the Ordinance of n Singing but as it was an Ordinance given to the Church and never repeal'd but to be practised by them as a means whereby the Word of Christ may dwell in them richly in all Wisdom singing with grace in their hearts to the Lord. a Psal 103.1 b Psal 65.1 c Psal 105 106 107. Psal 77.15 to 20. Exod. 14.19 d Psal 74.13 14. Exek 29.3 Esay 51.9 10 11. e Exod. 14.21 22. f Exod. 15.1 to 21. g Rev. 15.2 3. h Isa 51.3 1 Chron. 16.29 Eph. 5.19 i Rev. 12.3 Ezek. 32.2 k Psal 66.6 l Isa 1.9 m Mat. 26.26 n Col. 3.16 Eph. 5.19 III. After the Ordinance of Singing the Pastor a readeth some part of the Scripture when he hath b sanctified this Ordinance by Prayer he giveth the sense and meaning of the same bringing one Scripture to e expound another d comparing spiritual things with spiritual as it is written to the e Law to the f Testimony if they speak not according to it there is no true g Light in them for no Scripture is of any h private Interpretation but by the Scripture of the Prophets is shewed what is i Gospel that so the Church may with the k Bereans search the Scripture for the proof of the same seeing our Faith in all things must be built upon the l foundation or doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets Christ Jesus himself being the chief Corner-stone and not as some say on the Light within but as the Apostle witnessed both to small and great none other things concerning Christ and our Faith in him than what the m Prophets and Moses did say should come that so the Church may be edified in the fear n of the Lord according to these Scriptures a 1 Tim. 4.13 Neh. 8.8 Acts 13.15 b Phil. 4.16 c 2 Pet. 1.20 d 1 Cor. 2.13 e Isa 8.20 Luk. 16.29 31. f 1 Cor. 2.1 John 5.46 Deut. 18.18 Luk. 13.36 37. 2 Thes 1.10 Rev. 19.10 and 15.5 g Jer. 8.9 h 2 Pet. 1.20 i Rom. 16.25 26. Gal. 3.8 Rom. 15.16 Isa 52.7 and 53 chap. k Acts 17.11 l Eph. 2.20 m Acts 26.22 n Acts 11.31 IV. After the Ordinance of Reading is performed with what the Pastor by Doctrine laid as the food or bread a of Life before the Flock the Teacher according to the b Wisdom given him taketh some place of Scripture after he hath opened the same raiseth Doctrine from it and applieth it to the c consciences of the hearers that the Church may discern d Sin and e Righteousness working upon the f Will and Affections that a g reasonable Creature not without faith may be given up unto God and their Bodies as a living h sacrifice in his service so i growing in Grace and in all spiritual k understanding as l Plants in the Lords Vineyard and bringing forth the m fruits of his own Grace every good work to the praise and glory of the Lord Jesus a John 6.48 Mat. 4.4 Deut. 8.3 b 1 Cor. 128. 1 Tim 2.17 Luk. 4.18 21 22. 2 Tim. 3.16 c 2 Cor. 4.2 5.11 d Rom. 7.7 e Rom. 10.4 Phil. 3.9 Mat. 5.20 f Phil. 2.13 1 Cor. 3.7 Luk. 17.5 g 1 Thes 3.2 h Rom. 12.1 Mark 9.49 Psal 51.17 i 2 Pet 3.18 Psal 92.12 k Col. 1.9 2 Tim. 2.7 l Isa 5.7 m Cant. 4.16 Col. 1.10 Phil. 1.11 n 1 Cor. 10.31 Eph. 1.13 V. Now followeth the Ordinance of Prophecy being sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer by that Member which beginneth that Exercise who invocateth the Lord for a blessing thereon that so the Gifts and Graces the Lord bestoweth on his Church may not be a hid in the Earth or b covered under a Bushel but manifested as was prophesied The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-Tree he shall grow as the Cedar in Lebanon to shew forth the praises of the Lord in his c Temple observing time and order speaking to his glory For this cause therefore hath God ordained this Ordinance that Members not yet in office may exercise their Gifts as it is written Ye that are zealous of spiritual Gifts seek that ye may excell to the d edifying of the Church by which holy order of training up Youth or young Men in the Church by exercising their Gifts after two years time were some found fit in the Church of God at Ephesus to be chosen by the Church to the office of Bishop or Pastor and other offices when as they had no office before for two years time And thus when Gods way is taken for the fitting of Men in Gods own time and order for the work of the Ministry they need not as many do take a contrary way to make Ministers of the Gospel by human art in the knowledge onely of the Tongues as though the Gifts and Graces of God could be as f Simon Magus thought bought or purchased with Money neither is it obtained by any natural Art or human Industry for great is the difference beeween the attaining of the knowledge of the Tongues and the knowledge of the Mysteries of Faith as is evident for the Jews were as learned Men as any in the g World in the knowledge of those Languages the Scriptures were first spoken and wrote in yet they knew not the h voices of the Prophets when read every Sabbath concerning Christ in the Promises contained in the Prophets Writings but when he was preached unto them out of the Writings of the Prophets that Christ must dye for our sins according to the i Scriptures it was unto the Jews a k stumbling-block and unto the Greeks foolishness Also the Cardinals and Jesuits at Rome want not the knowledg of the Tongues yet how ignorant are they of the Mysteries of Faith in Gods Word and holy Order of Worship under the Gospel see Henry Ainsworths Arrow against Idolatry So that tongues are no essential mark of a true Minister as some men imagine for God sometimes called unlearned men to the Work of the Ministry as l Peter and Andrew and Amos a m Herdsman to be a Prophet as well as he doth Men that are learned in the Tongues so that Learning is but natural though an excellent Ornament in Nature And when God is pleased to call Men of such parts in Nature being sanctified by the gracious work of his Spirit to his Ministry it may bring much glory to God in its place but not that it makes Men fit for Ministers Now that which makes a Man a true Minister of Christ is First being a n Member of the true Church of Christ and by that Church called or o elected when duly tried and found p fit both for Gifts Grace and Qualifications then in the time of the Ordinance of Government in the Church by the meetest Members the Church thinks fit is ordained by the consent of the Church and this is Christ's spiritual School that traineth up Men for the Work of this Ministry in the exercising of the Graces the Lord bestoweth on them for
Ezra 6.21 22. c 1 Cor. 7.18 And again As this Spouse of Christ is his Body compact together by the supply of every joynt so the Eyes are call'd Seers or Teachers when they by heavenly Doctrine see good for the Body are instead of Eyes and when they administer the Seals Baptism and the Supper with the Censures they are Hands to the Church and when they reprove Sin they are the Mouth and when they are employed in the Churches Message they are the Feet of the Church and when they themselves have done amiss and are reproved by the Church they are the Ears of the Church to hear Reproof and so proportionably are all the Members in their places keeping order every one within the Limits of their Places set by God in the Body his Church 1 Cor. 12. And again as the Church in her beginning is said to be a Sister that hath no breasts Cant. 8.8 that is Ministers as Pastor and Teacher Which Breasts do naturally arise out of the Body when God's Gifts and Graces are increased and some found fit to be called or elected and ordained into Office by the Church then are her Breasts said to be fashioned as was of old in Israel Ezek. 16.7 and in the Church of Ephesus And so are the new born Children of God said to suck the Breasts of Sion's Consolation Isa 66. Thus out of every true Church or Body of Christ ariseth Christ's true Ministry But what a contrary thing in Nature is it to believe that the Body groweth out of the Breast or in plainness of speech for a Minister to be made and not by a true Church as one Minister as they call them to make another or that a Minister maketh the Church or that a People cannot be a true Church before they have a Minister This unnatural belief is for want of better learning in the School of Christ which leads Men to retain the Ordination of their Ministers successively from Rome left in this Land when Queen Mary died who then were Ministers in the Popish Orders and when Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown they that would conform to the things then imposed on them did still administer without any other Ordination and so from that Root ever since doth one Minister make another He that is wise may consider this and know that they that retain any other Ministry or Worship which Christ hath not appointed in his Testament he will tell them for all their preaching he never knew them IX Next followeth the Ordinance of the Lords Super to be performed as a a Remembrance of Christ's Death and the Communion all that partake thereof have with Christ as his b Members and the Communion they have one with another in Christ as one anothers Members so that all of years able to examine themselves ought to partake thereof and no others because it is not a passive Ordinance as Water-Baptism to be administred upon but it is written Take and eat And thus when this Ordinance is performed the Church according to the Example of Christ do sing a e Psalm concluding all with Prayer So that as we do believe that God is a God of d Order and hath recorded his great displeasure when in his Worship e Order was not kept Therefore we have as we do believe and practise laid down the holy Order the Primitive Churches performed Christ's Ordinances in and we are to follow the good old Way in the f Footsteps of the Lord's Flock Therefore as the Ordinance of Singing was used after sanctified by the Word Christ and Prayer in him to the Father as an Ordinance of Joy when the Church entred into the Lord's g Court in his service so do we believe the Primitive Churches practised 2dly As h Reading was in Israel performed before Doctrine so doth the Apostle exhort Timothy that in the Church it be so i performed Next after the Word is read and expounded and likewise the Word taught by Doctrine by Office followeth the Ordinance of k Prophtey the Youth or young Men by good Order are to give place to the Elders as in another case l Elihu did Then in Order followeth the Ordinance of Government that as all are to judg of what was taught either by Office or membral Right in the Church so that if Error hath by any been taught and after the first and second admonition m they remain impenitent in this time of Government before the Throne of Christ on them may be executed the Judgment written that a little leaven do not leaven the whole lump so likewise on any Member for other Sins according to Mat. 18. And also in this time of Government if any Person were converted before by the Word of God taught the Gates of this heavenly City are n opened by the authority of Christ on his Throne and they joyned with their seed by a willing Covenant with the Lord and his People which Covenant is the Form of the Church as it is the Form of Marriage and without it a People are no Church any more than without a Covenant Man and Woman can become Man and Wife therefore was the Church said to be o espoused to Christ As a young Man marrieth a Virgin so shall thy Sons p marry thee Next followeth the Ordinance of Baptism that those the Lord received by Covenant to be a q People to him must have the visible Sign and Seal of the benefit of the same as a Token of the Remission of their Sins by the Blood of Christ if they never were baptized before for Baptism is not the Form of the Church neither are any joyned to the Lord nor his Church by it but it is the Sign of the benefit of the Covenant after we are joyned to the Lord. But if any think Persons are made Members of Christ by Water-Baptism then as often as they may be cast out of the Church for Sin if they repent they must be joyned to the Church by Baptism again a 1 Cor. 11.25 b 1 Cor. 10.16 17. c Mat. 26.30 d 1 Cor. 14.40 e Lev. 10.1 2. f Cant. 1.8 g Psal 95.2 Col. 3.16 h Acts 13.15 i 1 Tim. 4.13 k 1 Cor. 14.29 31. l Job 32.6 7. m Tit. 3.10 n Rev. 3.7 o 2 Cor. 11.2 p Esay 62.5 q Deut 29.10 11 12. Reasons gathered out of the holy Scriptures to prove that since the Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus not only the Ceremonial Ordinances for Worship are abolished but also the chief Time in which they were performed to wit the Seventh-Day Sabbath And also to prove that as the Lord Jesus hath not only ordained new Gospel-Ordinances but also a new Time in which they are to be performed to wit the first Day of the Week for the Gospel Sabbath THat which moveth us to give our Judgment about the time of Gospel-Worship is first for the Glory of God and secondly for the Comfort of the Elect Children of God who we fear are many of
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
soals of thy feet Isa 60.14 As the Converts did in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 14.25 and in the Church of Philadelphia Rev. 3.9 who came and heard and attended upon the Ordinances of Christ in his Church where Christ as a k Prophet was represented in his Ministry in the Ordinance of Teaching working upon the knowledge of the Hearers that they may discern Sin and Righteousness 2dly as a Priest working upon the Will and Affections killing them a sacrifice that a new and reasonable Creature may be given up to God in his service Heb. 9.11 14. Rom. 12.1 3ly In this time of government now as a l King on his Throne effectually working upon their hearts that the things taught by Prophecy and applied by Priesthood may be orderly practised in a holy Life And thus the Man whose name is the m BRANCH shall bear the Glory and shall sit and rule upon his Throne And he shall be a Priest on his Throne and the Counsel of Peace shall be between them both And thus he must reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his Feet 1 Cor. 15.25 compared with Psal 110.1 fulfilling the words of the Angel to Mary according to the words of the Prophet Isa 9. Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and the Lord shall give unto him the Throne of his father David to reign over both Jews and Gentiles in the Church of God Luke 1.31 32. Rom. 15.12 whom David figured in his terrestrial warfare now spiritually fulfilled in the Church by Jesus Christ and therefore to the Church of God in Philadelphia it is written concerning Christ who is the King of Saints Rev. 15.3 and hath the Key of David that openeth the gates of the City New Jerusalem or Church of God that the Regenerate or Righteous Nation to wit the believing Parents and their Children may enter in in the time of Government who by Covenant do become the Lord's People Deut. 29.10 11. Act. 2.47 Thus in the Church when the Mysteries of Faith are purely taught and opened as the Truth is in Jesus and the Ordinances of Christ in holy Order performed then doth the Spouse or Queen of Christ at his right-hand Psal 45.9 behold the King in his Beauty Isa 33.17 Psal 27.4 90.17 Cant. 5.10 the chiefest among ten thousand Moreover because the Church or Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a Draw-Net that gathereth good and bad to wit some Hypocrites among the Elect. When any such appear to be in the Church and not of it according to God's Order such for their evil-deeds or Heresy being brought in order to the Throne of Christ in his Church in this time of Government and by their obstinacy in sin are known to be dross then according to the Proverb purge out the drose And again Cast out the Scorner and Contention and Strife shall cease Prov. 25.45 22.10 and by this n order of Government Christ's Kingdom is purged the Church is preserved in peace and all confusion avoided the unclean or o leavened persons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ put out from among them for the destruction or humbling of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus And whilst the Excommunicated person remaineth impenitent in such a condition he is not fit to be received in again until he repent a 1 Tim. 3.5 1 Cor. 12.28 b Mat. 18.20 Exod. 25.8 and 20.24 c Rev. 4.2 and 5.6 and 7.17 Luke 1.32 d John 18.36 e Mat. 22.42 43 44 45. Psal 100.3 f 1 Tim. 1.13 Rom. 5.10 g Zach. 10.3 Rev. 19.14 h Rom. 12.2 Psal 2.13 i Rom. 6 12 13 14 19. k Acts 3.22 l Rev. 19.16 m Zach. 6.12 13. n 1 Cor. 14.33 40. o Mat. 16.6 1 Cor. 5. Now then these things being so according as the Truth is in Jesus what a gross Mistake are some Men under who call themselves Baptists who have published in their Confession of Faith to the World from Rev. 11.15 presented to King Charles the II. from these Words That the Kingdoms of this World there spoken of which shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ's are say they the Kingdomes of this World which men so mightily strive after when all know that the Kingdoms of this World which men so mightily strive after are such Kingdoms as England Spain and Denmark and the like which are governed by Civil Magistrates according to Gods Ordinance whose Office and Sword they have received next under God to be Heads of their Kingdoms Whether such Magistrates be Believers or no a yet all Christians are bound to obey them not for b fear but for Conscience sake and that in the Lord. a Acts 25.11 b Rom. 13.5 2. To help these Men to see their Mistake in interpreting Prophecies literally and that others may not be deceived by them let the Reader further note That Christ hath his Office next under God to be a a Head and Mediator to his Church and the Magistrates have their Office next under God to be Heads of their Kingdoms These two Governments being both ordained of God yet so distinct the one from the other as they neither do nor can take in hand the Work peculiarly belonging unto one another for which cause it may appear that God divided his Laws into two Tables the one appertaining to the worship and service of God in his Church or Kingdom Christ by it spiritually governing the same the other concerning temporal matters in things appertaining to this Life between man and man which last Work appertaineth to the civil Magistrates Office therefore would not Christ meddle with the c civil Sword in Government d because his Kingdom was not to be of this World neither would he decide civil Controversies e though desired thereunto a Eph. 1.22 b Rom. 13. Job 12.24 c Mat. 26.52 d John 18.36 e Luke 12.14 3. On the other hand the Kings of Judah a might not meddle with the Priests work to burn Incense yet the Magistrates Office when Israel was under Heathen Governours might be performed by them in that Nation and the Israelites bound to b obey them in all their Commands according to the second Table of Gods Law as appeareth by their appointting c Officers judging Controversies and punishing d Malefactors and the Israelites bound to pray e for the peace of that Nation Therefore so long as the two Tables of Gods Law remain unjoyned together so long the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdoms of this World which Christ's Kingdom is not of will remain distinct the one from the other for which cause Christ paid them Tribute f and commanded his Subjects so to do g teaching us that his Office was subordinate unto them in civil things and also to pray for their good both in body and soul And when it pleaseth the Lord in whose hands the hearts of all Kings and Magistrates are to turn their hearts to obey his Truth and they become
Members of Christ's Church as many Heathen Magistrates in the Apostles days were h then are they said to have their portion in the Holy Land and they do bring their honour and glory as the Gentiles their i riches in becoming Nursing-fathers k preserving the Church from outward Injuries while they in Spirit and in Truth l worshipthe Lord in keeping his Commandments and so the m Earth is said to help the Woman As these Scriptures shew a 2 Chron. 26.16 18. b Jer. 27.6 8 12. c Jer. 40.5 d Jer. 29.22 23. e Jer. 29.7 f Mat. 17.24 25 26 27. g Rom. 13.6 h Ezek. 48.21 i Isa 60.3 6. Rev. 21.24 k Numb 11.12 Isa 49.23 l John 4.24 Phil. 3.3 Rev. 22.14 m Rev. 12.16 Again there are three Kingdoms here on Earth first the Kingdom of Magistratical a Government in Nations secondly the Kingdom or spiritual b Government of Christ in his Church thirdly the Kingdom of c Darkness where Satan the d Prince of this World ruleth in the hearts of the children of e disobedience The two first Kingdoms or Governments are ordained of God the third was usurped of the Devil The time when his Kingdom began was so soon as Man fell by his means into f Sin and thus Satan as a strong Man armed took g possession in our first Parents until a stronger than he came upon him and dispossest him to wit Christ by God promised to them that the Seed of the h Woman to wit Christ should bruise the Serpents Head and God gave them faith to believe the same and thus Christ threw out i and took possession in his Elect Children whom the Father had given k him to dwell in their hearts l by faith Thus the War began betwixt Christ and Satan in Paradise a figure of the m Church and n Heaven it self so that in a Mystery it is written There was War in Heaven o Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels and prevailed not neither was place found any more in Heaven for them Thus Christ in the purpose of God and in the fulness of time by his death spoiled p Principalities and Powers as it is written For this purpose the Son of God was manifest that he might q destroy the Works of the Devil Thus Christ by the Ministry of his Word as a r Prophet worketh upon the knowledge of his Elect Children that they may discern Sin and Righteousness as a Priest to work upon the Will and Affections s killing them a t sacrifice Which Work of Christ Abel by faith saw by killing the sacrifice he was worthy to die and by offering it up on the Altar he u confessed that Christ must die for his Sins but Cain who was not of the number of the Elect yet shewed he a form of Godliness offered his m Sacrifice as Hypocrites do without faith therefore it was not accepted as Abel's was for which cause he x slew his Brother so he is said to be of that wicked One in whose posterity Satan had his Kingdom called the World of y ungodly which perished in the Flood and their Spirits remain in prison in expectation of endless woe to have their portion with him they served a Rom. 13.2 b Psal 149.6 7 8 9. Mat. 18.18 c Rev. 16.10 Eph. 6.12 d John 14.30 e Eph. 2.2 f Gen. 3.1 John 3.8 g Luke 11.21 h Gen. 3.15 i Heb. 2.14 15. k John 6.37 39. l Eph. 3.17 m Cant. 4.12 n Luke 23.43 o Rev. 12.7 Dan. 12.1 p Col. 2.15 q 1 John 3.8 r Acts 3.22 s Phil. 2.13 t Rom. 12.1 u Heb. 10.4 Psal 40.6 7. Gal. 3.24 w Prov. 15.8 Isa 66.3 x 1 John 3.12 y 2 Pet. 2.5 1 Pet. 3.19 Mat. 25.41 Moreover after the Flood Satan began his Kingdom again in Noah's Son Canaan the Son of Ham whom Noah a cursed for his sin of tale-bearing who ought to have b concealed and not to have reproached his Father nevertheless in the Field of the c World God hath his Elect in whom as aforesaid Satan ruleth for a while until Christ by the Word of his Grace worketh Repentance in them to the acknowledgment of the Truth that they may be recovered out of the d snare of the Devil captivated by him at his will Thus we see the Work of Christ is to dispossess Satans Government or Kingdom out of the hearts of his Elect as is opened to us in Rev. 11. When Gods time was come that he would restore his Church by raising up of his Elect out of the e grave of sin wherein they lay f dead under the Antichristian Errors and Doctrines of Devils whom the Lord g awakened by the h Lightnings and thundering Power of his Law as was signified by the Temple of God being opened in Heaven and the voices of his servants signified under the seventh Angel sounding his true Doctrine out of the same which caused such an Earthquake or trembling that some like i Felix trembled yet not bettered but were angry to have the Doctrine of eternal k Judgment preached against the Romish Hirlot their Mother who had made all Nations drunk with the Wine or salfe Doctrine of her Fornication in this Earthquake Others like as the m Jaylor were converted insomuch that the tenth part of the City n fell from the belief of the Antichristian Errors to believe the Doctrine of Christ's Temple and Altar See the Preface to the Reader Thus the o Arrows of Gods Truth pricking the hearts of the Elect wrought so effectually that there was slain of Men or Names of Men p seven thousand now no more to be q named of the number of the Beast but of the number of the r Names that do follow the Lord Jesus on such is written a new s Name even the Name of the City of the Heavenly Jerusalem the Mother of all God's Children So that now in whom Satan had his Kingdom by ruling in them Christ by faith now dwelleth and ruleth which causeth the Angels who are round about the Throne of Christ in his Church to rejoyce at the conversion of poor sinners and so likewise do the Saints as it is written There were great voices in Heaven to wit in the Church saying The Kingdoms of this World are become the u Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever And again Now is come salvation and strength and the w Kingdom of our God for the Accuser of our Brethren is east down And thus the Kingdom of the World that Abraham was Heir of to wit the World of the Elect which in the dispensation of times are brought into subjection to Christ by the faith of Abraham as it is written If ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed and Heirs according to promise a Gen. 9.25 29. b Prov. 11.12 13. 17.19 c Mat. 13.28 d 2 Tim. 2.25 26. e Ezek. 37.13 John 5.25 f Rev. 20.5 Eph. 2.1 g Eph. 5.14 h Hos 6.5
used to signify Angels Psal 8.5 Heb. 2.7 sometimes it signifies Magistrates Psal 82.1 and many the like Even so the word Baptisma or baptizo is rendred by Scholars in Dictionaries to dive over head to wash to water to sprinkle to baptize see Gouldman's Dictionary So that he that shall confine the word haptizo to one sense may by the same reason limit all the former words to one sense and so make a confusion in every ones understanding of the use of holy Scriptures as they do that confine the word Baptizo to Dipping when all Churches according to the Wisdom of God are left free what quantity of water they may use in Baptism For though the Eunuch went into the water which was no part of his Baptism but what water Philip uses on him was his Baptism but how much we know not And so of John's Baptism Now with what presumption do these men which call themselves Bappists limit God's Word and so presume above what is written to say he dipped all the Body And might not others do so by many other words in Scripture confine how many persons in number make a Church or the like when it is evident Philip did not baptise all the Body for the Eunuch put some part of his Body in the water himself so Philip could but wash the rest So that it 's safe when we so understand the Scriptures that they agree in one harmony together * Deut. 5.6 7. †Mat. 2.3 And lastly the Place where all Pastors are bound to administer the visible Seals of God's Covenant Baptism is not now at Rivers or Ponds as did the Apostles and Evangelists whose Offices were extraordinary and not limited to any particular Congregation because they received not their Office ordinarily from the Church but were immedialy called by Christ and so not of Men not of a Man and therefore it is written to Pastors and Teachers chosen by the Church they are Members of to feed the Flock of God over which the Holy Ghost hath made them b Over seers so that Archippus is bid to take heed to his Ministry which he had received in the Lord that he c fulfil it Moreover as all ordinary Civil Offices in a Kingdom or Common Wealth are limited within their Corporated Cities and Charters and have no power to execute any part of their Office out of the Limits set them Even so are the ordinary Offices of Christ's Church as of Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons chosen by their corporated and particular Bodies and commanded as by Acts. 20.28 Col. 4.17 there to fulfil their Ministerial Office and not as some in the Apostles days who said they were Apostles to go from one Congregation to another when they please and baptize at any place but when the Church of Ephesus who knew that the full Number of the Apostles names was already recorded in the foundation of the d Walls of the heavenly Jerusalem tried them to prove their Call and found them * Liars false Apostles deceitful Workers transforming themselves into the e Apostles of Christ And we may believe that there are many in these days that by like trial will be found false Apostles who Apostle-like baptize out of the stative corporative Body of the Church gathered together and without the knowledge of the Church and so not with Archippus fulfill their Ministry within the Limits of their Charters Again as there are some authorized under Civil Kings as Embassadors who are sent to other Nations to treat with them of Peace or like State-Matters others they employ as Messengers and they are sent upon their Masters Business in any part of their Dominions others are Officers in Towns Cities or Burroughs limited within the Bounds of their Charter Even so the Lord Jesus King of Kings sent his Apostles Ambassadors f to other Nations to treat of Peace by the preaching of his Gospel others were sent as Evangelists or g Messengers from one Church to another so far as the Churches were gathered others were ordinary Officers as Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons and they were not to go without the h Limits of the Congregation that had chosen them to administer either Baptism with water or the Lord's Supper a Gal. 1.1 b Acts 20.28 c Col. 4.17 d Rev. 21.14 e 2 Cor. 11.13 * Rev. 2.2 f 2 Cor. 5.20 g 2 Cor. 8.23 h Acts 20.28 Rev. 3.8 Mat. 24.45 Yet we read of one John Smith first a Minister in England after joyned himself a Member of the English Church at Amsterdam where Henry Ainsworth was Teacher and for sin was cast out of that Church soon after Satan drew him to deny the Covenant preached to Abraham to be the Covenant of Grace which led him to deny his Baptism received in Infancy And though there were many more then of his Judgment yet they knew not where to have an Administrator to begin Baptism by dipping therefore as Satan had begun to instruct him he added Sin unto Sin and baptized himself then he baptized one Mr. Helvish and John Morton with the rest And this is testified by one Mr. Jessop who as he saith was one of them and after by grace renounced their evil doings and wrote a Book against them entituled a Discovery of the Errors of that People in the Year 1623 pag. 65. Likewise H. Ainsworth saith Mr. Smith baptized himself in his Book called a Defence of Holy Scripture wrote against Smith pag. 69 82. So saith Mr. Clifton in his Christian Plea against Mr. Smith pag. 185 224. Now let the wise judg in what abominable disorder they retain their Baptism ever since from Mr. Smith and whether it stinketh not in the Nostrils of the Lord ever since as the Ministry of Corah and his Company Moreover as Water-Baptism came in a place of Circumcision and when Israel fell into Apostacy yet they in that estate did circumcise and when they returned by repentance unto the Lord and renewed their Covenant the Lord did not require them to reiterate or b circumcise them again that were circumcised in Apostacy though they might have gathered the foreskin again by Surgery as the Apostle c observeth so likewise Joseph Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 6. and also History declares Having afore shewed how in this Land a Gospel-Church was planted after fell into Apostacy yet they still baptized their Children as the Apostles did the Housholds afore-proved to be Children So that when we that were baptized in Apostacy are returned by the Call of God to the Lord by unfeigned Repentance we are not to rebaptize again those that were baptized in Apostacy seeing the Covenant is the same that Circumcision was a Seal of as now Water-Baptism is And thus we have a ground in God's Word for our practice which they have not that receive their Baptism from John Smith that baptized himself as afore proved And thus when all God's Ordinances are ended the whole is concluded by Prayer a Col. 2.11 12. b 2 Chron. 30.
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
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
127.3 1 Pet. 5.3 h Esay 22.24 1 Thess 4.4 i Psal 22.9 10. k Mat. 21.15 16. Cant. 7.12 Isa 44.3 4 5. l Psal 58.3 m Eph. 2.3 n 2 Pet. 2.5 1 Pet. 3.19 20. o Gen. 18.28 p Mark 10.16 q Rom. 4.7 Acts 3.25 26. Esay 44.3 r 1 Cor. 12.13 s Rom. 8.9 t Acts 10.47 Therefore upon these Grounds did the Apostle baptize Believers and their House or Housholds seeing only the Children in respect of God's Covenant are so called The Man must take his Brother's Wife to build his Brother's House Deut. 25.5 6 9. Leah and Rachel built the House of Israel to wit by Children Ruth 4.11 The Widow of Zareptha's Son was called her House 1 Kings 17.12 13 14 15. A Bishop or Pastor must rule his own House well having his Children in subjection 1 Tim. 3.5 Jacob went down into Egypt every Man and his Houshold that is they and their Children Exod. 1.1 Joseph is said to nourish his Father and all his Father's Houshold as is expounded I will nourish you and your Children Gen. 45.11 and 46.5 6 7 8. with Gen. 50.21 David dwelt at Gath he and his Men every Man with his Houshold 1 Sam. 27.3 which by 1 Sam. 30.6 was their Sons and Daughters And to the barren Woman when promised Seed she is said to dwell in a House that is to be a joyful Mother of Children Psal 113.9 So that they must be wilfully blind that shall deny the Apostle to have baptized Children seeing the Houshold are the Children and they did baptize the Believers and their Houshold 1 Cor. 1.16 Acts 16.15 Thus we see the Gospel which the Apostle Matthew taught beginneth with a Ahraham according to the b Covenant of Grace made with him that in his Seed Christ shall all Nations of the Earth be blessed to wit the c Families or Kindreds the Believer and his Children in which Covenant God promised to be a d God to them and their Seed So that as Isaac in Infancy was a Child of Promise as saith the Apostle to the Church which consists of Men Women and e Children so are we Children of the Promise To which also agreeth the Doctrine of Peter who saith The f Promise is to you and your g Children And thus the Children of the Church under the Gospel are as h aforetime further confirmed by Christ to Zaccheus who said unto him because he believed This day is Salvation come to thy i House forasmuch as he was the Son of Abraham though supposed by nature a Gentile Thus Christ taught the Gospel afore preached to Abraham and he believing it was a Son of Abraham and so his House which was afore proved to be the Children had Salvation imputed equally to them as to their Parents and therefore as Zaccheus was accepted into the Lord's Covenant so was his Children who have their sins washed away in the Blood of Christ in the everlasting k Covenant Baptism being a visible Sign or Seal thereof Therefore have they both Father and Children right unto the same else the Apostle would not have baptized them and their l Housholds Therefore it is a gross Mistake in them that deny the Infants of Believers Water-Baptism and also account the Infants of Believers and Unbelievers in a like estate nay their Doctrine subverts the whole Order of the Gospel in respect of the Promises of Life Salvation by Jesus Christ and in a word it is another m Gospel than ever Christ and his Apostles taught that the Lord should accept the believing Father into his Covenant and leave his Children in an equal state with Turks and Pagans so that saith the Apostle Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached let him be accursed And again when any Proselyte Gentile of old did joyn himself by the Covenant of Grace in Christ promised to the Lord and his Church the Lord did require of him profession of his Faith because he had been an actual Transgressor as aforesaid yet he only was not received into the Church by the Covenant of Grace made with Abraham but also his Infants And though the Father was circumcised yet might he not partake of the Passeover till all his Males were n circumcised because they were accepted into the o Covenant and as the Females wanted that part of the Body and so could not be actually circumcised yet being in Covenant as well as the Males were accounted as circumcised else they might not enter into the p Temple And again as the Lord's Supper came in place of the q Passeover and Water-Baptism in the place of r Circumcision being the Seals of one and the same Covenant and the Subjects being by the Lord never rejected or removed it doth necessarily follow that when the Father believed of old he must not eat the Passeover till all his Males were circumcised s that is had the Seal of t Faith set on them even so by like reason seeing the Covenant is the same though the Father is baptized yet he must not eat of the Lords Supper till all his Infants are baptized which was one reason why the Apostles did not only baptize Believers but also their Children or u Houshold And thus the Faith of the Saints is built upon the Doctrine or Foundation of the Apostles and w Prophets and all other is but Fancy instead of Faith and so deceive themselves and them that are led by them to the destruction of their poor Souls a Mat. 1.1 Gal. 3.8 b Gen. 17.7 c Acts 3.25 d Gen. 17. Rev. 21.3 e Luke 18.16 Eph. 6.4 1 Cor. 7.14 f Gal. 4.28 g Acts 2.39 h Jer. 30.20 i Luke 19.9 k Zach. 9.11 Heb. 13.20 l 1 Cor. 1.16 m Gal. 1.6 7 8. n Exod. 12.48 o Deut. 29.10 11 12 13 14 15. p Luk. 2.37 38. q 1 Cor. 5.7 8. r Col. 2.12 s Exod. 12.48 t Rom. 4.11 u Acts 16.15 w Eph. 2.20 21. Esay 8.20 Rom. 15.4 2 Tim. 3.14 15 16. Rom. 16.25 26. Rev. 21.12 14. Therefore in order to the opening of the true meaning of the Word Baptism we shall observe in the Scriptures there are three several Baptisms One of the Spirit Mat. 3.11 One of Suffering Mark 10.38 The third of Water Acts 10.47 All which Baptisms bear one and the same signification because by one and the same Word they are all declared unto us so that what sence or signification is to be understood in the administration of the Spiritual Baptism the same is to be understood in the administration of the Water-Baptism and likewise in the Baptism of Suffering And so we shall by God's own way in comparing spiritual things with spiritual come to discern the Truth of God's Mind in the same 1. The Manner of the Administration of Spiritual-Baptism by the Lord himself is said by the Spirit of God to be by pouring his Spirit on persons and not by dipping as it is written in the Promise and after fulfilled
See Isa 32.15 Acts 2.17 18. 10.45 Ezek. 39.29 After the manner of rain or sprinkling Isa 52.15 Now some have the Spirit poured on them in a greater measure than others some were in the Church Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers and all differing in the measure of the Spirit received yet all were baptized of the Spirit yea the whole Church were by one Spirit baptized into one Body though some but Babes in Christ yet all had the Baptism of the Spirit Now therefore who dare presume to limit the Spiritual Baptism to say none were baptized with the Spirit but them that had the greatest measure After this manner in respect of measure are we to understand the Baptism of Suffering one suffering more another less as for example some suffer reproaches Heb. 13.13 others suffer reproaches and loss of goods others suffer reproaches loss of goods and liberty Esay 51.14 Rev. 1.9 2.10 Others suffer all the aforesaid and loss of life Rev. 12.11 Acts 12.2 Then who dare presume to say that they that did not suffer in the greatest measure as loss of Life did not partake of the Baptism of Suffering Now then Water-Baptism being one and the same Word in signification must be understood to agree with the former Baptism especially of the Spiritual Baptism after which manner the Lord himself baptized the Children of Israel in the Cloud and in the Sea When the Clouds poured forth water upon them Psal 77.17 yet they went through the Sea on dry foot The manner of which Baptism the Apostle Paul would not have the Church of God ignorant of saying All our Fathers were baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea 1 Cor. 10.2 Surely the manner of John's Baptism in Jordan and Enon and Philip on the Eunuch was after this manner in casting water after the manner of Rain or Sprinkling on them for Israel was not deprived of any sense when they were baptized in the Sea as of seeing hearing and breathing c. contrary to the Order of God's Creation as these in our days that are baptized by dipping Neither were they in the Sea nor in Jordan as we read of stript of their Apparel to one thin Covering which is not modest seemly nor of a good report for a Woman to appear before any Man besides her Husband in such a dress under the pretence they cannot be baptized with their Garments on surely if one may cover that part of the Body that he believes must be baptized with one Covering he may with more for without doubt that part of the Body that is to be baptized ought to have no Covering on it for if it hath a Covering they baptize the Covering and not the Flesh For as the Face representeth the whole Person as Hagar fled from the Face of Sarah Gen. 16.6 8. that was from her Person and Moses fled from the Face of Pharaoh was the like So likewise the sorrow of Man's labour which Sin brought is signified by the sweat of the Face Gen. 3. Likewise when Jacob set his Face to go to Mount Gilead from Laban it represented his Affection and Actions with desire So when Jacob sent a Present to Esau it was to appease him that is his Face Gen. 32.20 So when Lot intreated for Zoar Gen. 19.21 God is said to accept his Face in granting his request So then the Face that representeth the Person which being bare in the Red Sea was that part of the Body that was baptized washed or sprinkled And thus the Word in Water Baptism agreeth with the Spiritual by pouring forth or sprinkling and as the former Seal of the same everlasting Covenant of the Gospel Gen. 17. Heb. 13.20 was set on that Part of the Body the Instrument of Generation to teach them Regeneration of Nature even of the whole Man born in Sin Psal 51.7 And that the derivation of the Covenant might be to the Seed of the Faithful who are thereby holy Ezra 9.2 And though the Lips and Ears are said to be uncircumcised in some respects Exod. 6.3 Jer. 6.10 yet the whole Body is said to be circumcised as being done on a part signifying the whole Even so in Baptism Water is cast upon the Face as a Sign or Signal of Death or that we were worthy to die as when the Servants of King Ahasuerus understood by the King's words that Death was determined against Haman they a covered his Face as a Signal of Death Even so by reason of Sin we come short of the b glory of God and our Faces are vailed or covered under the c condemnation of the Law until Christ by his Baptism fulfilled the Righteousness of the Law for us In sign whereof have we water cast upon our faces as a sign that we were not only worthy to die and so e baptized for the dead but that Christ by his Death hath f washed us from our sins in his Blood so that by his g Righteousness imputed to us we with unvailed or h open faces behold the Glory of the Lord and are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory by the Spirit of the Lord. a Esth 7.8 b Rom. 3.23 c 2 Cor. 3.7 8. d Mat. 3.15 e 1 Cor. 15.29 f Rev. 1.5 g 1 Cor. 1.30 h 2 Cor. 3.18 Moreover Satan hath yet used in these last and perilous days wherein Deceivers grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived another slight to peryert the Gospel of Christ in contending about words to no profit saith the Apostle that is to limit or confine the signification of the word baptize to one signification in the English tongue only to dip the whole body in water and account all other senses unlawful contrary to all the Learned that have translated the Scriptures into English or wrote Dictionaries and also contrary to the Analogy of Faith in the Scriptures Therefore the Learned in translating the holy Scriptures durst not limit many words but rendred them in such terms as the Godly may by the help of the Spirit of God rightly divide the true sense and meaning of the same As for example the Greek word Ecclesia for Church signifying few or many is rendred Congregation or gathering together by holy Covenant in the Name of Christ to become the Lord's People who are sometimes a little flock Luke 12. even but two or three Mut. 18.20 sometimes three thousand and more Acts 4.4 Yet both few and many are a Church comprehended in the word Ecclesia and so in the Hebrew word Kahal for Church Likewise the Greek word for Worship Latria and Latrevo sometimes taken largely when in Worship all God's * Ordinances are persormed and sometimes strictly when only †to bow down and supplicate unto God is Worship Again the word Saviour sometimes signifieth Christ Luk. 2.11 Sometimes he makes those Ministers as Instruments to save persons by his Doctrine Obad. v. 21. 1 Tim. 4.16 So likewise the word Elohim sometimes is