in all things not answering again or gainsaying Not purloining but shewing all good fidelity that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Tit. 2. 9 10. Go to now ye rich men weep and howl for your misery c. Behold the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields which is of you kept back by fraud cryeth and the cries of them who have reaped are entred into the ears of the Lord James 5. 1 4. Servants be subject to your own masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward For this is thank-worthy if a man for conscience sake towards God endure grief suffering wrongfully For what glory is it if when ye be buffeted for your faults ye shall take it patiently but if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God For even hereunto were ye called 1 Pet. 2. 18 19 20 21. 4thly Magistrates to subjects and subjects to magistrates See magistrates and magistracy at large Chap. 24. CHAP. XIX Saints Believers Duties towards all men those who are without Unbelievers Enemies 1st In general THou shalt neither vex a stranger nor oppress him for ye were strangers in the land Ye shall not afflict any widow or fatherless c. Exod. 22. 21 22. He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow and loveth the stranger c. love ye therefore the stranger for ye were strangers Deut. 10. 18 19. Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts saying Execute true judgment and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother and oppress not the widow nor the fatherless the stranger nor the poor and let none of you imagin evil against his brother in your heart Zech. 7. 9 10. ch 8. 16 17. Give not that which is holy unto dogs neither cast you your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet and turn again and rent you c. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so unto them for this is the law and the prophets Mat. 7. 6 12. Luk. 6. 31. Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves Mat. 10. 16. And herein do I exercise my self to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men Act. 24. 16. Recompence to no man evil c. provide things honest in the sight of all men Rom. 12. 17. Render therefore to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Owe no man any thing but to love one another for he who loveth another hath fulfilled the law c. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour Rom. 13. 7 8 9 10. Give none offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles c. even as I please all men in all things not seeking mine own profit 1 Cor. 10. 32 33. Charity thinketh no evil 1 Cor. 13. 5. Providing for honest things not only in the sight of the Lord but in the sight of men 2. Cor. 8. 21. Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others c. Do all things without murmuring or disputings that ye may be blameless and harmless or sincere the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom ye shine or shine ye as lights in the world Phil. 2. 4 14 15. Let your moderation be known unto all men the Lord is at hand Phil. 4. 5. Walk in wisdom towards them who are without c. Let your speech be always with grace c. that ye may know how to answer every man Col. 4. 5 6. That ye study to be quiet and to do your own business and to work with your own hands c. That we may walk honestly towards them who are without and that ye may have lack of nothing or of no man 1 Thess. 4. 11 12. We exhort you brethren c. be patient towards all men See that none render evil for evil unto any man but ever follow that which is good both among your selves and to all men 1 Thess. 5. 14 15. In all things shew thy self a pattern of good works c. sound speech that cannot be condemned that he who is of the contrary part may be ashamed having no evil thing to say of you Titus 2. 7 8. Put them in mind c. to be ready to every good work c. To be no brawler but gentle shewing all meekness unto all men for we c. Titus 3. 1 2 3. Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and envies and evil speakings c. abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul having your conversation honest amongst the Gentiles that whereas they or wherein they speak against you as evil doers they may by your good works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation c. for so is the will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men c. Honour or esteem all men 1 Pet. 2. 1 11 12 15 17. Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason of the hope which 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 c. 1 Pet. 3 14 15 16 17. 2dly In particular not to judg them or speak evil of them Thou givest thy mouth to evil c. thou sittest and speakest against thy brother c. thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thy self c. Psal. 50. 19 20 21. Judg not that ye be not judged for with what judgment ye judg ye shall be judged Matth. 7. 1 2. Judg nothing before the time until the Lord come 1 Cor. 4. 5. Charity c. thinketh no evil 1 Cor. 13. 5. Put them in mind to speak evil of no man c. for we our selves were sometimes foolish disobedient Titus 3. 1 2 3. 3dly Be just righteous true and faithful to and with them in all things of trust and dealing Ye shall not c. deal falsly neither lye one to another c. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour nor rob him c. Ye shall do no unrighteousness injudgment in meteyard in weight or in measure just ballances just weights a just Ephah and a just Hin shall ye have I the Lord your God Levit. 19. 11 13 34 35 36. If thou sell ought unto thy neighbour or buyest ought of thy neighbours hand ye shall not oppress one another Levit. 25. 14. The righteous Lord loveth righteousness Psal. 11. 7. A false balance is an abomination to the Lord but a just weight
43 44 45. Hezekiah the Lord was with him c. and he rebelled against the king of Assyria 2 Kings 18. 7. When king Nebuchadnezzar had commanded the worshiping of an Image Shadrach Meshach and Abednego refused to obey c. and said Be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the Image c. Dan. 3. 15 16 17 18. When Darius had established a decree that none should ask any petition of any God or man for thirty days Daniel went into his house after his wonted manner and prayed three times a day Dan. 6. 7 8 9 10. When the Apostles were forbid to preach in the name of Christ they answered c. Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judg you Act. 41. 18 19 20. Then the council charged them with preaching contrary to their commands c. Peter c. said We ought to obey God rather than men Act. 5. 27 28 29. Moses was hid by his parents c. and they feared not the kings edict c. He feared not the wrath of the king Heb. 11. 23 27. 2dly What they ought to do or wherein they should acknowledg and obey them Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses and God smote Miriam with a leprosie Numb 12. 1 9 10 11. The Lord destroyed Korah and his company for their rebellion against Moses c. Numb 16. 1 c. God threatned the Jews for revolting from the king of Babylon and breaking their oath and covenant with him Ezek. 17 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. Though there was no tribute due from Christ yet he said to Peter Lest we should offend them go thou c. give unto them for me and thee Mat. 17. 24 25 26 27. Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesars Mat. 22. 21. Let every soul be subject to the higher power c. Whosoever therefore resisteth the powers resisteth the ordinance of God c. shall receive to themselves damnation c. wilt thou then not be afraid of the powers do that which is good c. Ye must needs be subject not only for wrath but also for conscience sake c. For this cause pay you tribute c. render therefore to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey magistrates c. Tit. 3. 1. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the king as supream or unto governours as unto them who are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers c. For so is the will of God that with well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 15. 3dly Give them due honour and respect not contemn their persons or speak evil of them Thou shalt not revile the Gods or Judges nor curse the ruler of thy people Exod. 22. 28. David said to Saul My Lord the King and when Saul looked behind him David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed himself c. He said I will not put forth my hand against the Lords anointed 1 Sam. 24. 8 10. Nathan the prophet when he was come in before the king he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground c. and said My Lord O king c. 1 Kings 1. 23 24. Is it fit to say to a king Thou art wicked to princes Ye are ungodly Job 34. 18. The kings wroth is as the roaring of a Lion c. Prov. 19. 12. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a Lion whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul Prov. 20. 2. Put not forth thy self in the presence of a king c. Prov. 25. 6 7. Where the word of a king is there is power and who may say unto him What doest thou Eccles. 8. 4. Curse not the king no not in thy thoughts Eccles. 10. 20. Daniel said to Darius the king O king live for ever Dan. 6. 21. When the Apostle had spoken sharply unto the High-priest and some who stood by had said Revilest thou Gods High-priest Then said Paul I wist not brethren that he was the High-priest for it is written Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of my people Act. 23. 2 3 4 5. Paul said I think my self happy king Agrippa because I shall answer for my self this day before thee c. Festus said c. Paul thou art beside thy self much learning doth make thee mad But he said I am not mad most noble Festus but speak forth the words of truth and soberness c. Act. 26. 1 2 3 24 25. ch 24. 10. Render therefore to all their dues c. fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Rom. 13. 7. Honour the king 1 Pet. 2. 17. But chiefly them who walk in the lust of uncleanness and despise government c. or dominion c. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities whereas Angels who are greater in power and might bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord 2 Pet. 2. 10 11. Jude vers 8 9. 4thly To pray for them Exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men for kings and for all who are in authority or eminent place that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 3. 5thly To endeavour to get good Magistrates When Adonijah exalted himself saying I will be king and preparation was made for it Then Bathsheba the Queen and Nathan the prophet made application to David to set up Solomon to be king and accordingly prevailed 1 Kings 1. 6thly To be content with such Magistrates which God hath set over us although they be not such as they should be When Samuel was old he made his sons Judges over Israel c. and his sons walked not in his ways but turned aside after lucre and took bribes and perverted judgment Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel c. and said unto him Behold thou art old and thy sons walk not in thy ways Now make us a king to judg us like all the nations c. This greatly displeased God and he said to Samuel They have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them c. The people said Nay but there shall be a king over us 1 Sam. 8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 19 20. Samuel afterwards tells them their wickedness was great in the sight of the Lord in asking a king Which sin the people acknowledged when God had sent thunder and rain in harvest
joy p. 340 11. That Afflictions and Pesecutions have been the lot of Christ himself and of the Saints in all Ages p. 343 4. The Duties of the Saints and how they ought to behave themselves in trouble both towards God and man P. 344. First towards God 1. To eye God in them as being sent by him p. 344 Also see Common Calamities ch 23. p. 364. 2. To submit to God with an humble quiet and silent spirit under them p. 345 3. To confess their sins and justifie God p. 347 See more of confession of sin ch 16. p. 211. 4. To hold fast to God own the Lord Jesus his people and ways in the midst of trouble and persecution p. 348 See Perseverance ch 16. p. 241. 5. To be chearful under Afflictions and rejoyce to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ. p. 350. 6. To cry to the Lord for help support and salvation therein p. 351 See more of Prayer ch 16. p 161. In Common Calamities ch 23. p. 366. 7. Not to fear but believingly commit their case to God and quietly wait for his salvation p. 354 Also see trusting in and waiting for God ch 16. p. 186 193. 2. Duties of Saints towards Enemies and Persecutors in such a time 1. To be patient and quiet and sober towards them not revenge or return evil for evil reviling for reviling but forgive them p. 356 2. Not to desire or rejoyce in the hurt of Enemies c. p. 357 3. To pray for and do good to Persecutors and Enemies p. 358 4. To use lawful and honest means for avoiding and easing of and delivering themselves and others from afflictions and persecutions p. 358 5. To look to the cause of our suffering that it be for well-doing for Christ and a good conscience and not as busie-bodies in things unnecessary p. 360 3. The Duties of others and how they ought to behave themselves towards such who are afflicted and persecuted To sympathize with them visit help comfort and pray for them and take heed they add not to their trouble P. 361 Of Publick and Common Calamities and Judgments Chap. 23. P. 364. 1. That they are of Gods ordering and none can keep them off p. 364 Also see Eying of God in Affliction ch 22. p. 344. 2. The Priviledg of the Saints and servants of God in such a time p. 365 See more in Saints priviledges in general ch 14. p. 121. 3. The Duties of Saints in such a time p. 366 Of Magistrates and Magistracy Chap. 24. P. 369. 1. That Magistracy is an Ordinance of God that by him are Magistrates advanced to Office The Titles given to them p. 369 2. What they are in the sight of God and considered as men p. 370 3. What are the Duties of Magistrates What they should not be and what they should be p. 371 4. The Duties of Subjects to their Magistrates in respect both to their persons and decrees P. 375. 1. What they may not do when and wherein they may not obey them p. 375 2. What they may and ought to do in respect to their persons and decrees 1. To submit to and obey them in things lawful p. 376 2. To give to them due honour and respect not contemn their persons or speak evil of them p. 376 3. To pray for them p. 377 4. To endeavour to get good Magistrates p. 377 5. To be content with such Magistrates which God bath set up although they be not such as they should be p. 377 Also see the Kings of Israel and Judah ch 44. p. 503 Of an Oath for Testimony Confirmation and ending of Controversies and upon other occasions Chap. 25. p. 379 Â Of Preachers in general Gospel-Ministers what spirit they should be of their Duty and Recompence Chap. 26. p. 382 See more of Church-Officers chap. 27. p. 401. Of the Church of Christ under the several Notions thereof and the things belonging thereto and as considered in the several Congregations or particular Churches thereof Chap. 27. P. 388. 1. The several acceptations of the Church of Christ mentioned in Scripture 1. General or Universal p. 388 2. Universal Visible p. 388 3. Particular visible Churches of Believers who are joyned together as one body and usually meeting together in one place for the participation of the same Ordinances and exercising Duties as a Church and one to another as members thereof p. 388 2. The Dignity Priviledges and Blessings belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ in general In general as such p. 390 Also see Union and Relation between Christ and his Church Chap. 15. p. 135. 3. Of the Qualifications of the members of the Churches what they should be p. 392 4. Of the propriety that particular Churches had in their members and of others joyning themselves to them p. 393 5. Of Letters Commendatory and the Churches receiving of such who were commended to them by word or Letter p. 394 6. Of the order of the Churches in their Assemblies and Meetings what they did there as their Duty and how they should order it in their constant Worship p. 395 7. Of the gifts of Prayer Prophecying Psalmes Tongues c. which the members of Churches received how they did use them in the Church-Assemblies and elsewhere for the edification and good one of another and of others The order how they should be used directed such gifts were to be desired for that end p. 396 8. Of other Acts done in and by these particular Churches in sending out Messengers to other Churches and upon occasion determining of Controversies writing and sending of Epistles and other Affairs of their meeting together in order thereto and to the receiving and hearing of such Epistles The Epistles directed to the Churches p. 398 Also see Church-Discipline p. 413. 9. Of the ending of Controversies arising between the members of Churches to avoid going to Law before others p. 399 10. Of the Relief of the poor of their Churches and their contribution to the necessity of other Churches and the order of it p. 400 Also see distributing to the poor at large Chap. 17. p. 264. 11. Of the Officers of the particular Churches their power duties and recompence how they should be qualified for their Office and of the Churches duty to them P. 401. 1. Of Officers power duty qualification and recompence p. 401 See more of Gospel-Ministers in General ch 26. p. 382. 2. Complaints of and threatnings against evil Officers or Ministers of the Church p. 403 3. Of the Churches duties towards their Ministers and such others who labour amongst them p. 404 4. Of the Elections and Ordination of Officers in Churches p. 405 12. Of laying on of hands upon the several occasions and to the several ends in Scripture mentioned p. 406 13. Of the several Ordinances of Christ to be observed in and by the Churches of Christ and elsewhere P. 407. 1. Prayers p. 407 See more in Prayer at large ch 16. p. 161. See Praising at large ch
God he is a jealous God Joshua 24. 14 15 16 19. Elkanah went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts 1 Sam. 1. 1 3. Prepare your hearts unto the Lord and serve him only 1 Sam. 7. 3 4. Only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart 1 Sam. 12. 24. And Elijah came unto all the people and said how long halt ye between opinions or thoughts if the Lord be God follow him but if Baal follow him 1 Kings 18. 21. That the heart be prepared to serve God is expected commended and the contrary taken notice of 2 Chron. 12. 14. ch 19. 3. ch 29. 36. ch 30. 18 19. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Psalm 2. 11. But as for me I will come unto thy house c. and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy temple or the Temple of thy holiness Psal. 5. 7. Who is God save the Lord Psal. 18. 31. All the ends of the world shall remember and return unto the Lord and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee for the kingdom is the Lords and he the governour among the nations All they who are fat on earth shall eat and worship c. A seed shall serve him Psal. 22. 27 28 29 30. I will wash my hands in innocency so will I compass thine altar O Lord c. I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth Psal. 26. 6 8. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto or the honour of his name worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness or in his glorious sanctuary Psal. 29. 2. Psal. 96. 4 6 7 8 9. For he is thy Lord and worship thou him Psal. 45. 11. All the earth shall worship thee and shall sing unto thee c. Psal. 66. 4. Psal. 63. 1 2 3 c. Neither shalt thou worship any strange God I the Lord thy God Psal. 81. 9 10. How amiable are thy tabernacles c my soul longeth c. a day in thy courts is better c. Psal. 84. 1 2 c. I will call upon thee among the gods none like unto thee O Lord neither are there any works like unto thy works all nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee O Lord and shall glorifie thy name for thou art great and dost wonderful things thou art God alone Psal. 86. 7 8 9 10. Rev. 15. 4. For who in heaven can be compared unto the Lord Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints and to be had in reverence of all them about him Psal. 89 6 7. Before the mountains were c. even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God Psal. 90. 2. The Lord is great and a great King above all gods c. O come let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our Maker for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture Psal. 95. 3 6 7. The Lord reigneth c. worship him all ye gods c. for thou Lord art high above all the earth thou art exalted far above all gods Psal. 97. 1 7 9. Exalt ye the Lord our God and worship at his footstool he is holy Psal. 99 5 9. Holy and reverend is his name Psal. 111. 9. I will worship toward his holy temple Psal. 138. 2. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools c. Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing or word before God for God in heaven and thou upon earth therefore let thy words be few Eccles 5. 1 2. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand c. to whom then will ye liken God or what c Isa. 40. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18. I am the Lord that is my name and my glory will I not give unto another Isa. 42. 8. That ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he before me there was no God formed or nothing formed of God neither shall there be after me I the Lord and besides me no Saviour I have declared and have saved and I have shewed when there no God among you Therefore ye my witnesses saith the Lord that I am God yea before the day I am he and there is none who can deliver out of my hand I will work and who shall let it Thus saith the Lord your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel c. But thou hast not called upon me O Jacob Isa. 43 10 11 12 13 14 15 22. Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel and his redeemer the Lord of Hosts I am the first and I the last and besides me no God c. Ye are my witnesses is there a God besides me yea no God I know not any c. Thus saith the Lord c. I am the Lord who maketh all things who stretcheth forth the heavens alone who spreadeth abroad the earth by my self c. Isa. 44. 6 8 24. Psal. 96. 5. I am the Lord and none else no God besides me I girded thee though thou hast not known me That they may know from the rising of the sun and from the west that there is none besides me I am the Lord and none else I form the light and create darkness I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things c. Thus saith the Lord who created the heavens God himself who formed the earth and made it he hath established it c. I am the Lord and there is none else Isa. 45. 5 6 7 18 21 22. I am God and there is none besides me I am God and none like me declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things which are not done saying My counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure Isa. 46. 9 10. chap. 41. 4. But the Lord is the true God he is the living God and an everlasting king at his wrath the earth shall tremble c. he hath made the earth by his power he hath established the world by his wisdom and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion when he uttereth his voice c. Jer. 10. 10 12 13. Heb. 9. 14. Yet I am the Lord thy God and thou shalt know no God but me for there is no saviour besides me Hosea 13. 4. Isa. 37. 20. I hate I despise your feasts and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies c. But let judgment run down c. Amos 5. 21 22 23 24. And it shall come to pass that every one who is least of all the Nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King the Lord of Host c.