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A74916 The confession of faith, together with the larger and lesser catechismes. Composed by the reverend Assembly of Divines, sitting at Westminster, presented to both Houses of Parliament. Again published with the Scriptures at large, and the emphasis of the Scriptures in a different character. To which is annexed two sheets of Church-government with the Scriptures at large.; Westminster Confession of Faith. 1658 (1658) Thomason E751_1 518,712 230

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Christ Rev. 1. 4 20. John to the seven Churches in Asis Grace be unto you and peace from him which is and which was and which is to come and from the seven spirits which are before his throne v. 20. The mistery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks The seven stars are the Angels of the seven Churches Rev. 2. 1. Unto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus write These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks Particular Churches in the primitive times were made up of visible Saints viz. Of such as being of age professed faith in Christ and obedience unto Christ according the Rule of Faith and Life taught by Christ and his Apostles and of their children Acts 2. 38 41 47. v. 38. Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost v 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls v. 47. Praising God and having favour with all the people and the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Compared with Acts 5. 14. And believers were the more added to the Lord multitudes both of men and women 1 Cor. 1. 2. Unto ●he Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be saints with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours Compared with 2 Cor. 9 13. Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorifie God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ and for your liberal distribution unto them and unto all men Acts 2. 39 For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy Rom. 11. 16. For if the first-fruit be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Mar. 10. 14. But when Jesus saw it he was much displeased and said unto them suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdome of God Compared with Mat. 19. 13 14 v. 13. Then were there brought unto him little children that he should put his hand on them and pray and the disciples rebuked them v. 14. But Iesus said suffer little children and forbid them not t● come unto me for of such is the Kingdome of heaven Luk. 18. 15 16. v 15. And they brought unto him also infants that he would touch them but when his disciples saw it they rebuked them v. 16. But ●esus called them unto him and said suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdome of God Of the Officers of the Church THe Officers which Christ hath appointed for the edification of his Church and th● perfecting of the Saints are Some extraordinary as Apostles Evangelists and Prophets which are ceased Others ordinary and perpetual as Pastors Teachers and other Church-governours and Deacons Pastors THe Pastor is an ordinary and perpetual officer in the Church Jer. 3. 15. 16 17. v. 15. And I will give you pastors according to mine heart which shall feed you with knowledg and understanding v. 16. And it shall come to pass when ye he multiplyed and increased in the land in those dayes saith the Lord they shall say no more The ark of the covenant of the Lord neither shall it come to mind neither shall they remember it neither shall they visit it neither shall that be done any more v. 17. At that time they shall call Ierusalem the throne of the Lord and all the nations shall be gathered unto it to the name of the Lord to Ierusalem neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart Prophecying of the time of the Gospel 1 Pet. 5. 2 3 4. v. 2. Feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind v. 3. Neither as being lords over Gods heritage but being ensamples to the flock v. 4. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away Eph. 4. 11 12 13. v. 11. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and teachers v. 12. For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ v. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ First It belongs to his office To pray for and with his flock as the mouth of the people unto God Acts 6. 2 4. v. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve Tables v. 4. But we will give our selves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word Acts 20. 36. And when he had thus spoken he kneeled down and prayed with them all Where preaching and prayer are joyned as several parts of the same Office Jam. 5. 14 15. Is any man sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with oyl in the name of the Lord. v. 15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him The Office of the Elder that is the pastor is to pray for the sick even in private to which a blessing is especially promised much more therefore ought he to perform this in the publick execution of his Office as a part thereof To read the Scripture publickly For the proof of which 1. That the Priests and Levites in the Jewish Church were trusted with the publick reading of the Word as is proved Deut. 31. 9 10 11. v. 9 And Moses wrote this law and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord and unto all the elders of Israel v. 10. And Moses commanded them saying At the end of every seven years in the solemnity of the year of release in the feast of Tabernacles v. 11. When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall chuse thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their
people for his name and to this agree the words of the Prophets as it is written After this I will return and build again the Tabernacle of David which is fallen down and I will build again the ruines thereof and I will set it up Isai 55. 4 5. Behold I have given him for a witness to the people a leader and commander to the people Behold thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the holy One of Israel for he hath glorified thee Gen. ●9 10. The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come and unto him shall the gathering of the people be Psal 110. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth and giving them officers g Eph. 4. 11 12. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ. 1 Cor. 12. 28. And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that Miracles then gifts of healings helps governments diversities of tongues Laws h Isai 33. 22. For the Lord is our judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us and Censures by which he visibly governs them i Mat. 18. 17 18. And if he shall n●glect to hear them tell it to the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a Publican Verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered tog●ther and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus in bestowing saving grace upon his elect k Act. 5. 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repen●ance to Israel and forgiveness of sins rewarding their obedience l Rev. 22. 12. And behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life and correcting them for their sins m Rev. 3. 19. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings n Isai 63. 9. In all their affliction he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and he bare them and carried them all the dayes of old restraining and overcoming all their enemies o 1 Cor. 15. 25. For he must reign till he have put all his enemies under his feet Psal 110. throughout The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand untill I have made thine enemies thy footstool to the end and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory p Rom. 14. 10 11. But why dost thou judge thy brother or why dost thou set at naught thy brother We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ For it is written As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God and their own good q Rom. 8. 28. We know that all things work together for good to them who love God to them who are the called according to his purpose and also in taking vengeance on the rest who know not God and obey not the Gospel r 2 Thess 1. 8 9. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Psal 2. 8 9. Ask of me and I shall give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Thou shalt break them with a rod of Iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel Q. What was the state of Christs humiliation A. The estate of Christs humiliation was that low condition wherein he for our sakes emptying himself of his glory took upon him the form of a servant in his Conception and Birth Life Death and after his death untill his resurrection ſ Phil. 2. 6 7 8. Who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross Luke 1. 31. And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus 2 Cor. 8. 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich Acts 2. 24. Whom God hath raised up having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it Q. How did Christ humble himself in his Conception and Birth A. Christ humbled himself in his Conception in that being from all eternity the Son of God in the Bosom of the Father he was pleased in the fulness of time to become the Son of Man made of a Woman of low estate and to be born of her with divers Circumstances of more then ordinary abasement t Joh. 1. 14-18 And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth V. 18. No man hath seen God at any time the onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father he hath declared him Gal. 4. 4. But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law Luke 2. 7. And she brought forth her first born Son and wrapped him in swadling-clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the Inne Q. How did Christ humble himself in his life A. Christ humbled himself in his life by subjecting himself to the
sit upon the throne of his glory with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God e 1 Thes 4. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first to judge the world in righteousness f Act. 17. 31. Because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Q. What benefits hath Christ procured by his Mediation A. Christ by his Mediation hath procured Redemption g Heb. 9. 12. Neither by the blood of go●ts and calves but by his own blood he en●red in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us with all other benefits of the Covenant of Grace h 2 Cor. 1. 20. For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us Q. How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured A. We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured by the application of them unto us i John 1. 11 13. He came unto his own and his own received him not But as many as received him to them gave be power to become the sons of God even to them that believe in his name which is the work especially of God the Holy Ghost k Tit. 3. 5 6. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Q. Who are made partakers of Redemption through Christ A. Redemption is certainly applied and effectually communicated to all those for whom Christ hath purchased it l Eph. 1. 13 14. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of Truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory Joh. 6. 37-39 All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out V. 39. And this is the Fathers will who hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day Joh. 10. 15 16. As the Father knoweth me even so know I the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep And other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one shepheard who are in time by the Holy Ghost inabled to believe in Christ according to the Gospel m Eph. 2. 8. For by grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God 2 Cor. 4. 13. 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 Q. Can they who have never heard the Gospel and so know not Jesus Christ nor believe in him be saved by their living according to the light of nature A. They who having never heard the Gospel n Rom. 10. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ●●d how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher know not Jesus Christ o 2 Thess 1. 8 9. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Eph. 2. 12. That at that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the world John 1. 10 11 12. He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not He came unto his own and his own received him not But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe in his Name and believe not in him cannot be saved p Joh. 8. 24. I said therefore unto you that ye shall die in your sins For if ye believe not that I am He ye shall die in your sins Mark 16. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature q 1 Cor. 1. 20 21 22 23 24. Where is the wise where is the Scribe where is the Disputer of this world Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world V. 21. For after that in the wisdom of God the world through wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe V. 22. For the Jewes require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom V. 23. But we preach Christ crucified to the Jewes a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness V. 24. But unto them who are called both Jewes and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God or the Law of that Religion which they professe r John 4. 22. Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jewes Rom. 9 31 32. But Israel which followed after the law of righteousness hath not attained to the law of righteousness Wherefore Because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law for they stumbled at that stumbling stone Phil. 3. 4 5 6 7 8 9. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh if any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh I more V. 5. Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin an Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the law a Pharisee V. 6. Concerning zeal persecuting the Church touching the righteousnesse which is in the law blamelesse V. 7. But what things were a gain to me those I counted loss for Christ V. 8. Yea doubtless and I account all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do account them but dung that I may win Christ V. 9. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith neither is there
salvation in any other but in Christ alone ſ Acts 4. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved who is the Saviour onely of his body the Church t Eph. 5. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body Q. Are all they saved who hear the Gospel and live in the Church A. All that hear the Gospel and live in the visible Church are not saved but they onely who are true members of the Church invisible u Joh. 12. 38 39 40. That the saying of Esaias the Prophet might be fulfilled which he spake Lord who hath believed our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed Therefore they could not believe because that Esaias said again He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them Rom. 9. 6. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect for they are not all Israel who are of Israel Mat. 22. 14. For many are called but few chosen Mat. 7. 21. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven Rom. 11. 7. What then Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for but the election hath obteined it and the rest were blinded Q. What is the visible Church A. The visible Church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the World do profess the true Religion * 1 Cor. 1. 2. Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit Rom. 15. 9 10 11 12. And that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy as it is written For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gent●les and sing unto thy name V. 10. And again he saith Rejoyce ye Gentiles with his people V. 11. And again Praise the Lord all ye Gentiles and laud him all ye people V. 12. And again Esaias saith There shall be a root of Jesse and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles trust Rev. 7. 9. After this I beheld and lo a great multitude Which no man could number of all nations and kinreds and people and tongues stood before the throne and before the lamb clothed with white robes and palms in their hands Psal 2. 8. Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Ps 22. 27 28 29 30 31 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord and all the kindreds of the earth shall worship before thee V. 28. For the Kingdom is the Lords and he is the Governour among the nations V. 29. All they that be fat upon the earth shall eat and worship all that go down to the dust shall bow before him and none can keep alive his own soul V. 30. A seed shall serve him it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation V. 31. They shall come and shall declare his righteousness Psal 45. 17. I will make thy name to be remembred in all generations therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever Mat. 28. 19 20. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world Amen Esai 59. 21. As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My spirit which is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever and of their children x 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now they are holy Act. 2. 39. For the Promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Rom. 11. 16. For if the first-fruits be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Gen. 17. 7. And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Q. What are the special priviledges of the visible Church A. The visible Church hath the priviledge of being under Gods special care and government y Isa 4. 5 6. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Sion and upon her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence V. 6. And there shall be a Tabernacle for a shadow in the day-time from the heat and for a place of refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain 1 Tim. 4. 10. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men especially of those that believe of being protected and preserved in all ages notwithstanding the opposition of all enemies z Ps 115. throughout Not unto us O Lord not unto us but to the end Isai 31. 4 5. For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me like as the lion and the yonglion roaring on his prey when a multitude of Shepherds are called forth against him he will not be afraid of their voice nor abase himself for the noise of them so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Sion and for the hill thereof V. 5. As birds flying so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem defending also he will deliver it and passing over he will preserve it Zech. 12. 2 3 4-8 9. Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and Jerusalem V. 3. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burthensom stone for all people all that burthen themselves with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth be
gathered together against it V. 4. In that day saith the Lord I will smite every horse with astonishment and his rider with madness and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah and will smite every horse of the people with blindness V. 8. In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angel of the Lord before them V. 9. and it shall come to pass in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem and of enjoying the communion of Saints the ordinary means of salvation a Act. 2. 39-42 For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call V. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and in fellow-ship and in breaking of bread and in prayers offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministery of the Gospel testifying that whosoever believes in him shall be saved b Psal 147. 19 20. He sheweth his words unto Jacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgements they have not known them praise ye the Lord. Rom. 9. 4. Who are Israelites to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the promises Eph. 4. 11 12. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Mark 16. 15 16. And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned and excluding none that will come unto him c Joh. 6. 37. All that the father giveth me shall come unto me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Q. What is the invisible Church A. The invisible Church is the whole number of the elect that have been are or shall be gathered into one under Christ the Head d Eph. 1. 10-22 23. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him V. 22. And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all Joh. 10. 16. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one shepherd John 11. 52. And not for that nation onely but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad Q. What speciall benefits do the Members of the invisible Church enjoy by Christ A. The Members of the Invisible Church by Christ enjoy Union and Communion with him in grace and glory e Joh. 17. 21. That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me Eph. 2. 5 6. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickned us together with Christ by grace ye are saved And hath raised us up together and hath made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus John 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world Q. What is that Union which the Elect have with Christ A. The Union which the Elect have with Christ is the work of Gods grace f Eph. 1. 22. And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the Church Eph. 2. 6 7 8. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus V. 7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus V. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God whereby they are Spiritually and mystically yet really and inseparably joyned to Christ as their head and husband g 1 Cor. 6. 17. But he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit John 10. 28. And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Eph. 5. 23-30 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body V. 30. For we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones which is done in their effectual Calling h 1 Pet. 5. 10. But the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you 1 Cor. 1. 9. God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Q. What is effectual calling A. Effectual Calling is the work of Gods almighty power and grace i Joh. 5. 25. Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Eph. 1. 18 19. 20. The eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints V. 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places 2 Tim. 1. 8 9. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord nor of me his prisoner but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God V. 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began whereby out of his free and especial love to his Elect and from nothing in them moving him thereunto k Tit. 3. 4 5. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by
of grace and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation A. Such as truly believe in Christ and endeavour to walk in all good conscience before him n 1 Joh. 2. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his commandments may without extraordinary revelation by faith grounded upon the truth of Gods promises and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made o 1 Cor. 2. 12. Now we have received not the Spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given us of God 1 Joh. 3. 14-18 19-21-24 We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren he that loveth not his brother abideth in death V. 18. My little children let us not love in word nor in tongue but in deed and in truth V. 19. And hereby we know we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him V. 21. Beloved if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God V. 24. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us 1 Joh. 4. 13-16 Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit V. 16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him Heb. 6. 11 12. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end V. 12. That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises and bearing witness with their Spirits that they are the children of God p Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the children of God be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace and shall persevere therein unto salvation q 1 Joh. 5. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God Q. Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace and that they shall be saved A. Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith r Eph. 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise true believers may wait long before they obtain it Å¿ Isa 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the Lord and stay upon his God Psal 88. throughout O Lord God of my salvation I have cried day and night c. and after the enjoyment thereof may have it weakened and intermitted through manifold distempers sins temptations and desertions t Psal 77 1. to the 12. verse I cried unto thee with my voice c. Cant. 5. 2 3 -6 I sleep but my heart waketh it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying Open to me my sister my love my dove my undefiled for my head is filled with dew and my locks with the drops of the night V. 3. I have put off my coat how shall I put it on I have washed my feet how shall I defile them V. 8. I opened to my beloved but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone my soul failed when he spake I sought him but I could not find him I called him but he gave me no answer Psal 51. 8-12 Make me to hear joy and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce V. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit Psal 31. 22. For I said in my haste I am cut off from before thine eyes nevertheless thou heardst the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee Psal 22. 1. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring yet are they never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God as keeps them from sinking into utter despair u 1 Joh. 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him but I will maintain mine own wayes before him Psal 73. 15 -23 If I say I will speak thus behold I should offend against the generation of thy children V. 23. Nevertheless I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by thy right hand Isa 54. 7 8 9 10. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee V. 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord my Redeemer V. 9. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee V. 10. For the mountaines shall depart and the hills shall be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Q. What is the communion in Glory which the members of the Invisible Church have with Christ A. The communion in glory which the members of the Invisible Church have with Christ is in this life * 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. immediately after death x Luk. 23. 43. And Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise and at last perfected at the resurrection and day of Judgment y 1 Thess 4. 17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Q. What is the communion in Glory with Christ which the members of the Invisible Church enjoy in this life A. The members of the Invisible Church have communicated to them in this life the first fruits of glory with Christ as they are members of him their head and so in him are interested in that glory which he is fully
left hand a Mat. 25. 33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left and upon cleer evidence and full conviction of their own consciences b Rom. 2. 15 16. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or excusing one another V. 16. In the day when he shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel shall have the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them c Mat. 25. 41 42 43. Then shall he say also to them on the left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Divel and his Angels V. 42. For I was an hungred and ye gave no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink V. 43. I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye clothed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not and thereupon shall be cast out from the favourable presence of God and the glorious fellowship with Christ his Saints and all his holy Angels into hell to be punished with unspeakable torments both of body and soul with the Divel and his Angels for ever d Luke 16. 26. And besides all this there is a great gulf fixed so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from thence 2 Thess 1. 8 9. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ V. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Q. What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgement A. At the day of judgement the righteous being caught up to Christ in the clouds e 1 Thes 4. 17. Thou we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. shall be set on his right hand and there openly acknowledged and acquitted f Mat. 25. 33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left Mat. 10. 32. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven shall joyn with him in the judging of reprobate Angels and men g 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the world And if the world c. V. 3. Know ye not that we shall judge Angels how much more then the things that pertain to this life and shall be received into heaven h Mat. 25. 34 -46 Then shall the King say to them on his right hand come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world V. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal where they shall be fully and for ever freed from all sin and misery i Eph. 5. 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle nor any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Rev. 14. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them filled with unconceivable joyes k Psal 16. 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulness of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul in the company of innumerable Saints and holy Angels l Heb. 12. 22 23. But ye are come unto mount Sion and unto the city of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and ●o an innumerable company of Angels V. 23. To the general assembly of the first born which are written in heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of just men made perfect but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the holy Spirit to all eternity m 1 Joh. 3. 2. Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when we appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then shall I know even as I am known 1 Thes 4. 17 18. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. V. 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words and this is the perfect and full communion which the members of the invisible Church shall enjoy with Christ in glory at the resurrection and day of judgement Having seen what the Scriptures principally teach us to believe concerning God it followes to consider what they require as the duty of man Quest VVHat is the duty that God requireth of man A. The duty which God requireth of man is obedience to his revealed will n Rom. 12. 1 2. I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service V. 2. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God Mic. 6. 8. He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God 1 Sam. 15. 22. And Samuel said Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in ob●ying the voice of the Lord Behold to obey is better then sacrifice and to hearken then the fat of rams Q. What did God at first reveal unto man as the rule of his obedience A. The rule of obedience revealed to Adam in the estate of innocency and to all mankind in him beside a special command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was the Moral Law o Gen. 1. 26 27. And God said Let us make man in our image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the face of the earth V. 27. So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him male and female created he them
and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed V. 31. Behold the dayes come that I will cut off thine arm and the arm of thy fathers house that there shall not be an old man in thine house Q. What are the duties of equals A. The duties of equals are to regard the dignity and worth of each other (p) 1 Pet. 2. 17. Honour all men love the brother-hood fear God honour the King in giving honour to go one before another (q) Rom. 12. 10. Be kindly affectioned one towards another with brotherly love in honour preferring one another and to rejoyce in each others gifts and advancement s as in their own r Rom. 12. 15 16. Rejoyce with them that do rejoyce and weep with them that weep V. 16. Be of the same mind one towards another mind not high things but condescend to men of low estate c. Phil. 2. 3 4. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better then themselves V. 4. Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Q. What are the sinnes of equals A. The sins of equals are beside the neglect of the duties required (Å¿) Rom. 13. 8. O we no man any thing but to love one another for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law the undervaluing of the worth (t) 2 Tim. 3. 3. Without natural affection c. envying the gifts (u) Act. 7. 9. And the Patriarchs moved with envy sold Joseph into Egypt but God was with him Gal. 5. 26. Let us not be desirous of vain glory provoking one another envying one another grieving at the advancement or prosperity one of another (*) Num. 12. 2. And they said Hath the Lord indeed only spoken by Moses hath he not also spoken by us and the Lord heard it Esth 6. 12 13. And Mordecai came again to the Kings gate but Haman hasted to his house mourning and having his head covered V. 13. And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had be fallen him Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him if Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews before whom thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not prevail against him but shalt surely fall before him and usurping preheminence one over another (x) 3 Joh. ver 9. I wrote unto the Church but Diotrephes who loveth to have the preheminence amongst them receiveth us not Luke 22. 24. And there was also a strife among them which of them should be the greatest Q. What is the Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment the more to enforce it A. The Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment in these words That thy dayes may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee (y) Exod. 20. 12. is an expresse promise of long life and prosperity as far as it shall serve for Gods glory and their own good to all such as keep this Commandment (z) Deut. 5. 16. Honor thy father and thy mother as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee that thy dayes may be prolonged and that it may go well with thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee 1 King 8. 25. Therefore now Lord God of Israel keep with thy servant David my father that which thou promisedst him saying There shall not fail thee a man in thy sight to sit on the throne of Israel so that thy children take heed to their way that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me Eph. 6. 2 3. Honour thy father and thy mother which is the first Commandment with promise V. 3. That it may be well with thee and thou maist live long on the earth Q. Which is the sixth Commandment A. The sixth Commandment is Thou shalt not kill (a) Exod. 20. 43. Q. What are the duties required in the sixth Commandment A. The duties required in the sixth Commandment are all careful studies and lawful endeavours to preserve the life of our selves (b) Eph. 5. 28 29. So their own wives as their own bodies He that loveth his wife loveth himself V. 29. For no man ever hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church and others (c) 1 King 18. 4. For it was so when Jezebel cut off the Prophets of the Lord that Obadiah took an hundred Prophets and bid them by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water by resisting all thoughts and purposes d Jer. 26. 15 16. But know ye for certain that if ye put me to death ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon your selves and upon this City and upon the inhabitants thereof for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears V. 16. Then said the Princes and all the people to the Prophets This man is not worthy to die for he hath spoken unto us in the Name of the Lord our God Act. 23. 12-16 17-21-27 And when it was day certain of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse saying That they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul V. 16. And when Pauls sisters sen heard of their lying in wait he went and entred into the Castle and told Paul V. 17. Then Paul called one of the Centurions unto him and said Bring this young man unto the chief Captain for he hath a certain thing to tell him V. 21. There lie in wait for him more then sorty men which have bound themselves with an oath that and now are they ready looking for a promise from thee V. 27. This man was taken of the Jews and should have been killed of them then came I with an army and rescued him having understood that he was a Roman subduing all passions e Eph. 4. 26 27. Be ye angry and sin not let not the sun go down upon your wrath V. 27. Neither give place to the devil and avoiding all occasions f 2 Sam. 2. 22. And Abner said again to Asahel Turn thee aside from following me wherefore should I smite thee to the ground how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother Deut. 22. 8. When thou buildest a new house then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof that thou bring not blood upon thy house if any man fall from thence temptations g Mat. 4. 6 7. And saith unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written He shall give his angels charge over thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up least at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone V. 7. Jesus said unto him It is written again Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God Pro. 1. 10 11-15 16. My son if sinners entice thee consent thou not V. 11. If they say
righteousness endureth for ever his horn shall be exalted for ever v. 10. The wicked shall see it and be grieved he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away the desire of the wicked shall perish Neh. 2. 10. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite heard of it it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel together with all inordinate motions and affections to any thing that is his (g) Rom. 7. 7 8. What shall we say then Is the Law sin God forbid Nay I had not known sin but by the law for I had not known lust except the law had said Thou shalt not covet v. 8. But sin taking occasion by the Commandment wrought in me all manner of concupiscence for without the law sin was dead Rom. 13. 9. For this Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness Thou shalt not covet and if there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying namely Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Col. 3. 5. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence and covetousness which is idolatry Deut. 5. 21. Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbours wife nor shalt thou covet thy neighbours house his field his man-servant or his maid-servant his ox or his ass or any thing that is thy neighbours Q. Is any man able perfectly to keep the Commandments of God A. No man is able either of himself (h) Jam. 3. 2. For in many things we offend all If any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body Joh. 15. 5. I am the vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing Rom 8. 3. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemneth sin in the flesh or by any grace received in this life perfectly to keep the Commandements of God (i) Eccl. 7. 20. For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Joh. 1. 8-10 If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us v. 10. If we say that we have not sinned we make him a liar and his word is not in us Gal. 5. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other So that ye cannot do the things that ye would Rom. 7. 18 19. For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing For to will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I find not v. 19. For the good that I would I do not but the evil that I would not that do I. but doth daily break them in thought (k) Gen. 6. 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evil continually Gen. 8. 21. And the Lord said in his heart I will curse the ground no more for mans sake for the imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth c. word and deed (l) Rom. 3. from ver 9. to ver 21. for we have before proved that both Jewes and Gentiles that they are under sin v. 10. As it is written There is none righteous no not one v. 11. There is none that under standeth there is none that seeketh after God v. 12. They are all gone out of the way they are altogether become unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one v. 13. Their throat is an open sepulchre c. v. 20. that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God Jam. 3. from ver 2. to ver 13. For in many things we offend all c. Q. Are all transgressions of the Law of God equally hainous in themselves and in the sight of God A. All transgressions of the Law of God are not equally hainous but some sins in themselves and by reason of several aggravations are more hainous in the sight of God then others (m) Joh. 19. 11. Jesus answered Thou coulst have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin Ezek. 8. 6 -13.-15 But turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations v. 13. Turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do v. 15. Turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations then these 1 Joh. 5. 16. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death There is a sin unto death I do not say that he shall pray for it Psal 78. 17 -32.-56 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness v. 32. For all this they sinned still c. v. 56. Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God and kept not his testimonies Q. What are those aggravations which make some sins more hainous then others A. Sins receive their aggravations From the persons offending (n) Jer. 2. 8. The Priests said not Where is the Lord and they that handle the Law knew me not the Pastors also transgressed against me and the Prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after things that do not profit if they be of riper age (o) Job 32. 7 -9 I said Dayes should speak multitude of yeares should teach wisdom v. 9. Great men are not alwayes wise neither do the aged understand judgment Eccl. 4. 13. Better is a poor and a wise child then an old and foolish King who will no more be admonished greater experience or grace (p) 1 King 11. 4 -9 For it came to pass when Solomon was old that his wives turned away his heart after other gods c. v. 9. And the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel which had appeared to him twice eminent for profession (q) 2 Sam. 12. 14. Howbeit because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme the childe that is born unto thee shall surely dye 1 Cor. 5. 1. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles that one should have his fathers wife gifts (r) Jam. 4. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin Luk. 12. 47 48. And that servant that knew his
11. And he received the sign of Circumcision a Seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised that he might be the father of all them that believe though they be not circumcised that righteousness might be imputed unto them also 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me v. 25. After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me unto those that are within the Covenant of grace (*) Rom. 15. 8. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises made unto the fathers Exod. 12. 48. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee and will keep the Passover to the Lord let all his males he circumcised and then let him come neer and keep it and he shall be as one that is born in the land for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof the benefits of his meditation (x) Act. 2. 38. Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 10. 16. The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ to strengthen and increase their faith and all other graces (y) Rom. 4. 11. See in u above Gal. 3. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ to oblige them to obedience (z) Rom. 6. 3 4. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death v. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should walk in newness of life 1 Cor. 10. 21. Ye cannot drink of the Cup of the Lord and the cup of Divels ye cannot be partakers of the Lords Table and the table of Divels to testifie and cherish their love and communion one with another (a) Eph. 4. 2 3 4 5. With all lowlinesse and meeknesse with long-suffering forbearing one another in love v. 3. endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace v. 4. There is one body and one spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling v. 5. One Lord one Faith one Baptism 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jewes or Gentiles bond or free and have been all made to drink into one spiri● and to distinguish them from those that are without (b.) Eph. 2. 11. 12. Wherefore remember that ye being in time passed Gentiles in the flesh who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands v. 12. That at that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenant of promise having no hope and without God in the world Gen. 34. 14. And they said unto them We cannot do this thing to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised for that were a reproach to us Q. What are the parts of a Sacrament A. The parts of a Sacrament are two the one an outward and sensible signe used according to Christs own appointment the other an inward and Spiritual grace thereby signified (c.) Mat. 3. 11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier then I whose shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire 1 Pet. 3. 21. The like figure whereunto even Baptisme doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Rom. 2. 28 29. For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh v. 29. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God Q How many Sacraments hath Christ instituted in his Church under the New Testament A. Under the New Testament Christ hath instituted in his Church onely two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper (d.) Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 11. 20 -23 When ye come together therefore into one place this is not to eat the Lords Supper ver 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Iesus the same night wherein he was betrayed took bread c. Mat. 26. 26 27 28. And as they were eating Iesus took bread and c. See above in t Q. What is Baptisme A. Baptisme is a Sacrament of the New Testament wherein Christ hath ordained the washing with water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost (e) Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost to be a signe and seal of ingrafting into himself (f) Gal. 3. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ of remission of sins by his blood (g) Mark 1. 4. John did baptize in the wilderness and preach the baptisme of repentance for the remission of sins Rev. 1. 5. Unto him that loved us and wished us from our sins in his own blood and regeneration by his Spirit (h) Tit. 3. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Eph. 5. 26. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word of Adoption (i) Gal. 3. 26 27. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus v. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and resurrection unto everlasting life (k) 1 Cor. 15. 29. Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead if the dead rise not at all why are they then baptized for the dead Rom. 6. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection and whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted
into the visible Church (l) 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jewes or Gentiles bond or free and are all made to drink into one Spirit and enter into an open and professed ingagement to be wholly and onely the Lords (m) Rom. 6. 4. Therefore we are buried by baptisme with him into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his father so we also should walk in newnesse of life Q. Unto whom is Baptisme to be administred A. Baptisme is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church and so strangers from the Covenant of promise till they professe their faith in Christ and obedience to him (n) Act. 8. 36 37. And as they went on their way they came to a certain water and the Eunuch said see here is water what hinders me to be baptized v. 37. And Philip said If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest And he answered and said I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and he baptized him Act. 2 38. Then Peter said repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost but infants descending from parents either both or but one of them professing faith in Christ and obedience to him are in that respect within the Covenant and to be baptized (o) Gen. 17. 7-9 And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee And God said unto Abraham Thou shalt keep my Covenant therefore thou and thy seed after thee in their generations this is my Covenant c. Compared with Gal. 3. 9 -14 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham v. 4. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith And with Col. 2. 11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in cutting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ v. 12. Buried with him in Baptisme wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead And with Act. 2. 38 39. Then Peter said repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost v. 39. For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call And with Rom. 4. 11 12. And he received the sign of Circumcision a seal of the Righteousnesse of faith which he had being yet uncircumcised that he might be the father of all them who believe though they be not circumcised that righteousnesse might be imputed unto them also v. 12. And the father of Circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision onely but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had being yet uncircumcised 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy Mat 28. 19. Go ye therefore tea●h all nations baptizing them in the name c. Luk. 18. 15 16. And they brought unto him also infants that he should touch them but when his discsples saw it they rebuked them v. 16. But Jesus called them unto him and said suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven Rom. 11. 16. For if the first fruits be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Q. How is our Baptisme to be improved by us A. The needful but much neglected duty of improving our Baptisme is to be performed by us all our life long especially in the time of temptation and when we are present at the administration of it to others (p) Col. 2. 11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ V. 12. Buried with him in baptisme wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead Rom. 6. 4-6-11 Therefore we are buried by baptisme with him into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his father so we also should walk in newnesse of life V. 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin V. 11. Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin bu● alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it and of the ends for which Christ instituted it the priviledges and benefits conferred and sealed thereby and our solemn vow made therein (q) Rom 6. 3 4 5. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death V. 4. Therefore we are buried by baptisme with him into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his father so we also should walk in newness of life V. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection by being humbled for our sinful defilement our falling short of and walking contrary to the grace of Baptisme and our ingagements (r) 1 Cor. 1. 11 12 13. For it hath been declared unto me of you my brethren by them which are of the house of Ch●o● tha● there are contentions among you V. 11. Now this I say that every one of you saith I am of Paul and I am of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ V. 13. Is Christ divided was Paul crucified for you or were ye baptized in the name of Paul Rom. 6. 2 3. God forbid How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein V. 3. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin and of all other blessings sealed to us in that Sacrament (ſ) Rom. 4. 11 12. And he received the sign of circumcision a seal of righteousness of faith which he had being yet uncircumcised that he might be the father of all them who believe though they be not circumcised that righteousness might be imputed unto them also V. 12. And the father
my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins so they that worthily communicate in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper do therein feed upon the body and blood of Christ not after a corporal or carnal but in a spiritual manner yet truly and really (i) 1 Cor. 11. 24 25 26 27 28 29. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me V. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup when he had supped saying This cup is the New Testament in my blood This do ye as often as ye drink it in remembrance of me V. 26. For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come V. 27. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. V. 28. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. V. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body while by faith they receive and apply unto themselves Christ crucified and all the benefits of his death (k) 1 Cor. 10. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ Q. How are they that receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to prepare themselves before they come unto it A. They that receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper are before they come to prepare themselves thereunto by examining themselves (l) 1 Cor. 11. 18. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. of their being in Christ (m) 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whether you be in the faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Christ is in you except ye he reprobates of their sins and wants (n) 1 Cor. 5. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a dew lump as ye are unleavened for 〈◊〉 Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us Compared with Exod. 12. 15. Seven dayes shall ye eat unleavened bread even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses For whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh that soul shall be cut off from Israel of the truth measure of their knowledg (o) 1 Cor. 11. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body faith (p) 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith c. See above in m Mat. 26. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins repentance (q) Zech. 12. 10. And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one that mourneth for his only son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitternesse for his first-born 1 Cor. 11. 31 For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged love to God and the brethren (r) 1 Cor. 10. 16 17. The Cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ V. 17. For we being many are one bread and one body for we all partake of that one bread Act. 2. 46 47. And they continued daily with one accord in the Temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart V. 47. Praising God and having favour with all the people and the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved charity to all men (ſ) 1 Cor. 5. 8. Therefore let us keep the feast not with old leaven nor with the leaven of malice and wickednesse but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth 1 Cor. 11. 18-20 For first of all when ye come together in the Church I hear that there be divisions among you and I partly believe it V. 20. When ye come together therefore into one place this is not to eat the Lords Supper forgiving those that have done them wrong (t) Mat. 5. 23 24. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there rememberst that thy brother hath ought against thee v. 24. Leave there thy way first be recnociled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift of their desires after Christ (u) Isa 55. 1. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy milk and wine without money and without price Job 7. 37. In the last day the great day of the feast Jesus stood and cryed saying If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink and of their new obedience (*) 1 Cor. 5. 7 8. Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened for even Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us v. 8. Therefore let us keep the feast not with old leaven neither with the leaven of malice and wickednese but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth and by renewing the exercise of these graces (x) 1 Cor. 11. 25 26 28. After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood this do ye as often as ye do it in remembrance of me v. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this Cup ye shew the Lords death till he come v. 28. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. Heb. 10 21 22-24 And having an High Priest over the house of God v. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water v. 24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works Psal 26. 6. I will wash mine hands in innocency so will I compass thine altar O Lord. by serious meditation (y) 1 Cor. 11. 24. 25. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me v. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup saying This c. This do ye as often as ye drink it in remembrance of me and fervent prayer (z) 2
them also 1 Cor. 11. 28. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. Q. May any who profess the faith and desire to come to the Lords Supper be kept from it A. Such as are found to be ignorant or scandalous notwithstanding their profession of the Faith and desire to come to the Lords Supper may and ought to be kept from that Sacrament by the power which Christ hath left in his Church (i) 1 Cor. 11. 27 to the end Wherefore whosoever shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. V. 28. But let a man examine himself and so c. V. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body V. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep V. 31. For if we would judg our selves we should not be judged c. Compared with Mat. 7. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs neither cast you your pearls before swine least they trample them under their feet and turn again and rent you And with 1 Cor. 5. to the end And with Jude v. 23. And others save with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment spotted with the flesh And with 1 Tim. 5. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partakers of other mans sins Keep thy self pure until they receive instruction and manifest their reformation (k) 2 Cor. 2. 7. So that contrariwise ye ought to forgive him and comfort him least perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow Q. What is required of them that receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in the time of the administration of it A. It is required of them that receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper that during the time of the administration of it with all holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that Ordinance (l) Lev. 10. 3. Then Moses said unto Aaron This is that which the Lord spake saying I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me and before all the people will I be glorified Heb. 12. 28. Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom that cannot be moved let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear Psal 5. 7. But as for me I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercies and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy Temple 1 Cor. 11. 17-26 27. Now i● this that I declare unto you I praise you not that ye come together not for the better but for the worse V. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come V. 27. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. diligently observe the sacramental Elements and actions (m) Exod. 24. 8. And Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said Behold the blood of the Covenant which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words Compared with Mat. 26. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins heedfully discern the Lords body (n) 1 Cor. 11. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himsel● not discerning the Lords body and affectionately meditate on his death and sufferings (o) Luk. 22. 19. This do in remembrance of me and thereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of their graces (p) 1 Cor. 11. 26. For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye shew the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 10. 3 4 5-11-14 And did all eat the same Spiritual meat V. 4. And did all drink the same Spiritual drink for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ V. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased for they were overthrown in the wildernesse V. 11. Now all these things hapned unto them for ensamples and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come V. 14 Wherefore my dearly beloved flee from idolatry in judging themselves (q) 1 Cor. 11. 31 i. For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged and sorrowing for sin (r) Ze●h 12. 10. And I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son and be in bitternesse for him as one that is in bitternesse for his first-born in earnest hungring and thirsting after Christ (ſ) Rev. 22. 17. And the Spirit and the Bride say Come And let him that heareth say Come And let him that is athirst come And whosoever will let him take the waters of life freely feeding on him by faith (t) Jo● 6 35. And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst receiving of his fulness (u) Joh. 1. 16. And of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace trusting in his merits (*) Phil. 3. 9. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith rejoycing in his love x giving thanks for his grace (y) Psal 22. 26. The meek shall eat and be satisfied they shall praise the Lord that seek him your heart shall live for ever in renewing of their covenant with God (z) Ier. 50. 5. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward saying come and let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten Psal 55. Gather my Saints together unto me those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice love to all the Saints (a) Act. 2. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and in prayers * Psal 63. 4 5. Thus will I bless thee while I live I will lift up mine hands in thy name v. 5. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips 2 Cor. 30. 21. And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven dayes with great gladness and the Levites and the Priests praised the Lord day by day singing with loud instruments to the Lord Q. What is the duty of Christians after they have received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper
Spirit (z) Rom. 8. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered with confession of our sins (a) Psal 32. 5 6. I acknowledged my sin unto thee and mine iniquity have I not hid I said I will confess my transgressions and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin v. 6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou maist be found surely c. Dan. 9. 4. And I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my confession and said O Lord the great and dreadful God c. and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies (b) Phil. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God Q. Are we to pray unto God onely A. God only being able to search the hearts (c) King 8. 39. Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place and forgive and do and give to every man according to his wayes whose heart thou knowest for thou even thou onely knowest the hearts of all the children of men Act. 1. 24. And they prayed and said Thou Lord who knowest the hearts of ●oll men shew whether of these two thou hast chosen Rom. 8. 27. And he that sea●cheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God hear the requests (d) Psal 65. 2. O thou that hearest prayers to thee shall all flesh come pardon the sins (e) Mic. 7. 18. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance c. and fulfil the desires of all (f) Psal 145. 18 19. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth v. 19. He will fulfil the desires of them that fe●r him he also will hear their cry and will save them and only to be believed in (g) Rom. 10. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed c. and worshipped with religious worship (h) Mat 4. 10. Then saith Jesus unto him Get thee hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve prayer which is a special part thereof (i) 1 Cor 1. 2. Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours is to be made by all to him alone (k) Psal 50. 15. Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me and to none other (l.) Rom. 10. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed c. Q. What is it to pray in the name of Christ A. To pray in the Name of Christ is in obedience to his command and in confidence on his promises to ask mercy for his sake (m) Ioh. 14. 13 14. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son● v. 14. If ye shall ask any thing in my name I will do it Ioh. 26. 24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name ask and receive that your joy may be full Dan. 9. 14. Now therefore O our God hear the prayer of thy servant and his supplications and cause thy face to shine upon thy Sanctuary that is desolate for the Lords sake not by bare mentioning of his Name (n) Mat. 7. 21. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven but he that doth the will of my father which is in heaven but by drawing our incouragement to pray and our boldness strength and hope of acceptance in prayer from Christ and his mediation (o.) Heb. 4. 14 15 16. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens Iesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession v. 15. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin v. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need 1 Ioh. 5. 13 14 15. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God v. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us v. 15. And if we know that he heareth whatsoever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him Q. Why are we to pray in the name of Christ A. The sinfulness of man and his distance from God by reason thereof being so great as that we can have no accesse into his presence without a Mediatour (p) Ioh. 14. 6. Jesus saith unto him I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me Isa 59. 2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear Eph. 3 12. In whom ye have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to or fit for that glorious work but Christ alone (q) Ioh. 6. 27 Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life which the son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed Heb. 7. 25 26 27. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing that he ever liveth to make intercession for them v. 26. For such an high Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the heavens v. 27. Who needeth not daily as those high Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins and then for the peoples for this he did once when he offered up himself 1 Tim. 2. 5. For there is one God one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus we are to pray in no other name but his onely (r.) Col. 3. 17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him Heb. 13. 15. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruits of our lips giving thanks in
c the Church furnished with all Gospel officers and ordinances (g) Matth 9. 38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest 2 Thes 3. 1. Finally brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have a free course and be glorified even as it is with you purged from corruption (h) Mal. 3. 1 11. For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place incense shall be offered up unto my Name and a pure offering for my Name shall be great among the Heathen saith the Lord of hosts Zeph. 3. 9. For then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the Name of the Lord to serve him with one consent countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate (i) 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. I exhort therefore that first ●f all supplications prayers intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men v. 2. For Kings and for all that are in au●hority th●t me may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins and the confirming comforting and building up of those that are already converted (k) Act. 4. 29 30. And now Lord behold their threatnings and grant unto thy servan●s that with all boldness they may speak thy word v. 30. By stretching forth ●hine hand to heal and that signes and wonders may be done by the Name of thy Holy Child Jesus Eph. 6. 18 19 20. Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints v. 19. And for me th●t utterance may be given me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gentiles v. 20. For which I am an Ambassador in bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak Rom. 15. 29 30 -32 And I am sure that when I come unto you I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ v. 30. Now I beseech you brethren for the Lord Jesus Christ sake and for the love of the Spirit that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me v. 32. That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God and may with you be refreshed 2 Thes 1. 11. Wherefore we pray alwayes for you that our God would count you worthy of his calling and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power 2 Thes 2. 16 17. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which h●th loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace v. 17. Comfort your heart and stablish you in every good word and work that Christ would rule in our hearts here (l) Eph. 3. from ver 14. to the 21. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ v. 15. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named v. 16. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man v. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love v. 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height v. 19. And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg that ye might be filled with the fulness of God v. 20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think c. and hasten the time of his second coming and our reigning with him for ever (m) Rev. 22. 20. He which testifieth these things saith surely I come qu●ckly Amen even so come Lord Jesus and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world as may best conduce to these ends (n) Isai 64. 1 2. O that thou wouldst rend the heavens that thou wouldst come down that the mountains might flow down at thy presence v. 2. As when the melting fire burneth the fire causeth the waters to boil to make thine name known to thine adversaries that the nations may tremble at thy presence Rev. 4. 8 9 10 11. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come v. 9. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne who liveth for ever and ever v. 10. That four and twenty Elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their Crowns before the throne saying v. 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Q. What do we pray for in the third Petition A. In the third petition which is Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven (o) Matth. 6. 10. acknowledging that by nature we and all men are not only utterly unable and unwilling to know and to do the will of God (p) Rom. 7. 18. For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I find not Job 21. 14. Therefore th●y say unto God Depart from us we desire not the knowledg of thy wayes 1 Cor. 2. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can be know them because they are spiritually discerned but prone to rebel against his word (q) Rom. 8. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be to repine and murmur against his Providence (r) Exod. 17. 7. And he called the name of the place Massah and Meriba● because of the chiding of the children of Israel and because they tempted the Lord saying is the Lord among us or not Num. 14. 2. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron And the whole Congregation said unto them would God that we had died in the land of Egypt would God that we had died in this wilderness and wholly inclined to do the will of the flesh of the devil (ſ) Eph. ● 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the ayre the spirit that now wo●keth in the children of disobedience We
And honour not his father or his mother he shall be free thus have ye made the Commandments of God of none effect by your traditions Ezek 34. 2 3 4. Son of man prophecy against the shepherds of Israel prophecy and say unto them Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds wo be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves should not the shepherds feed the flocks v. 3. Ye eat the fat and cloath you with the wool ye kill them that are fed but ye seed not the flock v. 4. The diseased have ye not strengthned nor have ye healed that which was sick nor bound up that which was broken nor brought again that which was driven away nor sought that which was lost but with force and cruelty have ye ruled them Rom. 13. 8. Owe no man any thing but to love one another for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law Q. What is the Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment A. The Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity as far as it shall serve for Gods glory and their own good to all such as keep this Commandment (a) Deut. 5. 16 Honor thy father and thy mother as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee that thy dayes may be prolonged and that it may go well with thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Eph. 6. 2 3. Honour thy father and mother which is the first Commandment with promise v. 3. That it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth Q Which is the sixth Commandment A. The sixth Commandment is Thou shalt not kill (b) Exod. 20. 13. Q. What is required in the sixth Commandment A. The sixth Commandment requireth all lawful endeavours to preserve our own life (c) Eph. 5. 28 29. So ought men to love their own wives as their own bodies He that loveth his wise loveth himself v. 29. For no man ever bated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church and the life of others (d) 1 King 18. 4. For it was so when Jezebel cut off the Prophets of the Lord that Obadiah took an hundred Prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water Q. What is forbidden in the sixth Commandment A. The sixth Commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life or the life of our neighbour unjustly or whatsoever tendeth thereunto (e) Act. 16. 28. But Paul cried with a loud voice saying Do thy self no harm for we are all here Gen. 9. 6. Who so sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed for in the image of God made he man Q. Which is the seventh Commandment A. The seventh Commandment is Thou shalt not commit adultery (f) Exod. 20. 14. Q. What is required in the seventh Commandment A. The seventh Commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbors chastity in heart speech and behaviour (g) 1 Cor. 7. 2 -3 5. 34-36 Nevertheless to avoid fornication let every man have his own wife and every woman her own husband v. 3. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence and likewise also the wife unto the husband v. 5. Defraud you not one the other except it be with consent for a time that ye may give c. v. 34. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin the unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in ●o●y and in spirit but she that is married careth for the things of the world how she may please her husband v. 36. But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin if she pass the flower of her age and need so require let him do what he will he sinneth not let them marry Col. 4. 6. Let your speech be alwayes with grace seasoned with salt that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man 1 Pet. 3. 2. While they behold your chast conversation coupled with fear Q. What is forbidden in the seventh Commandment A. The seventh Commandment forbiddeth all unchast thoughts words and actions (h) Mat. 15. 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness blasphemies Matt. 5. 28. But I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart Eph. 5. 3 4. But fornication and all uncleannnss or coveteousness let it not be once named amongst you as becometh Saints V. 4. Neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks Q. Which is the eighth Commandment A. The eight Commandment is Thou shalt not steal (i) Exod. 20. 15. Q. What is required in the eighth Commandment A. The eighth Commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of our selves and others (k) Gen. 30 30. For it was little which thou hadst before I came and it is now encreased unto a multitude and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming and now when shall I provide for my own house also 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denied the faith and is worse then an infidel Lev. 25. 35. And if thy brother be waxen poor and fallen in decay with thee then thou shalt relieve him yea though he be a stranger or a sojourner that he may live with thee Deut. 22. 1 2 3 4 5. Thou shalt not see thy brothers ●x or his sheep go astray and hide thy self from them thou shalt in any case bring them back again u●to thy brother V. 2. And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee or if thou know him nor then thou shalt bring it unto thy own house and it shall be with thee untill thy brother seek after it and thou shalt restore it to him again v. 3. In like manner shalt thou do with his Ass and so shalt thou do with his raiment and with all lost things of thy brothers which he hath lost and thou hast found thou maist not hide thy self v. 4. Thou shalt not see thy brothers ox or his ass fall down by the way and hide thy self from them thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again v. 5. The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man neither shall a man put on a womans garment for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God Exod. 23. 4 5. If thou meet thine enemies ox or his ass going astray thou shalt surely bring it back to him again v. 5. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden and wouldest forbear to help him thou shalt surely help with him Gen. 47. 14 20. And Joseph gathered up all the mony that was found
thy seed after thee V. 10. This is my covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee every man-child among you shall be circumcised Exod. 12. throughouts 1 Cor. 11. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Iesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread V. 26. For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come Q. Which are the Sacraments of the New Testament A. The Sacraments of the New Testament are Baptisme (y) Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and the Lords Supper (z) Mat. 26. 26. 27. 28. v. 26. And as they were eating Iesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my body v. 27. And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink ye all of i● v. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Q. What is Baptisme A. Baptisme is a Sacrament wherein the washing of Water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost (a) Mat. 28. 19. See in letter y doth signifie and seal our ingrafting into Christ and partaking of the benefits of the Covenant of Grace and our engagement to the Lords (b) Rom. 6. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should walk in newness of life Gal. 3. 27. For as many of you as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ Q. To whom is Baptisme to be administred A. Baptisme is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him (c) Act. 8. 36. And as they went on their way they came unto a certain water and the Eunuch said see here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized V. 37. And Philip said if thou believest with all thine heart thou maist and he answered I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God Acts 2. 38. Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost but the infants of such as are members of the visible Church are to be baptized (d) Acts 2. 38. See before V. 39. For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are a far off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Gen. 17. 10. See in letter x Col. 2. 11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ V. 12. Buried with him in Baptisme wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy Q. What is the Lords Supper A. The Lords Supper is a Sacrament wherein by giving and receiving Bread and Wine according to Christs appointment his death is shewed forth and the worthy receivers are not after a corporal and carnal manner but by faith made partakers of his Body and Blood with all his benefits to their spiritual nourishment and groweth in grace e 1 Cor. 11. 23 34 25 26. I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night wherein he was betrayed took bread V. 24. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me V. 25. After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me V. 26. For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 10. 16. The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ Q. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lords Supper that they examine themselves of their knowledg to discern the Lords body (f) 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. V. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body of their faith to feed upon him (g) 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith prove your own selves know you not that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates of their repentance (h) 1 Cor. 11. 31. For if we would judg our selves we should not be judged love (i) 1 Cor. 10. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ V. 17. For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread and new obedience (k) 1 Cor. 5. 7. P●rge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened for even Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us V. 8. Therefore let us keep the feast not with old leaven neitheir with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth lest coming unworthily they eat and drink judgment to themselves (l) 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. See in letter f Q. What is Prayer A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God (m) Psal 62. 8. Trust in him at all times ye people pour out your hearts before him God is a refuge for us Selah for things agreeable to his will (n) 1 Ioh. 5. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us in the Name of Christ (o) Ioh. 16. 23. And in that day he shall ask me nothing verily verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name he will give it you with confession of our sins (p) Psal 32. 5 6 I acknowledged my sins unto
done on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debters And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever Amen The CREED I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth And in Jesus Christ his onely Son our Lord which was conceived by the holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hell * i. e. Continued in the state of the dead and under the power of death till the third day the third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead I believe in the holy Ghost the holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting Amen SO much of every Question both in the Larger and Shorter Catechism is repeated in the Answer as maketh every Answer an entire Proposition or sentence in it self to the end the Learner may further improve it upon all occasions for his encrease in knowledge and piety even out of the course of catechising as well as in it And albeit the substance of the doctrine comprised in that Abridgement commonly called The Apostles Creed be fully set forth in each of the Catechismes so as there is no necessity of inserting the Creed it self yet it is here annexed not as though it were composed by the Apostles or ought to be esteemed Canonical Scripture as the Ten Commandments and the Lords Prayer much less a Prayer as ignorant people have been apt to make both it and the Decalogue but because it is a brief sum of the Christian faith agreeable to the Word of God and anciently received in the Churches of Christ Cornelius Burges Prolocutor pro tempore Henry Roborough Scriba Adoniram Byfield Scriba To the Right Honorable THE LORDS COMMONS Assembled in Parliament The Humble Advice of the Assembly of Divines now sitting by Ordinance of Parliament at Westminster Concerning CHURCH-GOVERNMENT The Preface JEsus Christ upon whose shoulders the Government is whose name is called Wonderful Counsellour the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace of the encrease of whose Government and Peace there shall be no end who sits upon the throne of David and upon his Kingdome to order it and to establish it with Judgment and Justice from henceforth even for ever having all power given unto him in Heaven and Earth by the Father who raised him from the dead and set him on his own right hand far above all Principalities and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come and put all thing under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all He being ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things received gifts for his Church and gave offices necessary for the edification of his Church and perfecting of his Saints Mat. 28. 18 19 20. v. 18. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth v. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost v. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Amen Eph. 1. 20 21 22 23. v. 20. Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places v. 21. Far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come v. 22. And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church v. 23. Which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all compared with Eph. 4. 8 11. v. 8. Wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men v. 11. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some pastors and teachers And with Psal 68. 18. Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captivity captive thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them Of the Church THere is one General Church visible held forth in the New Testament 1 Cor. 12. 12 13 28. For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ v. 13. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit v. 28. And God hath set some in the Church First Apostles Secondarily Prophets Thirdly Teachers after that miracles then gifts of healings helps governments diversities of tongues Together with the rest of the Chapter The Ministry O●acles and Ordinances of the New Testament are given by Jesus Christ to the General Church visible for the gathering and perfecting of it in this life until his second coming 1 Cor. 12. 28. See before Eph. 4. 4 5. v. 4. There is one body and one spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling v. 5. One Lord one Faith one Baptism Compared with ver 10. 11 12 13 15 16. v. 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things v. 11. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some pastors and teachers v. 12. For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ v. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ v. 15. But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ v. 16. From whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Particular visible Churches Members of the General Church are also held forth in the New Testament Gal 1. 21 12. v. 21. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia v. 22. And was unknown by face unto the Churches of Judea which were in
hearing Neh. 8. 1 2 13. v. 1. And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water-gate and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had commanded to Israel v. 2. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women and all that could hear with understanding upon the first day of the seventh moneth v. 3. and he read therein v. 13. And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people the priests and the Levites unto Ezra the s●r the even to understand the words of the law 2. That the Ministers of the Gospel have as ample a charge and commission to dispense the Word as well as other Ordinances as the Priests and Levites had under the law proved Isa 66. 21. And I will also take of them for Priests and for Levites saith the Lord. Mat. 28. 34. Wherefore behold I send unto you Prophets and wise men and scribes and some of them ye shall kill and crucifie and some of them shall ye scourge in your Synagogues and persecute them from City to City Where our Saviour intituleth the Officers of the New Testament whom he will send forth by the same names of the teachers of the Old Which Propositions prove that therefore the duty being of a moral nature it followeth by just consequence that the publick reading of the Scriptures belongeth to the Pastors Office To feed the flock by preaching of the Word according to which he is to teach convince reprove exhort and comfort 1 Tim. 3. 2. A Bishop then must be blameless the husband of one wise vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. v. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in righteousness v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works Tit. 1. 9. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers To Catechise which is a plain laying down the Principles of the Oracles of God Or of the Doctrine of Christ and is a part of preaching Heb. 5. 12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers ye have need that one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat To dispense other Divine Misteries 1 Cor. 4. 1 2. v. 1. Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and stewards of the misteries of God v. 2. Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful To administer the Sacraments Mat. 28. 19 20. v. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost v. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Amen Mar. 16. 15 16. v. 15. And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel unto every creature v. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned 1 Cor. 11. 23 24 25. v. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread v. 24. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me v. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup when he had supped saying This cup is the New Testament in my blood this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me Compared with 1 Cor. 10. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ To bless the people from God Numb 6. 23. 24 25 26. v. 23. Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons saying On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel saying unto them v. 24. The Lord bless thee and keep thee v. 25. The Lord make his face to shire upon thee v. 26. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace Compared with Rev. 1. 4 5. v. 4. John to the seven Churches which are in Asia grace be unto you and peace from him which is and which was and which is to come and from the seven spirits which are before his throne v. 5. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the Kings of the earth unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood Where the same blessings and persons from whom they come are expresly mentioned Isa 66. 21. And I will also take of them for Priests and for Levites saith the Lord. Here under the names of the Priests and Levites to be continued under the Gospel are meant Evangelical Pastors who therefore are by office to bless the people Deut. 10. 8. At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the Covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister unto him and to bless in his name unto this day 2 Cor. 13 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Eph. 1. 2. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ To take care of the poor Act. 11. 30. Which also they did and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul Act. 4. 34 35 36 37. v. 34. Neither was there any among you that lacked for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the prises of the things that were sold v. 35. And laid them down at the Apostles feet and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need v. 36. And Joses who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas which is being interpreted the son of conselation a Levite and of the country of Ciprus v. 37. Having land sold it and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles feet Act. 6 2 3 4. v. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the Disciples unto them and said It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve Tables v. 3. Wherefore brethren look you out among you seven men of honest report full of the Holy Ghost and wisdome whom ye may appoint over this business v. 4. But we will give our selves continually to prayer and
to the ministery of the Word 2 Cor. 16. 1 2 3 4. v. 1. New concerning the collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye v. 2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in st●re as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come v. 3. And when I come whomsoever you shall approve by your letters them will I send to bring your liberality to Jerusalem v. 4. And if it be meet that I go also they shall go with me Gal. 2. 9 10. v. 9. And when James Cepl as and John who seemed to be pillars perceived the grace that was given unto me they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship that we should go unto the heathen and they unto the circumcision v. 10. Only they would that we should remember the poor the same which I also was forward to do And he hath also a ruling power over the Flock as a Pastor 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine Act. 20. 17. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the Church v. 28. Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over thee which the Holy Ghost hath made you over-●eers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood 1 Thes 5. 12. And we beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you Heb. 13. 7 17. v. 7. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God whose faithf follow considering the end of their conversation v. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you Teacher or Doctor THe Scripture doth hold out the name and Title of a Teacher as well as of the Pastor 1 Cor. 12. 28. And God hath set some in the Church First Apostles Secondarily Prophets Thirdly Teachers after that miracles then gifts of healing helps governments diversities of tongues Eph. 4. 11. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some pastors and teachers Who is also a Minister of the Word as well as the Pastor and hath power of administration of the Sacraments The Lord having given different gifts and divers exercises according to these gifts in the ministry of the word Rom. 12. 6 7 8. v. 6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith v. 7. Or ministry let us wait on our ministring or be that teacheth on teaching v. 8. He that exhorteth on exhortation he that giveth let him do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulness 1 Cor. 11. 1 4 5. v. 1. Now concerning spiritual gifts brethren I would not have you ignorant v. 4. Now there are diversities of gifts but the same spirit and there are diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all v. 5. And there are differences of administrations but the same Lord. v. 7. But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit with all Though these different gifts may meet in and accordingly be exercised by one and the same minister 1 Cor. 14. 3. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort 2 Tim. 4. 2. Preach the Word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine Tit. 1. 9. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers Yet where be several Ministers in the same Congregation they may be designed to several imployment according to the different gifts in which each of them do most excel Rom. 12. 6 7. 8. v. 6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophefie let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith v. 7. Or ministry let us wait on our ministring or be that teacheth on teaching v. 8. Or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that giveth let him do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulness 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. v. 10. As every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God v. 11. If any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever Amen And he that doth more excel in exposition of Scripture in teaching sound D●ctrine and in convincing gain-sayers then he doth in application and is accordingly imployed therein may be called a teacher or Doctor the places alledged by the Notation of the Word doth prove the Proposition Nevertheless where is but one Minister in a patticular Congregation he is to perform so far as he is able the whole work of the Ministry as appeareth in 2 Tim. 4. 2. Preach the word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine Tit. 1. 9. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gain-sayers 1 Tim 6. 2. And they that have believing masters let them not dispise them because they are brethren but rather do them service because they are faithful and beloved partakers of the benefit these things teach and exhort A Teacher or Doctor is of most excellent use in Schools and Universities as of old in the Shools of the Prophets and at Ierusalem where Gamaliel and others taught as Doctors Other Church-governours As there were in the Jewish Church Elders of the people joyned with the Priests and Levites in the Government of the Church as appeareth in 2 Chron. 19. 8 9 10. v. 8. Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and of the Priests and of the chief of the fathers of Israel for the judgment of the Lord and for controversies when they returned to Jerusalem v. 9. And he charged them saying Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart v. 10. And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their Cities between blood and blood between law and commandment and statutes and judgments ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord and so wrath come upon
you and upon your brethren this do and ye shall not trespass So Christ who hath instituted a Government and Governours Ecclesiastical in the Church hath furnished some in his Church beside the Ministers of the Word with gifts for governments and with commission to execute the same when called there unto who are to joyn with the Minister in the government of the Church Rom. 12. 7 8. v. 7. Or Ministry let us wait on our ministring or he that teacheth on teaching v. 8. Or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that giveth let him do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulness 1 Cor. 12. 28. And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that miracles then gifts of healings helps governments diversities of tongues Which Officers reformed churches commonly call Elders Deacons THe Scripture doth hold out Deacons as distinct officers in the church Phil. i. ● Paul and Timotheus the servant of Jesus Christ to all saints in Christ Jesus whith are at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons 1 Tim. 3. 8. Likewise must the Deacons be grave not double-tongued not given to much wine not greedy of filthy lucre Whose Office is perpetual 1 Tim. 3. 8. Likewise must the Deacons be grave not double-tongued not given to much wine not greedy of filthy lucre to ver 15. see in the Bible Act. 6. 1 2 3 4. v. 1. And in those dayes when the number of the Disciples was multiplyed there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily manistration v. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables v. 3. Wherefore brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest report full of the holy Ghost and wisdom whom we may appoint over this business v. 4. But we will give our selves continually to prayer and to the Ministry of the word To whose Office it belongs not to preach the Word or administer the Sacraments but to take special care in distributing to the necessities of the poor Act. 6. 1 2 3 4. see before Of Particular Congregations IT is lawful and expedient that there be fixed congregations that is a certain company of christians to meet in one Assembly ordinarily for publick Worship When believers multiply to such a number that they cannot conveniently meet in one place it is lawful and expedient that they should be divided into distinct and fixed congregations for the beter administration of such ordinances as belong unto them and the discharge of mutual duties 1 Cor. 14. 26 33 40. v. 26. Let all things be done unto edifying v. 33. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace as in all Churches of the Saints v. 40. Let all things be done decently and in order The ordinary way of dividing Christians into distinct Congregations and most expedient for edification is by the respective bounds of their dwellings First Because they who dwell together being bound to all kind of moral duties one to another have the better opportunity thereby to discharge them which moral tye is perpetual for Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it Deut. 15. 7 11. If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee thou shalt not harden thy heart nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother v. 11. For the poor shall never cease out of the land therefore I command thee saying Thou shalt open thy hand wide unto thy brother to the poor and to the needy in the land Mat. 22. 39. And the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Mat. 5. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil Secondly The communion of saints must be so ordered as may stand with the most convenient use of the Ordinances and discharge of moral duties without respect of persons 1 Cor. 14. 26. Let all things be done unto edifying Heb. 10. 24 25. v. 24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works v. 25. Not forsaking the Assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching Jam. 2. 1 2. v. 1. My brethren have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons v. 2. For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring in goodly apparel and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment Thirdly The pastor and people must so nearly cohabite together as that they may mutually perform their duties each to other with most conveniency In this company some must be set apart to bear office Of the Officers of a particular Congregation FOr Officers in a single Congregation there ought to be one at the least both to labour in the Word and Doctrine and to rule Prov. 29. 18. Where there is no vision the people perish but he that keepeth the law happy is he 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine Heb. 13. 7. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation It is also requisite that there should be others to joyn in Government 1 Cor. 12. 28. And God hath set some in the Church First Apostles Secondarily Prophets Thirdly Teachers after that Miracles then gifts of healings helps governments diversities of tongues And likewise it is requisite that there be others to take special care for the reliefe of the poor Acte 6. 2 3. v. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the Disciples unto them and said It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables v. 3. Wherefore brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest report full of the holy Ghost and wisdome whom ye may appoint over this business The number of each of which is to be proportioned according to the condition of the Congregation These officers are to meet together at convenient and set times for the well ordering of the affairs of that Congregation each according to his office It is most expedient that in these meetings one whose office is to labour in the Word and Doctrine do moderate in their proceedings 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine Of the Ordinances in a particular Congregation THe Ordinances in a single Congregation are Prayer Thanksgiving and singing of Psalms 1 Tim. 2. 1. I
Of Classical Assemblies THe Scripture doth hold out a Presbytery in a Church both in 1 Tim. 4. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery And in Acts 15. 2 4 6. v. 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissention and disputation with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question v. 4. And when they were come to Jerusalem they were received of the Church and of the Apostles and Elders and they declared all things that God had done with them v. 6. And the Apostles and Elders came together for to consider of this matter A Presbytery consisteth of Ministers of the Word and such other publick Officers as are agreeable to and warranted by the Word of God to be Church-governours to joyn with the Ministers in the Government of the Church as appeareth Rom. 12. 7 8. v. 7. Or Ministry let us wait on our Ministring or he that teacheth on reaching v. 8. Or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that giveth let him do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulness 1 Cor. 12. 28. And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly teachers after that miracles then gifts of healings helps governments diversities of tongues The Scripture doth hold forth that many particular Congregations may be under one Presbyterial Go ernment This proposition is proved by instances 1. First Of the Church of Jerusalem which consisteth of more Congregations then one and all these Congregations were under one Presbyterial Goverment This appeareth t●us ● First The Church of Jerusalem consisteth of more Congregations then one as is manifest 1. By the multitude of believers mentioned in divers Both before the dispersion of the believers there by means of the persecutions mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles chap. 8. in the beginning thereof witness Acts 1. 15. And in those dayes Peter stood up in the midst of the Disciples and said The number of the names together were about an hundred and twenty Acts 2. 41 46. 47. v. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls v. 46. And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart v. 47. Praising God and having favour with all the people And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Acts 5. 14. And believers were the more added unto the Lord multitudes both of men and women Acts 6. 1. 7. v. 1. And in those dayes when the number of the Disciples was multiplied there a rose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration v. 7. And the Word of God increased and the number of the Disciples multiplyed in Jerusalem greatly and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith And also after the dispersion Acts 9. 31. Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the holy Ghost were multiplied Acts 12. 24. But the Word of God grew and multiplied Acts. 21. 20. And when they heard it they glorified the Lord and said unto him Thou seest brother how many thousand of Jews there are which believe and they are all zealous of the law Secondly By the many Apostles and other Preachers in the Church of Jerusalem And if there were but one Congregation there then each Apostle preached but seldome which will not consist with Acts 6. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the Disciple● unto them and said It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables Thirdly The diversity of Languages amongst the Believers mentioned both in the second and sixth chapters of the Acts doth argue more Congregations then one in that Church 2. Secondly All those congregations were under one Presbyterial government because First They were one Church Acts 8. 1. And Saul was consenting unto his death And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the Apostles Acts 2. 47. Praising God and having favour with all the people And the Lord added unto the church daily such as should be saved Compared with chap. 5. 11. And great fear came upon all the church and upon as many as heard these things chap. 12 5. Peter therefore was kept in prison hut prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him chap. 15. 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question Secondly The Elders of the Church are mentioned Act. 11. 30. Which also they did and sent it to the Elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul Acts 15. 4 6 22. v. 4. And when they were come to Jerusalem they mere received of the Church and of the Apostles and Elders and they declared all things that God had done with them v. 6. And the Apostles and Elders came together to consider of this matter v. 22. Then it pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and B●rnabas namely Judas sirnamed Barsabas and Silus chief men among the brethren And ch 21. 17 18. v. 17. And when we were come to Jerusalem the brethren received us gladly v. 18. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James and all the Elders were present Thirdly The Apostles did the ordinary Acts of Presbyters as Presbyters in that Church which proveth a Presbyterial Church before the dispersion Act. 6 Fourthly The several Congregations in Jerusalem being one Church the Elders of that Church are mentioned as meeting together for acts of Government Act. 11. 30. Which also they did and sent it to the Elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul Acts 15. 4 6 22. v. 4. And when they were come to Jerusalem they were received of the Church and of the Apostles and Ellers and they declared all things that God had done with them v. 6. And the Apostles and Elders came together for to consider of this matter v. 22. Then it pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas namely Judas sirnamed Barsabas and Silas chief men among the brethren Acts 21. 17 18. v. 17. And when they were come to Jerusalem the brethren
received us gladly v. 18. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James and all the Elders were present and so forward Which proves that those several Congregations were under one Presbyterial Government And whether these Congregations were fixed or not fixed in regard of Officers or Members it is all one as to the truth of the Proposition Nor doth there appear any material difference betwixt the several Congregations in Jerusalem and the many Congregations now in the ordinary condition of the Church as to the point of fixednesse required of Officers or Members 3. Thirdly Therefore the Scripture doth hold forth that many Congregations may be under one Presbyterial Government II. Secondly By the instance of the Church of Ephesus for 1. That they were more Congregations then one in the Church of Ephesus appears by Act 10. 31. Therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears Where is mention of Pauls continuance at Ephesus in preaching for the space of three years And Acts 19. 18. And many that believed came and confessed and shewed their deeds v. 19. Many also of them which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men and they counted the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver v. 20. So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed Act. 19. 10. And this continued by the space of two years so that all they who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus both Jews and Greeks v. 17. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus and fear fell on them all and the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified 1 Cor. 16. 8. But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost v. 9. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me and there are many adversaries v. 19. The Churches of Asia salute you Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord with the Church that is in their house Where the special effect of the Word is mentioned and verse 10 and 17 of the same Chapter where is a distinction of Iews and Greeks and 1 Cor. 16. 8 9. where a reason of Pauls stay at Ephesus untill Pentecost and verse 19 where is mention of a particular Church in the house of Aquila and Priscila then at Ephesus as appears Acts 18. 19. And he came to Ephesus and left them there but he himself entred into the Synagogue and reasoned with the Iews v. 24. And a certain Iew named Apollos born at Alexandria an Eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures came to Ephesus v. 26. And he began to speak boldly in the Synagogue whom when Acquila and Priscilla had heard they took him unto them and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly All which laid together doth prove that the multitudes of believers did make more Congregations then one in the Church of Ephesus 2. That there were many Elders over these many Congregations as one flock appeareth Act. 20. 17. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Church v. 28. Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood 3. That these many Congregations were one Church and that they were under one Presbyterial Government appeareth Rev. 2. 1 2 3 4 5 6. v. 1. Unto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus write These things saith he that holdeth the seven Stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks v. 2. I know thy works and thy labour and thy patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil and thou hast tryed them which say they are Apostles and are not and hath found them liars v. 3. And hast horn and hast patience and for my names sake hast laboured and hast not fainted v. 4. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love v. 5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent v. 6. But this thou hast that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans which I also hate Joyned with Act. 20. 17 28. of which see before Of Synodical Assemblies THe Scripture doth hold out another sort of Assemblies for the Government of the Church beside Classical and Congregational all which we call Synodical Acts 15. 2 6 22 23. v. 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no smal dissention and disputation with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question v. 6. And the Apostles and Elders came together for to consider of this matter v. 22. Then pleased it the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas namely Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas chief men among the brethren v. 23. And wrote letters by them after this manner The Apostles and Elders and Brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia Pastors and Teachers and other Church-Governours as also other fit persons when it shall be deemed expedient are members of those Assemblies which we call Synodical where they have a lawful calling thereunto Synodical Assemblies may lawfully be of several sorts as Provinical National and Occumenical It is lawful and agreeable to the word of God that there be a subordination of Congregational Classical Provincial and National Assemblies for the Government of the Church Of Ordination of Ministers UNder the head of Ordination of Ministers is to be considered either the Doctrine of Ordination or the power of it Touching the Doctrine of Ordination NO man ought to take upon him the Office of a Minister of the Word without a lawful calling Joh. 3. 27. John answered and said a man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven Rom. 10. 14 15. v. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher v. 15. And how shall they preach except they be sent as it is written How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things Jer. 14. 14. Then the Lord said unto me The prophets prophesie lies in my name I sent them not neither have I commanded them neither sake I unto them they prophesie unto you a false vision and divination and a thing of nought and the deceit of their heart Heb. 5. 4. And no man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called
of God as was Aaron Ordination is alwayes to be continued in the Church Tit. 15. For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every City as I had appointed thee 1 Tim. 5. 21 22. v. 21. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiality v. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partaker of other mens sins Keep thy self pure Ordination is the solemn setting apart of a person to some publick Church-office Numb 8 10 11 14 19 22. v. 10. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites v. 11. And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord for an offering of the children of Israel that they may execute the service of the Lord. v. 14. Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel and the Levites shall be mine v. 19. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel to do the service of the children of Israel in the Tabernacle of the Congregation and to make an atonement for the children of Israel that there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come nigh unto the Sanctuary v. 22. And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation before Aaron and before his sons as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites so did they unto them Acts 6. 3 5 6 v. 3. Wherefore brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest report full of the holy Ghost and wisdom whom we may appoint over this business v. 5. And the saying pleased the whole multitude and they those Stephen a man full of faith and of the holy Ghost and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Permenas and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch v. 6. Whom they had set before the Apostles and when they had prayed they laid their hands on them Every Minister of the Word is to be ordained by imposition of hands and prayer with fasting by those preaching Presbyters to whom it doth belong 1 Tim. 5. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partaker of other mens sins Keep thy self pure Acts 14. 23. And when they had ordained them Elders in every Church and had prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed Acts 13. 3. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them they sent them away It is agreeable to the Word of God and very expedient that such as are to be ordained Ministers be designed to some particular Church or other ministerial charge Acts 14. 23. See before Tit. 1. 5. For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee Acts 20 17 28. v. 17. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Church v. 28. Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you over-seers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood He that is to be ordained Minister must be duly qualified both for life and Ministerial abilities according to the Rules of the Apostles 1 Tim. ●3 2 3 4 5 6. v. 2. A Bishop hen must be blameless the husband of one wife vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach v. 3. Not given to wine no striker not greedy of filthy lucre but patient not a brawler not covetons v. 4. One that ruleth well his own house having his children in subjection with all gravity v. 5. For if a man know not how to rule his own house how shall he take care of the Church of God v. 6. Not a novice lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil Tit. 1. 6 7 8 9. v. 6. If any man be blameless the husband of one wife having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly v 7. For a Bishop must be blameless as the Steward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre v. 8. But a lover of hospitality a lover of good men sober just holy temperate v. 9. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gain-sayers He is to be examined and approved by those by whom he is to be ordained 1 Tim. 3. 7 10. v. 7. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without l●st he fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil v. 10. And let these also first be proved then let them use the office of a Deacon being found blameless 1 Tim. 5. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partaker of other mens sins Keep thy self pure No man is to be ordained a Minister for a particular Congregation if they of that Congregation can shew just cause of exception against him 1 Tim. 3. 2. A Bishop then must be blameless the husband of one wife vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach Tit. 1. 7. For the Bishop must be blameless as the Steward of God c. Touching the Power of Ordination ORdination is the Act of a Presbytery 1 Tim. 4. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophesie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery The power of ordering the whole work of Ordination is in the whole Presbytery which when it is over more Congregations then one whether those Congregations be fixed or not fixed in regard of Officers or Members it is indifferent as to the point of Ordination 1 Tim. 4. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophesie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery It is very requisite that no single Congregation that can conveniently associate do assume to it self all and sole power in Ordination 1. Because there is no Example in Scripture that any single Congregation which might conveniently associate did assume to it self all and sole power Ordination neither is there any rule which may warrant such a practise 2. Because there is in Scripture Example of an Ordination in a Presbytery over divers Congregations as in the Church of Jerusalem where were many Congregations these many Congregations were under one Presbytery and this Presbytery did ordain The Preaching Presbyters orderly associated either in Cities or neighbouring Villages are those to whom the imposition of hands doth appertain for those Congregations within their bounds respectively To the Right Honourable THE LORDS
duly and lawfully be recommended to them for the Ministry of any Congregation who cannot enjoy liberty to have a tryal of his parts and abilities and desire the help of such Ministers so associated for the better furnishing of them with such a Person as by them shall be judged fit for the service of that Church and People The STATIONER to the Reader THe good acceptance that the Confession of Faith and Catechismes with Scriptures at large hath found hath incouraged me to have them again revised and to procure the Emphasis of the Scriptures to be printed in a different Character that thou mayest see the reason why the texts are inserted As also by advice of some Ministers in the City there is annexed that form of Church Government with Scriptures at large which we find at the end of the little volume of the Confession and Catechismes printed by the Company of Stationers FINIS THose Ministers in the Citie expressed at the foote of the fore-going page that desired this form to be annexed with Scriptures at large for the good of Families were some of those whose names are subscribed to the Epistle of the Presbyterian judgement VVHereas there is a report raised and fomented by divers persons as if the Presbyterian Government was established only for three yeares and no more which three yeares being expired they suppose that Establishment is now out of date and this as some are obliged to suggest by their interest so others through their inadvertency receive 'T was thought fit to disabuse the Nation to give them to understand and they are hereby desired to take notice that the Presbyterian Government is that Church-Government which is established by the Law of the Land as no man can either deny or doubt who knows that though there was an Ordinance about 1645. for the setling of this Government only for three yeares unlesse the Houses thought fit to order otherwise yet it pleased the two Houses the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament Die Martis Aug. 29 1648. to order and ordaine this forme of Church-Government to be used in the Churches of England and Ireland without limitation of time for it's duration beginning thus Be it Ordered and Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled and by authority of the same That all Parishes and places whatsoever within the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales as well priviledged places and exempt Jurisdictions as others be brought under the Government of Congregationall Classicall Provinciall and Nationall Assemblies Provided that the Chapels or places in the Houses of the King and his Children and the Chapels or places in the Houses of the Peers of this Realm shall continue free for their exercise of divine duties to be performed according to the Directory and not otherwise c. Where you may read the full extent of the Presbyterian Government as 't is appointed to continue with Rules about Ordination of Ministers Examination Censures Suspension and Excommunication in their Classicall Assemblies as you have it recited and reprinted at large in the great new Book of Statutes Chap. 118. of Ordinances 1648. Pag. 165 166 c. being called in the title page A Collection of Acts and Ordinances of Generall use for in his Preface he writes that he omits all such as were only Temporary and already Expired as a Continuation of Poltons Collections or Statutes by Henry Scobell Esquire Clarke of the Parliament and Council who writes that he publish'd these Acts and Ordinances in his Book by speciall Order of Parliament Printed by the Printers to his Highnes this present yeare 1658. A TABLE Of the Chief Points spoken to in the Confession of Faith and the Larger Catechism wherein the substance of the shorter is comprehended Con signifies the Confession and Cat the Cathechism the figures denote the Page A. ACtuall sin a fruit of Originall Con. 24. Adoption the Nature and Priviledges of it Con. 45 46. Cat. 40. Adultery after Marriage a just cause of Divorce Con. 95. Aggravations of sins from the Person offending Cat. 112. from the Party offended Cat. 112 113. from the Quality of the offence Cat. 114. from the Circumstance of Time and Place Cat. 117. AMEN the meaning of it Cat. 155. Angels how created Cat. 8. not to be worshipped Con. 78. Apocrypha not of Divine inspiration nor authority Con 3. Ascension of Christ Cat. 27. Assurance attainable in this life Con. 62. Cat. 44 45. What this assurance is and whereupon grounded Con 62. 63. Beleevers may want it Con. 63. Cat. 45. Beleevers may attain it without extraordinary Revelation Con. 63 64. It is the duty of all to endeavour after Assuranc● Con. 64. The use and fruits of Assurance ibid. Assurance inclines not men to loosnesse Con. 64. Assurance may be weakned and lost Con. 65. How it comes to be lost ibid. It may be recovered again ibid. Atheism confuted Cat. 1 2. Attributes of God Con. 7 8 9. B. B●ptisme what Con. 104. Cat 128 129. To continue to the end of the world ibid. Baptisme rightly administred by sprinkling Con. 105. To whom Baptisme is to be administred Con. 105. Cat. 129. A sin to neglect Baptism Con. 106. Yet not absolutely necessary to salvation ibid. Baptised persons may possibly be unregenerate ibid. The efficacy of Baptisme Con. 106. Baptism but once to be administred ibid. How our Baptisme is to be improved by us Cat. 130. Beleevers by what Righteousnesse they are justified See Justification and Faith Beleevers cannot fall away wholly nor finally Cat. 44. Why they cannot ibid. and Con. 59. How far they may fall away Con. 61. They can never utterly despair Con. 66. The condition of Beleevers in Judgement and after Judgement Cat. 50 51. Body of Christ how present in the Sacrament Con. 110. Cat. 132. C. Calling Effectuall what Con. 37 38. Cat. 34 35. Effectuall Calling is of Gods free grace not from any thing foreseen in man Con. 39. The Elect enabled by the Spirit to answer this Call Con. 29. Catholick Church See Church Christ why so called Cat. 20. Christs God head proved Cat. 5. Christ the Mediator between God and Man Con. 29 30. Cat. 17. Ordained to this Office by God from eternity Con. 29 30. Christ's Incarnation Con. 30. Cat. 17 18. His two Natures how united Con. 30 31. How he was Anointed and Called to his Office Con. 31. How he discharged his Office Con. 32. Why requisite Christ should be God Cat. 16. Why Man Cat. 17. Why God-man Cat. 20. How Christ exerciseth the Office of a Prophet Cat. 21. How of a Priest ib●d How of a King Con. 22. Christ's Humiliation and the degrees of it See Humiliation Christ's Exaltation and the Degrees of it See Exallation How Christ makes Intercession Cat. 28. Christ how present in Sacramēt Con. 110. Cat. 132 Christian liberty See Liberty The Church the object of Gods speciall Providence Con. 21 22. The Church given to Christ from all eternity Con. 30.