Father the Word and the holy Ghost 1 Joh. 5.7 see also Gen. 1.26 chap. 3.22 chap. 11.7 and Esa. 6.8 5. I believe that these three are in Nature Essence and Eternity equally one These three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 6. I believe there is a World to come Heb. 2.5 chap. 6.5 7. I believe that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust Many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and contempt Marvail not at this For the hour is coming in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evill to the resurrection of Damnation Act. 24.15 Dan. 12.2 Joh. 5.28 8. I believe that they that shall be counted worthy of that world and of the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dye any more for they are equall to the Angels and are the children of God being the children of the resurrection Luk. 10.34.35 36. Joh. 10.27 28 29. Rev. 7.16 chap. 20.6 9. I believe that those that dye impenitent shall be tormented with the Divel and his Angels and shall be cast with them into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone where their worm dyeth not and the fire is not quenched Rev. 21.8 Mar. 9.43.48 Mat. 25 41.46 Joh. 5.29 10. I believe that because God is naturally holy and just even as he is Good and Mercifull therefore all having sinned none can be saved without the means of a redeemer Then he is gracious unto him and saith deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransome We have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of our sins For which out shedding of blood is no remission Job 33.24 Col. 1.14 Hebr. 9.22 11. I believe that Jesus Christ our Lord himself is the redeemer They remembred that God was their rock and the high God their redeemer Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and Gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your Fathers But with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot Psa. 78.35 1 Pet. 1.18 19. 12. I believe that the great reason why the Lord the second person in the God-head did cloth himself with our flesh and blood was that he might be capable of obtaining the redemption that before the world was intended for us Forasmuch then as the children were made partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same mark that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Divel and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage When the fulness of the time was Come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithfull high priest in things pertaining to God To make reconciliation for the sins of the people For in that himself hath suffered being tempted he is able also to succour them that are tempted Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us As it is written cursed is every one that is hanged on a tree That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through faith in Jesus Christ. Heb. 2.14 15. Gal. 4 4. Heb. 2. 17 18. Gal. 3.13 14. 13. I believe that the time when he clothed himself with our flesh was in the dayes of the reign of Caesar Augustus then I say and not till then was the word made flesh or clothed with our nature And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed And Joseph went up from Galilee out of the City of Nazareth unto Judah unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and linage of David to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child And so it was that while they were there the dayes were accomplished that she should be delivered This child was he of whom godly Simeon was told by the holy Ghost when he said That he should not see death untill he had seen the Lord Christ. Joh 1.14 1 Tim. 3.16 Luk. 2.1 2 3 6.25 26 27. 14. I believe therefore that this very child as afore is testified is both God and man the Christ of the living God And she brought forth her first born son and wrapt him in swadling clothes and laid him in a manger Because there was no room for them in the inn And there were in the same Countrey shepheards keeping watch over their flock by night And Lo the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the Glory of the Lord shined round about them and they were sore afraid And the Angel said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people For unto you is born this day in the City of David a saviour which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you you shall find the babe wrapped in swadling clothes lying in a manger Again But while he thought on these things behold the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him saying Joseph thou son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghost And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Now all this was done that it might be fullfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying Behold a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Immanuel which being interpreted is God with us Luk. 2.7 12. Mat. 1.21 22. 15. I believe therefore that the righteousness and redemption by which we that believe stand just before God as saved from the curse of the Law is the righteousness and redemption that consists in the personal acts performancas of this child Jesus this God man the Lords Christ it consisteth I say in his personal fulfilling the law for us to the utmost requirement of the justice of God Do not think said he that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophet I am not come to destroy but to fulfill By which means he became the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own son in the likeness of sinfull flesh and and for sin oondemned sin in the flesh So finishing
himself for attempting to make his child a member without it Note again that as it admitteth of none to membership without it so as I said the very act of circumcising them without the addition of another Church act gave them a being of membership with that very Church by whom they were circumcised Exo. 4.24 25 26. But none of this can be said of Baptism First there is none debarred or threatned to be cutoff from the Church if they be not first baptized Secondly neither doth it give to the person baptized a being of membership with this or that Church by whose members he hath been baptized John gathered no particular Church yet was he the first and great baptizer with water he preached Christ to come and baptized with the baptism of repentance and left his Disciples to be gathered by him Acts 19.3 4 5. And to him shall the gathering of the people be Gen 49.10 Besides after Christs ascension Phillip baptized the Eunuch but made him by that no member of any particular Church We onely read that Phillip was caught away from him and that the Eunuch saw him no more but went on his way rejoycing to his Masters and countrey of Ethiopia Acts 8.35.40 Neither was Cornelius made a member of the Church at Jerusalem by his being baptized at Peters commandment at Caesarea Acts 10. chap. 11. Neither were they that were converted at Antioch by them that were scattered from the Church at Jerusalem by their baptism if they were baptized at all joyned to the Church at Jerusalem Acts 11.19 No they were after gathered and imbodyed among themselves by other Church acts Acts 16. What shall I say Into what particular Church was Lydia baptized by Paul or those first converts at Philippi Yea even in the second of the Acts Baptizing and adding to the Church appear to be acts distinct but if Baptism were the initiating ordinance then was he that we Baptized made a member made a member of a particular Church by the very Act of water baptism Neither ought any by Gods ordinance to have Baptized any but with respect to the admitting them by that Act to a being of membership in this particular Church For if it be the initiating ordinance it entereth them into the Church What Church Into a visible Church Now there is no Church visible but that which is particular The Universal being utterly invisible and known to none but God The person then that is baptized stands by that a member of no Church at all neither of the visible nor yet of the invisible A visible Saint he is but not made so by Baptism for he must be a visible Saint before else he ought not to be baptized Acts 8.37 Acts 9.17 Acts 16.33 Take it again Baptism makes thee no member of the Church neither particular nor universall neither doth it make thee a visible Saint It therefore gives thee neither right to nor being of membership at all Quest. But why then were they Baptized Answ. That their own Faith by that figure might be strengthened in the death and resurrection of Christ. And that themselves might see that they have professed themselves dead and buryed and risen with him to newness of life It did not seal to the Church that they were so their satisfaction as to that arose from better arguments but taught the party himself that he ought so to be Farther It confirmed to his own conscience the forgiveness of sins if by unfeigned faith he laid hold upon Jesus Christ. Col. 2.12 Rom. 6.3 4. Gal. 3.26 1 Cor. 15.29 Acts 2.38 Acts 22.16 1 Pet. 3.21 Now then if Baptism be not the initiating ordinance we must seek for entring some other way by some other appointment of Christ unless we will say that without rule without order and without an appointment of Christ we may enter into his visible Kingdom The Church under the Law had their initiating and entering ordinance it must therefore be unless we should think that Moses was more punctual and exact then Christ but that also our Lord hath his entering appointment Now that which by Christ is made the door of enterance into the Church by that we may doubtless enter and seeing Baptism is not that ordinance we ought not to seek to enter thereby but may with good conscience enter without it Quest. But by what rule then would you gather persons into Church-communion Answ. Even by that rule by which they are discovered to the Church to be visible Saints and willing to be gathered into their body and fellowship By that word of God therefore by which their Faith experience and conversation being examined is found Good by that the Church should receive them into fellowship with them Marke Not as they practise things that are circumstantial but as their faith is commended by a word of faith and their conversation by a moral precept Wherefore that is observable that after Paul had declared himself sound of faith he falls down to the body of the Law Receive us saith he we have wronged no man we have corrupted no man we have defrauded no man he saith not I am baptized but I have wronged no man c. 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20 21. chap. 7.2 And if Churches after the confession of faith made more use of the ten commandments to judge of the fitness of persons by they might not exceed by this seeming strictness christian tenderness towards them they receive to communion I will say therefore that by the word of faith and of good works moral duties Gospellized we ought to judge of the fitness of members by by which we ought also to receive them to fellowship Eor he that in these things proveth sound he hath the antitype of circumsion which was before the entering ordinance For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumsion which is outward in the flesh But he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.28 29. Phil. 3.1.2 3 4. Now a confession of this by word and life makes this inward circumsion visible When you know him therefore to be thus circumcised you ought to admit him to the Lords passover he if any hath a share not onely in Church communion but a visible right to the Kingdom of Heaven Again For the Kingdom of God or our Service to Christ consisteth not in meats or drinks but in righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost And he that in these things serveth Christ is accepted of God and approved of men Rom. 14 18. Deut. 23.47 By which word righteousness he meaneth as Iames doth the royal Law the perfect Law which is the moral precept Evangelized or delivered to us by the hand of Christ. James 2.8 9. The Law was given twice on Sinai The last time it was given with a proclamation of grace and mercy of God and of the pardon of sins
Secondly and observe it One Spirit one Hope one Lord one Faith one Baptism not of Water for by one Spirit are we all Baptized into one body one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all is a sufficient rule for us to hold communion by also to endeavour the maintaining that communion and to keep it in unity within the bond of peace against all attempts what soever Eph. 4.1 6. 1 Cor. 12.16 Thirdly I am bold therefore to have communion with such Heb. 6.2 Because they also have the doctrin of Baptisms I say the doctrins of them For here you must note I distinguish between the doctrin and practise of Water-baptism The Doctrin being that which by the outward sign is presented to us or which by the outward circumstance of the act is preached to the believer viz. The death of Christ My death with Christ also his resurrection from the Dead and mine with him to newness of life This is the doctrin which Baptism preacheth or that which by the outward action is signifyed to the believing receiver Now I say he that believeth in Jesus Christ that richer and better then that viz. is dead to sin and that lives to God by him he hath the heart power and doctrine of Baptism all then that he wanteth is but the sign the shadow or the outward circumstance thereof Nor yet is that despised but forborn for want of light The best of Baptisms he hath he is Baptized by that one spirit he hath the heart of Water-baptism he wanteth only the outward shew which if he had would not prove him a truly visible Saint it would not tell me he had grace in his heart It is no Characteristical note to another of my Sonship with God Indeed 't is a sign to the person Baptized and an help to his own Faith he should know by that circumstance that he hath received remission of sins if his Faith be as true as his being Baptized is felt by him But if for want of light he partake not of that sign his Faith can see it in other things exceeding great and precious promises Yea as I also have hinted already if he appear not a Brother before he appeareth not a Brother by that And those that shall content themselves to make that the note of visible Church-membership I doubt make things not much better the note of their sonship with God Fourthly I am bold to hold communion with visible Saints as afore because God hath communion with them whose example in the case we are streightly commanded to follow Receive you one another as Christ Jesus hath received you saith Paul to the glory of God Rom. 15.1 6. Yea though they be Saints o opinions contrary to you though it goeth against the mind of them that are strong We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please our selves What infirmityes Those that are natural are incident to all they are infirmityes then that are sinfull that cause a man for want of light to erre in circumstantials And the reason upon which he ground this admonition is that Christ pleased not himself but as it is written the reproaches of them that reproached thee have fallen upon me You say to have communion with such weak brethren reproacheth your opinions and practise Grant it your dulness and deadness and imperfections also reproach the holyness of God If you say no for Christ hath born our sins The answer is still the same Their sins also are fallen upon Christ He then that hath taken away thy sins from before the throne of God hath taken away their shortness in conformity to an outward circumstance in religion Both your infirmityes are fallen upon Christ yea if notwithstanding thy great sins thou standest by Christ compleat before the Throne of God why may not thy Brother notwithstanding his little ones stand compleat before thee in the Church Vain man Think not by the streightness of thine order in outward and bodily conformity to outward and shadowish circumstances that thy peace is maintained with God for peace with God is by Faith in the blood of his cross who hath born the reproaches of you both Wherefore he that hath communion with God for Christs sake is as good and as worthy of the communion of Saints as thy self He erreth in a circumstance thou errest in a substance who must bear these errors Upon whom must these reproaches fall Phil. 1.10 Some of the things of God that are excellent have not been approved by some of the Saints What then Must these for this be cast out of the Church No these reproaches by which the wisedom of heaven is reproached have falâ—en upon me saith Christ. But to return God hath received him Christ hath received him therefore do you receive him There is more solidity in this argument then if all the Churches of God had received him This receiving then because it is set an example to the Church is such as must needs be visible to them and it best described by that word which discovereth the visible Saint Who so therefore you can by the word judge a visible Saint one that walketh with God you may judge by the self same word that God hath received him Now him that God receiveth and holdeth communion with him you should receive and hold communion with Will any say we cannot believe that God hath received any but such as are Baptized I will not suppose a Brother so stupifyed and therefore to that I will not answer Receive him to the Glory of God To the Glory of God is put in on purpose to shew what dishonour they bring to God who despise to have communion with them who yet they know have communion with God For how doth this man or that Church glorify God or count the wisdom and holyness of heaven beyond them when they refuse communion with them concerning whom they are by the word convinced that they have communion with God Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus Rom. 15.5 By this word Patience Paul insinuateth how many imperfections the choycest Christians do mingle their best performances with And by this of consolation how readily God overlooks passeth by them and comforteth you notwithstanding Now that this mind should be in Christians one to another is manifest bcause Paul praies that it might be so But this is an heavenly gift and therefore must be fetched from thence But let the patience of God and the willingness of Christ to bear the reproaches of the weak and the consolations that they have in God notwithstanding moderate your passions and put you upon prayer to be minded like Jesus Christ. Fifthly Because a failure in such a circumstatce as Water doth not unchristian us This must needs be granted not onely from what was said before but for that thousands