obedience to him with understanding faith reverence and godly fear moreover solemn humiliation x Esth 4. 16. Joel 2. 12 with fastings and thanksgiving upon y Exo. 15. 1. c. Ps 107. special occasions ought to be used in an holy and religious manner 6. Neither Prayer nor any other part of Religious worship is now under the Gospel tied unto or made more acceptable by any place in which it is z Joh. 4. 21. Mal. 1. 11. 1 Tim 2. 8. performed or towards which it is directed but God is to be worshipped every where in Spirit and in truth as in a Act. 10. 2. private families b Mat. 6. 11. Ps 55. 17. daily and c Mat. 6. 6 in secret each one by himself so more solemnly in the publick Assemblies which are not carelessely nor willfully to be d Heb. 10. 25. Act. 2. 42. neglected or forsaken when God by his word or providence calleth thereunto 7. As it is of the Law of nature that in general a proportion of time by Gods appointment be set a part for the Worship of God so by his Word in a positive-moral and perpetual Commandement binding all men in all Ages he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a e Exo. 20. 8. Sabbath to be kept holy unto him which from the beginning of the World to the Resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week f 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. Act. 20. 7. Rev. 1. 10. which is called the Lords day and is to be continued to the end of the World as the Christian Sabbath the observation of the last day of the week being abolished 8. The Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord when men after a due preparing of their hearts and ordering their common affairs aforehand do not only observe an holy g Isa 58. 13. Neh 13. 15-23 rest all the day from their own works words and thoughts about their wordly employment and recreations but also are taken up the whole time in the publick and private exercises of his worship and in the duties h Mat. 12. 1-13 of necessity and mercy CHAP. XXIII Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 1. A lawful Oath is a part of religious worship a Exo. 20 7. Deut. 10 20. Jer. 4. 2. wherein the person swearing in Truth Righteousness and Judgement solemnly calleth God to witness what he sweareth b 2 Cro. 6 22 23. and to judge him according to the Truth or falseness thereof 2. The Name of God only is that by which men ought to swear and therein it is to be used with all Holy Fear and reverence therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name or to swear at all by any other thing is sinful and to be c Mat. 5. 34. 37. Jam. 5. 12 abhorred yet as in matter of weight and moment for confirmation of truth d Heb. 6. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 23. and ending all strife an Oath is warranted by the word of God so a lawful Oath being imposed e Neh. 13. 25. by lawful Authority in such matters ought to be taken 3. Whosoever taketh an Oath warranted by the word of God ought duely to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act and therein to avouch nothing but what he knoweth to be the truth for that by rash false and vain Oaths the f Levit. 19. 12. Jer. 23. 10 Lord is provoked and for them this Land mournes 4. An Oath is to be taken in the plain and g Ps 24. 4. common sense of the words without equivocation or mental reservation 5. A Vow which is not to be made to any Creature but to God alone h Psal 76. 11. Gen. 28. 20 21 22. is to be made and performed with all Religious care and faithfulness But Popish Monastical Vows i 1 Cor. 7. 2. 9. of perpetual single life professed k Eph. 4. 28. poverty and regular obedience are so far from being degrees of higher perfection that they are superstitious l Mat. 19. 11. and sinful snares in which no Christian may intangle himself CHAP. XXIV Of the Civil Magistrate 1. GOd the supream Lord and King of all the World hath ordained Civil a Rom. 13 1 2 3 4. Magistrates to be under him over the people for his own glory and the publick good and to this end hath armed them with the power of the Sword for defence and encouragement of them that do good and for the punishment of evil doers 2. It is lawful for Christians to Accept and Execute the Office of a Magistrate when called thereunto in the management whereof as they ought especially to maintain b 2 Sam. 23. 3. Ps 82. 3 4. Justice and Peace according to the wholsome Laws of each Kingdome and Common-wealth so for that end they may lawfully now under the New-Testament c Luk. 3. 14. wage war upon just and necessary occasions 3. Civil Magistrates being set up by God for the ends aforesaid subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yeilded by us in the Lord not only for wrath d Rom. 13. 5 6 7. 1 Pet. 2. 17. but for Conscience sake and we ought to make supplications and prayers for Kings and all that are in Authority e 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty CHAP. XXV Of Marriage 1. MArriage is to be between one Man and one Woman a Gen. 2. 24. Mal. 2 15. Mat. 19. 5 6. neither is it lawful for any man to have more then one Wife nor for any Woman to have more then one Husband at the same time 2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help b Gen. 2. 18. of Husband and Wife c Gen 1. 28. for the increase of Man-kind with a legitimate issue and for d 1 Cor. 7 2 9. preventing of uncleanness 3. It is lawful for e Heb. 13 4. 1 Tim. 4 3. all sorts of people to Marry who are able with judgment to give their consent yet it is the duty of Christians f 1 Cor. 7. 39. to marry in the Lord and therefore such as profess the true Religion should not Marry with Infidels g Neh. 13 25 26 27. or Idolaters neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked by marrying with such as are wicked in their life or maintain damnable Heresie 4. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity h Levit. 18. or Affinity forbidden in the word nor can such incestuous Marriage ever be made lawful by any law of Man or consent of parties i Mat. 6. 18. 1 Cor. 5. 1. so as those persons may live together as Man and Wife CHAP. XXVI Of the Church 1. THe Catholick or universal Church which with respect
body and blood commonly called Transubstantiation by consecration of a Priest or by any other way is repugnant not to Scripture i Act. 3. 21. Luk. 24. 6. v. 39. alone but even to common sense and reason overthroweth the k 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. nature of the ordinance and hath been and is the cause of manifold superstitions yea of gross Idolatries 7. Worthy receivers outwardly partaking of the visible Elements in this Ordinance do then also inwardly by faith really and indeed yet not carnally and corporally but spiritually receive and feed upon Christ crucified l 1 Cor. 10. 16. ch 11. 23 26. all the benefits of his death the Body and Blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally but spiritually present to the faith of Believers in that Ordinance as the Elements themselves are to their outward senses 8. All ignorant and ungodly persons as they are unfit to enjoy communion m 2 Cor 6 14 15. with Christ so are they unworthy of the Lords Table and cannot without great sin against him while they remain such partake of these holy mysteries n 1 Cor. 11. 29. Mat. 7. 6. or be admitted thereunto yea whosoever shall receive unworthily are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord eating and drinking judgement to themselves CHAP. XXXI Of the State of Man after Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead 1. THE Bodies of Men after Death return to dust a Gen. 3. 19. Act. 13. 36. and see corruption but their Souls which neither die nor sleep having an immortal subsistence immediately b Eccles 12. 7. return to God who gave them the Souls of the Righteous being then made perfect in holyness are received into paradise where they are with Christ and behold the face of God in light c Luk. 23. 43. 2 Cor. 5. 1 6 8. Phil. 1. 23 Heb. 12. 23. and glory waiting for the full Redemption of their Bodies and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell where they remain in torment and utter darkness reserved to d Jud. 6 7. 1 Pet. 3. 19. Luk. 16. 23 24. the judgement of the great day besides these two places for Souls separated from their bodies the Scripture acknowledgeth none 2. At the last day such of the Saints as are found alive shall not sleep but be e 1 Cor. 15. 51 52. 1 Thes 4. 17. changed and all the dead shall be raised up with the self same bodies and f Job 19. 26 27. none other although with different g 1 Cor. 15. 42 43. qualities which shall be united again to their Souls for ever 3. The bodies of the unjust shall by the power of Christ be raised to dishonour the bodies of the just by his spirit unto honour h Act. 24. 15. Joh. 5. 28 29. Phil. 3. 21 and be made conformable to his own glorious Body CHAP. XXXII Of the Last Judgement 1. GOD hath appointed a Day wherein he will judge the world in Righteousness by a Act. 17. 31. Joh. 5. 22. 27. Jesus Christ to whom all power and judgement is given of the Father in which Day not only the b 1 Cor. 6 3. Jud. 6. Apostate Angels shall be judged but likewise all persons that have lived upon the Earth shall appear before the Tribunal of Christ e 2 Cor. 5. 10. Eccles 12 14. Mat. 12. 36. Rom. 14. 10. 12. Mat. 25. 32. c. to give an account of their Thoughts Words and Deeds and to receive according to what they have done in the body whether good or evil 2. The end of Gods appointing this Day is for the manifestation of the glory of his Mercy in the Eternal Salvation of the Elect d Rom 9. 22 23. and of his Justice in the Eternal damnation of the Reprobate who are wicked and disobedient for then shall the Righteous go into Everlasting Life and receive that fulness of Joy and Glory with everlasting reward in the presence e Mat. 25. 21. 34. 2 Tim. 4. 8. of the Lord but the wicked who know not God and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ shall be cast into Eternal torments and f Mat. 25. 46. Mar. 9. 48. 2 Thes 1. 7 8 9 10. punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 3. As Christ would have us to be certainly perswaded that there shall be a Day of judgement both g 2 Cor. 5. 10 11. to deter all men from sin and for the greater h 2 Thes 1. 5 6 7. consolation of the godly in their adversity so will he have that day unknown to Men that they may shake off all carnal security and be always watchful because they know not at what hour the i Mar. 13. 35 36 37 Luk. 13. 35 36. Lord will come and may ever be prepared to say k Rev. 22 20. Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Amen AN APPENDIX WHosoever reads and impartially considers what we have in our forgoing confession declared may readily perceive That we do not only concenter with all other true Christians on the Word of God revealed in the Scriptures of truth as the foundation and rule of our faith and worship But that we have also industriously endeavoured to manifest That in the fundamental Articles of Christianity we mind the same things and have therefore expressed our belief in the same words that have on the like occasion been spoken by other societies of Christians before us This we have done That those who are desirous to know the principles of Religion which we hold and practise may take an estimate from our selves who jointly concur in this work and may not be misguided either by undue reports or by the ignorance or errors of particular persons who going under the same name with our selves may give an occasion of scandalizing the truth we profess And although we do differ from our brethren who are Paedobaptists in the subject and administration of Baptisme and such other circumstances as have a necessary dependence on our observance of that Ordinance and do frequent our own assemblies for our mutual edification and discharge of those duties and services which we owe unto God and in his fear to each other yet we would not be from hence misconstrued as if the discharge of our own consciences herein did any wayes disoblige or alienate our affections or conversation from any others that fear the Lord but that we may and do as we have opportunity participate of the labors of those whom God hath indued with abilities above our selves and qualified and called to the Ministry of the Word earnestly desiring to approve our selves to be such as follow after peace with holyness and therefore we alwaies keep that blessed Irenicum or healing Word of the Apostle before our eyes if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you nevertheless
to quicken all that we may have influence upon to the same work that if the will of God were so none might deceive themselves by resting in and trusting to a form of Godliness without the power of it and inward experience of the efficacy of those truths that are professed by them And verily there is one spring and cause of the decay of Religion in our day which we cannot but touch upon and earnestly urge a redresse of and that is the neglect of the worship of God in Families by those to whom the charge and conduct of them is committed May not the grosse ignorance and instability of many with the prophaneness of others be justly charged upon their Parents and Masters who have not trained them up in the way wherein they ought to walk when they were young but have neglected those frequent and solemn commands which the Lord hath laid upon them so to catechize and instruct them that their tender years might be seasoned with the knowledge of the truth of God as revealed in the Scriptures and also by their own omission of Prayer and other duties of Religion in their families together with the ill example of their loose conversation have inured them first to a neglect and then contempt of all Piety and Religion we know this will not excuse the blindness or wickedness of any but certainly it will fall heavy upon those that have thus been the occasion thereof they indeed dye in their sins but will not their blood be required of those under whose care they were who yet permitted them to go on without warning yea led them into the paths of destruction and will not the diligence of Christians with respect to the discharge of these duties in ages past rise up in judgment against and condemn many of those who would be esteemed such now We shall conclude with our earnest prayer that the God of all grace will pour out those measures of his holy Spirit upon us that the profession of truth may be accompanyed with the sound belief and diligent practise of it by us that his name may in all things be glorified through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen THE CONTENTS CHAP. 1. Of the Holy Scriptures page 1 2. Of God and of the Holy Trinity 9 3. Of Gods decrees 13 4. Of Creation 5. Of Divine Providence 19 6. Of the Fall of Man of Sin and of the Punishment thereof 23 7. Of Gods Covenant 26 8. Of Christ the Mediator 28 9. Of Free-will 35 10. Of Effectual Calling 37 11. Of Justification 40 12. Of Adoptions 43 13. Of Sanctification 44 14. Of Saving Faith 46 15. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation 49 16. Of Good works 51 17. Of Perseverance of the Saints 56 18. Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation 59 19. Of the Law of God 62 20. Of the Gospel and of the extent of the Grace thereof 67 21. Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience 70 22. Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath day 73 23. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 78 24. Of the Civil Magistrate 81 25. Of Marriage 83 26. Of the Church 85 27. Of The Communion of Saints 94 28. Of Baptism and the Lords Supper 96 29. Of Baptism 97 30. Of The Lords Supper 98 31. Of The state of Man after death and of the Resurrection of the dead 103 32. Of The Last Judgment 105 An Appendix concerning Baptism 109 A Confession of FAITH CHAP. I. Of the Holy Scriptures 1. THe Holy Scripture is the only sufficient certain and infallible a 2 Tim. 3 15 16 17. Isa 8. 20. Luk. 16. 29 31. Eph. 2. 20 rule of all saving Knowledge Faith and Obedience Although the b Rom. 1. 19 20 21. c. ch 2. 14 15. Psal 19. 1 2 3. light of Nature and the works of Creation and Providence do so far manifest the goodness wisdom and power of God as to leave men unexcusable yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary unto Salvation c Heb. 1. 1. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself and to declare that His will unto his Church and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the Truth and for the more sure Establishment and Comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh and the malice of Satan and of the World to commit the same wholly unto d Pro. 22. 19 20 21. Rom. 15. 4. 2 Pet. 1. 19 20. writing which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary those former ways of Gods revealing his will unto his people being now ceased 2. Under the Name of Holy Scripture or the Word of God written are now contained all the Books of the Old and New Testament which are these Of the Old Testament Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes The Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zachariah Malachi Of the new Testament Matthew Mark Luke John The Acts of the Apostles Pauls Epistle to the Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Phillippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy to Titus to Philemon the Epistle to the Hebrews the Epistle of James The first and second Epistles of Peter The first second and third Epistles of John the Epistle of Jude the Revelation All which are given by the e 2 Tim. 3. 16. inspiration of God to be the rule of Faith and Life 3. The Books commonly called Apocrypha not being of f Luk. 24. 27. 44. Rom. 3. 2. Divine inspiration are no part of the Canon or rule of the Scripture and therefore are of no authority to the Church of God nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of then other humane writings 4. The Authority of the Holy Scripture for which it ought to be believed dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or Church but wholly upon g 2 Pet. 1. 19 20 21. 2 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Thes 2. 13. 1 Joh. 5. 9. God who is truth it self the Author thereof therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God 5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures and the heavenliness of the matter the efficacy of the Doctrine and the Majesty of the stile the consent of all the parts the scope of the whole which is to give all glory to God the full discovery it makes of the only way of mans salvation and many other incomparable Excellencies and intire perfections thereof are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence it self to be the Word of God yet notwithstanding our h Joh. 16. 13 14. 1 Cor. 2. 10 11 12. 1
the substance of it was revealed and therein Effectual for the Conversion and Salvation of Sinners 2. This Promise of Christ and Salvation by him is revealed only by c Rom. 1. 17. the Word of God neither do the Works of Creation or Providence with the light of Nature d Ro. 10. 14 15 17. make discovery of Christ or of Grace by him so much as in a general or obscure way much less that men destitute of the Revelation of him by the Promise or Gospel e Pro. 29. 18. Isa 25. 7. with ch 60. 2 3. should be enabled thereby to attain saving Faith or Repentance 3. The Revelation of the Gospel unto Sinners made in divers times and by sundry parts with the addition of Promises and Precepts for the Obedience required therein as to the Nations and Persons to whom it is granted is meerly of the f Ps 147 20. Act. 16. 7. Soveraign Will and good Pleasure of God not being annexed by vertue of any Promise to the due improvement of mens natural abilities by vertue of Common light received without it which none ever did g Rom. 1. 18 c. make or can so do And therefore in all Ages the preaching of the Gospel hath been granted unto persons and Nations as to the extent or streightning of it in great variety according to the Councell of the Will of God 4. Although the Gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving Grace and is as such abundantly sufficient thereunto yet that men who are dead in Trespasses may be born again Quickned or Regenerated there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable h Ps 110. 3. 1 Cor. 2. 14. Eph. 1. 19 20. work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole Soul for the producing in them a new spiritual Life without which no other means will effect i Joh. 6. 44. 2 Cor. 4. 4 6. their Conversion unto God CHAP. XXI Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience 1. THE Liberty which Christ hath purchased for Believers under the Gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of Sin the condemning wrath of God the Rigour and a Gal. 3. 13. Curse of the Law and in their being delivered from this present evil b Gal. 1. 4. World Bondage to c Act. 26. 18. Satan and Dominion d Rom. 8. 3. of Sin from the e Rom. 8. 28. Evil of Afflictions the Fear and Sting f 1 Cor. 15. 54 55 56 57. of Death the Victory of the Grave and g 2 Thes 1. 10. Everlasting Damnation as also in their h Rom. 8. 15. free access to God and their yielding Obedience unto him not out of a slavish fear i Luk. â— 74 but a Child-like love and willing mind All which were common also to Believers under the Law k Gal. 3 9 14. for the substance of them but under the new Testament the Liberty of Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the Ceremonial Law to which the Jewish Church was subjected and in greater boldness of access to the Throne of Grace and in fuller Communications of the l Joh. 7. 38 39. Heb. 10 19 20 21. Free Spirit of God then Believers under the Law did ordinarily partake of 2. God alone is m Jam. 4. 12 Rom. 14. 4. Lord of the Conscience and hath left it free from the Doctrines and Commandments of men n Act. 4. 19 5. 29. 1 Cor. 7. 23. Mat. 15. 9 which are in any thing contrary to his Word or not contained in it So that to Believe such Doctrines or obey such Commands out of Conscience o Col 2. 20 22 23 is to betray true liberty of Conscience and the requiring of an p 1 Cor. 3. 5. 2 Cor. 1. 24. implicit Faith and absolute and blind Obedience is to destroy Liberty of Conscience and Reason also 3. They who upon pretence of Christian Liberty do practice any sin or cherish any sinfull lust as they do thereby pervert the main design of the Grace of the Gospel q Rom. 6. 1 2. to their own Destruction so they wholy destroy r Gal. 5. 13. 2 Pet. 2. 18 -21 the end of Christian Liberty which is that being delivered out of the hands of all our Enemies we might serve the Lord without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our Life CHAP. XXII Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day 1. THE light of Nature shews that there is a God who hath Lordship and Soveraigntye over all is just good and doth good unto all and is therefore to be feared loved praised called upon trusted in and served with all the Heart and all the Soul a Jer. 10. 7. Mar. 12. 33. and with all the Might But the acceptable way of Worshipping the true God is b Deut. 12 32. instituted by himself and so limited by his own revealed will that he may not be Worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of Men or the suggestions of Satan under any visible representations or c Exo 20. 4 5 6. any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures 2. Religious Worship is to be given to God the Father Son and Holy Spirit and to him d Mat. 4. 9 10. Joh 6. 23. Mat. 28. 19. alone not to Angels Saints or any other e Rom. 1. 25. Col. 2. 18. Revel 19. 10. Creatures and since the fall not wihtout a f Joh. 14. 6. Mediator nor in the Mediation of any other but g 1 Tim. 2. 5. Christ alone 3. Prayer with thanksgiving being one special par of natural worship is by God required of h Psal 95. 1-7 Psal 65. 2. all men But that it may be accepted it is to be made in the i Joh. 14. 13 14. Name of the Son by the help k Rom. 8. 26. of the Spirit according to l 1 Joh. 5. 14. his Will with understanding reverence humility fervency faith love and perseverance and when with others in a m 1 Cor. 14. 16 17. known tongue 4. Prayer is to be made for things lawful and for all sorts of men living n 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. 2 Sam. 7. 29. or that shall live hereafter but not o 2 Sam. 12. 21 22. 23. for the dead nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned p 1 Joh. 5. 16. the sin unto death 5. The q 1 Tim. 4. 13. reading of the Scriptures Preaching and r 2 Tim. 4. 2. Luk. 8. 18. hearing the word of God teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms Hymns and Spiritual songs singing with grace in our Hearts to s Col. 3. 16. Eph. 5. 19 the Lord as also the Administration t Mat. 28 19 20. of Baptism and u 1 Cor. 11 26. the Lords Supper are all parts of Religious worship of God to be performed in
to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace may be called invisible consists of the whole a Heb. 12. 23. Col. 1. 18. Eph. 1. 10 22. 23. ch 5. 23 27 32. number of the Elect that have been are or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head thereof and is the spouse the body the fulness of him that filleth all in all 2. All persons throughout the world professing the faith of the Gospel and obedience unto God by Christ according unto it not destroying their own profession by any Errors everting the foundation or unholyness of conversation b 1 Cor. 1 2. Act. 11. 26. are and may be called visible Saints c Rom. 1. 7. Eph. 1. 20 21 22. and of such ought all particular Congregations to be constituted 3. The purest Churches under heaven are subject d 1 Cor. 15. Rev. 2. ch 3. to mixture and error and som have so degenerated as to become e Rev. 18. 2. 2 Thes 2. 11 12. no Churches of Christ but Synagogues of Satan nevertheless Christ always hath had and ever shall have a f Mat. 16. 18. Ps 72. 17. Ps 102. 28. Rev. 12. 17. Kingdome in this world to the end thereof of such as believe in him and make profession of his Name 4. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church in whom by the appointment of the Father g Col. 1. 18. Mat. 28. 18 19. 20. Eph. 4. 11 12. all power for the calling institution order or Government of the Church is invested in a supream soveraigne manner neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof but is h 2 Thes 2. 3-9 that Antichrist that Man of sin and Son of perdition that exalteth himself in the Church against Christ and all that is called God whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming 5. In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted the Lord Jesus calleth out of the World unto himself through the Ministry of his word by his Spirit i Joh 10. 16. chap. 12 32. those that are given unto him by his Father that they may walk before him in all the k Mat. 28. 20. ways of obedience which he prescribeth to them in his Word Those thus called he commandeth to walk together in particular societies or l Mat. 18. 15-20 Churches for their mutual edification and the due performance of that publick worship which he requireth of them in the World 6. The Members of these Churches are m Rom. 1. 7. 1 Cor. 1. 2. Saints by calling visibly manifesting and evidencing in and by their profession and walking their obedience unto that call of Christ and do willingly consent to walk together according to the appointment of Christ giving up themselves to the Lord one to another by the will of God n Act. 2. 41 42. ch 5. 13. 14. 2 Cor. 9. 13. in professed subjection to the Ordinances of the Gospel 7. To each of these Churches thus gathered according to his mind declared in his word he hath given all that o Mat. 18. 17 18. 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. with v. 13. 2 Cor. 2. 6 7 8. power and authority which is any way needfull for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline which he hath instituted for them to observe with commands and rules for the due and right exerting and executing of that power 8. A particular Church gathered and compleatly Organized according to the mind of Christ consists of Officers and Members And the Officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the Church so called and gathered for the peculiar Administration of Ordinances and Execution of Power or Duty which he intrusts them with or calls them to to be continued to the end of the World are p Bishops or Elders r Act. 20 17 with v. 28. Phil. 1. 1. and Deacons 9. The way appointed by Christ for the Calling of any person fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit unto the Office of Bishop or Elder in a Church is that he be chosen thereunto by the common q Act. 14 23. See the original suffrage of the Church it self and Solemnly set apart by Fasting and Prayer with imposition of hands of the r 1 Tim. 4. 14. Eldership of the Church if there be any before Constituted therein And of a Deacon s Act. 6. 3. 5. 6. that he be chosen by the like suffrage and set apart by Prayer and the like Imposition of hands 10. The work of Pastors being constantly to attend the Service of Christ in his Churches in the Ministry of the Word and Prayer t Act. 6. 4. Heb. 13. 17. with watching for their Souls as they that must give an account to him it is incumbent on the Churches to whom they Minister not only to give them all due respect u 1 Tim. 5. 17 18. Gal. 6. 6 7. but also to communicate to them of all their good things according to their ability so as they may have a comfortable supply without being themselves x 2 Tim. 2. 4. entangled in Secular Affairs and may also be capable of exercising y 1 Tim. 3. 2. Hospitality toward others and this is required by the z 1 Cor. 9. 6 -14 Law of Nature and by the Express order of our Lord Jesus who hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 11. Although it be incumbent on the Bishops or Pastors of the Churches to be instant in Preaching the Word by way of Office yet the work of Preaching the Word is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others also a Act. 11. 19 20 21. 1 Pet. 4. 10. 11. gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it and approved and called by the Church may and ought to perform it 12. As all Believers are bound to joyn themselves to particular Churches when and where they have opportunity so to do So all that are admitted unto the priviledges of a Church are also b 1 Thes 5. 14. 2 Thes 3. 6. 14 15. under the Censures and Government thereof according to the Rule of Christ 13. No Church-members upon any offence taken by them having performed their Duty required of them towards the person they are offended at ought to disturb any Church order or absent themselves from the Assemblies of the Church or Administration of any Ordinances upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow-members but to wait upon Christ c Mat. 18. 15. 16 17. Eph. 4. 2 3. in the further proceeding of the Church 14. As each Church and all the Members of it are bound to d Eph. 6. 18. Ps 122. 6. pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the Churches of Christ in all places and upon all occasions to further it every one within the bounds of their places
admonition of the Lord to teach them his fear both by instruction and example and should we set light by this precept it would demonstrate that we are more vile then the unnatural Heathen that like not to retain God in their knowledge our baptism might then be justly accompted as no baptism to us There are many special promises that do incourage us as well as precepts that do oblige us to the close pursuit of our duty herein that God whom we serve being jealous of his Worship threatens the visiting of the Fathers transgression upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate him yet does more abundantly extend his mercy even to thousands respecting the off-spring and succeding generations of them that love him and keep his commands When our Lord rebuked his disciples for prohibiting the access of little children that were brought to him that he might pray over them lay his hands upon them and blesse them does declare that of such is the Kingdom of God And the Apostle Peter in answer to their enquiry that desired to know what they must do to be saved does not only instruct them in the necessary duty of repentance and baptism but does also thereto encourage them by that promise which had reference both to them and their children if our Lord Jesus in the forementioned place do not respect the qualities of children as elsewhere as to their meekness humility and sincerity and the like but intend also that those very persons and such like appertain to the Kingdom of God and if the Apostle Peter in mentioning the aforesaid promise do respect not only the present and succeeding generations of those Jews that heard him in which sense the same phrase doth occurre in Scripture but also the immediate off-spring of his auditors whether the promise relate to the gift of the Holy Spirit or of eternal life or any grace or priviledge tending to the obtaining thereof it is neither our concerne nor our interest to confine the mercies and promises of God to a more narrow or lesse compasse then he is pleased gratiously to offer and intend them nor to have a light esteem of them but are obliged in duty to God and affection to our children to plead earnestly with God and use our utmost endeavours that both our selves and our off-spring may be partakers of his Mercies and gracious Promises yet we cannot from either of these texts collect a sufficient warrant for us to baptize our children before they are instructed in the principles of the Christian Religion For as to the instance in little children it seems by the disciples forbidding them that they were brought upon some other account not so frequent as Baptism must be supposed to have been if from the beginning believers children had been admitted thereto and no account is given whether their parents were baptised believers or not and as to the instance of the Apostle if the following words and practise may be taken as an interpretation of the scope of that promise we cannot conceive it does refer to infant baptism because the text does presently subjoyn Then they that gladly received the word were baptised That there were some believing children of believing parents in the Apostles dayes is evident from the Scriptures even such as were then in ther fathers family and under their parents tuition and education to whom the Apostle in several of his Epistles to the Churches giveth commands to obey their parents in the Lord and does allure their tender years to hearken to this precept by reminding them that it is the first command with promise And it is recorded by him for the praise of Timothy and encouragement of parents betimes to instaruct and children early to attend to godly instruction that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from a child he had known the holy Scriptures The Apostle John rejoyced greatly when he found of the children of the Elect Lady walking in the truth and the children of her Elect Sister joyn with the Apostle in his salutation But that this was not generally so that all the children of believers were accounted for believers as they would have been if they had been all baptised may be collected from the character which the Apostle gives of persons fit to be chosen to Eldership in the Church which was not common to all believers among others this is expressely one viz. If there be any having believing or faithful children not accused of Riot or unruly and we may from the Apostles writings on the same subject collect the reason of this qualification viz. That in case the person designed for this office to teach and rule in the house of God had children capable of it there might be first a proof of his ability industry and successe in this work in his own family and private capacity before he was ordained to the exercise of this authority in the Church in a publick capacity as a Bishop in the house of God These things we have mentioned as having a direct reference unto the controversie between our brethren and us other things that are more abstruse and prolix which are frequently introduced into this controversie but do not necessarily concern it we have purposely avoided that the distance between us and our brethren may not be by us made more wide for it is our duty and concern so far as is possible for us retaining a good conscience towards God to seek a more entire agreement and reconciliation with them We are not insensible that as to the order of Gods house and entire communion therein there are some things wherein we as well as others are not at a full accord among our selves as for instance the known principle and state of the consciences of diverse of us that have agreed in this Confession is such that we cannot hold Church-communion with any other then Baptized-believers and Churches constituted of such yet some others of us have a greater liberty and freedom in our spirits that way and therefore we have purposely omitted the mention of things of that nature that we might concurre in giving this evidence of our agreement both among our selves and with other good Christians in those important articles of the Christian Religion mainly insisted on by us and this notwithstanding we all esteem it our chief concern both among our selves and all others that in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours and love him in sincerity to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and in order thereunto to exercise all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love And we are perswaded if the same method were introduced into frequent practise between us and our Christian friends who agree with us in all the fundamental articles of the Christian faith though they do not so in the subject and administration of baptism it would soon beget a better understanding and brotherly affection between us In the beginning of the Christian Church when the doctrine of the baptism of Christ was not universally understood yet those that knew only the baptism of John were the Disciples of the Lord Jesus and Apollos an eminent Minister of the Gospel of Jesus In the beginning of the reformation of the Christian Church and recovery from that Egyptian darkness wherein our forefathers for many generations were held in bondage upon recourse had to the Scriptures of truth different apprehensions were conceived which are to this time continued concerning the practise of this Ordinance Let not our zeal herein be misinterpreted that God whom we serve is jealous of his worship By his gracious providence the Law thereof is continued amongst us and we are forewarned by what hapned in the Church of the Jews that it is necessary for every generation and that frequently in every generation to consult the divine oracle compare our worship with the rule and take heed to what doctrines we receive and practise If the ten commands exhibited in the popish Idolatrous service books had been received as the entire law of God because they agree in number with his ten commands and also in the substance of nine of them the second Commandment forbidding Idolatry had been utterly lost If Ezra and Nehemiah had not made a diligent search into the particular parts of Gods law and his worship the Feast of Tabernacles which for many centuries of years had not been duly observed according to the institution though it was retained in the general notion would not have been kept in due order So may it be now as to many things relating to the service of God which do retain the names proper to them in their first institution but yet through inadvertency where there is no sinister design may vary in their circumstances from their first institution And if by means of any antient defection or of that general corruption of the service of God and interruption of his true worship and persecution of his servants by the Antichristian Bishop of Rome for many generations those who do consult the Word of God cannot yet arrive at a full and mutual satisfaction among themselves what was the practise of the primitive Christian Church in some points relating to the Worship of God yet inasmuch as these things are not of the essence of Christianity but that we agree in the fundamental doctrines thereof we do apprehend there is sufficient ground to lay aside all bitterness and prejudice and in the spirit of love and meekness to imbrace and own each other therein leaving each other at liberty to perform such other services wherein we cannot concur apart unto God according to the best of our understanding FINIS