enemies of the cross of Christ c. who mind earthly things for our conversation is in heaven Phil. 3. 17 18 19 20. Finally brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things honest whatsoever things just whatsoever things pure whatsoever things lovely whatsoever things of good report if there be any virtue and if there be any praise think on these things Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do c. Phil. 4. 8 9. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work Col. 1. 10. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above c. Set your affections on things above not on things on the earth c. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon earth fornication c. Col. 3. 1 2 5. Walk in wisdom towards them who are without redeeming the time c. That ye may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God c. Col. 4. 5 12. That ye would walk worthy of God who hâ—…h called you unto his kingdom 1 Thes. 2. 12. We exhort you by the Lord Jesus that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more c. For this is the will of God your sanctification c. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour c. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness 1 Thes. 4. 1 3 4 7. Now the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord 1 Thes. 5. 23. Exercise thy self to godliness c. Godliness is profitable to all things have promise of this c. 1 Tim. 4. 7 8. Thou O man of God c. Follow after righteousness godliness c. 1 Tim. 6. 6 11. Flee also youthful lusts but follow righteousness c. 2 Tim. 2. 22. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation c. teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Titus 2. 11 12. Put them in mind c. to be ready to every good work c. A faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works Titus 3. 1 8. Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us c. Follow peace c. and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 1 14. Who is a wise man c Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom James 3. 13. As obedient children not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance but as he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy 1 Pet. 1. 14 15. Ye are a chosen generation c. that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you c. Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul having your conversation honest amongst the Gentiles that whereas or wherein they speak against you as evil doers they may by your good works which they behold glorifie God in the day of visitation c. We being dead unto sin should live unto righteousness Matt. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 9 11 12 15 24. 1 Tim. 5. 14. Titus 2. 5 10. Let him eschew evil and do good c. Who is he who will harm you if you be followers of that which is good c Sanctifie the Lord in your hearts and he always ready to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil doers they may be ashamed who falsly accuse your good conversation in Christ 1 Pet. 3. 11 13 15 16. The time past of our life may â—…uffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles c. 1 Pet. 4. 2 3. Giving all dilligence add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledg and to knowledg temperance c. godliness c. Give dilligence to make your calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 10. Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness c Wherefore beloved seeing ye loo for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot or blemish 2 Pet. 3. 11 14. God is light c. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lye and do not the truth but if we walk in the light as he is in the light c. 1 John 1. 5 6 7. He who saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk even as he walked 1 John 2. 6. Every man who hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure c. He who doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous 1 Joh. 3. 7. Beloved follow not that which is evil but that which is good he who doth good is of God but he who doth evil hath not seen God 3 John v. 11. In Particular 1st To love God and the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. I' the Lord thy God c. shewing mercy unto thousands of them who love me Exod. 20. 6. The Lord our God one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart with all thy soul and with all thy might Deut. 6. 4 5. The Lord thy God he is God the faithful God who keepeth covenant and mercy with them who love him Deut. 7. 9. And now Israel what doth God require of thee but c. to love him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul Deut. 10. 12. Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God c. If you shall hearken c. to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart c. that I will c. Deut. 11. 1 13. The Lord your God proveth you to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul Deut. 13. 3. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul Deut. 30. 6. Take diligent heed to do the commandment c. to love the Lord your God Joshua 22. 5. Take good heed therefore unto your selves or souls that ye love the Lord your God Joshua 23. 11. O love the Lord all ye his saints c. Psal. 31. 23. I love the
c Thy ways and thy doings have procured those things unto thee this thy wickedness because it is bitter because it reacheth unto thine heart Jer. 4. 14 18. Your iniquities have turned away these things and your sins have withholden good things from you for among my people are found wicked men Jer. 5. 25. Thus saith the Lord amend your ways and your doings and I will cause you to dwell in this place trust ye not in lying words saying The temple of the Lord c. for if ye throughly amend your ways c. then will I cause you c. Will you steal murther and commit adultery c. and come and stand before me in this house c. Jer. 7. 3 4 5 7 8 9 10. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil I purpose to do unto them that they may return every man from his evil way that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin Jer. 36. 2 3. Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruin cast away from you all your transgressions c. Ezek. 18. 30 31. Turn ye turn ye from your evil ways Why will ye die c Ezek. 33. 11 14 15 16 18 19. Seek good and not evil that ye may live c. hate the evil and love the good Amos 5. 14 15. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity Habbak 1. 13. Be ye not as your fathers unto whom the former Prophet have cryed c. turn ye now from your evil ways and from your evil doings but they did not hear nor hearken unto me saith the Lord Zechar. 1. 4. Whosoever looketh on a Woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart and if thy right eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee c. and if thy right hand offend thee cut it off Matth. 5. 28 29 30. Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee John 8. 1. Psal. 85. 8. Jesus said unto the Woman taken in adultery Neither do I condemn thee Go and sin no more c. Verily I say unto you whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin Joh. 8. 11 34. Thou who preachest a man should not steal dost thou steal thou who sayest a man should not commit adultery dost thou commit adultery c. Rom. 2. 21 22 23. Nor as some affirm that we say le ts do evil that good may come whose damnation is just Rom. 3. 8. What shall I say then shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God forbid how shall we who are dead to sin live any longer therein c. Our old man is crucified with him c. that henceforth we should not serve sin c. Reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin c. Let not sin reign therefore in your mortal bodies that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin Rom. 6. 1 2 6 11 12 13. What I hate that do I c. the evil which I would not that do I Rom. 7. 15 19. If ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Rom. 8. 13. Abhor that which is evil c. recompence to no man evil for evil c. be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good Rom. 12. 9 17 21. The night is far spent the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness c. Let us walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkenness not in chambering and wantonness not in strife and envying c. make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts Rom. 13. 12 13 14. I would have you wise to that which is good but simple or harmless concerning evil Rom. 16. 19. Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God be not deceived neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God c. Now the body is not for fornication but for the Lord c. Flee fornication 1 Cor. 6. 9 10 13 18. Heb. 13. 4. Now these things were our examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted neither be ye idolaters c. nor commit fornication c. neither tempt Christ c. neither murmur ye c. Flee from idolatry 1 Cor. 10. 6 7 8 9 10 14. Charity rejoyceth not in iniquity 1 Cor. 13. 6. Awake to righteousness and sin not c. The sting of death is sin 1 Cor. 15. 34 56. What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness 2 Cor. 16. 14. Having these promises c. let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit c. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil 2 Cor. 13. 7. Ye are called unto liberty only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh c. fulfil not the lusts of the flesh c. adultery fornication uncleanness lasciviousness idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulation wrath strife seditions heresies envyings murders drunkenness revellings and such like c. they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God Gal. 5. 13 16 19 20 21. Be angry and sin not let not the Sun go down on your wrath neither give place to the Devil Let him who stole steal no more Eph. 4. 26 27 28. Fornication c. let it not be once named amongst you as becoming Saints c. Have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them c. Be not drunk with Wine wherein is excess Eph. 5. 3 11 18. Col. 3. 5 6 8. This is the will of God even your sanctification c. for God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness 1 Thes. 4. 3 4 7. Abstain from all appearance of evil 1 Thes. 5. 22. She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth c. Keep thy self pure 1 Tim. 5. 6 22. Let every one who nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity and flee also youthful lusts 2 Tim. 2. 19 22. The grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared c. teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live c. Titus 2. 11 12. Exhort one another c. lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3. 13. If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remains no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of judgment c. Heb. 10. 26 27. Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us Heb. 12. 1. Wherefore lay
glory of the Lord c. are changed into the same image c. by the spirit 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. We having the same spirit of faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak 2 Cor. 4. 13. In this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house from heaven c. that mortallity might be swallowed up of life We are willing to be absent from the body that we may be present with the Lord wherefore we labour that whether present c. we may be accepted of him c. knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we perswade men c. The love of Christ constraineth us c. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things as become new 2 Cor. 5. 2 4 8 9 11 14 17. Jesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates c. We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth 2 Cor. 13. 5 8. When it pleased God c. to reveal his Son in me that I might preach him c. immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood Gal. 1. 15 16. I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Gal. 2. 20. The works of the flesh are manifest which are adultery c. but the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance and they who are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections or passions and lusts Gal. 5. 19 20 21 22 23 24. God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom or whereby the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world for in Jesus Christ circumcision availeth nothing c. but a new creature Gal. 6. 14 15. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord That ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their minds c. But ye have not so learned Christ. If so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus Ephes. 4. 17 18 19 20 21. For the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness righteousness and truth Eph. 5. 9. Some preach Christ out of envy and strife c. what then notwithstanding in every way whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and therein do I rejoyce yea and I will rejoyce Phil. 1. 15 16 17 18. We are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh c. What things were gain to me those I count loss for Christ yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledg of Christ Jesus my Lord c. that I might know him and the power of his resurrection c. and be made conformable unto his death if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead not as though I had already attained or were already perfect but I follow after c. but this one thing forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press towards the mark c. let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded c. Our conversation is in heaven from whence we look for the Saviour c. Phil. 3. 3. 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 20. I have learned in whatsoever estate I am therewith to be content I know how to be abased and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need I can do all things through Christ who strengthneth me Phil. 4. 11 12 13. And bringeth forth fruits as it doth also in you since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth Col. 1. 6. If ye be risen with Christ seek those things which are above c. Set your affections on things above not on things on the earth c. seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledg after the image of him who created him Colos. 3. 1 2 9 10. Remembring without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love c. knowing beloved your election of God For our Gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power c. and ye became followers of us and of the Lord having received the word in much affliction c. ye turned to God c. to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son 1 Thes. 1. 3 4 5 6 9 10. The word of God which effectually worketh also in you who believe for ye brethren became followers of the Churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus for ye also have suffered like things of your own Countrey-men 1. Thes. 2. 13 14. Ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief ye are the children of the light c. 1 Thes. 5. 4 5. I thank Jesus Christ our Lord who hath enabled me c. who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious but I obtained mercy c. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the chief 1 Tim. 1. 12 13 15. Let every one who nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. 19. He who is entred into his rest hath ceased from his own works Hebr. 4. 10. They who believe desire a better countrey that is an heavenly c. Moses c. chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt c. Heb. 11. 16 24 25 26. Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. If any among you seem to be religious and bridle not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart this mans religion is vain Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction to keep himself unspotted from the world James 1. 26 27. What doth it profit my brethren though a man say he hath faith and have not works c. faith if it hath not works is dead c. I will shew thee my faith by my works c. Faith without works is dead also James 2. 14 18 26. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledg amongst you let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom But if ye have bitter envying c. this wisdom descendeth not from above c. but the wisdom which is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be entreated full of mercy and good fruits without
neither shall cease from yielding fruit Jer. 17. 7 8. I will be as the dew to Israel he shall grow or blossom as a Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon c. I am like a green fir-tree and from me is thy fruit found Hos. 14. 5 6 8. Who is a God like unto thee c He will subdue your iniquities Micah 7. 8 19. The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel c. and the spirit of all the remnant of the people and they came and did work in the house of the Lord Hagg. 1. 14. I will pour out upon the house of David c. the spirit of prayer c. Zech. 12. 10. But unto you who fear my name shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall Mal. 4. 2. Jesus said unto her If thou knewest c. who it is that said unto thee Give me to drink thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given thee living-water c. shall be in him a well of water springing up into eternal life John 4. 10 14. He who believeth on me as the Scripture saith out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters John 7. 38. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly John 10. 10. I am the true vine and my father is the husbandman c. Abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the vine ye are the branches he who abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without or severed from me ye can do nothing John 15. 1 2 4 5. Sin shall not have dominion over you for we are not under the law but under grace Rom. 6. 14. Having then gifts differing according to the grace which is given to us Rom. 12. 6. I have planted Apollo watered but God gave the increase so then neither is he that planteth any thing neither he who watereth but God who giveth the increase c. we are labourers together with God ye are Gods husbandry ye are Gods building 1 Cor. 3. 5 6 7 9. Not that we are sufficient of our selves c. but our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3. 5. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong-holds casting down imaginations and every high thing which exalts it self against the knowledg of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Gal. 2. 20. For this cause I bow my knees to the father c. that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner-man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith c. Now unto him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think according to the power that worketh in us Ephes. 3. 14 16 17 20. But c. may grow up into him in all thing who is the head Christ from whom the whole body fitly joined together c. according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body c. Ephes. 4. 15 16. Brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Ephes. 6. 10. I know how to be abased c. I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 12 13. We c. do not cease to pray for you c. that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing being fruitful in every good work c. strengthned with all might according to his glorious power c. And he is the head of the body the Church c. for it pleased the father that in him should all fulness dwell Col. 1. 9 10 11 18 19. Ye received it as the word of God which effectually worketh also in you who believe for ye brethren became followers of the Churches 1 Thess. 2. 13. 14. Now our Lord Jesus Christ c. establish you in every good word and work 2 Thess. 2. 17. Now the God of peace c. make you perfect in every good work to do his will working or doing in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight Heb. 13. 20 21. To give power and ability to persevere in faith and obedience through straits and tentations to eternal life The Lord thy God he will go over before thee c. Be strong and be of good courage fear not nor be afraid of them for the Lord thy God he it is who doth go with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee Deut. 31. 3 6 8. Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thy heart Psalm 27. 14. The steps of a good man are ordered or established by the Lord c. Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand Psal. 37. 23 24. Renew a constant or right spirit in me c. uphold me with thy free spirit Psal. 51. 10 12. Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be removed Psal. 55. 22. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God they shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat c. Psal. 92. 13 14. The Lord upholdeth all that fall and raifeth up all that are cast down Psal. 145. 14. Be not afraid c. for the Lord shall be thy confidence and shall keep thy foot from being taken Prov. 3. 25 26. When thou goest thy steps shall not be straitned and when thou runnest thou shalt not stumble Prov. 4. 12. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staid on thee Isa. 26. 3. A vineyard of red-wine I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment I will keep it night and day Isa. 27. 2 3. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying This is the way walkâ—… ye in it when ye turn to the right-hand and when ye turn to the left Isa. 30. 21. The everlasting God c. fainteth not neither is weary c. He giveth power to the faint and to them who have no might he encreaseth strength even thâ—… youths shall faint c. but they who wait on the Lord shall renew or change their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and walk and not faint Isa. 40. 28 29 30 31. I will bring the blind by a way they know not c. These things will I do unto
The Apostles Elders and Brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are c. It seems good to us being assembled with one accord to send chosen men unto you c. it seems good to the holy Ghost and to us c. They came to Antioch and when they had gathered the multitude together they delivered the Epistle Act. 15. 1 2 3 4 6 12 13 22 23 25 27 28 30. If then ye have judgment of things pertaining to this life set them to judg who are least esteemed in the Church 1 Cor. 6. 4. When I come whomsoever you shall aprrove by letters them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem 1 Cor. 16. 3. We have sent with him the brother c. who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace or gift c. Whether any do enquire c. of our brethren they are the messengers of the Churches 2 Cor. 8. 18 19 23. I suppose it necessary to send unto you Epaphroditus c. your messenger and he who ministred to my wants Phil. 2. 25. When this epistle is read among you cause that it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans and that ye likewise read the estpile from Laodicea And say to Archippus take heed to the ministry which thou hast received of the Lord that thou fulfil it Col. 4. 16 17. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren 1 Thess. 5. 27. Salute all them who have the rule over you and all the Saints Heb. 13. 24. Peter having written at large to the Saints speaks distinctly to the elders thus To the elders which are among you I exhort c. to feed the flock of God c. 1 Pet. 5. 1 2 3. I wrote to the Church but Diotrephes who loved to have the pre-eminence among them received us not wherefore if I come I will remember his deeds c. Not content herewith neither doth he himself receive the brethren and forbiddeth them that would and casteth them out of the Church Beloved follow not that which is evil 3 Joh. vers 9 10 11. John wrote to the seven Churches in Asia distinctly though they were in one countrey and charges each Church with its own guilt and commends each Church by it self takes no notice of any power any had over other He directs his epistles to the Angel of the Church but the matter he speaks to the whole Church and concludes Hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches Rev. 1. 4. ch 2 ch 3. See more of Church-Acts in Discipline Of the ending of controversies arising between the members of the Churches to avoid going to law before others Dare any of you having a matter against another go to law before the unjust and not before the Saints do ye not know that the Saints shall judg the world and if the world shall be judged by you are ye unworthy to judg the smallest matters know ye not that we shall judg Angels how much more things which pertain to this life c Set them to judg who are least esteemed in the Church I speak to your shame Is it so that there is not a wise man among you no not one who shall be able to judg between his brethren but brother goeth to law with brother and that before the unbelievers Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you because ye go to law one with another why do ye not rather take wrong c. 1 Cor. 6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Of the relief of the poor of the Churches and their contributions to the necessity of other Churches and the order of it And the multitude of them who believed were of one heart c. Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own but they had all things common c. Neither was there any among them that lacked for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the prises c. and laid them down at the Apostles feet and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need Act. 4. 32 34 35. The price of thy land While it remained was it not thine own and after it was sold was it not in thine own power why hast thou c Act. 5. 1 2 3 4. When the number of the disciples were multiplied there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Grecians because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration Whereupon the Church chose Deacons to look to this matter Act. 6. 1 2 3 4 5 6. The Disciples every one according to his ability determined to send relief unto the brethren c. Act. 11. 28 29 30. These hands have administred to my necessities and to them who were with me I have shewed you all things how that ye so labouring ought to support the weak and to remember the words of our Lord Jesus how he said It is more blessed to give than to receive Act. 20. 34 35. It hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem Rom. 15. 25 26. Now concerning the collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia so do ye upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gathering when c. 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. By the occasion of the forwardness of others and to prove the sincerity of your love for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich c. Not that other men be eased and you burdened but by an equality c. 2 Cor. 8. 1 2 3 7 8 9 13 14. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart so let him give not grudingly or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver c. The administration of this Service not only supplieth the want of the Saints but it is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God c. They glorifie God for your professed subjection to Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 9. 7 12 13. If any would not work neither should he eat c. But ye brethren be not weary in well-doing c. 2 Thess. 3. 10 11 12 13. If any widow have children or nephews let them learn first to shew pity at home and to requite their parents c. If any provide not for his own c. If any man or woman who believeth have widows let them relieve them and let not the Church be charged that it may relieve them who are widows indeed 1 Tim. 5. 4 8 16. See the Duty of distributing to the Saints necessity at large Chap. 17. Of the Officers of particular Churches their Power Duty and Recompence how they should be qualified for the Office and of the Churches duty to them as such First Of Officers Power Duties c. I