years brought the Jubile Ver. 8 9. And every seventh day was a Sabbath All which Shadows Christ the Substance being come are in him abolished and all that do believe in him are freed from the literal keeping of the same Nevertheless there remaineth a special Use from all these Figures to us that believe being apprehended by Faith in Christ according as Christ himself and his Apostles have applied them for the Saints Use and Comfort As namely when the Altar of Burnt-Offering is mentioned in the New
Testament we are taught the Doctrine of Christ's Oblation Rev. 11.1 Heb. 13.10 So likewise from the Altar of Incense the Doctrine of his Mediatorship Rev. 8.5 So the Passover to the Supper 1 Cor. 5.7 8. Circumcision to Baptism Col. 2.11 the Pillars to the Teachers Gal. 2.9 And when the Tabernacle is mentioned it is a sign of God's dwelling with his People Rev. 21.3 Also the Candlesticks signify the Churches Rev. 1.20 And so likewise the 7th-day-Sabbath to our Rest in Christ Heb. 4.10 From all which Shadows and many more we may draw spiritual Comfort forasmuch as our Faith is not built only on the Doctrine of the Apostles but also upon the Doctrine of the Prophets Christ being held forth to be the chief Corner-Stone in both as they are expounded by Christ and his Apostles And so if the Lord open the Eyes of our Understanding as he did his Disciples Luk. 24.45 we shall behold the wondrous things in God's Law Psal 119.18 Therefore Christ beginning at Moses and in all the Prophets expounded the Scriptures in all things concerning himself which until the vail be taken away from off the eyes and heart none can steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished 2 Cor. 3.13 neither do understand how Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to all that believe Rom. 10.4 yet not one tittle useless but all Scripture is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness able to make the Man of God perfect in all understanding in the mystery of the same 2 Tim. 3.16 as in that mystery why Moses must be honoured above all other Prophets to be buried of God himself Because the Law of Shadows was given by the hand of Moses from God therefore God would have the Shadows of his Son honourably buried by the Lord Jesus who buried all Shadows in the Law with the time himself resting in the grave the whole time of the seventh-day Sabbath so buried all Moses's Shadows in the Law And therefore in this sense is it written The Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. So that by Grace we are saved in Christ and not by the works of the Law as the seventh-day Keepers expect in the New-Testament A form of words saying Remember to keep holy the first day as it was said in the Law to keep the seventh day These with Thomas are weak in the Faith that must feel by the sense of Nature before they will believe and so remain under the Curse and not the Blessing by exercising Faith and not resting on the letter of the Law in expecting a literal Commandment in the Gospel for all our belief and practice and so make the Gospel a secondary Law of Works when all Christians ought to stand on a better foundation and to know that the things chiefly necessary to be specified in the New Testament were the exhibiting the Messiah in the flesh for the redemption of his People with the manner of his Birth Life Doctrine Suffering Death Burial Resurrection and Ascension and sitting at the right-hand of God with the calling of the Gentiles to the Faith with their Infants to be fellow-heirs with the believing Jews and their children forasmuch as the Promises in the Prophets belonged to them with the abolishing the Ordinances with the time in the Law in the literal performance as aforesaid and now to follow the footsteps and examples of Christ and his Apostles who have established by their practices in the Churches new Ordinances new Ministers Maintenance Time and Place for Gospel-Worship c. as we have proved before and that the Apostles with the Churches did keep the first-first-day of the week for Gospel-Worship so did the Christians some hundreds of years after as is shewed in Anno Christi 111. Ignatius in Epistola ad Magnes after the Sabbath or setting aside the Sabbath as some translate it Let every one that loves Christ keep holy the Lord's Day the Queen of Days the Resurrection day the highest of all Days Anno 150. Justin Martyr Apol. 2. saith Vpon the day call'd Sunday or Lord's Day all that abide within the Cities or Villages do meet together in some place where the Records of the Apostles and Writings of the Prophets are read unto us then standing up together we send up our Prayers to Heaven which being ended there is delivered unto us Bread and Wine And the richest sort every one as his good will is contributeth something towards the relief of the poor Brethren Anno 160. Dionysius Bishop of Corinth in his Epistle to Soter Bishop of Rome Euseb Histor Eccles lib. 4. cap. 22. saith We have spent or passed through the Lords Day to day an holy Day Anno 226. Origen Exod. 16. Homil. 7. saith Vpon the Lords Day the Lord always rains Manna from Heaven namely the heavenly Truth of the Word read and preached to the People All which Testimonies and many more shew that the Christians before Constantine's time did keep the first Day for the Gospel-Sabbath and not as some have said that the first Day was not kept till Constantine's time which is a gross Mistake for Constantine did not reign till about the Year of our Lord 316. And because as is likely the first Day then as now among Christians was prophaned with Mens corrupt Minds in doing their worldly business and neglect of God's Service therefore did Constantine the Emperor as our King hath now sign an Act or Edict for the better keeping or restraining Abuses in Civil things on the Lord's Day yet the Edict in Constantines time did not any more than this Act in our time doth prove by its then setting forth that the Lord's Day was not kept before as Authors afore named shew before Constantine's time and in our Days before the Act came forth the Lord's Day was kept holy a Sabbath to the Lord though by many much prophaned And thus we see how greatly some that go by the Name of Seventh-Day Men are mistaken to say that the first Day of the VVeek was not kept for Gospel-VVorship till Constantines time Moreover though the seventh Day in the fourth Commandment is abolished and the first Day come in the place yet the Holiness remains to the first as it did to the seventh Day by virtue of the fourth Commandment As for Example If the same Scriptures in the Law commandeth the Worshippers under the Gospel to be holy as God is holy because the Covenant by which the Lord was a Husband to them was holy 1 Pet. 1.15 16. Levit. 11.44 Then the same Scriptures that commanded the Time for Worship under the Law commands the Time for Gospel-Worship to be kept now holy under the Gospel Esay 58.13 14. Moreover as there was a Time when the Seventh-day Sabbath did begin so there is a Time when the Gospel-Sabbath taketh its beginning And because many People in divers Nations differ much about the Time as
the Athenians kept the first Day from Evening to Evening as the Jews kept their Sabbath the Chaldeans begin the time at Sun-rising the Aegyptians at Noon but most People in these Western parts of the World keep the first Day from Midnight to Midnight which most agreeth with the time of Christ's Resurrection who lying in the Grave the whole Seventh-day Sabbath rose most likely so soon as the seventh Day ended because then the first Day began with the Sun-rising for it riseth to us after twelve a clock So Christ the Sun of Righteousness is said to be risen very early in the Morning while it was yet dark John 20.1 So then the Seventh-day Sabbath was past Mat. 16.1 at the rising of the Sun Acts 2. For it may be said the Sun is risen after twelve a clock as we call it Morning at one a clock about which time our Gospel-Sabbath takes its beginning and endeth about the same time as Paul upon an extraordinary occasion continued his Preaching with the Performing of the rest of Christ's Ordinances till twelve a Clock of the First Day of the Week at Night Acts 20.7 And as the time being changed to the first Day with the Holiness thereof even so by the virtue of the fourth Commandment are we also forbidden all manner of Work on the first Day as was forbidden on the seventh Day of old As saith the Prophet If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a Delight the holy of the Lord honourable not doing thy one pleasures nor speaking thy own words Isa 58.13 Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord ver 14. But it is much to be feared that Gospel Professors are not acquainted with this Scripture when on the first Day of the Week they can work in their Trade apart some all day some carry home Work sell Wares write Letters of worldly Business ride Journies make Bargains and cast up their Books of Accompts take Voyage to Sea Let all such know that because Sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily therefore the heart of the Sons of Men is fully set in them to do evil Eccles 8 11. God will punish the Breakers of this Time for Gospel-Worship as he did the Breakers of the Seventh-day Sabbath under the Law Moreover If the Lord made it a special Reason that Israel of old should keep the Seventh day Sabbath upon their Deliverance out of Aegypt on which Day it may be supposed they came out Deut. 5.15 Sure our Spiritual Deliverance from the Spiritual Bondage of Sin and Satan of which Bondage Aegypt was a Figure is therefore a more weightier reason why we should keep the Day of our Deliverance even the first Day of the Week the Day wherein the Redemption of all the Elect was accomplished by Christ's Resurrection from the dead And again if Israel were enjoyned to keep the Seventh-day upon their Deliverance how much more are all Christians bound upon the same Ground and Reasons to keep the Day of our Deliverance And again If the bringing of Israel out of Aegypt was such a Work as God for the memorial thereof made both the Day and Month the Beginning and first Month of the Year which was not so before Exod. 12.2 and the Deliverance as afore but a Figure of our Spiritual How much more then is that Day to be accounted of and kept holy above all Days in the Year in which we were delivered from our Spiritual Bondage by the Resurrection of Christ who suffered on that day that Sin was first committed in Paradise and also after he had suffered for Sin lay in the Grave the Seventh day Sabbath the chief time that the Sacrifice for Sin was consumed on the Altar And thus when the holy Scriptures which consist of Prophecies Histories Parables Mysteries Statutes Judgments and the like are rightly as saith the Apostle divided we may not be ashamed as some whom he blamed that desired to be Teachers of the Law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm keeping the Seventh-day Sabbath for the Gospel-Sabbath mingling the Law and Gospel together either in our Justification before God and likewise in practice by keeping the Letter of the Law in the Seventh-day Sabbath as the only Time for Gospel-Worship so making the Lord Jesus in his Church inferior to Moses And lastly Having given this brief observation of the state of the Church of Christ from his Ascension to the end of the World with the Confession of Faith in which the Primitive Churches were established and the heavenly Order they performed all the Ordinances of Christ with the Ministry Maintenance and Time Let the Reader wisely observe that in this last Age of the World we are told that after the last glorious Reformation under the seventh Angel as is described in the Preface Satan will be loosed out of his Restraint or Prison again and because he knows he hath but a short time will gather together his Armies comprehended under the name of Gog and Magog Rev. 20. whose names signify covered or to cover to wit but not with my Spirit saith the Lord Isa 30.1 but with his Angelick Doctrines as if they came from Heaven So will he use his uttermost sleights to deceive as Christ saith if it were possible the very Elect by his false Apostles and Prophets with their vain titles and gilded shews of Church and Ministry So that the Harlot or false Church called a Beast is said to have Horns like the Lamb Christ Rev. 13.11 yea she is said to be arrayed with Purple and Scarlet gilded with Gold precious Stones and Pearls Rev. 17.4 as if she were the Queen and Spouse of Christ Psal 45.9 13. Ezek. 16.10 13. Cant. 7.5 She hath Peace-offerings and Vows Prov. 7.14 as if she were the very Church of God Psal 66.13 Bread and Water to refresh her Children Prov. 9.16 17. and her number great and many Jer. 5.7 yet but a well-favoured Harlot Nah. 3.4 who by her alluring tongue whereby she lieth in wait to deceive Eph. 4.14 Rom 16.18 hath cast down many wounded yea many strong men have been slain by her for her house is the way to Hell going down to the Chambers of Death Prov. 7.26 27. Therefore what special care ought every one to have that tender their souls eternal happiness to examine what estate they are in and whether the Congregation they are members of be the true Church of God seeing in these last days Christ telleth us that many false Christs and false Prophets shall arise and deceive many Now if in Nature we were warned of these dangers and harms to the Body what strong watch would we set at our gates both night and day to prevent it how much more being warned by these Lines of the dangers of these last and perilous days wherein so many unstable souls are beguiled that never try by God's Word what they hear but if it suit with the natural sense it is yeelded to for a Truth when as the natural man cannot judg in matters of Faith seing he perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God and so upon this false ground is the whole Gospel of Christ perverted and made a secondary Law of works that if men believe as the general part of the Church believes it is true belief and if they go to hear a Sermon and sometimes break Bread it is all the service God requires of them in the Church or Congregation Let us intreat such not thus to deceive themselves or any longer be led away by Deceivers to think if they imitate a part of God's service or without Faith in what they do they are in a good condition Let such know the contrary for Cain as well as Abel offered sacrifice yet were not both accepted Gen. 4. Israel in their Apostacy erected a Temple an Altar and Ministry 1 King 12.28 And did not the two women plead both considently for the living Child 1 King 3.16 and whose could it be but hers that loved it most Even so who is the true Church of Christ but they that love him most and who are those Churches that love Christ most but they that keep all his Commandments as it is written He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Joh. 14.21 But how shall such Churches be said to love Christ that shut out of his Church or Kingdom his true Ministry and also the performance of several of his Ordinances For proof thereof we refer the conscienable Reader that will judg without partiality comparing the practice of the Church in this day and their faith to the primitive practice that we the poor despised Christians falsly called Brownists have here set down as our Belief and Practice desiring the Lord in his mercy to bless these our Labours to this Generation even the elect among them that they seeing their Lords pleasure may flee to him whom they love in his true Church as Doves to their windows Isae 60.8 Now to him that is able to keep us from falling even the only wise God and our Lord Jesus Christ be all Glory Honour and Praise rendred now and for evermore Amen FINIS
29. d Mat. 21.43 e 1 Thess 2.12 Rev. 1.9 Heb. 12.28 f 1 Chron. 24.25 26. g 1 Pet. 2.9 h Rev. 4.5 Levit. 24.8 Numb 8.2 i Rev. 10.4 k Rev. 5.5 l John 15.15 Col. 2.3 m Mat. 13.11 n Rom. 16.25 Again 2. In chap. 6 is shewed How that for the Sins of the Churches who began to revolt from the Faith once given to the Saints which they were commanded to a contend for but neglecting their b Watch herein Hypocrites crept in among them deluding them by their c fair Speeches so deceiving the hearts of the simple they soon embraced the Doctrine of Antichrist for many Opposers of the Truth were in those days And so the Churches fell more and more from the Truth as was clearly signified by the opening of the Seals Rev. 6. and sounding of the Trumpets Rev. 8. So that the Sun wherewith the Church was cloathed became black as d Sackcloth of Hair the Moon bloody the Stars the Ministers fell from the heavenly Doctrines of Faith to e earthly things like unto the Doctrine of these times that Men speak evil of those things they cannot comprehend by f corrupt Nature So that the heavenly State of the Church was rolled up together as a g Scroll That as God of old delivered his Church for like sins into the hands of the old Babylonians who destroyed both Temple and City and killed many and would not suffer their Bodies to be put in the h Grave Even so did the Lord deliver the Christians into the hands of the Spiritual Babylon the Romish Harlot who like old Babylon killed many of God's Servants and would not suffer their Bodies to be put in the i Grave Notwithstanding though the Beast was said in a sense to overcome k he Saints yet he could not for they were with Christ in this War the called chosen and faithful l all the time of the thousand Years of the Beasts Reign and would not worship the Beast nor his Image neither had received his Mark in their Foreheads by openly yielding unto his Canons nor secretly in their Hands by paying his Priests their duties as they call them but by Falth keeping the Commands of God they lived and m reigned with Christ a thousand years on n Earth and this was in the time of the Beast's Reign else the Praise given them by God's Spirit had not been properly belonging unto them of not worshipping the Beast So that they are under a great Mistake that have taught from Rev. 20.4 that the Saints have not yet reigned with Christ on Earth and how many have been deceived in this Point by them when the Saints Reign on Earth is not after an earthly manner as in pag. 18. is shewed but over Sin the World and the Devil and this is the Saints Victory even their Faith So saith Paul I have fought the good Fight I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown not of Gold as some expect on Earth but of Righteousness and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ a Jude v. 3. b 1 Cor. 16.13 c Rom. 16.18 d Rev. 6 12. e Phil. 3.19 f Jude 10. John 6.60 g Rev. 6.14 h Psal 79.1 2 3. 2 Chron. 36.19 20. i Rev. 11.8 9. k Rev. 13.7 l Rev. 17.14 m Rev. 20.4 n Rev. 5.10 3. As God of old in Wrath remembred mercy to his ancient Church captivated in Babylon signified to Ezekiel there by the little Book given him to a eat that he must prophesie again to the dry b Bones to call them to Repentance and to return and build the Temple as was further signified to Zachary by a measuring c Line shewed him that Jerusalem should be built and the Temple in it and God's Worship restored as was accomplished in the days of Nehemiah Ezra Zachary and Haggai As their Books do shew at large Even so did the Lord in Wrath remember Mercy to his Church captivated by the spiritual Babylon Therefore by a like Sign as was shewed to Ezekiel so to John that he must eat the little d Book signifying how the Lord after a thousand years of the Beasts Reign would raise up his faithful Servants and deliver his Captives as was fulfilled in the end of the sixth Seal Rev. 7. and the beginning of the seventh with a measure of John's Spirit to call his Elect out of the Spiritual e Babylon the Romish Church the great City which reigned over the Kings of the Earth whose f City was so large as she reigned over all People Kindreds Tongues and Nations where her Canons and Orders were obeyed So that to the Elect among these must the Eaters of the little Book prophesy as Ezekiel did to the dry Bones that lay dead in the g Antichristian Errors So that the rest of the dead lived not again h since their Fall in Adam and their own Trespasses and Sins since comitted in spiritual i Fornication with the Romish Harlot until the thousand years Reign of the Beast was ended which time of her Reign to wit her Eclesiastical Estate in making Laws over Mens Consciences began about the year of our Lord 313 or 315. and made not an end of making Laws till about the year 1564. The Councel of Trent was the last wherein the Beast perceiving that the Lord began to raise up his Servants to shew all Nations deluded by her k Sorceries the Judgment of the great Whore who now did gather together her Armies of m Locusts in this last Councel but all in vain as was said to Ezekiel when God's time was come to deliver his People out of old Babylon The Time is at hand and the n Effect of every Vision So was it in like sence said to John There shall be Time no o longer But in the dayes of the Voice of the seventh Angel when he shall begin to sound the Mysteries of God shall be finished as he hath declared to his Servants the Prophets So that it appeareth the last great Mystery in the Prophets before Christ's coming to Judgment was to raise up all his Elect out of the Graves of Sin as is this last restoring of his Church out of the spiritual Babylon so that from the time the Kingdom of Israel was divided under p Rehoboam there was no Mystery more to be observed from that Estate as it is written Behold Israel 1 Cor. 10.18 but in their Captivity and Return out of the same Which second Temple building answered this second Restauration as aforesaid in these last days A Point worth observing a Ezek. 3.3 b Ezek. 3.7 c Rev. 18.4 f Rev. 17.18 g Eph. 2.1 2. h Rev. 20.5 i Rev. 17.2 k Rev. 18.23 l Rev. 17.1 m Rev. 9.3 n Ezek. 12.22 o Rev. 10.6 p 1 Kin. 11.11 12 13. 4. The Time when the seventh Angel began to sound or the Eaters of the little Book began to prophesy as aforesaid was about the year of our Lord 1541. To mention one one or two
of many to wit Luther and Calvin at that time casting of the little Book the Light of Gods written Word revealed by his Spirit to them called all to come and see both by their Preaching and Printing found out not long before the Judgment of the great Whore So not only many of Gods Elect were enlightned and did forsake her but also Kings did begin to hate her as God promised As King Henry the 8th of this Nation who destroyed out of this Land the Lord Abbots and Cardinals And after him that worthy Prince his Son Edward the Sixth sent away a great part of the Swarms of Locusts to wit Jesuits Monks aand Friars of all sorts black white and gray and turned their Monasteries into Hospitals But as the Temple after the Captivity out of old Babylon was forty six years in building by reason of wicked hinderances to wit Tobias Sanballer and his Crew So was the Lords spiritual Building of which the former was a Figure hindred in Queen Maries days until Queeen Elizabeths days of happy memory according to the Lords Promise was put into her heart with her honourable Council who by the authority given her did as with a Besom sweep away abundance of those poysoned Locusts and Scorpions that had by the Doctrine of See the Epistle to Mr. Bacon 's Book entituled the Reliques of Rome or 17 Errors in Queen Elizabeths days sent packing to Rome from whence they had their birth but some are crept in here again Free-will and the like stung and venomed every Conscience that they could bear no wholsom Doctrine Which Locusts that came out of the bottomless Pit we shall not presume to interpret lest their Brethren be angry but rather hope we may without offence to any only give you the Judgment of the learned Ministers in Queen Elizabeth's days who in the margent of the great Bibble in quarto and in folio published by the Queens authority have on Rev. 9.3 expounded the Locusts to be false Teachers Hereticks worldly and subtile Prelates with Monks Friars Cardinals Arch-Bishops Bishops Doctors Batchelors Masters that forsake Christ to maintain false Doctrine Moreover in this Queens days the Lord to help forward his spiritual Building raised many famous Instruments To mention one to an hundred namely Henry Barrow John Greenwood John Penry Henry Ainsworth John Robinson John Turner who by the sence of the little Book which was sweet in their mouths but bitter in their bellies that is a wo to them if they did not publish the same made manifest both by their Preaching and * See H. Barrow 's Discovery his Answer to Giff. Greenwood against read Prayer Jo. Penries with the Examination of the two former and their Answers Ainsworth's Counterpoison his Defence of Holy Scripture his Arrow against Idolatry his Communion of Saints his Annotations on the 5 Books of Moses with the Psalms Canticles Robinsons Justification of Separation The Confession of Faith sent to many Vniversities in several Nations Turner's heavenly Conference for Sions Saints VVriting according to the golden Reed given to measure the spiritual Building the Doctrine of the Temple Altar and VVorshippers VVhich Phrase of Temple and Altar is taken from the Prophets the Record of the Temple built after the Captivity which Christ when he was come in the flesh taught us it signified his Humanity John 2.19 21. God manifested in the flesh The b Altar figured the Doctrine of his Oblation and Mediation for his Church and the whole measuring the Temple Altar and VVorshippers signifying the Restoring of the Christian Religion from the Apostacie of Antichrist and more particularly the Temple figured Christ truly professed for his Person and Doctrine of true Christianity and the Constitution of his Church therein and the Altar the Doctrine of his Oblation and c Mediation for his Church and the VVorshippers are faithful Christians which worship God in Spirit and in Truth and not according to the appointment of Mahomet nor the appointment of the Pope but according to the appointment of the Lord Jesus the only Lord and Law-giver to his Church and Arch-Bishop of our Souls contrary to the Heresies and Abominations of Antichrist who together with all that obey his Orders in the service of God make up one Body together the Man of Sin a 1 Cor. 9.16 b Rev. 6.9 Heb. 13.10 12. Lev. 4.7 c Rev. 8.3 So that by these and the like Servants of the Lord aforesaid whose Doctrine wrought effectually in the hearts of God's Elect so that there were many famous true Churches planted in this Nation and other Parts for whose sake the Blessing of God promised was on this and other Nations as it is written a I will make them saith the Lord and the Places round about my Hill a Blessing and I will cause the shower to come down in his season and there shall be showers of blessings inwardly and outwardly Love to God walking after him in his b Commands and one to another in neighbourly c Love and Unity which sweet and heavenly Work of God among Christians in this Nation the Aged that remember former days 50 or 60 years ago or more can witness to the same and lament the want thereof now So that when God raiseth up his true Ministers to hold forth his Truth as it is in Jesus it did prepare all degrees to Mercies But on the contrary now these Mercies are despised God in his just judgment sendeth in his Wrath upon lukewarm Professors or Christians strong delusions in the increase of false Teachers by their Errors to prepare all Degrees that are led away by them to Judgment And this was wofully experienced of old in the Church of e Israel as among Christians now After the Lord had delivered them out of Captivity had built both City and Temple and restored his true Worship when Christ came to begin his Ministry among them they were so corrupted in thirty years time that there was scarce Faith f found in Israel let this Age mind that The Temple was made a House of h Merchandise God's Law made void by their Tradition and the rest perverted from the true i meaning by the glosse of the Pharisees and they divided into divers Sects some Pharisees some Sadduces and some Herodians And though these Sects were divided one against another yet all could agree together against Christ as the Psalmist complained k They generally despised all the Counsel of Christ who sought to reclaim them being faithless They who seem'd to be affected with Christ when Christ taught them the Doctrines of Faith because by Nature they could not understand them they then l forsook him VVhich is the general state of Professors now who cannot endure any Doctrine except it sute with their natural capacity And in the end the Jews with the Romans crucified him and killed and persecuted afterwards his Servants for which God's Judgments hastened on them m as Christ foretold So that Josephus faith that Titus
so unfit to plow in the Lords Vineyard Deut. 22.10 Neither are such good Souldiers of Jesus Christ in the spiritual VVarfare of the Gospel that are afraid to reprove those of his Flock that wear Perriwigs but rather smooth them up with a few slender reproofs Isa 30.10 lest they lose their friendship with the world viz. such worldly Professors But if the Ministers themselves wear Perriwigs as many do then not one word against that odious guise lest they bid him cast out the beam out of his own eye and pluck off his own Perriwig and so make him look like his Father Adam with short hair in his Creation who was made very good without long hair the shame of Nature Gen. 1.31 1 Cor. 11.14 And again more Disorders abound all suiting these last times to the days of Noah in whose days all flesh had corrupted their way before God so that one particular is above all others named that the Sons of God to wit Members of the Church married with the Daughters of Men that is the World Cain's Posterity for which sin among others the Lord said his Spirit should not by Noah's Preaching strive with them any longer but till the Ark was finished and then were they all destroyed And how much differing is the state of the Sons of Men now especially among the Professors who are not onely corrupted in their Faith and Worship being compared to the Primitive Pattern but also in Marriages when generally Members of separated Congregations will marry those with whom they will not Joyn in communion in the Lords Supper and other spiritual Duties And is not this their Practice in their own judgments sinful in the breach of the plain Doctrine of the Apostle who teacheth all Christians to marry with whom they please only in the Lord and do not they that marry with them they refuse visibly to joyn with in the Church in all the Ordinances of the Lord say that such are not in the Lord 1 Cor. 7.39 Yet more Abominations than these there are While some deny the Resurrection of the Body and also deny the Scriptures to be the Rule of our Faith pressing men to observe only the Light within Some also believe that Men have free-will or power in themselves to turn from Sin to God contrary to John 6.44 Phil. 2.13 For these and the like Evils which these times are full of which saith the Apostle will come and is now come that Men will not endure sound Doctrine 2 Tim. 4.3 which is comparable to Fire Jer. 23.29 in the hearts of God's Children that is Zeal inflamed in love to Christ to follow him in the ways of his VVord 1 John 2.5 Rom 8.35 But it s Opposite is Self-love a clear sign it is the last time as the Apostle foresaw saying This know also that in the last days perillous times will come for men shall be lovers of themselves covetous boasters proud blasphemers and the like 2 Tim. 3.1 2. So that this sin of self-love is set as the capital and master-ruling sin in these latter days opposite to the love of God in the hearts of the Elect which many waters cannot quench Cant. 8.8 But the nature of self-love is cold as Christ saith Because Iniquity will abound and the Love of many will wax cold Mat. 24.12 comparable to Hail Rev. 16.21 Job 38.22 the coldest thing in Nature which will prove the effects of God's great Judgments on the Professors of these last Ages who because they received not the Truth in the love of it 2 Thess 2.10 but of themselves which seiseth on them as a Judgment of God out of Heaven that they blaspheme against God and his Truth Eph. 4.14 because of the airy Doctrine of Errors aforesaid which leadeth them from all love to God Mat. 22 37 39. and their Neighbours to all covetous and cruel oppression of one another with all fraud and deceit as men already complain that a man cannot tell who to believe or put trust unto for as Faith decayeth all unreasonableness in Men increaseth 2 Thess 3.2 And so Christs words will be fulfilled who saith When the Son of Man cometh shall he find Faith upon the Earth And to conclude Thus the Days of Noah hasten by a sign in the end of the seventh Seal taken from an action of the Priests under the Law who took fire from the Altar and cast it yonder to signify how the Lord rejected the disorderly service of Corah even so the Angel signifying Christ at the golden Altar took fire in his Censer and cast it into the Earth by a like sign how he rejected the service of all Christians that serve not him by his own Ministry Ordinances and holy Order he hath appointed in his last VVill and Testament Numb 16.37 Rev. 8.5 The Articles of the Confession of our Faith WEE believe with the heart and confess vvith the mouth I. That there is but one God a one Christ one Spirit one Church one Truth one Faith one true Religion one b Rule of Godliness and Obedience for all Christians in all places at all times to be observed a Deut 6.4 1 Tim. 2.5 Ephes 4.4 6. 1 Cor. 8.6 John 14.6 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6 13. b 1 Tim. 6.3 Deut. 4.6 12.32 1 Cor. 4.17 2 Tim. 3.15 16. Gal. 1.9 Rev. 22.18 19. II. God is a Spirit a whose Being b is of Himself and giveth Being c Moving and Preservation to all other things being himself Eternal d most Holy e every way Infinite f in Greatness Wisdom Power Goodness Justice and Truth In this Godhead there are Three g in One and One in Three the Father Son and Spirit being every one of them the same God and therefore not divided but distinguished by their several and peculiar Properties The Father of whom is the Son but he of none the Son begotten of the Father from everlasting the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son before all beginnings a John 4.24 b Exod. 3.14 c Rom. 11.36 Acts 17.28 d 1 Tim. 1.17 e Esay 6.3 f Esay 66.1 Psal 139.7 g 1 John 5.8 9. Mat. 28.19 Heb. 1.3 Phil. 2.6 Mic. 5.2 Psal 2.7 1 John 1.2 3. III. God hath decreed a in himself from everlasting touching b all things and the very least c circumstance of every thing effectually to work and dispose them according to the Counsel d of his Will to the Glory of his Name And as touching his chiefest Creatures God had in Christ before e the Foundation of the World fore-ordained f some Men and Angels g to eternal Life to be accomplish'd h through Jesus Christ to the Praise of his Glory and Grace and hath also according to his just purpose some of the Angels when fallen left them in their fallen Estate i to eternal Condemnation to be accomplish'd through their own leserts and also leaving some Men in their fallen Estate to eternal Condemnation through their own corruptions to the praise of his Justice a Isa
for their souls and if the flock be poor then their Ministers with all cheerfulness to labour f with their hands to help to supply their own wants and as a good Shepherd willing to lay down his life for the Flock by the example of the great Shepherd the Lord Jesus a Acts 14.23 Acts 6.3 5 6. Rev. 1.20 and 2 3 chap. Numb 8.9 10. b Tit. 1.5 c 1 Tim. 5.17 Heb. 13.17 d 2 Tim. 2.4 1 Tim. 4.15 e Prov. 27.23 Acts 20.28 1 Cor. 19.14 Gal. 6.6 f Acts 20.34 1 Cor. 4.12 1 Thes 2.9 2 Thes 3.8 XVI Christ hath given a power to his Churh not onely to elect and ordain Ministers to serve therein but if they be found to teach evil Doctrine or make default in administration or an evil conversation first being in meekness and love admonished if they will not hear by due order to depose them from the Ministry and if they persist obstinate and remain impenitent to cut them off from the Body by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ in the time of Government by Excommunication and likewise if any other member be found guilty of sin and remain obstinate b after due admonition like as aforesaid to be cast out of the Church that the Camp of the Lord be not defiled where the Lord dwelleth a Mat. 18.17 1 Tim. 5.19 20 21. Rom. 16.17 Ezek. 44.12 13. b 1 Cor. 5.4 Numb 5.2 3. Mat. 18.17 Psal 101.8 XVII As Christ hath for the keeping of his Church in holy orderly Communion placed some Men by Office in the Church who by their Office are to govern oversee visit a watch So likewise for the better keeping thereof in all parts and places by all the Members he hath not only commanded the Officers to watch but laid it as a duty upon them all to watch b one over another And whilst the Ministers and People thus remain together in this holy Order and Christian Communion each one in their places as Members c of the Body endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace doing the will of God so shall they walk in their callings e in the obedience of the faith f once given to the Saints to the g glory of God Christ's presence h promised to them to bless i and defend k them against all fraud and force of their enemies so as the l gates of Hell shall not prevail against them a Esay 62.6 Acts 20.31 Luke 12.37 b Mark 13.37 1 Cor. 16.13 1 Thes 5.6 c 1 Cor. 12.14 21. d Eph. 4.3 e 1 Cor. 7.34 f Acts 6.7 Rom. 4.12 Jude 3. g 1 Cor. 10.31 h Mat. 18.20 i Exod. 20.24 k Psal 5.11 Isa 4.5 Psal 89.18 l Mat. 16.18 XVIII And finally When and where in any Church this holy Order and diligent Watch is or was neglected a or violated Errors and Heresies crept in and the holy orderly performance of Christ's Ordinances turned into a Babel of c Confusion as before to the Reader is observed Whereby the Man of sin did d corrupt all faith and erect a e strange Ministry and Administration in the Church which began by degrees that at length a new sorged Ministry Worship and Government was set up that the whole World wondred f after the Beast yea the Nations Kingdoms and Inhabitants of the Earth were made drunk g with the wine of the Whores fornication and all people at length enforced h to receive the Beast's Mark and worship his Image and so brought into Babylonish Bondage a 2 Cor. 18.19 b Rev. 2.20 c 1 Cor. 14.33 d Rev. 19.24 Jud. v. 10. Mal. 2.8 Hos 9.9 e Rev. 9.3 f Rev. 17.8 g Rev. 17.2 h Rev. 13.16 XIX Therefore all that expect salvation or to be saved by the Lord Jesus hear the call of God saying Come out of Babylon a my people Such is the state in one degree or other of all that worship the Lord and not in his own order by his own Ordinances and being come forth by the call of the Lord unto the true Profession of Christ besides the instructing and well guiding of their families b they are to joyn c themselves to the Church of Christ that walketh in holy order or if otherwise to joyn together in a Christian Communion b and orderly Covenant the form of Christs spiritual e building and by a free confession of faith and obedience to Christ so to unite themselves into particular and visible Congregations wherein as members of one Body Christ the only Head f are they according to the measure of Grace g received to edifie h one another and build i up one another in their most holy faith till the Lord fitteth some among them to be elected and chosen for Overseers k and Guides among them and herein to abide l with God till persecution or death m or other such just cause part them unto which work if we forsake not so assembling while two remain together they have the promise of his Presence that he will never leave them nor forsake o them and in the end their reward shall be sure even p Life everlasting a Rev. 18.4 b Gen. 18.19 Eph. 6.4 c Jer. 50.5 Acts 2.47 d Mat. 18.20 e 1 Pet. 2.5 f Col. 1.18 g 1 Pet. 4.10 11. h 1 Cor. 14.12 i Jud. 20. k 1 Tim. 3.1 l Psal 27.4 m Rom. 8.35 John 6.68 n Eccles 4.9 10 11 12. Mat. 18.20 o Heb. 13.5 6. p Rev. 3.11 John 10.28 XX. Moreover all Christians are bound to fear God a and honour the King whose Magistratical Office is to support the good and punish b the evil in the breach of the second Table of God's Law and as they are the Lords Lieutenants here on Earth so an excellent c Majesty is given unto them who ought to be nursing-Fathers d to the Church of God in defending them from all persecution e and injuries while they peaceably practise Christ's Ordinances in his Worship and to abolish all Reliques of f Idolatry imposed by the Man of sin or his Favourites upon the Church of Christ or any member of the same for which cause all Christians that dwell in their Dominions ought to pay them Tribute g and to pray b for them and to use their uttermost endeavour to prevent all injuries intended against them and though by the protection of the Magistrate it makes the Church enjoy more peace and outward comfort in the service of God yet no whit at all more lawful to walk in the Ways and Ordinances of Christ Jesus which he hath commanded his Church to keep without spot and unrebukable until his appearing in the end of the World a 1 Pet. 2.17 b Rom. 13.1 2 3 4. c Dan. 4.36 and 5.18 19. d Isa 49.23 e Rev. 12.16 Psal 32.6 f Rev. 17.16 17. 2 Kings 23 5 2 Chro. 19.3 4. Rev. 13.15 16. g Mat. 22.19 21. Rom. 13.7 h 1 Tim. 2.1 2. i Esther 6.2 3. k Acts 4.19 1 Tim. 6.13 14. XXI And lastly If God with-hold the Magistrates
Rev. 11.19 i Acts 24.25 k Rev. 11.18 Heb. 6.2 l Rev. 17.1 2. m Acts 16.29 30. n Rev. 11.13 o Psal 45.5 Acts 2.37 Heb. 4.12 p Rev. 11.13 Rom. 11.4 5. q Rev. 13.18 r Acts 1.15 Phil. 4.3 Isa 4.3 s Rev. 3.12 t Luk. 15.16 u Rev. 11.15 w Rev. 12.10 x Rom. 4.13 y Gal. 3.29 Lastly as the a World knoweth not the Subjects of Christs Kingdom so likewise do they not know the Kingdom it self to wit of b Grace according to the Covenant of Grace which none but the new born Children of God can see because it is not carnal neither cometh with outward observations therefore the unbelieving Jews rejected Christ to reign over them in his spiritual Kingdom in his Church as David in the Spirit foresaw being a Prophet and a Figure of Christ in his Kingdom which had it been of this World terrestrial as David's was then David in his Kingdom could be no figure of Christ contrary to David's Confession Mat. 22. who knowing Christ's Kingdom to be spiritual and greater in glory than his therefore though Christ was his Son yet in spirit he called him his Lord which the Jews perceived not but withstood it therefore Christ told them the Kingdom of God should be taken from them which Kingdom was not the civil Government which the Romans had taken from them already but it was that Kingdom the Primitive Churches had received which could not be f shaken to wit the Government of Christ in his Church where the Laws of the King of Saints can only be g kept in the performance of all his holy Ordinances whose Throne is among them and his Saints round about him serving the Lord acceptably by Jesus Christ with reverence and godly fear unto which Kingdom the Lord is a i Wall of fire for our God saith the Apostle is a consuming fire So then seeing the Saints have already received the Kingdom which is promised them on Earth a Kingdom of Priests a holy Nation therefore vain will be the hopes of such Christians that expect they shall be made temporal Princes on the Earth to ride on white Horses with golden Crowns on their Heads they must be told they are mistaken for where Christ rideth on a white m Horse is meant on the purity and powerful administration n of Righteousness in his Church in which work his Saints or Armies in Heaven follow him upon white Horses cloathed in fine Linnen which is the Righteousness of Saints imputed from Christ to them These Mysteries of Christ's Kingdom cannot these personal Reigners see to wit believe any more than the unbelieving Jews as H. Ainsworth on Levit. 26.11 sheweth from the Jews own confession who say the days of Christ are of this World and the World goes after the wonted manner save the Kingdom shall be restored to Israel Of this Opinion was Cerinthus a Jew who dreamed that the Kingdom of Christ should become earthly and that after the Resurrection Christ should reign on Earth Euseb lib. 3. cap. 25. lib. 4. cap. 14. lib. 6 7. cap. 24. See Mr. Meredith Hamner in his Book of Ecclesiastical Histories pag. 565. where he further saith out of the same Author that John the Apostle abhorred the presence of Cerinthus in the Year of Christ 75. a 1 John 3.1 b Luke 17.21 c John 3.3 Acts 1.3 7. d Mat. 22.46 e Mat. 21.53 f Heb. 12.28 g Rev. 12.17 and 14.12 and 22.14 h Rev. 4.2 Jer. 3.17 Heb. 12.22 i Zach. 2.5 k Luke 12.32 l Rev. 1.9 m Rev. 19.11 n Psal 45.4 o Mat. 18.1 2. p Col. 1.13 q Rom. 5.17 r Mica 4.7 These things we thought good to lay down in the explaining the Ordinance of Christ's Government in his Church to help the weak that are deluded in this Point by such as seek whether out of ignorance or not to demean the glory of Christ's Reign in his Church or Kingdom who do as good as say Christ hath no a Kingdom yet when we are told by John that he was in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ Rev. 1.9 and the Primitive Christians are said all of them to be delivered from the Power of Darkness to wit Satan's Kingdom afore proved and translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.13 That as Sin once reigned in them in Satan's Kingdom now being in Christ's Kingdom b Grace might reign in them through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ and thus Christ reigns over his Saints in Mount Sion for ever and ever Moreover as Christ is God c equal with the Father so all Civil Magistratical Government in Nations is ordained by him so that by him d Kings reign and Princes decree Justice And though Christ by demeaning himself for the work of Mans Redemption and Mediation for them in which work he did take our e Nature on him and became a servant to his own Ordinance in paying the Magistrates Tribute yet as he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords unto whom all Judgment is commited all Kings Princes must bow their Scepters to f him in believing in him and submitting to him in obeying his Commands in his Church or Kingdom in the practice of all his holy Ordinances And thus are all the Kings and Judges of the Earth to g serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling so to kiss the Son lest he be angry and they perish bringing their glory and honour to preserve his Church from outward Injuries as Nursing-fathers And thus the Lord in his mercy directs both high and low rich and poor to make an end of their salvation with fear and trembling that so every one may fight the good fight of faith and finishing their course in keeping the faith shall surely have the Crown of h Righteousness and Glory at the day of his appearing a Rev. 1.9 b Rom. 5.17 c Phil. 2.6 d Prov. 18.15 e Heb. 4.15 f Rev. 21.24 Isa 60.12 g Psal 2.10 11 12. h 2 Tim. 4.8 1 Pet. 5.4 VIII The next Ordinance in order to be performed in the Church of Christ is Baptism of Water which peculiarly belongeth to the Pastor or Teacher to perform and no other Since extraordinary Offices of Apostles and Evangelists are ceased therefore in order for the performance thereof there must be a true Administrator for these Reasons first because the visible Seals of the Covenant Baptism and the Lord's Supper may not be administred by any other than the Ministers of the Word according to the Command of Christ Mat. 28.19 saying Go teach all Nations and baptize c. In which place our Lord commandeth Apostolick Authority unto his Disciples for teaching the Covenant of the Gospel contained in the Prophets and sealing the same to all those the Promise did belong unto Act. 2.39 and hath no-where admitted any to baptize whom he sent not in Office to a preach these things therefore what God hath joyned together let no man put asunder The applying of the Seals is a greater work