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A25343 Ancient truth revived, or, A True state of the antient, suffering Church of Christ, commonly (but falsly) called Brownists, living in London, and other places of this nation wherein I. Is shewed (in the preface) the state of the gospel-church, from the time of Christ's ascension, to the end of the world, gathered out of the book of Revelations, II. The confession of our faith, grounded on the doctrine of the apostles and prophets, III. By vvhom the gospel vvas first preached in this island, IV. Our practice in the worship of God, according to the practice of the primitive church, with an explanation of every ordinance, and vvho have right to administer the same, V. The first day of the week proved to be the gospel-sabbath. 1677 (1677) Wing A3076; ESTC R40283 61,216 57

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so unfit to plow in the Lords Vineyard Deut. 22.10 Neither are such good Souldiers of Jesus Christ in the spiritual VVarfare of the Gospel that are afraid to reprove those of his Flock that wear Perriwigs but rather smooth them up with a few slender reproofs Isa 30.10 lest they lose their friendship with the world viz. such worldly Professors But if the Ministers themselves wear Perriwigs as many do then not one word against that odious guise lest they bid him cast out the beam out of his own eye and pluck off his own Perriwig and so make him look like his Father Adam with short hair in his Creation who was made very good without long hair the shame of Nature Gen. 1.31 1 Cor. 11.14 And again more Disorders abound all suiting these last times to the days of Noah in whose days all flesh had corrupted their way before God so that one particular is above all others named that the Sons of God to wit Members of the Church married with the Daughters of Men that is the World Cain's Posterity for which sin among others the Lord said his Spirit should not by Noah's Preaching strive with them any longer but till the Ark was finished and then were they all destroyed And how much differing is the state of the Sons of Men now especially among the Professors who are not onely corrupted in their Faith and Worship being compared to the Primitive Pattern but also in Marriages when generally Members of separated Congregations will marry those with whom they will not Joyn in communion in the Lords Supper and other spiritual Duties And is not this their Practice in their own judgments sinful in the breach of the plain Doctrine of the Apostle who teacheth all Christians to marry with whom they please only in the Lord and do not they that marry with them they refuse visibly to joyn with in the Church in all the Ordinances of the Lord say that such are not in the Lord 1 Cor. 7.39 Yet more Abominations than these there are While some deny the Resurrection of the Body and also deny the Scriptures to be the Rule of our Faith pressing men to observe only the Light within Some also believe that Men have free-will or power in themselves to turn from Sin to God contrary to John 6.44 Phil. 2.13 For these and the like Evils which these times are full of which saith the Apostle will come and is now come that Men will not endure sound Doctrine 2 Tim. 4.3 which is comparable to Fire Jer. 23.29 in the hearts of God's Children that is Zeal inflamed in love to Christ to follow him in the ways of his VVord 1 John 2.5 Rom 8.35 But it s Opposite is Self-love a clear sign it is the last time as the Apostle foresaw saying This know also that in the last days perillous times will come for men shall be lovers of themselves covetous boasters proud blasphemers and the like 2 Tim. 3.1 2. So that this sin of self-love is set as the capital and master-ruling sin in these latter days opposite to the love of God in the hearts of the Elect which many waters cannot quench Cant. 8.8 But the nature of self-love is cold as Christ saith Because Iniquity will abound and the Love of many will wax cold Mat. 24.12 comparable to Hail Rev. 16.21 Job 38.22 the coldest thing in Nature which will prove the effects of God's great Judgments on the Professors of these last Ages who because they received not the Truth in the love of it 2 Thess 2.10 but of themselves which seiseth on them as a Judgment of God out of Heaven that they blaspheme against God and his Truth Eph. 4.14 because of the airy Doctrine of Errors aforesaid which leadeth them from all love to God Mat. 22 37 39. and their Neighbours to all covetous and cruel oppression of one another with all fraud and deceit as men already complain that a man cannot tell who to believe or put trust unto for as Faith decayeth all unreasonableness in Men increaseth 2 Thess 3.2 And so Christs words will be fulfilled who saith When the Son of Man cometh shall he find Faith upon the Earth And to conclude Thus the Days of Noah hasten by a sign in the end of the seventh Seal taken from an action of the Priests under the Law who took fire from the Altar and cast it yonder to signify how the Lord rejected the disorderly service of Corah even so the Angel signifying Christ at the golden Altar took fire in his Censer and cast it into the Earth by a like sign how he rejected the service of all Christians that serve not him by his own Ministry Ordinances and holy Order he hath appointed in his last VVill and Testament Numb 16.37 Rev. 8.5 The Articles of the Confession of our Faith WEE believe with the heart and confess vvith the mouth I. That there is but one God a one Christ one Spirit one Church one Truth one Faith one true Religion one b Rule of Godliness and Obedience for all Christians in all places at all times to be observed a Deut 6.4 1 Tim. 2.5 Ephes 4.4 6. 1 Cor. 8.6 John 14.6 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6 13. b 1 Tim. 6.3 Deut. 4.6 12.32 1 Cor. 4.17 2 Tim. 3.15 16. Gal. 1.9 Rev. 22.18 19. II. God is a Spirit a whose Being b is of Himself and giveth Being c Moving and Preservation to all other things being himself Eternal d most Holy e every way Infinite f in Greatness Wisdom Power Goodness Justice and Truth In this Godhead there are Three g in One and One in Three the Father Son and Spirit being every one of them the same God and therefore not divided but distinguished by their several and peculiar Properties The Father of whom is the Son but he of none the Son begotten of the Father from everlasting the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son before all beginnings a John 4.24 b Exod. 3.14 c Rom. 11.36 Acts 17.28 d 1 Tim. 1.17 e Esay 6.3 f Esay 66.1 Psal 139.7 g 1 John 5.8 9. Mat. 28.19 Heb. 1.3 Phil. 2.6 Mic. 5.2 Psal 2.7 1 John 1.2 3. III. God hath decreed a in himself from everlasting touching b all things and the very least c circumstance of every thing effectually to work and dispose them according to the Counsel d of his Will to the Glory of his Name And as touching his chiefest Creatures God had in Christ before e the Foundation of the World fore-ordained f some Men and Angels g to eternal Life to be accomplish'd h through Jesus Christ to the Praise of his Glory and Grace and hath also according to his just purpose some of the Angels when fallen left them in their fallen Estate i to eternal Condemnation to be accomplish'd through their own leserts and also leaving some Men in their fallen Estate to eternal Condemnation through their own corruptions to the praise of his Justice a Isa
of many to wit Luther and Calvin at that time casting of the little Book the Light of Gods written Word revealed by his Spirit to them called all to come and see both by their Preaching and Printing found out not long before the Judgment of the great Whore So not only many of Gods Elect were enlightned and did forsake her but also Kings did begin to hate her as God promised As King Henry the 8th of this Nation who destroyed out of this Land the Lord Abbots and Cardinals And after him that worthy Prince his Son Edward the Sixth sent away a great part of the Swarms of Locusts to wit Jesuits Monks aand Friars of all sorts black white and gray and turned their Monasteries into Hospitals But as the Temple after the Captivity out of old Babylon was forty six years in building by reason of wicked hinderances to wit Tobias Sanballer and his Crew So was the Lords spiritual Building of which the former was a Figure hindred in Queen Maries days until Queeen Elizabeths days of happy memory according to the Lords Promise was put into her heart with her honourable Council who by the authority given her did as with a Besom sweep away abundance of those poysoned Locusts and Scorpions that had by the Doctrine of See the Epistle to Mr. Bacon 's Book entituled the Reliques of Rome or 17 Errors in Queen Elizabeths days sent packing to Rome from whence they had their birth but some are crept in here again Free-will and the like stung and venomed every Conscience that they could bear no wholsom Doctrine Which Locusts that came out of the bottomless Pit we shall not presume to interpret lest their Brethren be angry but rather hope we may without offence to any only give you the Judgment of the learned Ministers in Queen Elizabeth's days who in the margent of the great Bibble in quarto and in folio published by the Queens authority have on Rev. 9.3 expounded the Locusts to be false Teachers Hereticks worldly and subtile Prelates with Monks Friars Cardinals Arch-Bishops Bishops Doctors Batchelors Masters that forsake Christ to maintain false Doctrine Moreover in this Queens days the Lord to help forward his spiritual Building raised many famous Instruments To mention one to an hundred namely Henry Barrow John Greenwood John Penry Henry Ainsworth John Robinson John Turner who by the sence of the little Book which was sweet in their mouths but bitter in their bellies that is a wo to them if they did not publish the same made manifest both by their Preaching and * See H. Barrow 's Discovery his Answer to Giff. Greenwood against read Prayer Jo. Penries with the Examination of the two former and their Answers Ainsworth's Counterpoison his Defence of Holy Scripture his Arrow against Idolatry his Communion of Saints his Annotations on the 5 Books of Moses with the Psalms Canticles Robinsons Justification of Separation The Confession of Faith sent to many Vniversities in several Nations Turner's heavenly Conference for Sions Saints VVriting according to the golden Reed given to measure the spiritual Building the Doctrine of the Temple Altar and VVorshippers VVhich Phrase of Temple and Altar is taken from the Prophets the Record of the Temple built after the Captivity which Christ when he was come in the flesh taught us it signified his Humanity John 2.19 21. God manifested in the flesh The b Altar figured the Doctrine of his Oblation and Mediation for his Church and the whole measuring the Temple Altar and VVorshippers signifying the Restoring of the Christian Religion from the Apostacie of Antichrist and more particularly the Temple figured Christ truly professed for his Person and Doctrine of true Christianity and the Constitution of his Church therein and the Altar the Doctrine of his Oblation and c Mediation for his Church and the VVorshippers are faithful Christians which worship God in Spirit and in Truth and not according to the appointment of Mahomet nor the appointment of the Pope but according to the appointment of the Lord Jesus the only Lord and Law-giver to his Church and Arch-Bishop of our Souls contrary to the Heresies and Abominations of Antichrist who together with all that obey his Orders in the service of God make up one Body together the Man of Sin a 1 Cor. 9.16 b Rev. 6.9 Heb. 13.10 12. Lev. 4.7 c Rev. 8.3 So that by these and the like Servants of the Lord aforesaid whose Doctrine wrought effectually in the hearts of God's Elect so that there were many famous true Churches planted in this Nation and other Parts for whose sake the Blessing of God promised was on this and other Nations as it is written a I will make them saith the Lord and the Places round about my Hill a Blessing and I will cause the shower to come down in his season and there shall be showers of blessings inwardly and outwardly Love to God walking after him in his b Commands and one to another in neighbourly c Love and Unity which sweet and heavenly Work of God among Christians in this Nation the Aged that remember former days 50 or 60 years ago or more can witness to the same and lament the want thereof now So that when God raiseth up his true Ministers to hold forth his Truth as it is in Jesus it did prepare all degrees to Mercies But on the contrary now these Mercies are despised God in his just judgment sendeth in his Wrath upon lukewarm Professors or Christians strong delusions in the increase of false Teachers by their Errors to prepare all Degrees that are led away by them to Judgment And this was wofully experienced of old in the Church of e Israel as among Christians now After the Lord had delivered them out of Captivity had built both City and Temple and restored his true Worship when Christ came to begin his Ministry among them they were so corrupted in thirty years time that there was scarce Faith f found in Israel let this Age mind that The Temple was made a House of h Merchandise God's Law made void by their Tradition and the rest perverted from the true i meaning by the glosse of the Pharisees and they divided into divers Sects some Pharisees some Sadduces and some Herodians And though these Sects were divided one against another yet all could agree together against Christ as the Psalmist complained k They generally despised all the Counsel of Christ who sought to reclaim them being faithless They who seem'd to be affected with Christ when Christ taught them the Doctrines of Faith because by Nature they could not understand them they then l forsook him VVhich is the general state of Professors now who cannot endure any Doctrine except it sute with their natural capacity And in the end the Jews with the Romans crucified him and killed and persecuted afterwards his Servants for which God's Judgments hastened on them m as Christ foretold So that Josephus faith that Titus
46.10 Psal 33.11 Prov. 19.21 b Gen. 45.5 6 7 8. c Mat. 10.29 40. d Eph. 1.11 e Eph. 1.3 4 5 6 7 10 11. f Mat. 25.34 2 Tim. 1.9 Acts 13.44 g 1 Tim. 5.21 h Col. 1.14 17 18 19 20. i Jude v. 4 6. Rom. 9.11 22. Exod. 9.16 Mat. 25.41 Prov. 16.4 2 Pet. 2.10 Rom. 2.5 IV. In the a beginning God made all things of nothing very good and created Man after his own Image b and likeness in Righteousness Holiness and c Truth but straight way after by the subtilty of Satan using the Serpent for his Instrument himself with his Angels having sinned before and kept not their first e Estate and left their own habitation soon seduced f Eve then Adam being seduced did wittingly fall into Disobedience g Fearfulness and Unbelief by transgressing Gods Law the Reward of that Sin was eternal Death as it is written The Fearful and Vnbelieving have their part in the Lake of fire and brimstone which is the second Death Which Death came upon h all and reigned over all yea even over the Infants also which have not sinned after the manner of Adam's transgression to wit actually yet are they accounted Lyars i from the womb begotten in Adams likeness k after his own image and so by nature children of wrath servants of sin and l subject to death and all other calamities due for sin in this world and for ever m Gen. 1. Col. 1.16 Heb. 11.3 Isa 45.12 Rev. 4.11 b Gen. 1.26 27. Eph. 4.24 Col. 3.10 c Eccles 7.3 d Gen. 3.1 4 5. 2 Cor. 11 3. e Jud. v. 6. 2 Pet. 2.4 John 8 44. f Gen. 3.1 2 3. 1 Tim. 2.14 g Gen. 3.8 Rev. 21.8 h Rom. 5.12 18 19. i Psal 58.3 k Gen. 5.3 John 3.6 Eph. 2.3 l Rom. 6.23 Eccles 3.2 Heb. 9. 27. V. All Mankind being thus fallen a and become altogether dead b in sin and subject to the eternal wrath of God both for original and actual sin or corruption yet the Elect all and only are redeemed c not all Nations in the world but some out of all as it is written in praise of Christ saying Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation These he quickneth raiseth up and saveth not of themselves neither of works lest any man should boast himself but wholly and onely by God of his grace and mercy through faith in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemption that according as it is written He that rejoyceth should rejoyce in the Lord. a Gen. 3.15 Rom. 5.12 b Eph. 2.1 c Rev. 5 9. Eph. 1.3 7. 1 Pet. 1.2 18. Rom. 11.5 Acts 13.48 Rom. 3.24 2 Tim. 1.9 d Eph. 2.1 8. 1 Cor. 30. 31. 2 Cor. 5.21 Jer. 23.5 6. and 9.23 24. VI. Touching his Person the Lord Jesus of whom Moses and the Prophets wrote a and whom the Apostles proved from their Writings in their preaching to be the everlasting Son of God the everlasting Father b and Prince of Peace the brightness of his Glory coequal and coeternal with God and with the holy Ghost by whom he made the Worlds and by whom he upholds and governs all the Works he hath made And when the fulness of c time was come was made Man of a Woman of the Tribe of Judah d of the seed of David e and Abraham to wit of Mary the blessed Virgin f by the holy Ghost coming upon her and the power of the most High overshadowing her and was also in all things g like unto us sin only excepted a Gen. 3.15 49.10 Jer. 23.5 6. Psal 2.6 7 12. Joh. 5.46 Acts 3.33 b Pro. 8.22 John 1.1 2 3. Isa 9.6 7. Heb. 1. Col. 1.15 17. c Gal. 4.4 d Heb. 7.14 Rev. 5.5 with Gen. 49.9 10. e Rom. 1.3 9.5 Gal. 3.16 f Isa 7.14 Luke 1.26 Heb. 2.16 g Heb. 4.15 Isa 53.3 4. 9. Phil. 2.7 8. VII Touching his three Offices Mediator a Prophet and King Jesus Christ is the only Mediator of the New Testament even the eternal Covenant b of Grace between God and Man to be perfectly and fully the Prophet c Priest and King of the Church of God for evermore a 1 Tim. 2.5 Heb. 9.15 John 14.6 Acts 4.12 b Acts 13.20 Dan. 9.24 25. c Heb. 1.2 d Heb. 2.1 2. and 7.24 and 12.24 Psal 110.1 2 4. Isa 9.6 7. Acts 5.31 Isa 55.4 Dan. 7.13 14. Luk. 1.32 33. This Office of Mediatorship Prophet Priest and King of his Church is so proper to Christ as neither in the whole nor any part thereof can it be transferred from him to any other 1 Tim. 2.5 Heb. 7.24 Isa 43.11 VIII Touching his Prophecy Christ hath perfectly a revealed out of the bosom of his Father the whole Word and Will of God that is needful for his servants either joyntly or severally to know believe or obey he also hath and doth speak to his Church by or in his own Ordinances by his own b Ministers and Instruments only and not by any false c Ministry or disorderly performance of his Ordinances at any time a John 1.18 John 12.49 50. and 15.15 John 17.8 Deut. 18.15 18 19. Acts 3.22 23 24. Mat. 17.5 Eph. 1.8 9. 2 Tim. 3.15 16. b John 13.20 Luke 10.16 Mat. 10.40 41 Eph. 4.7 8 11 12 13. c Mat. 7.15 16. Mat. 24.23 24. 2 Pet. 2. 2 Tim. 4.3 4. Rom. 10.14 Rom. 16.17 1 Tim. 6.3 Jer. 23.21 John 10.1 Rom. 9.3 IX Touching his Priesthood Christ being consecrated a hath appeared once to put away sin by the offering and b sacrifice of himself having fully performed and suffered all those things by which God through the blood of his Cross in an acceptable Sacrifice might be reconciled to his Elect having broken down the middle c wall of partition finished and removed all Rites Shadows and Ceremonies in the Law is now entred within the Vail into the Holy of Holies that is to the very Heaven and d Presence of God where he for ever liveth and sitteth at the right-hand of Majesty appearing before the face of his Father to make intercession for-such as his Father hath given unto him in the Covenant of Grace and come to the Throne of Grace by that new and living way making his Church or People a Spiritual e House an Holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptably to God through him Neither doth the Father accept or Christ offer unto the Father any other f Worship or Worshippers a Jo. 17.19 Heb. 5.7 8 9. 9.26 Rom. 5.19 Isa 53. 1 Pet. 1.2 18 19. b Eph. 5.2 Col. 1.20 c Eph. 2.14 15 16. Dan. 9 24.-27 Heb. 9. and 10. chap. Rom. 8.34 d Eph. 2.16 17 18. e 1 Pet. 2.3 Rev. 1.5 6. Rom. 12.1 12. Mark 9.49 50. f Mal. 1.14 John 4.23 24. Mark 7.6 7 8. Esay 1.12 X. Touching his Kingdom a which is not of this World when he was risen from the
when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were q unlearned men they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus who when he ascended up on high gave r gifts unto Men so now in the ordinary Ministry continued to his Church in the Office of Pastors and Teachers for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ in the unity of the Faith and the knowledg of the Son of God which Knowledg is no less than Life eternal to them that attain to this Learning which all the Learning in Nature comes short of a Mat. 25.25 b Mat. 5.15 c Psal 92.12 to 15. d Psal 29.9 e 1 Cor. 14.12 f Acts 8.18 g Mat. 11.25 h Acts 13.26 27. i 1 Cor. 15.3 k 1 Cor. 1.23 24. l Mark 1.16 m Amos 7.14 n 1 Tim 3.1 to 15. Acts 6.3 Num. 8.10 Ezek. 33.2 o Acts 14.23 p 1 Tim. 3. with Tit. 1.5 6. q Acts 4.13 r Eph. 4.11 12 13. s John 17.3 t 1 Cor. 1.26 27. 1 Cor. 2.13 14. VI. Followeth the Ordinance of Contribution to be performed in the Church unto which the Deacon is chosen and put in office to a attend and therefore he seeketh unto the Lord by prayer to b sanctify the performance of the same and likewise to distinguish his Office from the Office of the Ministry of the Word and Ordinance of Prophecy And as there was none to go up to Jerusalem c empty the poor as well as the rich were bound d to manifest their faith by their obedience unto the Command of God who might thereby expect from the Lord a Blessing Even so are the Saints under the Gospel not to go to the Church of God or heavenly Jerusalem e empty therefore it is written Let every f one of you lay apart upon the first day of the week for the relief of the poor as God hath prospered him This must be done with a willing g mind If it be never so small it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not If it be but the poor widows h mite that did receive relief among the i fatherless or a farthing of our money we ought every one to shew the fruits of our Faith k in God's service by our obedience Even so likewise it is a duty in this Ordinance that every one of the Saints whether poor or rich as it is written Let l him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things that so the Minister may be fed of the Flock he feedeth and Vineyard m he dresseth and not mussel the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn that so if they have sown unto us spiritual things they may reap of our carnal things And further saith the Apostle Do ye not know that they which minister about the holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar Even so hath the Lord ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel And this is likewise to be done willingly then accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that a man hath not Not grudgingly n or of necessity for God loveth a chearful giver And as it is an Ordinance in the Church of God to give to the Poor and also to the Minister so is it an odour a sweet smell a o sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God Moreover as the Minister is left free as he knoweth the state of the Flock p what portion of Food for their Souls He gathereth with labour from the q Tree of Life and layeth before them as he shall account to the Lord Jesus the r chief Shepherd from whom he hath received his Charge s to watch over their Souls t according as the Lord hath appointed u in his Church Even so are the Flock left free what portion they shall give w out of what the Lord hath bestowed on them for his maintenance as they shall account to God for the same If they be able so to supply his Necessities with plenty that he may not be cumbered or intangled x with the Affairs of this Life that he may please him who hath called him to be a Souldier but it is the Ministers Duty if the Flock be poor and not able to labour with his own hands y to help to keep himself and to administer unto others and if need require to lay down his Life for the z Sheep in the service of the Lord in his Church See more of this matter handled in the time for Gospel-Worship or Christian Sabbath a Acts 6.2 3 5. b 1 Tim. 4.4 5. c Deut. 16.16 d Ezek. 44.30 e Heb. 12.22 f 1 Cor. 16.1 2. g 2 Cor. 8.12 1 Chron. 29.9 14. h Luk. 21.2 i Rev. 14.28 29. k James 2 17-26 l Gal. 6.6 m 1 Cor. 9.7 9 11 13 14. n 2 Cor. 9.6 7 8 9 10. o Phil. 4.18 p Prov. 27.23 q Rev. 22.2 Prov. 3.18 r 1 Pet. 5 4. s Act. 20.28 t Heb. 13.17 u Tit. 1.5 w Luke 8.3 10.7 x 2 Tim. 2.4 y Acts 20.34 35. z 1 John 3.16 John 10. VII Followeth the Ordinance of Christs Government in his Church performed by the a Ruling Elder who invocateth the Lord by prayer to sanctify this Ordinance of Christ being in the midst of them b on the c Throne of his Father David who figured Christ in his three Offices in Israel therefore David's Kingdom and Government was temporal as all Figures were but Christs Kingdom is spiritual so not of this d World as himself hath said Which David being a Prophet foresaw by the Spirit and therefore said the Lord said unto e my Lord Sit thou on my right-hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Now these Enemies which the Father will make the footstool of Christ are the Elect who while they are in the state of Unbelief are enemies in their minds by wicked works Col. 1.21 Some as Persecutors of Christ in his members through the f zeal of ignorance these enemies are subdued to Christ not by carnal weapons 2 Cor. 10.4 but by the ministry of his Word and Spirit in his Servants who in Christ's spiritual warfare are like the g goodly Horse in the Battel shooting the Arrows of his Truth by the Word preached which pricketh their hearts that they fall under him at his feet crying Lord what wouldst thou have me to do Acts 9.6 and 2.37 Thus from enemies are they become friends of Christ doing the Lords h Will and not their own now no more under the i government of Sin and Satan but under the Government of Christ in his Church at his feet for God gave Christ to be Head over all things to his Church Eph. 1.22 As it was foretold The Sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and they that despised thee shall how themselves at the
Rev. 11.19 i Acts 24.25 k Rev. 11.18 Heb. 6.2 l Rev. 17.1 2. m Acts 16.29 30. n Rev. 11.13 o Psal 45.5 Acts 2.37 Heb. 4.12 p Rev. 11.13 Rom. 11.4 5. q Rev. 13.18 r Acts 1.15 Phil. 4.3 Isa 4.3 s Rev. 3.12 t Luk. 15.16 u Rev. 11.15 w Rev. 12.10 x Rom. 4.13 y Gal. 3.29 Lastly as the a World knoweth not the Subjects of Christs Kingdom so likewise do they not know the Kingdom it self to wit of b Grace according to the Covenant of Grace which none but the new born Children of God can see because it is not carnal neither cometh with outward observations therefore the unbelieving Jews rejected Christ to reign over them in his spiritual Kingdom in his Church as David in the Spirit foresaw being a Prophet and a Figure of Christ in his Kingdom which had it been of this World terrestrial as David's was then David in his Kingdom could be no figure of Christ contrary to David's Confession Mat. 22. who knowing Christ's Kingdom to be spiritual and greater in glory than his therefore though Christ was his Son yet in spirit he called him his Lord which the Jews perceived not but withstood it therefore Christ told them the Kingdom of God should be taken from them which Kingdom was not the civil Government which the Romans had taken from them already but it was that Kingdom the Primitive Churches had received which could not be f shaken to wit the Government of Christ in his Church where the Laws of the King of Saints can only be g kept in the performance of all his holy Ordinances whose Throne is among them and his Saints round about him serving the Lord acceptably by Jesus Christ with reverence and godly fear unto which Kingdom the Lord is a i Wall of fire for our God saith the Apostle is a consuming fire So then seeing the Saints have already received the Kingdom which is promised them on Earth a Kingdom of Priests a holy Nation therefore vain will be the hopes of such Christians that expect they shall be made temporal Princes on the Earth to ride on white Horses with golden Crowns on their Heads they must be told they are mistaken for where Christ rideth on a white m Horse is meant on the purity and powerful administration n of Righteousness in his Church in which work his Saints or Armies in Heaven follow him upon white Horses cloathed in fine Linnen which is the Righteousness of Saints imputed from Christ to them These Mysteries of Christ's Kingdom cannot these personal Reigners see to wit believe any more than the unbelieving Jews as H. Ainsworth on Levit. 26.11 sheweth from the Jews own confession who say the days of Christ are of this World and the World goes after the wonted manner save the Kingdom shall be restored to Israel Of this Opinion was Cerinthus a Jew who dreamed that the Kingdom of Christ should become earthly and that after the Resurrection Christ should reign on Earth Euseb lib. 3. cap. 25. lib. 4. cap. 14. lib. 6 7. cap. 24. See Mr. Meredith Hamner in his Book of Ecclesiastical Histories pag. 565. where he further saith out of the same Author that John the Apostle abhorred the presence of Cerinthus in the Year of Christ 75. a 1 John 3.1 b Luke 17.21 c John 3.3 Acts 1.3 7. d Mat. 22.46 e Mat. 21.53 f Heb. 12.28 g Rev. 12.17 and 14.12 and 22.14 h Rev. 4.2 Jer. 3.17 Heb. 12.22 i Zach. 2.5 k Luke 12.32 l Rev. 1.9 m Rev. 19.11 n Psal 45.4 o Mat. 18.1 2. p Col. 1.13 q Rom. 5.17 r Mica 4.7 These things we thought good to lay down in the explaining the Ordinance of Christ's Government in his Church to help the weak that are deluded in this Point by such as seek whether out of ignorance or not to demean the glory of Christ's Reign in his Church or Kingdom who do as good as say Christ hath no a Kingdom yet when we are told by John that he was in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ Rev. 1.9 and the Primitive Christians are said all of them to be delivered from the Power of Darkness to wit Satan's Kingdom afore proved and translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.13 That as Sin once reigned in them in Satan's Kingdom now being in Christ's Kingdom b Grace might reign in them through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ and thus Christ reigns over his Saints in Mount Sion for ever and ever Moreover as Christ is God c equal with the Father so all Civil Magistratical Government in Nations is ordained by him so that by him d Kings reign and Princes decree Justice And though Christ by demeaning himself for the work of Mans Redemption and Mediation for them in which work he did take our e Nature on him and became a servant to his own Ordinance in paying the Magistrates Tribute yet as he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords unto whom all Judgment is commited all Kings Princes must bow their Scepters to f him in believing in him and submitting to him in obeying his Commands in his Church or Kingdom in the practice of all his holy Ordinances And thus are all the Kings and Judges of the Earth to g serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling so to kiss the Son lest he be angry and they perish bringing their glory and honour to preserve his Church from outward Injuries as Nursing-fathers And thus the Lord in his mercy directs both high and low rich and poor to make an end of their salvation with fear and trembling that so every one may fight the good fight of faith and finishing their course in keeping the faith shall surely have the Crown of h Righteousness and Glory at the day of his appearing a Rev. 1.9 b Rom. 5.17 c Phil. 2.6 d Prov. 18.15 e Heb. 4.15 f Rev. 21.24 Isa 60.12 g Psal 2.10 11 12. h 2 Tim. 4.8 1 Pet. 5.4 VIII The next Ordinance in order to be performed in the Church of Christ is Baptism of Water which peculiarly belongeth to the Pastor or Teacher to perform and no other Since extraordinary Offices of Apostles and Evangelists are ceased therefore in order for the performance thereof there must be a true Administrator for these Reasons first because the visible Seals of the Covenant Baptism and the Lord's Supper may not be administred by any other than the Ministers of the Word according to the Command of Christ Mat. 28.19 saying Go teach all Nations and baptize c. In which place our Lord commandeth Apostolick Authority unto his Disciples for teaching the Covenant of the Gospel contained in the Prophets and sealing the same to all those the Promise did belong unto Act. 2.39 and hath no-where admitted any to baptize whom he sent not in Office to a preach these things therefore what God hath joyned together let no man put asunder The applying of the Seals is a greater work