do receive by Faith in his blood forgivenesse of sinnes and that you are a member of Christ and his Church through the power of the Holy Ghost Answer Yea. Fourthly Whether you acknowledge all the Articles of the Christian Religion as they are taught in these Christian Churches out of the word of God and do purpose constantly to persist in the same Doctrine to the end of your life and also reject all heresies and errors which are repugnant to this Doctrine and promise to persevere in the fellowship and Communion of this Church not onely in the hearing of the Word but using of the Supper of the Lord Answer Yea. Fifthly Whether you have purposed from your heart to lead alwayes a Christian life to forsake the world and all the evill lusts thereof according as it becommeth a member of Christ and his Church and submit your selves to all our Christian admonition Answer Yea. The good and great God out of his bounty give his grace and blessing to this your purpose through Jesus Christ. AMEN FORME For the administration of the Supper of the Lord. BEloved in the Lord Jesus Christ Hearken to the words of the Institution of the Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ so as they are delivered by the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 11. vers 23. I receyved of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which heewas betrayed tooke Bread and when hee had given thankes hee brake it and said Take eate this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me after the same manner also hee tooke the Cup when hee had supped saying This Cup is the Newe Testament in my blood this do yee as often as ye drinke it in remembrance of mee For as often as ye eate this Bread and drinke this Cup yee do shew the Lords death till hee come wherefore whosoever shall eate this Bread and drinke this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall bee guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that Bread and drinke of that Cup for hee that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords body That wee may now to our comfort celebrate the Supper of the Lord it is above all things necessary that wee first trye our selves aright and secondly that wee direct it to that end for which Christ hath instituted and ordained the same namely to his remembrance First Every one consider by himselfe his sins and the curses of God due unto him for the same to the end that hee may abhorre and humble himselfe before God considering that the wrath of God is such against sinnes that rather then they should goe unpunished hee hath punished the same in his beloved Sonne Jesus Christ with the shamefull and bitter death of the Crosse Secondly Every one trye his owne heart whether hee doe beleeve this faithfull promise of God that all his sins are forgiven him onely for the Passion and death of Christ and that the perfect righteousnesse of Christ bee imputed and freely given to him as his owne yea so perfectly as if hee himselfe in his owne person hath satisfyed for all his sinnes and consummated all righteousnesse Thirdly Every one examine his owne Conscience whether hee purposeth with himselfe to shew true thankfulnesse to God heereafter in his whole life and to walke uprightly before the face of God as also whether hee have layd aside unfeignedly all enmity hatred envy and doe resolve to walke in true love and peace with his neighbour All those that are thus minded God will certainly receive to mercy and account them worthy Communicants at the Table of his Sonne Jesus Christ On the contrary those who have not this witnesse in their hearts they eat and drinke to themselves judgement Wherefore wee according to the commandement of Christ and the Apostle Paul admonish all those who are defiled with these following crimes to keepe themselves from the Table of the Lord and do declare unto them that they have no part in the Kingdome of Christ to wit All Idolaters all who invocate saints deceased and Angels and other creatures all who worship Images all enchanters diviners charmers and those who give credit to such enchantements All despisers of God and his Worde and his holy Sacraments all blasphemers all those who are given to make strife sedition and mutiny in Church and Commonwealth all perjured persons all disobedient to Parents or Magistrates all murtherers contentious persons who live in hatred and envy against their neighbour all adulterers whoremongers drunkards thieves usurers gamesters covetous and all who live a scandalous life All these so long as they continue in such sins are to abstain from this meat which Christ hath ordained only for the faithfull least their judgement and condemnation bee made the heavier and encreased But Beloved in the Lord this is not to cast downe or to deject the contrite hearts of the faithfull as if none might come to the Table of the Lord but such as are freed from all sinne For wee come not to this Supper to testify that wee in our selves are perfect and just but on the contrary considering that wee must seeke our life out of our selves in Christ wee acknowledge heerewith that wee lye in death therefore notwithstanding wee feele many infirmities and weakenesses in us namely that wee have not such a perfect faith that wee do not give our selves to serve God with that zeale as wee are bound but must fight daily against the weakenesse of our faith and the lusts of our flesh yet seeing by the grace of God wee are sorry for these weakenesses therefore wee rest assured that no sinne or infirmity which against our will yet remaineth in us can hinder us from being received of God in mercy and from being partakers of this heavenly meat and drincke Let us now also consider to what end Christ hath instituted his Supper namely that wee do it in remembrance of him Now after this manner are wee to remember him by it First That wee are confidently persuaded in our hearts that our Lord Jesus Christ according to the promise made to our Forefathers in the old Testament was sent of the Father in the world and hath taken upon him our flesh and blood and borne for us the wrath of God under which wee should have perished everlastingly from the beginning of his Incarnation to the end of his life upon earth and hath fulfilled for us all obedience to the Law of God and all righteousnesse chiefly when the burden of our sinnes and the wrath of God prest out of him that bloody sweat in the Garden where hee was bound that wee might bee freed from our sinnes and afterwards sustained innumerable injuries that wee might never be confounded was innocently condemned to death that wee might bee absolved before the judgment seat of God yea
incumbent on all believers according to the Word of God to separate them selves from those that are not of the Church and to join to this Congregation in what place socever God hath constituted the same although it were contrary to the decrees of Magistrates and Princes even on pain of corporal punishment or death Wherefore all those who separate them selves from this Church or do not join with it act against the ordinance of God. XXIX Wee believe that it is requisite to search diligently and with a circumspect care to discerne from the Word of God which is the true Church since all Sects that are in the World now adayes do cover them selves with the name of the Church Wee do not speak of the company of Hypocrites who are mixed in the Church amongst the good ones without belonging to the Church thô outwardly they are in it but wee say that the body and Communion of the true Church ought to be distinguished from all Sects who call them selves the Church The marks to know the true Church by are these If in the Church there is a pure preaching of the Gospel If the pure administration of the Sacraments so as it is instituted by Christ him self is made use of If the Ecclesiastical censure is exercised for the punishment of sins In a word if the conversation is according to the pure Word of God rejecting all things contrary thereunto and holding Jesus Christ as the onely head By these tokens one may certainly know the true Church and none ought to separate themselves from the same And as for those that are of the Church they may be known by the marks of the Christians viz. by their Faith and when they have received the onely Saviour Jesus Christ avoiding sin and pursuing righteousness loving the true God and their neighbour not declining neither to the right nor to the left hand and crucifying their flesh with its deeds Nevertheless they may be attended with great weakness but they sight against it through the Spirit all the dayes of their life having continually recours to the blood death susterings and obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ in which they have remission of sins through Faith in him As for the false Church she ascribes unto her self and her ordinances more power and Authority then to the Word of God and will not submit unto the yoke of Christ she administers the Sacraments not after such a Manner as Christ hath instituted in his word but she adds and takes away according to her pleasure She relyeth more upon men then upon Christ she persecutes those who live a holy life according to the Word of God and who rebuke her faults coveteousness and Idolatry These two Churches may easily be known and distinguished XXX Wee believe that this true Church must be governed according to the Spirituall policy which our Lord hath taught us in his word viz. That there must be Ministers or Pastors for to preach the Word of God and to administer the Sacraments as also Overseers and Deacons to make up together with the Pastors an Ecclesiastical Councel and by this means to maintain the true Religion and to procure a free course for the true Doctrine likewise that the Transgressors be punished and restrained by Spirituall means that the poor and distressed be also relieved and comforted according to what they stand in need of Through these means all things will proceed well and orderly in the Church when such persons are chosen who are faithfull and according to the rule which St. Paul preseribes in his Epistle to Timothy XXXI Wee believe that the Ministers of the Word of God and the Elders and Deacons ought to be chosen to their respective offices by a lawfull Election with invocation of the Name of the Lord and in good order as the Word of God teacheth Every one therefore must take care of intruding him self by undecent means but ought to stay untill he be call'd by God that so he may have a testimony of his calling and be certain and assured that it is of the Lord And as for the Ministers of the Word where ever they-are they have an equal power and Authority being all Ministers of Jesus Christ the one general Bishop and onely head of the Church Moreoever least the holy ordinance of God be violated or despised wee say that every one ought te have a speciall respect unto the Ministers of the Word and the Elders of the Church for their works sake and to live in peace with them without murmuring strife or dissention as much as possibly can be XXXII In the mean while wee believe although it may be serviceable and good that those who govern the Church do institute among them selves certain ordinances for the maintenance and supporting the body of the Church yet that they ought to take heed of departing from any thing which Christ our onely master hath ordered And therefore wee reject all manner of humane inventions and Laws which any might introduce in the Worship of God thereby to bind and compell the consciences Admitting of nothing but what may serve to the nourishing and preservation of Concord and Unity and to keep all in the obedience of God unto which the Excommunication is required according to the Word of God and the circumstances belonging thereunto XXXIII Wee believe that our gracious God having regard on our meanness and infirmity hath assorded us the Sacraments for to be seales of his promises and pledges of the kindness and grace of God unto us and thereby to nourish and sustain our faith having joyned them with the Word of the Gospel that so he might propound to our outward senses both that which he signifies unto us by his Word and that which he workes inwardly in our hearts assuring us of the salvation which he doth impart us For they are visible signs and Seals of an inward and invisible thing by which means God worketh in us through the power of the holy Ghost Therefore the signs are not invain or empty to be deceived thereby for Christ Jesus is the truth thereof without whom they would signify nothing at all Moreover wee are content with the number of the Sacraments which Christ our Master hath instituted being but two to wit the Sacrament of Baptism and that of the holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ XXXIV Wee believe and confess that Jesus Christ who is the end of the Law hath made an end by the shedding of his blood of all other sheddings of blood that might be made for the propitiation and satisfaction of sin and that having abrogated the circumcision which was done with blood hath instituted instead thereof the Sacrament of Baptisme by which wee are received in the Church of God and become separated from all other people and strange Religions that so wee may be fully addicted to him and bear his Mark and Ensign And it serves us for a testimony that hee will be our God and
the Apostle Peter testifieth Act. 2. in these words For the promise belongs to you and to your children and to as many as are afarre off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Hence it is that God hath of ould commanded that Infants should bee circumcised which circumcision was a seale of this Covenant and the righteousnesse of faith and therefore also Christ received the little Children layd his hands upon them and blessed them Marc. 10. Seeing then Baptisme is put in the place of circumcision therefore Infants are to bee Baptized as heyrs of the Kingdome of God and of the Covenant and Parents are admonished to instruct their Children in these things when they are come to yeares of discretion That therefore this holy ordinance of God may at this time bee administred to the glory of God to our comfort and the edification of his Church let us call upon the name of our God. O Almighty and Eternall God who according to thy severe judgment didst punish with the Flood the impenitent and unbeleeving World and according to thine infinite mercy didst save Noah with his family who didst drowne hard-hearted Pharao with all his people in the Red Sea and didst safely leade thy people Israell through the same by which Baptisme was signified unto us wee beseech thee that thou wilt bee pleased out of thy infinite mercy graciously to looke upon these Infants this Infant and incorporate them it by thy holy spirit into thy Son Jesus Christ that so they it may bee buryed with him into his death and also rise with him to newenesse of life that they it may take upon them it daily their his Crosse follow him and cleave unto him with a true faith firme hope and fervent love and willingly leave this life which is nothing else but a continuall death and at the last day may appeare without feare before the tribunall seat of Christ thy Son through Jesus Christ our Lord who with thee and the Holy Ghost one God lives and reigns for ever An Exhortation to the Parents and those that come with them to Baptisme Beloved in the Lord yee have heard that Baptisme is an ordinance of God to seale unto us and unto our seed his Covenant therefore wee must use the same to this end and not out of custome or superstition That it may then bee manifest that ye are thus minded you are to answer sincerely upon these questions First Whether you doe not acknowledge that however our children are conceived and borne in sinne and therefore are subject to all manner of miseries yea to condemnation it selfe yet that they are sanctified in Christ and therefore as members of his Church ought to bee baptized Secondly Whether you do not acknowledge the Doctrine contained in the Ould and Newe Testament and in the Articles of the Christian Faith which is also taught in these Christian Churches here to bee the true and perfect Doctrine of Salvation Thirdly Whether you do not promise and intend to see your children when they come to yeares of discretion every one whereof hee is either Father or Witnesse to bee brought up in the foresaid Doctrine to the uttermost of your power Answer Yea. After in baptizing the Minister of the Word of God shall say N. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost A Thankesgiving O Almighty and most mercifull God and Father wee blesse and praise thee that thou hast forgiven all our sinnes to us and our children through the blood of thy beloved Sonne Jesus Christ and through thy Spirit received us as members of thy Son and adopted us to bee thy children and confirmed the same by this holy Baptisme wee beseech thee through the same Son of thy love to rule alwayes these baptized Infants Infant that they it may bee educated in true piety and Christianity and growe up in the Lord Jesus Christ acknowledging thy Fatherly goodnesse and loving kindnesse shewen to them it and to us and live in all righteousnesse under our Onely Teacher King and Priest Jesus Christ fighting manfully against sinne Satan and his whole Kingdome to land and praise thee and thy Son Jesus Christ with the Holy Ghost the one and eternall God to all eternity Amen FORME For the administration of Holy Baptisme to persons of yeares HOwever children of Christian Parents notwithstanding they understand not this mystery must be baptized by vertue of the Covenant yet it is not lawfull to baptize those who are come to yeares of discretion except they first bee sensible of their sinnes and make confession both of their repentance and faith in Christ For for this cause hath not onely John the Baptist preached according to the Commandement of God the baptisme of Repentance for the remission of sins to those who confessed their sinnes Marc. 1. Luc. 3. But our Lord Jesus Christ hath also commanded his Disciples to teach all Nations and then to baptize them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Math. 28. Marc. 16. adding this promise Hee that beleeveth and is baptized shall bee saved According to which rule the Apostles as appeareth out of Act. 2. 10. 16. have baptized none who were of yeares of discretion but such who made confession of their Faith and Repentance therefore is it not lawfull now a dayes to baptize those of yeares except they have learned out of the preaching of the Gospell the mysteries of holy Baptisme and are able to give an account of their Faith by a confession of the mouth Seeing therefore you are also desirous of holy Baptisme to the end it may be to you a seale of your ingrafting into the Church of God that it may appeare that you do not onely receive the Christian Religion in which you have beene privately examined by us and of which also you have made Confession before us but that you through the grace of God intend and purpose to lead a life according to the same you are sincerely to give answer before God and his Church First Whether you beleeve in the true God distinct in three Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost who hath made Heaven and Earth and all that is therein and that hee sustaineth and governeth the same in so much that nothing can come to passe in Heaven or in Earth without his will Answer Yea. Secondly Whether you beleeve that you are conceived and borne in sinne consequently that you are a child of wrath by nature unfit to any thing that is good and prone to all evill and that you in thoughts words and deeds have many times transgressed the Commandements of God and whether you bee heartily forry for your sinnes Answer Yea. Thirdly Whether you beleeve that Christ who is the true and eternall God and a true Man who hath taken his humane nature out of the flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary bee also given of God to you as your Saviour and that you
say Beloved in the Lord Because the Lord hath fed our souls at his Table let us all with thanckesgiving praise his Name and every one say in his heart thus Blesse the Lord o my soule and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord o my soule and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies who satisfied thee with good things The Lord is mercifull and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Hee doth not deale with us after our sinnes nor rewarde us according to our iniquities for as the Heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him as farre as the East is from the West so farre hath hee remooved our transgressions from us like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that feare him who also hath not spared his owne Sonne but hath given him for us all and hath given us with him all things there fore doth God shew his love towards us thereby that Christ dyed for us when wee were yet sinners therefore shall wee be the more saved by him from his wrath after wee are justified through his blood For if wee be reconciled through the death of his Sonne when wee were yet enemyes much more shall wee bee saved through his life after wee are reconciled with him therefore shall my heart and mouth praise the Lord from this time forth and evermore Amen Let every one therefore say with an attentive heart ALmighty and most mercifull God and Father wee render thankes to thee with all our hearts that thou hast given unto us out of thy infinite mercy thine onely begotten Sonne to bee our Mediator and a Saerifice for our sinnes yea to bee our food to everlasting life and hast also given unto us a true and lively Faith whereby wee are made partakers of all his benefits and that thou hast caused thy Son to institute this Holy Supper for the confirmation of our Faith Graunt wee beseech thee most faithfull God and Father that through the operation of thy Holy Spirit this commemoration of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ may tend to the encrease of our saith and saving fellowship with him through Jesus Christ thy Sonne our Saviour in whose name wee conclude our Prayers saying Our Father c. FORME Of Excommunication BEloved in the Lord Jesus Christ It is knowen unto you how that at severall times by severall degrees wee have propounded unto you what a haynous sinne hath beene committed by our fellow-member N. and what great offence thereby is given to the end that hee through the helpe of your prayers and Christian admonition might be brought to repentance and so bee freed from the bonds of Sathan where in hee is kept and awake to the will of the Lord Now wee can not conceale from you with great heavinesse that there is no body yet come to us who hath in the least measure given us to understand that hee through the manifold admonitions which have beene given to him both apart by himselfe alone and before witnesse in the presence of many is come to any sorrow or remorse for his sinne or to the manifestation of the least token of repentance Seeing therefore that hee doth aggravate his sinne which yet in it selfe is no small one by his stifnesse and hardheartednesse and seeing wee have signifyed unto you the last time that in case hee after such patience shewed towards him by the Church do not repent that wee should bee forced yet further to bee grieved for him and to come to the last remedy therefore wee are necessitated for the present to proceed to his excommunication according to the power and commandement given unto us in the Worde of God to the end that hee by this meanes if it bee possible might bee brought to shame and remorse for his sinne and that the whole body of the Church may not bee put in danger by this rotten and as yet incurable member and that the name of the Lord may not bee blasphemed Therefore wee Ministers and Elders of the Church being met in the name and power of our Lord Jesus Christ declare before you all that for reasons above mentioned wee have excommunicated and by these do excommunicate N. from the Church of the Lord and from fellowship with Christ and his Sacraments and all spirituall blessings which God hath promised and doth fulfill to his Church so long as hee persists in his stubbornnesse and impenitency and therefore is to be esteemed of you as an heathen and publican according to the Commandement of God Mat. 18. who saith that is bound in Heaven what his Ministers binde heere on Earth Further wee do admonish you beloved Christians that you keepe no company with him that hee may bee ashamed yet holde him not as an enemy but admonish him sometimes as you do a brother meane while every one take to heart this and the like example to feare the Lord and if hee thinckes hee stands to bee carefull that hee may not fall but having true fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ as also with all true believing Christians persevere therein to the end and so partake of everlasting salvation You have seene Beloved Brethren and Sisters in what manner this our Excommunicated Brother hath begunne to fall and by little and little is come to ruine observe therefore how subtile Sathan is to bring people to destruction and to take them off from all wholesome meanes to salvation therefore take heed of the least beginning of evill and according to the admonition of the Apostle laying aside all weight and sinne which doth so easily beset us runne constantly the race which is set before us looking unto Jesus the beginner and finisher of our Faith bee sober watch and pray that you fall not into temptation to day if you heare the voyce of the Lord harden not your hearts but worke out your salvation with feare and trembling and every one repent of his sinnes that God do not againe humble us and wee bee forced to bee grieved over any of you but that you living godly with one accord may bee our joy and crowne in the Lord. But seeing God must worke in us both the will and the deed according to his good pleasure let us with confession of our sinnes call upon his name MOst righteous God and mercifull Father wee bewaile our sinnes before thy most high Majesty acknowledging that wee have deserved that sorrow and griefe which hath beene caused by the cutting off of this party once a member of us yea wee are worthy in regard of our great sinnes if thou shouldest enter into judgement with us to bee eternally separated from thee But thou O Lord art gracious unto us for Christ his sake Pardon unto us our sinnes for wee are
heartily sorry for the same worke in us a greater measure of sorrow that wee fearing thy judgements which thou executest against stubborne and impenitent sinners may labour so much the more to please thee Graunt that wee may keepe our selves from all pollutions and defilements of the world and of all those who are cut off from the communion of the Church that wee may not make our selves partakers of their sinnes and that those who are cut off may bee brought to shame for their sinnes And seeing thou takest no pleasure in the death of sinners but that they returne and live and settest alwayes open the bosome of thy Church to receive penitent sinners bee pleased to kindle in us a right zeale that both by our admonitions and examples wee may labour to reduce againe this excommunicated person and all such who through infidelity and wickednesse of life are going astray blesse our admonitions that wee may have cause to rejoyce over him for whose sake wee are now in heavinesse that thy holy name may bee glorified through the Lord Jesus Christ who hath taught us to pray Our Father c. FORME For the receiving and admitting againe of excommunicated persons BEloved in the Lord it is knowne unto you that sometimes past our fellow member N. hath beene Excommunicated and cut off from the Church of Christ Now wee can not conceale from you how that hee through the forenamed remedy as also through good admonishions and your prayers is come so farre that hee is ashamed of his sinnes and desireth to bee received againe into the fellowship of the Church Therefore wee being bound to receive such with joy and yet to keepe also good orders therefore wee give you heere to understand that wee are resolved to loose againe the forenamed excommunicated person from the bond of excommunication at the next time when by the grace of God wee shall celebrate the Supper of the Lord and to receive him againe into fellowship with the Church except there bee some who meane while shall shew any lawfull cause wherefore this ought not to bee done which you are to signify to us betime In the meane time every one of you is to praise the Lord for his mercy manifested to this poor sinner and to intreat him to perfect his worke in him to his everlasting salvation If no impediment bee brought the Minister is to proceed to the receiving of the excommunicated person againe after this following manner Beloved in the Lord wee have the last time acquainted you with the repentance of our fellowe member N. that he with your consent may bee received againe into the Church of Christ seeing therefore no body hath brought any thing whereby his admission againe should bee differred therefore wee intend at this time to proceed to the same The Lord Jesus Christ having confirmed the sentence of the Church in the excommunication of an impenitent sinner declareth thereupon presently that whatsoever the Minister shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven whereby hee gives to understand that when any body is cut off from the Church that thereby hee is not bereaved of all hope of salvation but that hee can bee loosed againe from the bond of his condemnation Therefore seeing God doth declare in his Word that hee hath no pleasure in the death of a sinner but that hee bee converted and live the Church in like maner hath hope of the conversion of the excommunicated sinner and keepes her bosome open to receive againe the penitent therefore doth the Apostle exhort 1 Cor. 5. that the Corinthian whom hee had declared should have beene cut off from the Church bee received comforted againe seeing that after hee had beene reprooved by many hee was come to the knowledge of his sinne least hee bee swallowed up by overmuch heavinesse 2 Cor. 2. Secondly Christ in the forenamed place doth teach that the sentence of absolution which is pronounced to such a penitent sinner according to the Word of God is accounted stedfast and firme with the Lord therefore ought no body who doth uprightly repent make any question but that hee is received of God as Christ sayth Joh. 2. Whose sinnes yee remit to those they are remitted To come therfore to the businesse in hand I afke you N. whether you declare heere before God and his Church from your heart that you are truely sorry for your sinnes and obstinacy for which you have most justly beene cut off from the Church and whether you doe unfeignedly beleeve that God hath forgiven and doth forgive your sinnes for Christ his sake and therefore are desirous to bee received againe into the Church to carry your selfe from henceforth in all piety according to the Word of God Answer Yea. Heereupon shall the Minister say further Wee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ being met heere declare you N. to bee loosed from the bonds of Excommunication and pronounce you to stand againe in the fellowship of the Church the holy Sacraments and all other spirituall blessings and benesits which God hath promised and makes good to his Church in which the eternall God preserve you through his onely begotten Sonne Jesus Christ Amen Rest therefore assured beloved Brother that the Lord hath received you againe in mercy bee carefull to take heed of the subtile temptations of Sathan and the wickednesse of the world that you fall not againe into sinne Love the Lord Jesus Christ for many sinnes are forgiven you And yee beloved Christians receive this Brother with hearthy affection rejoyce that hee who was dead is made alive againe who was lost is found againe rejoyce with the Angels in Heaven over this sinner who repenteth holde him no longer as one who is a stranger but a fellow Citizen of the Saints and of the houshoulde of God. And whereas we can have no good thing from our selves letus blesse the Lord for this his mercy and further call upon his name GRacious God and Father wee blesse thee through Jesus Christ that thou hast given to this our fellow brother repentance to life and us cause to rejoyce in his conversion wee pray thee assure him more and more of the forgivenesse of his sinnes that hee may receive fulnesse of joy and greater willingnesse to serve thee And whereas hee hath offended many hy his sinne graunt that hee may edify many by his conversion and that hee may walke in thy wayes stedfastly to the end and let us learne by his example that there is mercy with thee that thou mayest bee feared and esteeming him our fellow brother and coheyre of eternall life may serve thee togetherwith a child ike seare and obedience all the dayes of our life through our Lord Jesus Christ in whose name wee conclude our Prayers saying Our Father c. FORME For the Confirmation of the Ministers of the Word After Sermon and Prayers ended the Minister shall say thus to the people BEloved Brethren It is knowen to you
lawfully called of the Church and consequently of God himselfe to this holy office Secondly Whether you hold the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to bee the onely Word of God and perfect Doctrine to salvation and whether you reject all opinions which are repugnant to the same Thirdly Whether you promise to discharge your office faithfully according to the same Doctrine and to adorne your Doctrine with a godly life submitting your selfe to the admonition of the Church if you should come to miscarry eyther in Doctrine or life according to the received order of the Churches Heereupon hee shall answer yea from my heart Then shall the Minister who demandeth these questions of him or an other if there bee more then one lay his hands upon him and say thus NOTA. This Ceremony shall not bee used in the Confirmation of those who have beene in the Ministery before God our heavenly Father who hath called you to this holy Office enlighten you by his holy Spirit strengthen you by his grace and so governe you in your Ministery that you may walke therein fruitfully as you ought to the gloly of his Name and enlargement of the Kingdome of his Sonne Jesus Christ Amen Afterwards shall the Minister from the Pulpit admonish the Minister Confirmed and the whole Church in following manner Take heed therefore beloved Brother and fellowservant in Christ unto your selfe and to the whole flocke over which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseer to feed the Church of God which hee hath purchased with his owne blood Love the Lord Christ and feede his sheepe taking oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for silthy lucres sake but with a willing minde not as being Lord over the people of God committed to you but as one who is made a patterne to the flocke bee an example to the faithfull in Word in Doctrine in love in faith in purity Hold on in reading admonishing instructing neglect not the gift which is given unto you bee diligent that your progresse may bee made manifest in all Take heed to the Doctrine and bee constant therein beare patiently all sufferings and oppression as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ If you doe these things you shal save your selfe and those that heare you and when the chiefe Shepheard shall appeare you shall receive the incorruptible crowne of glory And yee beloved Christians receive this your Minister in the Lord with all joy and respect consider that God through him speakes to you receive his word which hee according to the Scripture shall declare unto you not as the worde of man but as it is the Worde of God let the feet of those who preach you the glad tidings of peace bee welcome unto you bee obedient to those who are set over you in the Lord for they watch for your soules as those who must give an account there of that they may doe it with joy and not with sighes for this is not profitable to you if you doe these things it shall come to passe that the peace of God shall enter into your houses and that receiving this man in the name of a Prophet yee shall receive the reward of a Prophet and through his word believing in Christ shall inherit eternall life through Christ Yet seeing no man is of himselfe sit for these things let us call upon the name of God. MErcifull Father wee blesse thee that thou hast beene pleased out of lost man kynde to gather a Church to everlasting life through the Ministery of man and that thou hast so graciously provided a faithfull Minister for this Church in this place Wee beseech thee tot fit him more and more with thy Spirit to the Ministery to which thou hast called him enlighten his minde to understand the holy Scriptures give him utterance to publish the mysteries of the Gospell with an undaunted Spirit furnish him with Wisedome to rule aright the people over whom thou hast set him and to keepe them in Christian peace that so thy Church may under his ministery encrease in number and vertue give him courage in all difficulties and troubles which he may meet with in his Ministery that hee being strenghthened ihrough the comforts of thy Spirit remaining stedfastly to the end may be received with all thy faithfull servants into his Masters joy Graunt also to this people that they may carry themselves a right towards this their Minister acknowledging him sent of thee receiving his doctrine with all reverence and submitting themselves to his exhortations that so believing through his word they may bee made pattakers of everlasting life Heare us gracious Father for thy deare Sonne his sake who hath taught us to pray after this manner Our Father c. FORME For the Confirmation of Elders and Deacons when they are confirmed at the same time and if Elders and Deacons bee confirmed a part then shall this Forme bee usud according to occasions BEloved Christians you know that wee now at severall times have propounded uto you the names of our fellow Brethren heere present who are called to the Office of Elders and Deaconship to this Church to know whether there bee any that hath any thing against them why they should not bee Confirmed in their Offices seeing that no body is come before us who hath brought any lawfull exception against them therefore wee are to goe on at this present with the Confirmation of the same for this end yee N N who are to bee confirmed hearken first to ashort Declaration concerning the institution and the Offices of Elders and Deacons Concerning the Elders it is to bee observed that the name of Elders which name is taken out of the Old Testament and signifieth a person who is placed in an honourable Office of Government over others is given to two sorts of Persons which serve in the Church of Christ For the Apostle saith The Elders who rule well are worthy of double honour specially those who labour in the Word and Doctrine out of which it is manifest that in the Apostolicall Church there have beene two sorts of Elders where of the first have laboured in the Word and Doctrine and the others not the former were the Ministers of the Word the Pastours who preach the Gospel administer the Sacraments but the others who did not labour in the Word yet serving the Church had aspeciall charge namely that they tooke oversight of the Church and with the Minister of the Worde did rule the same For after the Apostle Paul had spoken Rom. 12. of the Ministery of the Word as also of the Office of the Deacons hee speakes of this Office afterwards saying Hee that ruleth let him doe it with all diligence and so in an other place 1 Cor. 12. Among other Offices which God hath ordained in his Church hee reckens Government in so much that this sorte of Ministers is given as a helpe and assistance to the others who preach the Gospell as in the
old Testament the Levites were ioyned to the Priests in the common service of the Tabernacle to bee helpers unto them in those things which the Priests alone could not performe remaining notwithstanding distinct offices Besides this it is necessary that to the Ministers of the Word such men be joyned in the Government of the Church that all Lording and Tyranny which can creepe in sooner if the Governmentlye in the hand of one or few may bee kept out of the Church so the Ministers of the Word the Elders make up one Assembly being as a Senate of the Church and representing the whole Church whereunto Christ had respect when hee saith Tell the Church which can not be meant of the Church apart but very well of those who by the Church are chosen to governe the same The Office of the Elders consists herein First To take with the Ministers of the Word the oversight of the Church committed unto them carefully to looke to it that every one carry himselfe aright in his Confession and in his Conversation to admonish those who carry themselves scandalously and to take heed so much as lyes in them that the Sacraments bee not prophaned as also to deale with the penitent according to Christian discipline and to receive them againe into the bosome of the Church as is manifest not onely out of the forenamed saying of Christ but also out of other places of Scripture 1 Cor. 5. 2 Cor. 12. wherein it is apparent that these things belong not to one or a few but to many who are ordained there unto Secondly Whereas the Apostle commandeth that among Christians al things bee done decently and in order and no body ought to minister in the Church but such as are lawfully called there unto according to Christian Constitutions concerning the same therefore it belongs also to the office of Elders to take care thereof and of all things which concerne the good estate of the Church to assist the Minister with their counsell and advise yea all Christians with advise and consolation Thirdly It belongs also to the charge of Elders to looke to the Doctrine and life of the Ministers of the Word to the end all may bee ordered to the edification of the Church and that no strange doctrine bee propounded according to that which wee reade Act. 20 where the Apostle admonisheth to watch diligently against the wolves who might come into the sheepfold of Christ and that they may doe this the better the Elders are bound to search diligently the Scriptures and to exercise themselves continually in meditating of the Mysteries of the faith Concerning the Deacons of the Originall and institution thereof wee may read Act. 6. where wee find that in the beginning the Apostles themselves did serve the poore at whose feet were laid downe the Price of those goods that were sold and by whom distribution was made to every one according to his need but when afterwards there arose a murmuring because the widowes of the Grecians were neglected in the daily ministration therefore there were elected by the advise of the Apostles men who should make it their worke to serve the poore that so the Apostles might give themselves continually to prayer ministery of the Word and this hath beene kept from that time forward in the Church as doth appeare Rom. 12. where the Apostle speaking of this Office saith that those who distribute shall doe it with sincerity and 1 Cor. 12. speaking of helpers hee doth thereby understand those who are ordained by the Church to helpe the poore in their necessities Out of which places it doth sufficiently appeare what belongs to the Office of the Deacons namely First That they Collect and keepe with all faithfulnesse and diligence the Goods which are given to the poore yea to doe their utmost endeavours that many helpers may be found out for the reliefe of the poore The second part of their Office consists in the distribution wherein is not onely required discretion and prudence to give the almes to none but where there is need but also simplicity and cheerefulnesse to distribute the almes with an hearty affection to the poore according to that of the Apostle Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. For which end it is necessary that they doe not onely relieve the poore with outward giftes but also with comfortable words out of the Word of God. To the end therefore beloved Brethren N. N. that every one may see that you are willing to take upon you the forenamed Offices every one in his place you shall give answer to that which shall bee propounded unto you First I aske you both Elders and Deacons whether you doe not feele in your hearts that you are lawfully called to these holy Offices each to his by the Church and consequently by God himselfe Secondly Whether you hold the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the onely Word of God and the perfect Doctrine to salvation rejecting all Doctrines which are repugnant to the same Thirdly Whether you promise to performe your Offices as they have beene now described with all faithfulnesse according to your power Yee Elders N. N. in the Governement of the Church with the Ministers of the Word and yee Deacons N N in the Ministring to the poore Further Doe yee promise both together to carry your selves in all Godlinesse submitting your selves also to the admonition of the Church in case you should come to miscarry Heereupon yee shall answer Yea. Whereupon the Minister shall say The Almighty God and Father give unto you all his grace that you may walke in these your Offices faithfully and fruitfully Amen And shall further admonish them as also the whole Church in this following manner Wherefore yee Elders be diligent in governing the Church which with the Ministers of the Word is committed unto you Bee also Watchmen over the House and City of God to admonish every one faithfully and to warne them of their perdition Take heed that the purity of Doctrine and Godlinesse of life be maintayned in the Church And yee Deacons be diligent in Collecting of the almes prudent and cheerefull in distributing of the same Assist the oppressed relieve the true widowes and orphans shew mercifulnesse to all but especially to the houshold of Faith. Bee yee all faithfull in your Offices and keepe the mysteries of faith in a pure conscience and bee good examples in all things to the people In so doing you shall get to your selves a good degree and much cheerefulnesse in the faith of Christ and heereafter enter into your Masters joy On the other side Beloved Christians receive these persons as servants of Christ count the Elders who discharge wel their Office worthy of double honour give your selves willingly to their oversight and governement Provide good meanes for the Deacons to the reliefe of the poore Bee liberall yee rich give thanckfully and contribute willingly And yee poore be poore in spirit and carry
your selves respectfully towards those who provide for you be thankfull towards them and murmure not follow Christ for the food of your soules and not for the loaves Hee who hath stolen or beene burdensome to his neighbour steale no more but worke with his hands that hee may give to those who are in want If yee doe this every one that which belongs to him yee shall receive of the Lord the wages of righteousnesse But seeing wee are not able of our selves to doe this let us call upon the Name of our God. O Lord God Heavenly Father wee thanke thee that for the better edification of thy Church thou hast beene pleased to ordaine with the Ministers of the Word Rulers and Helpers by whom thy Church may bee kept in peace and prosperity and the poore bee maintained and that thou hast given us into this place men of good testimonies who are furnished with thy Spirit Wee beseech thee give unto them more and more such giftes as are necessary for them in their ministrations the gift of Wisedome of Courage of Discretion and of Goodnesse that so each of them may carry himselfe aright in his Office the Elders in taking a carefull oversight of the doctrine of life in keeping out of the Sheepefold of Christ all wolves and in reprooving and admonishing all persons who are goeing astray In like manner the Deacons in a diligent receiving and free and prudent distributing of the almes to the poore and in comforting of the same with thy holy Word Give grace both to the Elders and Deacons that they may persevere in their faithfull labour and not shrincke or grow weary through any trouble or paine or love of the world Graunt also thy speciall grace to this people over whom they are set that they may submit themselves willingly to the good exhortations of the Elders counting them worthy of hounor for their Office sake graunt to the Rich liberall hearts towards the poore and to the poore thanckfull hearts towards those who are helpefull to them and serve them that so every one carrying himselfe aright in his Office thy holy Name may bee magnified and the Kingdome of thy Sonne Jesus Christ enlarged in whose name wee conclude our Prayer with that forme of Prayer which hee hath taught us Our Father c. FORME For the Confirmation of Marriage before the Church SEeing that married Persons are by reason of sinne subject to many miseries and crosses to the end that you N and you N who desire heere openly to have your marriage-bond confirmed in the Name of God before his Church may bee assured in your heart of the assistance of God in your crosses therefore hearken out of the Word of God how honourable the married estate is and that it is an ordinance of God which is pleasing to him therefore also will hee blesse and assist married persons according to his promise on the contrary punish the whoremongers and adulterers First therefore yee shall know that God our Father after hee had created the Heaven the Earth and all that is therein hath also created man after his Image that hee might be Lord over all the beasts of the Field the fishes in the Sea and the birds of the Aire and after hee had created man hee sayd It is not good that man should bee alone I will make him a helpe meet for him and the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam and hee slept and hee tooke one of his Ribbs and closed up the flesh instead thereof and the Ribb which the Lord God had taken from Man made hee a woman and brought her unto the Man. And Adam said This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh shee shall bee called Woman because shee was taken of Man therefore shall a man leave his Father and his Mother and shall cleave unto his Wyfe and they twaine shall be one flesh Therefore yee are not to doubt but the maried estate doth please the Lord God for he hath made Adam his wife brought her unto him and given her to him to be his wife thereby wittnessing that hee to this day doth bring as with his hands to every man his wife for this cause also the Lord Jesus Christ hath honoured this estate with his presence giftes and miracles in Cana of Galite shewing thereby that the married estate is to bee kept honourably and that hee will assist the maried persons yea then when they least of all are thinking upon it But that yee may live godly in this estate you must know the reasons wherefore God hath instituted the same The first Reason is that each other faithfully assist one another in all things that belong to this life and a better Secondly that they bring up the children which they shall get in the true knowledge and feare of God to his glory and their salvation Thirdly that each of them avoiding all uncleannesse and lusts may live with a good and quiet conscience For to avoyd fornication let every man have his owne wife and every wife her owne husband insomuch that all who are come to their yeares and have not the gift of continence are bound by the Command of God to enter into the married estate with knowledge and consent of Parents or Tutors and Friends that so the Temple of God which is our body may not bee defiled for whosoever defileth the Temple of God him shall God destroy Next you are to know how each is to carry himselfe towards the other according to the Word of God. First you who are the Husband shall know that God hath set you to bee the head of your wife that you according to your ability shall lead her with discretion instructing comforting protecting her as the head rules the body yea as Christ is the head wisedome consolation and assistence to his Church besides you are to love your wise as Christ hath loved his Church you shall not be bitter against her but dwell with her as a man of understanding giving honour to the wife as the weaker vessell considering that yee are joynt heires of the grace of life that your prayers bee not hindered And seeing it is Gods Command that the man shall eate his bread in the sweat of his face therefore you are to labour diligently and faithfully in the calling wherein God hath for you that you may maintaine your houshold honestly and likewise have some thing to give to the poore In like manner shall you who are the wife know how you are to carry your selfe towards your husband according to the Word of God You are to love your lawfull Husband to honour and feare him as also to be obedient unto him in all lawfull things as to your Lord as the body is obedient to the head and the Church to Christ You shall not exercise any dominion over your Husband but be silent for Adam was first created and then Eve to be an helpe to Adam and after the
fall God said to Eve and in her to all women Your will shall bee subject to your Husband you shall not resist this ordinance of God but bee obedient to the Word of God and follow the examples of Godly women who trusted in God and were subject to their Husbands as Sara was obedient to her Husband calling him her Lord You shall also bee an helpe to your Husband in all good and lawfull things looking to your family and walke in all honesty and vertue without worldly pride that you may give an example to others of modesty Wherefore you N. and you N. having now understood that God hath instituted Marriage and what hee commands you therein are yee willing thus to carry your selves in this holy estate as you heere doe confesse before this Christian assembly and are desirous that you be confirmed in the same Answer Yea. Whereupon the Minister shall say to the Assembly I take you all who are met heere to witnesses that there is brought no lawfull impediment Further to the married persons Seeing then it is fit that you be furthered in this your worke the Lord God confirme your purpose which hee hath given you and your beginning be in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth Heereupon they shall joyne hands together and the Minister speake first to the Bridegroome N. Doe you acknowledge heere before God and this his holy Church that you have taken and doe take to your lawfull wife N. heere present promising her never to forsake her to love her faithfully to maintaine her as a faithfull and pious Husband is bound to doe to his lawfull wife that you will live holily with her keeping faith and trueth to her in all things according to the Holy Gospell Answer Yea. Afterwards to the Bride N. Doe you acknowledge heere before God and his holy Church that you have taken and doe take to your lawfull Husband N. promising to be obedient to him to serve and assist him never to forsake him to live holily with him keeping faith and trueth to him in all things as a pious and faithfull wife is bound to her Husband according to the Holy Gospell Answer Yea. Then the Minister shall say The Father of mercies who hath called you out of his mercy to this holy estate of Marriage knit you together with true love and faithfulnesse and give you his holy blessings Amen Hearken now how firme this bond of Marriage is as Matth. describes it Chap. 19. Vers 3.4.5.6.7.8.9 The Pharisees came unto Christ tempting him and saying unto him Is it lawfull for a man to put away his wife for every cause and Hee answered and said unto them Have yee not read that hee which made them at the beginning made them Male and Female and said For this cause shall a Man leave Father and Mother and shall cleave to his Wife and they twaine shall be one flesh wherefore they are no more twaine but one flesh What therefore God hath joyned together let no man put a sunder They sayd unto him Why did Moses then command to give a Writing of divorcement and to put her away Hee said unto them Moses because of the hardnesse of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives but from the beginning it was not so and I say unto you whosoever shall put away his wife except it bee for fornication and shall marry an other committeth adultery and who so marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery Afterwards shall the Minister command the married persons to kneele downe and exhort the Church to pray for them ALmighty God who shewest thy power and goodnesse in all thy workes and ordinances who hast sayd from the beginning that it is not good that Man should bee alone and for that cause hast made a helpe meet for him and hast ordained that these two should bee one who also doest punish all uncleanesse wee beseech thee seeing thou hast called these two persons to the State of Marriage and knit them together that thou wilt give unto them thy holy Spirit that they may live holily together with a true and firme faith according to thy holy Name and set themselves against all manner of sinne Blesse them O Lord as thou blessest those faithfull Fathers thy friends and Servants Abraham Isaack and Jacob that being partakers of that Covenant which thou confirmest to those thy Servants they may beget holy Children and educate them in a godly manner to the honour of thy holy Name to the edification of thy Church and propagation of the Gospell Heare us Father of all mercyes through Jesus Christ thy deare Sonne our Lord and Saviour in whose name wee pray further Our Father c. Hearken now unto the promise which God made in the 128 Psalm Blessed is hee who feareth the Lord and walketh in his wayes for thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands happy shalt thou be and it shall be wel with thee Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull Vine by the sides of thine house thy Children like olive-plants round about thy Table Behold thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord the Lord shall blesse thee out of Zion and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the dayes of thy life yea thou shalt see thy childrens children and peace upon Israël Our blessed Lord God fulfill your hearts with his grace and graunt that yee may live long together in all piety and holinesse AMEN
unto God for those good works which we do do and not he unto us since it is he that worketh in us both to will and to do according to his own good pleasure Let us therefore take notice of this saying which is left upon record When ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you say wee are unprofitable servants wee have done that which was our duty to do Yet wee do not deny that God rewards the good works but it is through his grace that he crownes his Gifts Moreover though wee act good works yet wee do not build our salvation thereon for wee can do nothing which is not defiled by our flesh and worthy of punishment and though it were otherwise yet the remembrance of one sin is sufficient to make God reject it So wee should always be doubtfull and floating to and fro without any certainty and our poor consciences be vexed continually if they did not rely on the merits of the sufferings and dying of our Saviour XXV Wee believe that the Ceremonies and Figures of the Law are ceased at the coming of Christ and that all shadows are finished wherefore the use and practise of them ought to be abrogated among the Christians yet the truth and substance of the same remaines with us in Christ Jesus in whom they are fulfilled in the mean while wee make use of the Testimonies of the Law and the Prophets to confirm us in the Gospel and to order our life and conversation in all honesty to the Glory of God according to his will. XXVI Wee believe that wee have no acces unto God but by the onely Mediator and Advocate Christ Jesus the righteous who for this cause is become man uniting together the divine and humane nature that so wee might have acces unto the divine Majesty for otherwise our acces would be barred up But this Mediator whom the Father hath given us to interceed between him and us must not deter us through his goodness and cause us to seek for another according to our fancy For there is none in heaven nor in earth among the Creatures who loveth us more then Jesus Christ who thô he was in the form of God yet made him self of no reputation and took upon him the form of a man and a servant for our sakes and is made like unto his Brethren in all things Now if wee were to seek for another Mediator that might be favourable unto us whom could wee find that would love us more then he who laid down his life for us even whilst wee were his Enemies And if wee look for one that is mighty and majestious who is more conspicuous then he that sits at the right hand of his Father having all power in heaven and earth Who shall bee sooner heard then the welbeloved Son of God Therefore it is onely by a mistrusting that this practice was introduced of dishonouring the Saints instead of honouring them doing that which they never have done nor required but constantly and according to their duty rejected as appeares from their writings And it ought not to be objected here that wee are not worthy for it is not intended that wee should offer up our prayers on the account of our worthiness but onely because of the Excellency and worthiness of our Lord Jesus Christ whose righteousness is become ours by Faith. The Apostle therefore to take away from us this foolish fear or rather mistrust tells us that Jesus Christ is made like unto his Bretheren in all things that he might be a Mercifull and faithfull High Priest to purify the sins of the people For in that he him self hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted And to give us more encouragement to go to him he tells us Seeing then that wee have a great High-priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession For wee have not an High-priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like wee are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of grace that wee may obtaine Mercy and find grace to help in time of need The same Apostle saith that wee have liberty to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus Let us draw near saith he in full assurance of saith c. Item Christ hath an unchangeable Priesthood wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them What do wee then want more since Christ him self sayes I am the way and the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by me Why should wee look for another Advocate seeing it hath pleased God to give us his Son for an Advocate Let us not leave him for to take another or rather to seek for another without ever sinding him for when God did give him unto us he knew very well that wee were Sinners Therefore according to Christs commandment wee call upon our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our onely Mediator as wee are taught in the Lords prayer being assured that what ever wee pray for to the Father in his name it shall be given us XXVII Wee believe and profess one onely Catholick or universal Church which is a holy Congregation of true Christian believers who expect their salvation altogether in Christ Jesus being washed by his blood and Sanctifyed and sealed by the holy Ghost This Church hath been from the beginning of the World and will continue to the end of it as doth appear by Christ his being an everlasting King who cannot be without subjects And this holy Church is kept and preserved by God against the rage of the whole World although somtimes she may become very small and almost vanished in the eyes of men as when the Lord during the dangerous Reign of Achab had kept seven thousand men who had not bowed their knees before Baal Moreover this Holy Church is not situated in or bound or limited to a certain place or to certain persons but she is spread and seattered through the whole World being neve theless joined together and united with heart will and the same Spirit by the power of Faith. XXVIII Wee believe seeing this holy Congregation is an Assembly of those that are saved and that without it there is no salvation that none of what condition or quality soever ought to keep him self separate or to rely upon his own person but that it is the duty of all men to join and comply with it preserving the unity of the Church submitting them selves to the Instruction and Censure thereof bowing their neeks under the yoke of Christ Jesus and serving to the edification of the Brethren according to the gift which God hath assorded them as mutual members of the same body and to the better compassing of these ends it is a duty