obedience to him with understanding faith reverence and godly fear moreover solemn humiliation x Esth 4. 16. Joel 2. 12 with fastings and thanksgiving upon y Exo. 15. 1. c. Ps 107. special occasions ought to be used in an holy and religious manner 6. Neither Prayer nor any other part of Religious worship is now under the Gospel tied unto or made more acceptable by any place in which it is z Joh. 4. 21. Mal. 1. 11. 1 Tim 2. 8. performed or towards which it is directed but God is to be worshipped every where in Spirit and in truth as in a Act. 10. 2. private families b Mat. 6. 11. Ps 55. 17. daily and c Mat. 6. 6 in secret each one by himself so more solemnly in the publick Assemblies which are not carelessely nor willfully to be d Heb. 10. 25. Act. 2. 42. neglected or forsaken when God by his word or providence calleth thereunto 7. As it is of the Law of nature that in general a proportion of time by Gods appointment be set a part for the Worship of God so by his Word in a positive-moral and perpetual Commandement binding all men in all Ages he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a e Exo. 20. 8. Sabbath to be kept holy unto him which from the beginning of the World to the Resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week f 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. Act. 20. 7. Rev. 1. 10. which is called the Lords day and is to be continued to the end of the World as the Christian Sabbath the observation of the last day of the week being abolished 8. The Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord when men after a due preparing of their hearts and ordering their common affairs aforehand do not only observe an holy g Isa 58. 13. Neh 13. 15-23 rest all the day from their own works words and thoughts about their wordly employment and recreations but also are taken up the whole time in the publick and private exercises of his worship and in the duties h Mat. 12. 1-13 of necessity and mercy CHAP. XXIII Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 1. A lawful Oath is a part of religious worship a Exo. 20 7. Deut. 10 20. Jer. 4. 2. wherein the person swearing in Truth Righteousness and Judgement solemnly calleth God to witness what he sweareth b 2 Cro. 6 22 23. and to judge him according to the Truth or falseness thereof 2. The Name of God only is that by which men ought to swear and therein it is to be used with all Holy Fear and reverence therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name or to swear at all by any other thing is sinful and to be c Mat. 5. 34. 37. Jam. 5. 12 abhorred yet as in matter of weight and moment for confirmation of truth d Heb. 6. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 23. and ending all strife an Oath is warranted by the word of God so a lawful Oath being imposed e Neh. 13. 25. by lawful Authority in such matters ought to be taken 3. Whosoever taketh an Oath warranted by the word of God ought duely to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act and therein to avouch nothing but what he knoweth to be the truth for that by rash false and vain Oaths the f Levit. 19. 12. Jer. 23. 10 Lord is provoked and for them this Land mournes 4. An Oath is to be taken in the plain and g Ps 24. 4. common sense of the words without equivocation or mental reservation 5. A Vow which is not to be made to any Creature but to God alone h Psal 76. 11. Gen. 28. 20 21 22. is to be made and performed with all Religious care and faithfulness But Popish Monastical Vows i 1 Cor. 7. 2. 9. of perpetual single life professed k Eph. 4. 28. poverty and regular obedience are so far from being degrees of higher perfection that they are superstitious l Mat. 19. 11. and sinful snares in which no Christian may intangle himself CHAP. XXIV Of the Civil Magistrate 1. GOd the supream Lord and King of all the World hath ordained Civil a Rom. 13 1 2 3 4. Magistrates to be under him over the people for his own glory and the publick good and to this end hath armed them with the power of the Sword for defence and encouragement of them that do good and for the punishment of evil doers 2. It is lawful for Christians to Accept and Execute the Office of a Magistrate when called thereunto in the management whereof as they ought especially to maintain b 2 Sam. 23. 3. Ps 82. 3 4. Justice and Peace according to the wholsome Laws of each Kingdome and Common-wealth so for that end they may lawfully now under the New-Testament c Luk. 3. 14. wage war upon just and necessary occasions 3. Civil Magistrates being set up by God for the ends aforesaid subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yeilded by us in the Lord not only for wrath d Rom. 13. 5 6 7. 1 Pet. 2. 17. but for Conscience sake and we ought to make supplications and prayers for Kings and all that are in Authority e 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty CHAP. XXV Of Marriage 1. MArriage is to be between one Man and one Woman a Gen. 2. 24. Mal. 2 15. Mat. 19. 5 6. neither is it lawful for any man to have more then one Wife nor for any Woman to have more then one Husband at the same time 2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help b Gen. 2. 18. of Husband and Wife c Gen 1. 28. for the increase of Man-kind with a legitimate issue and for d 1 Cor. 7 2 9. preventing of uncleanness 3. It is lawful for e Heb. 13 4. 1 Tim. 4 3. all sorts of people to Marry who are able with judgment to give their consent yet it is the duty of Christians f 1 Cor. 7. 39. to marry in the Lord and therefore such as profess the true Religion should not Marry with Infidels g Neh. 13 25 26 27. or Idolaters neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked by marrying with such as are wicked in their life or maintain damnable Heresie 4. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity h Levit. 18. or Affinity forbidden in the word nor can such incestuous Marriage ever be made lawful by any law of Man or consent of parties i Mat. 6. 18. 1 Cor. 5. 1. so as those persons may live together as Man and Wife CHAP. XXVI Of the Church 1. THe Catholick or universal Church which with respect
A CONFESSION OF FAITH Put forth by the ELDERS and BRETHREN Of many CONGREGATIONS OF Christians baptized upon Profession of their Faith in London and the Country With the Heart man believeth unto Righteousness and with the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation Rom. 10. 10. Search the Scriptures John 5. 39. Printed in the Year 1677. TO THE Judicious and Impartial READER Courteous Reader IT is now many years since divers of us with other sober Christians then living and walking in the way of the Lord that we professe did conceive our selves to be under a necessity of Publishing a Confession of our Faith for the information and satisfaction of those that did not throughly understand what our principles were or had entertained prejudices against our Profession by reason of the strange representation of them by some men of note who had taken very wrong measures and accordingly led others into misapprehensions of us and them and this was first put forth about the year 1643. in the name of seven Congregations then gathered in London since which time diverse impressions thereof have been dispersed abroad and our end proposed in good measure answered inasmuch as many and some of those men eminent both for piety and learning were thereby satisfied that we were no way guilty of those Heterodoxies and fundamental errors which had too frequently been charged upon us without ground or occasion given on our part And forasmuch as that Confession is not now commonly to be had and also that many others have since embraced the same truth which is owned therein it was judged necessary by us to joyn together in giving a testimony to the world of our firm adhering to those wholesome Principles by the publication of this which is now in your hand And forasmuch as our method and manner of expressing our sentiments in this doth vary from the former although the substance of the matter is the same we shall freely impart to you the reason and occasion thereof One thing that greatly prevailed with us to undertake this work was not only to give a full account of our selves to those Christians that differ from us about the subject of Baptism but also the profit that might from thence arise unto those that have any account of our labors in their instruction and establishment in the great truths of the Gospel in the clear understanding and steady belief of which our comfortable walking with God and fruitfulness before him in all our ways is most neerly concerned and therefore we did conclude it necessary to expresse our selves the more fully and distinctly and also to fix on such a method as might be most comprehensive of those things which we designed to explain our sense and belief of and finding no defect in this regard in that fixed on by the assembly and after them by those of the Congregational way we did readily conclude it best to retain the same order in our present confession and also when we observed that those last mentioned did in their confession for reasons which seemed of weight both to themselves and others choose not only to express their mind in words concurrent with the former in sense concerning all those articles wherein they were agreed but also for the most part without any variation of the terms we did in like manner conclude it best to follow their example in making use of the very same words with them both in these articles which are very many wherein our faith and doctrine is the same with theirs and this we did the more abundantly to manifest our consent with both in all the fundamental articles of the Christian Religion as also with many others whose orthodox confessions have been published to the world on the behalf of the Protestants in divers Nations and Cities and also to convince all that we have no itch to clogge Religion with new words but do readily acquiesce in that form of sound words which hath been in consent with the holy Scriptures used by others before us hereby declaring before God Angels Men our hearty agreement with them in that wholesome Protestant Doctrine which with so clear evidence of Scriptures they have asserted some things indeed are in some places added some terms omitted and some few changed but these alterations are of that nature as that we need not doubt any charge or suspition of unsoundness in the faith from any of our brethren upon the account of them In those things wherein we differ from others we have exprest our selves with all candor and plainness that none might entertain jealousie of ought secretly lodged in our breasts that we would not the world should be acquainted with yet we hope we have also observed those rules of modesty and humility as will render our freedom in this respect inoffensive even to those whose sentiments are different from ours We have also taken care to affix texts of Scripture in the margin for the confirmation of each article in our confession in which work we have studiously indeavoured to select such as are most clear and pertinent for the proof of what is asserted by us and our earnest desire is that all into whose hands this may come would follow that never enough commended example of the noble Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily that they might find out whether the things preached to them were so or not There is one thing more which we sincerely professe and earnestly desire credence in viz. That contention is most remote from our design in all that we have done in this matter and we hope the liberty of an ingenuous unfolding our principles and opening our hearts unto our Brethren with the Scripture grounds on which our faith and practise leanes will by none of them be either denyed to us or taken ill from us Our whole design is accomplished if we may obtain that Justice as to be measured in our principles and practise and the judgement of both by others according to what we have now published which the Lord whose eyes are as a flame of fire knoweth to be the doctrine which with our hearts we must firmly believe and sincerely indeavour to conform our lives to And oh that other contentions being laid asleep the only care and contention of all upon whom the name of our blessed Redeemer is called might for the future be to walk humbly with their God and in the exercise of all Love and Meekness towards each other to perfect holyness in the fear of the Lord each one endeavouring to have his conversation such as becometh the Gospel and also suitable to his place and capacity vigorously to promote in others the practice of true Religion and undefiled in the sight of God and our Father And that in this backsliding day we might not spend our breath in fruitless complaints of the evils of others but may every one begin at home to reform in the first place our own hearts and wayes and then
unto him f Joh. 1. 1. 14. Gal. 4. 4. mans nature with all the Essential properties and com mon infirmities thereof g Rom. 8. 3. Heb. 2. 14. 16 17. ch 4. 15. yet withou sin being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Womb of the Virgin Mary the Holy Spirit coming down upon her and the power of the most High overshadowing her h Luk. 1. 27 31. 35. and so was made of a Woman of the Tribe of Judah of the Seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures So that two whole perfect and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one Person without conversion composition or confusion which Person is very God and very Man yet one i Rom. 9. 5. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Christ the only Mediator between God and Man 3. The Lord Jesus in his humane nature thus united to the divine in the Person of the Son was sanctified anointed k Ps 45. 7. Act. 10. 38 Joh. 3. 34. with the Holy Spirit above measure having in him l Col. 2. 3. all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in whom it pleased the Father that m Col. 1. 19 all fullness should dwell To the end that being n Heb. 7. 26. holy harmless undefiled and full o Joh 1. 14. of Grace and Truth he might be throughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and p Heb. 7. 22. Surety which office he took not upon himself but was thereunto q Heb. 5. 5. called by his Father who also put r Joh. 5. 22. 27. Mat. 28. 18. Act. 2. 36. all power and judgement in his hand and gave him Commandement to execute the same 4. This office the Lord Jesus did most s Ps 40. 7 8. Heb. 10. 5-11 Joh. 10. 18. willingly undertake which that he might discharge he was made under the Law t Gal. 4. 4. Mat. 3. 15. and did perfectly fulfill it and underwent the u Gal. 3. 13. Isa 53. 6. 1 Pet. 3. 18. punishment due to us which we should have born and suffered being made x 2 Cor. 5 21. Sin and a Curse for us enduring most grievous sorrows y Mat. 26. 37 38. Luk. 22. 44. Mat. 27. 46. in his Soul and most painful sufferings in his body was crucified and died and remained in the state of the dead yet saw no z Act. 13. 37. corruption on the a 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. third day he arose from the dead with the same b Joh. 20. 25. 27. body in which he suffered with which he also c Mark 16 19. Act. 1. 9 10 11. ascended into heaven and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father d Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 9. 24 making intercession and shall e Act. 10. 42. Rom. 14. 9 10. Act. 1. 10 return to judge Men and Angels at the end of the World 5. The Lord Jesus by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself which he through the Eternal Spirit once offered up unto God f Heb. 9. 14. ch 10. 14. Rom. 3. 25 26. hath fully satisfied the Justice of God procured reconciliation and purchased an Everlasting inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven g Joh. 17. 2. Heb. 9. 15. for all those whom the Father hath given unto him 6. Although the price of Redemption was not actually paid by Christ till after his Incarnation * 1 Cor. 4. 10. Heb. 4. 2. yet the vertue efficacy and benefit thereof were communicated to the 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. Elect in all ages successively from the beginning of the World in and by those Promises Types and Sacrifices wherein he was revealed and signified to be the Seed of the Woman which should bruise the Serpents head h Rev. 13. 8. and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World i Heb. 13. 8. Being the same yesterday and to day and for ever 7. Christ in the work of Mediation acteth according to both natures by each nature doing that which is proper to it self yet by reason of the Unity of the Person that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the Person k Joh. 3. 13. Act. 20. 28. denominated by the other nature 8. To all those for whom Christ hath obtained eternal redemption he doth certainly and effectually l Joh. 6. 37. ch 10. 15. 16. ch 17. 9. Rom. 5. 10. apply and communicate the same making intercession for them uniting them to himself by his spirit m Joh. 17 6. Eph. 1. 9. 1 Joh. 5. 20. revealing unto them in and by the word the mystery of salvation perswading them to believe and obey n Rom. 8. 9. 14. governing their hearts by his word and spirit and o Ps 110. 1. 1 Cor. 15. 25 26. overcoming all their enemies by his Almighty power and wisdom in such manner and wayes as are most consonant to his wonderful and p Joh. 3. 8 Eph. 1. 8. unsearchable dispensation and all of free and absolute Grace without any condition foreseen in them to procure it 9. This office of Mediator between God and Man is proper q 1 Tim. 2. 5. onely to Christ who is the Prophet Priest and King of the Church of God and may not be either in whole or any part thereof transfer'd from him to any other 10. This number and order of Offices is necessary for in respect of our r Joh. 1. 18. ignorance we stand in need of his prophetical Office and in respect of our alienation from God s Col. 1. 21. Gal. 5. 17. and imperfection of the best of our services we need his Priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God and in respect of our averseness and utter inability to return to God and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries we need his Kingly office t Joh. 16. 8. Ps 110. 3 Luk. 1. 74. 75. to convince subdue draw uphold deliver and preserve us to his Heavenly Kingdome CHAP. IX Of Free Will 1. GOD hath indued the Will of Man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice that it is a Mat. 17. 12. Jam. 1 14. Deut. 30. 19. neither forced nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil 2. Man in his state of innocency had freedom and power to will and to do that b Eccl. 7. 29. which was good and well-pleasing to God but yet c Gen. 3. 6 was mutable so that he might fall from it 3. Man by his fall into a state of sin hath wholly lost d Rom. 5. 6. ch 8. 7. all ability of Will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation so as a natural man being altogether averse from that good e Eph. 2. 1. 5. and dead in Sin is not able by his own strength to f Tit. 3 3 4 5. Joh. 6. 44. convert himself or to
to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace may be called invisible consists of the whole a Heb. 12. 23. Col. 1. 18. Eph. 1. 10 22. 23. ch 5. 23 27 32. number of the Elect that have been are or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head thereof and is the spouse the body the fulness of him that filleth all in all 2. All persons throughout the world professing the faith of the Gospel and obedience unto God by Christ according unto it not destroying their own profession by any Errors everting the foundation or unholyness of conversation b 1 Cor. 1 2. Act. 11. 26. are and may be called visible Saints c Rom. 1. 7. Eph. 1. 20 21 22. and of such ought all particular Congregations to be constituted 3. The purest Churches under heaven are subject d 1 Cor. 15. Rev. 2. ch 3. to mixture and error and som have so degenerated as to become e Rev. 18. 2. 2 Thes 2. 11 12. no Churches of Christ but Synagogues of Satan nevertheless Christ always hath had and ever shall have a f Mat. 16. 18. Ps 72. 17. Ps 102. 28. Rev. 12. 17. Kingdome in this world to the end thereof of such as believe in him and make profession of his Name 4. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church in whom by the appointment of the Father g Col. 1. 18. Mat. 28. 18 19. 20. Eph. 4. 11 12. all power for the calling institution order or Government of the Church is invested in a supream soveraigne manner neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof but is h 2 Thes 2. 3-9 that Antichrist that Man of sin and Son of perdition that exalteth himself in the Church against Christ and all that is called God whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming 5. In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted the Lord Jesus calleth out of the World unto himself through the Ministry of his word by his Spirit i Joh 10. 16. chap. 12 32. those that are given unto him by his Father that they may walk before him in all the k Mat. 28. 20. ways of obedience which he prescribeth to them in his Word Those thus called he commandeth to walk together in particular societies or l Mat. 18. 15-20 Churches for their mutual edification and the due performance of that publick worship which he requireth of them in the World 6. The Members of these Churches are m Rom. 1. 7. 1 Cor. 1. 2. Saints by calling visibly manifesting and evidencing in and by their profession and walking their obedience unto that call of Christ and do willingly consent to walk together according to the appointment of Christ giving up themselves to the Lord one to another by the will of God n Act. 2. 41 42. ch 5. 13. 14. 2 Cor. 9. 13. in professed subjection to the Ordinances of the Gospel 7. To each of these Churches thus gathered according to his mind declared in his word he hath given all that o Mat. 18. 17 18. 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. with v. 13. 2 Cor. 2. 6 7 8. power and authority which is any way needfull for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline which he hath instituted for them to observe with commands and rules for the due and right exerting and executing of that power 8. A particular Church gathered and compleatly Organized according to the mind of Christ consists of Officers and Members And the Officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the Church so called and gathered for the peculiar Administration of Ordinances and Execution of Power or Duty which he intrusts them with or calls them to to be continued to the end of the World are p Bishops or Elders r Act. 20 17 with v. 28. Phil. 1. 1. and Deacons 9. The way appointed by Christ for the Calling of any person fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit unto the Office of Bishop or Elder in a Church is that he be chosen thereunto by the common q Act. 14 23. See the original suffrage of the Church it self and Solemnly set apart by Fasting and Prayer with imposition of hands of the r 1 Tim. 4. 14. Eldership of the Church if there be any before Constituted therein And of a Deacon s Act. 6. 3. 5. 6. that he be chosen by the like suffrage and set apart by Prayer and the like Imposition of hands 10. The work of Pastors being constantly to attend the Service of Christ in his Churches in the Ministry of the Word and Prayer t Act. 6. 4. Heb. 13. 17. with watching for their Souls as they that must give an account to him it is incumbent on the Churches to whom they Minister not only to give them all due respect u 1 Tim. 5. 17 18. Gal. 6. 6 7. but also to communicate to them of all their good things according to their ability so as they may have a comfortable supply without being themselves x 2 Tim. 2. 4. entangled in Secular Affairs and may also be capable of exercising y 1 Tim. 3. 2. Hospitality toward others and this is required by the z 1 Cor. 9. 6 -14 Law of Nature and by the Express order of our Lord Jesus who hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 11. Although it be incumbent on the Bishops or Pastors of the Churches to be instant in Preaching the Word by way of Office yet the work of Preaching the Word is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others also a Act. 11. 19 20 21. 1 Pet. 4. 10. 11. gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it and approved and called by the Church may and ought to perform it 12. As all Believers are bound to joyn themselves to particular Churches when and where they have opportunity so to do So all that are admitted unto the priviledges of a Church are also b 1 Thes 5. 14. 2 Thes 3. 6. 14 15. under the Censures and Government thereof according to the Rule of Christ 13. No Church-members upon any offence taken by them having performed their Duty required of them towards the person they are offended at ought to disturb any Church order or absent themselves from the Assemblies of the Church or Administration of any Ordinances upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow-members but to wait upon Christ c Mat. 18. 15. 16 17. Eph. 4. 2 3. in the further proceeding of the Church 14. As each Church and all the Members of it are bound to d Eph. 6. 18. Ps 122. 6. pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the Churches of Christ in all places and upon all occasions to further it every one within the bounds of their places
and callings in the Exercise of their Gifts and Graces so the Churches when planted by the providence of God so as they may injoy opportunity and advantage for it ought to hold e Rom. 16. 1 2. 3 Joh. 8 9 10. communion amongst themselves for their peace increase of love and mutual edification 15. In cases of difficulties or differences either in point of Doctrine or Administration wherein either the Churches in general are concerned or any one Church in their peace union and edification or any member or members of any Church are injured in or by any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order it is according to the mind of Christ that many Churches holding communion together do by their messengers meet to consider f Act. 15. 2 4 6. 22 23. 25. and give their advice in or about that matter in difference to be reported to all the Churches concerned howbeit these messengers assembled are not entrusted with any Church-power properly so called or with any jurisdiction over the Churches themselves to exercise any censures either over any Churches or Persons or g 2 Cor. 1. 24. 1 Joh. 4. 1 to impose their determination on the Churches or Officers CHAP. XXVII Of the Communion of Saints 1. ALL Saints that are united to Jesus Christ their Head by his Spirit and Faith although they are not made thereby one person with him have a 1 Joh. 1. 3. Joh. 1. 16. Phil. 3 10 Kom 6. 5 6. fellowship in his Graces sufferings death resurrection and glory and being united to one another in love they b Eph. 4. 15 16. 1 Cor. 12. 7. 1 Cor. 3 21 22 23. have communion in each others gifts and graces and are obliged to the performance of such duties publick and private in an orderly way c 1 Thes 5. 11. 14. Rom. 1. 12. 1 Joh. 3. 17. 18. Gal 6. 10. as do conduce to their mutual good both in the inward and outward man 2. Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God and in performing such other spiritual services d Heb. 10 24 25. with ch 3. 12 13. as tend to their mutual edification as also in relieving each other in e Act. 12. 29. 30. outward things according to their several abilities and necessities which communion according to the rule of the Gospel though especially to be exercised by them in the relations wherein they stand whether in f Eph. 6. 4. families or g 1 Cor. 12. 14. -27. Churches yet as God offereth opportunity is to be extended to all the houshold of faith even all those who in every place call upon the names of the Lord Jesus nevertheless their communion one with another as Saints doth not take away or h Act. 5. 4 Eph. 4. 28 infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions CHAP. XXVIII Of Baptism and the Lords Supper 1. BAptism and the Lords Supper are ordinances of positive and soveraign institution appointed by the Lord Jesus the only Law-giver to be continued in his Church a Mat. 28 19 20. 1 Cor. 11. 26. to the end of the world 2 These holy appointments are to be administed by those only who are qualified and thereunto called according b Mat. 28. 19. 1 Cor. 4. 1. to the commission of Christ CHAP. XXIX Of Baptism 1. BAptism is an Ordinance of the New Testament ordained by Jesus Christ to be unto the party Baptized a sign of his fellowship with him in his death c Rom. 6. 3. 4 5. Col. 2. 12. Gal. 3. 27. and resurrection of his being engrafted into him of d Mar. 1. 4. Act. 26. 16. remission of sins and of his e Rom 6. 2 4. giving up unto God through Jesus Christ to live and walk in newness of Life 2. Those who do actually professe f Mar. 16. 16. Act. 8. 36 37 repentance towards God faith in and obedience to our Lord Jesus are the only proper subjects of this ordinance 3. The outward element to be used in this ordinance g Mat 28. 19 20. with Act. 8. 38. is water wherein the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 4. Immersion or dipping of the person h Mat. 3. 16. Joh. 3 23. in water is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance CHAP. XXX Of the Lords Supper 1. THE Supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night wherein he was betrayed to be observed in his Churches unto the end of the world for the perpetual remembrance and shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death a 1 Cor. 11. 23 24. 25 26. confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof their spiritual nourishment and growth in him their further ingagement in and to all duties which they owe unto him b 1 Cor. 10. 16 17. 21. and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him and with each other 2. In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father nor any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sin of the quick or dead but only a memorial of that c Heb. 9. 25 26. 28. one offering up of himself by himself upon the crosse once for all and a spiritual oblation of all d 1 Cor. 11. 24. Mat. 26. 26 27. possible praise unto God for the same so that the Popish sacrifice of the Mass as they call it is most abominable injurious to Christs own only sacrifice the alone propitiation for all the sins of the Elect. 3. The Lord Jesus hath in this Ordinance appointed his Ministers to Pray and bless the Elements of Bread and Wine and thereby to set them apart from a common to an holy use and to take and break the Bread to take the Cup e 1 Cor. 11. 23 24 25 26 c and they communicating also themselves to give both to the Communicants 4. The denyal of the Cup to the people worshiping the Elements the lifting them up or carrying them about for adoration and reserving them for any pretended religious use f Mat 26. 26 27 28. Mat. 15. 9. Exod. 20. 4 5. are all contrary to the nature of this Ordinance and to the institution of Christ 5. The outward Elements in this Ordinance duely set apart to the uses ordained by Christ have such relation to him crucified as that truely although in terms used figuratively they are sometimes called by the name of the things they represent to wit the g 1 Cor. 11. 27. body and Blood of Christ albeit in substance and nature they still remain truly and only h 1 Cor. 11. 26. v. 28. Bread and Wine as they were before 6. That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of Bread and Wine into the substance of Christs
admonition of the Lord to teach them his fear both by instruction and example and should we set light by this precept it would demonstrate that we are more vile then the unnatural Heathen that like not to retain God in their knowledge our baptism might then be justly accompted as no baptism to us There are many special promises that do incourage us as well as precepts that do oblige us to the close pursuit of our duty herein that God whom we serve being jealous of his Worship threatens the visiting of the Fathers transgression upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate him yet does more abundantly extend his mercy even to thousands respecting the off-spring and succeding generations of them that love him and keep his commands When our Lord rebuked his disciples for prohibiting the access of little children that were brought to him that he might pray over them lay his hands upon them and blesse them does declare that of such is the Kingdom of God And the Apostle Peter in answer to their enquiry that desired to know what they must do to be saved does not only instruct them in the necessary duty of repentance and baptism but does also thereto encourage them by that promise which had reference both to them and their children if our Lord Jesus in the forementioned place do not respect the qualities of children as elsewhere as to their meekness humility and sincerity and the like but intend also that those very persons and such like appertain to the Kingdom of God and if the Apostle Peter in mentioning the aforesaid promise do respect not only the present and succeeding generations of those Jews that heard him in which sense the same phrase doth occurre in Scripture but also the immediate off-spring of his auditors whether the promise relate to the gift of the Holy Spirit or of eternal life or any grace or priviledge tending to the obtaining thereof it is neither our concerne nor our interest to confine the mercies and promises of God to a more narrow or lesse compasse then he is pleased gratiously to offer and intend them nor to have a light esteem of them but are obliged in duty to God and affection to our children to plead earnestly with God and use our utmost endeavours that both our selves and our off-spring may be partakers of his Mercies and gracious Promises yet we cannot from either of these texts collect a sufficient warrant for us to baptize our children before they are instructed in the principles of the Christian Religion For as to the instance in little children it seems by the disciples forbidding them that they were brought upon some other account not so frequent as Baptism must be supposed to have been if from the beginning believers children had been admitted thereto and no account is given whether their parents were baptised believers or not and as to the instance of the Apostle if the following words and practise may be taken as an interpretation of the scope of that promise we cannot conceive it does refer to infant baptism because the text does presently subjoyn Then they that gladly received the word were baptised That there were some believing children of believing parents in the Apostles dayes is evident from the Scriptures even such as were then in ther fathers family and under their parents tuition and education to whom the Apostle in several of his Epistles to the Churches giveth commands to obey their parents in the Lord and does allure their tender years to hearken to this precept by reminding them that it is the first command with promise And it is recorded by him for the praise of Timothy and encouragement of parents betimes to instaruct and children early to attend to godly instruction that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from a child he had known the holy Scriptures The Apostle John rejoyced greatly when he found of the children of the Elect Lady walking in the truth and the children of her Elect Sister joyn with the Apostle in his salutation But that this was not generally so that all the children of believers were accounted for believers as they would have been if they had been all baptised may be collected from the character which the Apostle gives of persons fit to be chosen to Eldership in the Church which was not common to all believers among others this is expressely one viz. If there be any having believing or faithful children not accused of Riot or unruly and we may from the Apostles writings on the same subject collect the reason of this qualification viz. That in case the person designed for this office to teach and rule in the house of God had children capable of it there might be first a proof of his ability industry and successe in this work in his own family and private capacity before he was ordained to the exercise of this authority in the Church in a publick capacity as a Bishop in the house of God These things we have mentioned as having a direct reference unto the controversie between our brethren and us other things that are more abstruse and prolix which are frequently introduced into this controversie but do not necessarily concern it we have purposely avoided that the distance between us and our brethren may not be by us made more wide for it is our duty and concern so far as is possible for us retaining a good conscience towards God to seek a more entire agreement and reconciliation with them We are not insensible that as to the order of Gods house and entire communion therein there are some things wherein we as well as others are not at a full accord among our selves as for instance the known principle and state of the consciences of diverse of us that have agreed in this Confession is such that we cannot hold Church-communion with any other then Baptized-believers and Churches constituted of such yet some others of us have a greater liberty and freedom in our spirits that way and therefore we have purposely omitted the mention of things of that nature that we might concurre in giving this evidence of our agreement both among our selves and with other good Christians in those important articles of the Christian Religion mainly insisted on by us and this notwithstanding we all esteem it our chief concern both among our selves and all others that in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours and love him in sincerity to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and in order thereunto to exercise all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love And we are perswaded if the same method were introduced into frequent practise between us and our Christian friends who agree with us in all the fundamental articles of the Christian faith though they do not so in the subject and administration of baptism it would soon beget a better understanding and brotherly affection between us In the beginning of the Christian Church when the doctrine of the baptism of Christ was not universally understood yet those that knew only the baptism of John were the Disciples of the Lord Jesus and Apollos an eminent Minister of the Gospel of Jesus In the beginning of the reformation of the Christian Church and recovery from that Egyptian darkness wherein our forefathers for many generations were held in bondage upon recourse had to the Scriptures of truth different apprehensions were conceived which are to this time continued concerning the practise of this Ordinance Let not our zeal herein be misinterpreted that God whom we serve is jealous of his worship By his gracious providence the Law thereof is continued amongst us and we are forewarned by what hapned in the Church of the Jews that it is necessary for every generation and that frequently in every generation to consult the divine oracle compare our worship with the rule and take heed to what doctrines we receive and practise If the ten commands exhibited in the popish Idolatrous service books had been received as the entire law of God because they agree in number with his ten commands and also in the substance of nine of them the second Commandment forbidding Idolatry had been utterly lost If Ezra and Nehemiah had not made a diligent search into the particular parts of Gods law and his worship the Feast of Tabernacles which for many centuries of years had not been duly observed according to the institution though it was retained in the general notion would not have been kept in due order So may it be now as to many things relating to the service of God which do retain the names proper to them in their first institution but yet through inadvertency where there is no sinister design may vary in their circumstances from their first institution And if by means of any antient defection or of that general corruption of the service of God and interruption of his true worship and persecution of his servants by the Antichristian Bishop of Rome for many generations those who do consult the Word of God cannot yet arrive at a full and mutual satisfaction among themselves what was the practise of the primitive Christian Church in some points relating to the Worship of God yet inasmuch as these things are not of the essence of Christianity but that we agree in the fundamental doctrines thereof we do apprehend there is sufficient ground to lay aside all bitterness and prejudice and in the spirit of love and meekness to imbrace and own each other therein leaving each other at liberty to perform such other services wherein we cannot concur apart unto God according to the best of our understanding FINIS