of thousands that could not consent thereto as we have more gloriously then we are like to do acquitted themselves and their Christianity before men and are now with the innumerable company of Angels and the spirits of just men made perfect What is said of Eating or the contrary may as to this be said of Water baptism Neither if I be Baptized am I the better neither if I be not am I the worse Not the better before God not the worse before men still meaning as Paul doth provided I walk according to my light with God otherwise 't is false For if a man that seeth it to be his duty shall despisingly neglect it or if he that hath no Faith therein shall foolishly take it up both these are for this the worse being convicted in themselves for transgressors He therefore that doth it according to his light doth well and he that doth it not or dare not do it for want of light doth not ill for he approveth his heart to be sincere with God he dare not do any thing but by light in the word If therefore he be not by Grace a partaker of light in that circumstance which thou professest yet he is a partaker of that liberty and mercy by which thou standest He hath liberty to call God Father as thou And to believe he shall be saved by Jesus His Faith as thine hath purifyed his heart He is tender of the Glory of God as thou art and can claim by Grace an Interest in Heaven which thou must not do because of Water Ye are both then Christians before God and men without it He that can let him preach to himself by that He that cannot let him preach to himself by the promises But yet let us rejoyce in God together let us exalt his name together Indeed the Baptized can thank God for that for which another cannot But may not he that is unbaptized thank god for that which the baptized cannot Wouldst thou be content that I should judge thee because thou canst not for my light give â—hanks with me Why then should he judge me for that I cannot give thanks with him for his Let us not therefore judge one another any more but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling block or occasion of offence in his Brothers way Rom. 14 1â— And seeing the things wherein we exceed each other are such as neither make nor marre Christianity let us love one another and walk together by that glorious rule above specifyed leaving each other in all such circumstances to our own Master to our own Faith Who art thou that judgest another mans servant To his own Master he standeth or falleth yea he shall be holden up for God is able to make him stand Rom. 14.4 Sixthly I am therefore for holding communion thus because the edification of Souls in the Faith and holyness of the Gospell is of greater concernment then an agreement in outward things I say 't is of greater concernment with us and of far more profit to our Brother then our agreeing in or contesting for the business of Water-baptism Joh. 16.13 1 Cor. 14.20 2 Cor. 10 8 chap. 12.19 Eph. 4.12 2 Tim. â— 10 17. 1 Cor. 8.1 chap. 18.1 2. That the edification of Soul is of the greatest concern is out of measure evident because heaven and eternal happiness are so immediately concerned therein Besides this is that for which Christ dyed for which the holy Ghost was given yea for which the Scriptures and the gifts of all the Godly are given to the Church yea and if gifts are not bent to this very work the persons are said to be proud or uncharitable that have them and stand but for cyphers or worse among the Churches of God Farther Edification is that that cherisheth all grace and maketh the Christians quick and lively and maketh sin lean and dwindling and filleth the mouth with thanksgiving to God But to contest with gracious men with men that walk with God to shut such out of the Churches because they will not sin against their Souls rendereth thee uncharitable Rom. 14.15.20 Thou seekest to destroy the work of God thou begettest contentions janglings murmurings and evil surmisings thou ministrest occasion for whisperings backbitings slanders and the like rather then godly edifying contrary to the whole current of the scriptures and peace of all communityes Let us therefore leave off these contentions and follow after things that make for peace and things wherewith one may edify another Rom. 14.19 And know that the edification of the Church of God dependeth not upon neither is tyed to this or that circumstance Especially when there are in the hearts of the Godly different perswasions about it then it becometh them in the wisedom of God to take more care for their peace and unity then to widen or make large their uncomfortable differences Although Aaron transgressed the Law because he eat not the sin offering of the people yet seeing he could not do it with satisfaction to his own conscience Moses was content that he left it undone Lev. 10.16.20 Joshuah was so zealous against Eldad and Medad for prophesying in the camp without first going to the Lord to the door of the tabernacle as they were commanded that he desired Moses to forbid them Num. 11.16 26. but Moses calls his zeal envy and praies to God for more such Prophets knowing that although they failed in a circumstance they were right in that which was better The edification of the people in the camp was that which pleased Moses In Hezekiahs time Though the people came to the passover in an undue manner and did eat it otherwise then it was written yet the wise King would not forbid them but rather admitted it knowing that their edification was of greater concern then to hold them to a circumstance or two 2 Chro 30.13 27. Yea God himself did like the wisdom of the King and healed that is forgave the people at the prayer of Hezekias And observe it notwithstanding this disorder as to circumstances the feast was kept with great gladness and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day singing with loud instruments unto the Lord yea there was not the like joy in Jerusalem from the the time of Solomon unto that same time What shall we say all things must give place to the profit of the people of God Yea sometimes Laws themselves or their outward preservation much more for Godly edifying When Christs disciples plucked the ears of corn on the Sabbath no doubt for very hunger and were rebuked by the Pharisees for it us for that which was unlawfull How did their â—ord succour them By excusing them and rebuking their adversaries Have ye not read said he what David did when he was an hungred and they that were with him how he entred into the house of God and did eat the shew-bread which was not lawfull for him to eat neither for them
Father the Word and the holy Ghost 1 Joh. 5.7 see also Gen. 1.26 chap. 3.22 chap. 11.7 and Esa. 6.8 5. I believe that these three are in Nature Essence and Eternity equally one These three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 6. I believe there is a World to come Heb. 2.5 chap. 6.5 7. I believe that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust Many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and contempt Marvail not at this For the hour is coming in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evill to the resurrection of Damnation Act. 24.15 Dan. 12.2 Joh. 5.28 8. I believe that they that shall be counted worthy of that world and of the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dye any more for they are equall to the Angels and are the children of God being the children of the resurrection Luk. 10.34.35 36. Joh. 10.27 28 29. Rev. 7.16 chap. 20.6 9. I believe that those that dye impenitent shall be tormented with the Divel and his Angels and shall be cast with them into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone where their worm dyeth not and the fire is not quenched Rev. 21.8 Mar. 9.43.48 Mat. 25 41.46 Joh. 5.29 10. I believe that because God is naturally holy and just even as he is Good and Mercifull therefore all having sinned none can be saved without the means of a redeemer Then he is gracious unto him and saith deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransome We have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of our sins For which out shedding of blood is no remission Job 33.24 Col. 1.14 Hebr. 9.22 11. I believe that Jesus Christ our Lord himself is the redeemer They remembred that God was their rock and the high God their redeemer Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and Gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your Fathers But with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot Psa. 78.35 1 Pet. 1.18 19. 12. I believe that the great reason why the Lord the second person in the God-head did cloth himself with our flesh and blood was that he might be capable of obtaining the redemption that before the world was intended for us Forasmuch then as the children were made partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same mark that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Divel and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage When the fulness of the time was Come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithfull high priest in things pertaining to God To make reconciliation for the sins of the people For in that himself hath suffered being tempted he is able also to succour them that are tempted Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us As it is written cursed is every one that is hanged on a tree That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through faith in Jesus Christ. Heb. 2.14 15. Gal. 4 4. Heb. 2. 17 18. Gal. 3.13 14. 13. I believe that the time when he clothed himself with our flesh was in the dayes of the reign of Caesar Augustus then I say and not till then was the word made flesh or clothed with our nature And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed And Joseph went up from Galilee out of the City of Nazareth unto Judah unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and linage of David to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child And so it was that while they were there the dayes were accomplished that she should be delivered This child was he of whom godly Simeon was told by the holy Ghost when he said That he should not see death untill he had seen the Lord Christ. Joh 1.14 1 Tim. 3.16 Luk. 2.1 2 3 6.25 26 27. 14. I believe therefore that this very child as afore is testified is both God and man the Christ of the living God And she brought forth her first born son and wrapt him in swadling clothes and laid him in a manger Because there was no room for them in the inn And there were in the same Countrey shepheards keeping watch over their flock by night And Lo the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the Glory of the Lord shined round about them and they were sore afraid And the Angel said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people For unto you is born this day in the City of David a saviour which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you you shall find the babe wrapped in swadling clothes lying in a manger Again But while he thought on these things behold the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him saying Joseph thou son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghost And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Now all this was done that it might be fullfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying Behold a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Immanuel which being interpreted is God with us Luk. 2.7 12. Mat. 1.21 22. 15. I believe therefore that the righteousness and redemption by which we that believe stand just before God as saved from the curse of the Law is the righteousness and redemption that consists in the personal acts performancas of this child Jesus this God man the Lords Christ it consisteth I say in his personal fulfilling the law for us to the utmost requirement of the justice of God Do not think said he that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophet I am not come to destroy but to fulfill By which means he became the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own son in the likeness of sinfull flesh and and for sin oondemned sin in the flesh So finishing
transgressions and making an end of sins and making reconciliation for iniquity he brought in everlasting righteousness Math. 5.17 Rom. 10.3 chap. 8 3. 1 Joh. 3.8 2 Tim. 1 9. Hebr. 10.5 6 7 8 9 â—0 Dan. 9.24 16. I believe that for the compleating of this work he was alwayes sinless did alwayes the things that pleased God's Justice that every one of his acts both of doing and suffering and rising again from the dead was really and infinitely perfect being done by him as God-man Wherefore his acts before he dyed are called the righteousness of God his blood the blood of God and herein perceive we the love of God in that he laid down his life for us The Godhead which gave vertue to all the acts of the humane nature was then in perfect union with it when he hanged upon the cross for our sins Heb. 4.15 chap. 7.26 27 28. Joh. 8.29 Acts. 10 30. Rom. 3.21 22. Act. 20.28 1 Joh. 3.16 Joh. 20 28. Rom. 1.4 17. I believe then that the righteousness that saveth the sinner from the wrath to come is properly and personally Christs and ours but as we have union with him God by grace imputing it to us Yea doubtless and I count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ ' and be found in him not haveing my own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith For of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Phil. 3 8 9. 1 Cor. 1.30 2 Cor. 5.20 21. 18. I believe that God as the reward of Christs undertakings for us hath exalted him to his own right hand as our mediatour and given him a name above every name and hath made him Lord of all and judge of quick and dead and all this that we who believe might take courage to believe and hope in God And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself unto death even the death of the cross where he dyed for our sins wherefore God hath highly alted him and given him a name above every name That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow both of things in heaven and things in earth things that are under the earth And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testify that it was he that was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you who by him do believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God Ph. 2.5 10. Eph. 1.18 22. Act. 10.42 ch 17.31 1 Pet. 1.19 20 21. 19. I believe that being on the right hand of God in heaven he doth there effectually exercise the office of his excellent priesthood and mediatorship presenting himself continually before God in the righteousness which is accomplished for us when he was in the world For by the efficacy of his blood he nor onely went into the holy place but being there and having by it obtained eternal redemption for us now as receiving the worth and merit thereof from the Father doth bestow upon us grace repentance faith and the remission of sins Yea he also received for us the holy Ghost to be sent unto us to ascertain us of our adoption and Glory For if he were on earth he should not be a Priest seeing then we have a great high priest that is entred into the heavens Jesus the son of God Let us hold fast our profession For there is one God and one mediatour between God and men the man Christ Jesus For by his own blood he entred into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figure of the true but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Hebr. 8.4 1 Tim. 2 5. Hebr. 9.12.24 Act. 5.31 chap. 2 33. 20. I believe that being there he shall so continue till the restitution of all things and then he shall come again in Glory and shâ—ll sit in judgment upon all flesh And I believe that according to his sentence so shall their judgment be Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you whom the heaven must receive untill the restitution of all things spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began For this same Jesus which ye have seen go up into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voyce of the Arch-angel and the trumphet of God c. When the son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then he shall sit upon the throne of his Glory And before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepheard divideth his sheep from the Goats And he shall set his sheep on his right hand but the Goats on the left 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 Then shall he say to them on the left hand Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Divel and his Angels And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal For the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up Seeing then that all these things must be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godlinels looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God Wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat Act. 3.19 20 21. 1 Thes. 4 16. Act. 1.11 Mat. 25.31 32 33 41 46. 2 Pet. 3.10 11 12.
faith and holyness in us are the delightfull objects of this love Psa. 119.47 127.159 Psa. 5 11 and 69.36 and 1â—9 132 and 101.6 For it imbraceth with delight and complacency but as it discerneth the image of God and of Christ in the Soul his presence in the ministery and a suitableness in our worship to the word and mind of Christ. Psa. 26.8 and 27.4 and 84.1 4. 1 Thes. 5.13 Phil. 1.3 7. Eph. 4.32 Love also hath a blessed faculty and heavenly in bearing and suffering afflictions putting up wrongs overlooking the infirmities of the brethren and in serving in all Christian offices the necessities of the Saints Charity suffereth long and is kind charity envyeth not charity vaunteth not it self is not puffed up doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth heareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things charity never faileth 1 Cor 13. 1 Pet. 4.8 Gal. 5.13 In a word it designeth a holy conversation in this world that God and Christ and the word of may be glorified thereby 2 Cor. 11.10 11 12 1 Pet. 1.12 chap. 3.16 Of the Scriptures TOuching which word of God I thus believe and confess 1. That all the holy scriptures are the words of God All scriptures is given by inspiration of God For the prophecy of the scripture came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God speak as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Tim. 3 16. 2 Pet. 1.21 2 I believe that the holy scriptures of themselves without the addition of humane inventions are able to make the man of God perfect in all things and throughly to furnish him unto all good works They are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and to thee in all other things that either respect the worship of God or thy walking before all men 2 Tim. 3.14.17 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. 3. I believe the great end why God committed the Scriptures to writing was that we might be instructed to Christ taught how to believe encouraged to patience and hope for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ also that we might understand what is sin and how to avoid the commission thereof Joh. 20.31 1 Joh. 5 13. Rom. 15.4 Concerning the works of men said David by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the pathes of the destroyer Through thy precepts I get understanding therefore I hate every false way I have hid thy word in my heart that I might not sin against thee Psa. 17.4 and 119.104 v. 11. 4. I believe that they cannot be broken but will certainly be fulfilled in all the prophecies threatnings and promises either to the salvation or damnation of men They are like that flying roll that will go over all the earth to cut off and curse In them is contained also the blessing they preach to us also the way of salvation Take heed therefore lest that come upon you which is written in the prophets Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish For I work a work in your dayes a work which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you Gal 3.8 Acts 13.40 41. Joh. 10 35. chap. 12.37.41 chap. 3.17 18 19. Zach. 5.2.3 4. 5. I believe Jesus Christ by the word of the scriptures will judge all men at the day of doom For that is the book of the Law of the Lord according to Pauls Gospel Joh. 12.41 49. Rom 2.16 6 I believe that this God made the world and all things that are therein for in Six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is also that after the time of the making thereof be disposed of it to the children of men with a preserve thereof for the children of God that should in all ages be born thereunto When the most high divided to the nations their inheritance when he separated the Sons of Adam he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel for as he made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell upon the face of the earth so he hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation Acts 17 24 Exo 24 19 Deu 32 8 Acts 17 26. Of Magistracy I believe that Magistracy is Gods ordinance which he hath appointed for the government of the whole world And that it is a judgment of God to be without those ministers of God which he hath ordained to put wickedness to shame Judg 18.7 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation For rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evil Wilt thou not then be afraid of the power do that which is Good and thou shalt have praise of the same For he is the minister of God to thee for good But if thou do that which is evill be afraid for he beareth not the sword in vain For he is the minister of God a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil Wherefore ye must needs be subject not onely for wrath but also for conscience sake For this cause pay ye tribute also for they are Gods ministers attending continually unto this very thing Rom. 13. Many are the mercyes we receive by a well qualified Magistrate and if any shall at any time be otherwise inclined let us shew ovr christianity in a patient suffering for well doing what it shall please God to inflict by them A reason of my Practise in Worship HAving thus made confession of my Faith I now come to shew you my practise in Worship with the reasons thereof The which I shall have occasion to touch under two distinct heads 1 With whom I dare not hold communion 2. With whom I dare Only first Note that by the word Communion I mean fellowship in the things of the Kingdom of Christ or that which is commonly called Church communion the Communion of Saints For in civil affairs and in things of this World that are honest I am not altogether tyed up from the fornicators thereof Cor. 5 9 10 Wherefore in my following discourse understand me in the first sense Now Then I dare not have communion with them that profess not faith and holiness or that are not visible Saints by calling but note that by this assertion I meddle not with the elect but as he is a visible Saint by calling neither do I exclude the secret Hypocrite if he be hid from me by visible Saint ship Wherefore I dare not have communion with men from a single supposition that they may be elect neither dare I exclude the other from a single supposing that he may be a secret Hypocrite I meddle not here with these things I onely exclude him that
is not a visible Saint Now he that is visibly or openly prophane cannot be then a visible Saint for he that is a visible Saint must profess faith and repentance and consequently holyness of life And with none else dare I communicate First Because God himself hath so strictly put the difference both by word and deed For from the beginning he did not only put a difference between the Seed of the woman and the children of the wicked onely the instinct of grace and change of the mind as his own but did cast out from his presence the father of all the ungodly even cursed Cain when he shewed himself open prophane and banished him to go into the Land of the Runnagate or Vagabond where from Gods face and so the priviledges of the communion of Saints he was ever after hid Gen. 3.15 chap. 4 9 10.14 15 16. Besides when after this through the policy of Satan the children of Cain and the seed of Seth did commix themselves in worship and by that means had corrupted the way of God what followed but first God judged it wickedness raised up Noah to preach against it and after that because they would not be reclaimed he brought the floud upon the whole world of these ungodly and saved onely Noah alive because he had kept himself righteous Gen. 6.1 2 v. 3.11 1â— 13. Here I could inlarge abundantly and add many more instances of alike nature but I am here onely for a truth upon things Secondly Because it is so often commanded in the Scriptures That all the congregation should be holy I am the Lord your God ye shall therefore sanctifie your selves and ye shall be holy for I am holy Ye shall be holy for I the Lord your God am holy Sanctifie your selves therefore and be ye holy for I am the Lord your God Besides 1. The Gates of the temple were to be shut against all other Open ye the gates that the righteous nation that keepeth the truth may enter in This Gate of the Lord into which the righteous shall enter Thus saith the Lord no stranger uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh shall enter into my sanctuary of any stranger which is amongst the children of Israel 2. Because the things of worship are holy Be ye holy that bear the vessels of the Lord. 3. Because all the limits and bounds of communion are holy This is the law of the house upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof shall be most holy Behold this is the Law of the house Lev. 11.44 chap. 19.2 chap. 20.7 1 Pet. 1.15 16. Esa. 26.2 Psa. 128.20 Eze. 43.12 chap. 44.9 Esa. 52.11 Thirdly I dare not have communion with them Because the example of new testament churches before us have been a community of visible Saints Paul to the Romanes writes thus To all that are at Rome beloved of God called to be Saints And to the rest of the Churches thus Vnto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints To the Saints that are at Ephesus and to the faithfull in Christ Jesus To all the Saints that are at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons To the Saints and faithfull brethren which are at Colosse To the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in our Lord Jesus Christ c. Thus you see under what denomination those persons went of old who were counted worthy to be members of a visible Church of Christ. Rom. 1 7. 1 Cor. 1 2. Eph. 1.1 Col. 1.2 Phil 1.1 1 Thes. 1.1 Besides the members of such Churches go under such characters as these 1. The called of Christ Jesus Rom. 1.6 2. Men that have drank into the spirit of Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 12.13 3. Persons in whom was God the Father Eph. 4 6. 4. They were all made partakers of the joy of the Gospell Phil. 1 7. 5. Persons that were circumcised inwardly Col. 2.11 6. Persons that turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God 1 Thes. 1.4 7. Those that were the body of Christ and members in particulars that is those that were visibly such because they made profession of faith of holyness of repentance of love to Christ and of self denyal at their receiving into fellowship Fourthly I dare not hold communion with the open prophane 1. Because it is promised to the Church that she shall dwell by her self that is as she is a Church and spiritual Lo the people shall dwell a-alone and shall not be reckoned among the nations Num. 23 9. 2. Because this is their priviledge But ye are a chosen generation a royall priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 1.9 10 3. Because this is the fruit of the death of Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem as from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 3.14 4. Because this is the Commandment Save your selves from the untoward generation Act 2 40 5. Because with such it is not possible we should have true and spiritual communion Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness And what communion hath light with darkness And what concord hath Christ with Belial Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidell Or what agreement hath the temple of God with Idols For ye are the temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people Wherefore Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and I will be a Father unto you saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6 14 18. Fifthly I dare not hold communion with the open prophane 1. Because this would be plowing with on Ox and an Ass together heavenly things suit best for communion in heavenly matters Deut 22.10 2. It subjecteth not the nature of our discipline which is not forced but free in a professed subjection to the will and commandment of Christ others being excluded by God's own prohibition Levit. 1.3 Rom. 6.17 2 Cor. 8 12. chap. 9 7.13 chap. 8.5 Paul also when he exhorteth Timothy to follow after righteousness Faith Charity Peace c. which are the bowels of Church communion he saith do it with those that call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart 2 Tim. 2 22. Sithly In a word to hold communion with the open prophane is most pernicious and destructive 1 'T was the wicked multitude that fell a lusting and that tempted Christ in the desert Num. 11.4 2 It was the prophane heathen of whom Israel learned to worship Idols They were mingled among the heathen and learned their works
and served their Idols which were a snare to them Psa. 106.25 26 27 3 It is the mingled people that God hath threatned to plague with those deadly punishments of his with which he hath threatned to punish Babylon it self saying When a sword is upon her Glyars her mighty her chariots and treasures a sword also shall be upon the mingled people that are in the middest of her And no marvail for 1 Mixed communion polluteth the ordinances of God Say to the rebells saith the Lord God Let it suffice you of all your abominations that you have brought into my san uary strangers uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh to be in my sanctuary to pollute it even my house when ye offered my bread and the fat and the blood And they have broken my Covenant because of all their abominations Eze. 44.6 7 8. 2. It violateth the law her priests have violated my Law and prophaned my holy things how they have put no difference between the holy and prophane neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean Eze. 22.6 3 It prophaneth the holyness of God Judah hath dealt treacherously and an abomination is committed in Israel and Jerusalem For Judah hath prophaned the holyness of thâ— Lord which he loved and hath married the daughter of a strange God Mal. 2 11. 4. It defileth the truly Gracious Know ye not that a little Leaven leaveneth the whole lump Look diligently therefore lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled 1 Cor. 5 6 Heb. 12 15 16. Lastly To conclude as I said before it provoketh God to punish with severe judgments And therefore heed well 1. As I said before The drowning of the whole world was occasioned by the sons of God commixing themselves with the daughters of men and the corruption of worship that followed thereupon Gen. 6 and 7 chapters 2 He sent a plague upon the children of Israel for joyning themselves unto the people of Moab and for following their abominations in worship And let no man think that now I have altered the state of the question for it is all one with the Church to Communicate with the prophane and to sacrifice and offer their gifts to the Divel the reason is because such have by their sin forsaken the protection of heaven and are given up to their own heart-lusts and left to be overcome of the wicked to whom they have joyned their selves Num 25 1 2 3 4 5. Jos 22 17 Deut 32 16 19 Psa. 106 30 40 Deut 12 Deut 7 1 2 6 Neh 1â— 26. Joyn not your selves saith God to the wicked neither in religion nor marriages for they will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other Gods so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you and destroy thee suddainly Did not Solomon King of Israel sin by these things ye among many nations was there no King like him who was beloved of his God Hear how Paul handleth the point This I say saith he That the things which the Gentiles or openly prophane sacrifice they sacrifice to Devils and not to God And I would not that you should have fellowship with Divels Ye cannot drink of the Cup of the Lord and the cup of Divels Ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord of the table of Divels Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie Are we stronger then he 1 Cor. 10 21 22 23. I conclude that therefore it is an evil a dangerous thing to hold Church-communion with the open prophane and ungodly It polluteth his ordinances It violateth his Law It prophaneth his holyness It defileth his people and provoketh the Lord to severe and terrible judgments Object But we can prove in all ages there have been the open prophane in the Church of God Answ. In many ages indeed it hath been so but marke they appeared not such when first they were received unto Communion neither was they with Gods liking as such to be retained among them but in order to their admonition repentance and amendment of life of which if they failed God presently threatned the Church and either cut them off from the Church as he did the Idolaters Fornicators murmurers Tempters Sabbath-breakers with Korah Dathan Achan and others or else cut of them with the Church and all as he served the ten tribes at one time and the two tribes at another My God shall cast them away because they did not hearken to him and they shall be wanderers among the nations Exod 1â— 48. 2 Cor. 6 1 Cor. 5.4 5 10.12 13. Exo. 32 25. Numb 25. 1 9. chap. 21. 5â—6 chap. 1.4 37. chap. 16. chap. 15 32 36. Josh 72 Kin. 17. Ezek. 22. chap 23. Hos 9.17 Neh 13.1 2 3 I might here greatly enlarge but I only intend brevity yet let me tell you that when Nehemiah understood by the book of the Law of the Lord that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude Many have pleaded for the prophane that they should abide in the Church of God but such have not considered that Gods wrath at all times hath with great indignation hath been shewed against such offenders and their conceits Indeed they like not for to plead for them under that notion but rather as Korah and his company All the congregation is holy every one of them Num. 16 3. But it maketh no matter by what name they are called if by their deeds they shew themselves openly wicked for names and notions sanctify not the heart and nature they make not vertues of vice neither can it save such advocates from the heavy curse both of God and Men. The righteous men they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses and after the manner of women that shed-blood because they are adulteresses and blood is in their hands Pro. 17.15 chap. 24 24. Eze. 23.45 Thus have I shewed you with whom I dare not have communion And now to shew you with whom I dare But in order thereto I desire you first to take notice That touching shaddowish or figurative ordinances I believe that Christ hath ordained but two in his Church viz. Water baptism and the Supper of the Lord both which are of excellent use to the Church in this world they being to us representations of the death and resurrection of Christ and are as God shall make them helps to our faith therein But I count them not the fundamentals of our Christianity nor grounds or rule to communion with Saints servants they are and our mystical Ministers to teach and instruct us in the most weighty matters of the Kingdom of God I therefore here declare my reverent esteem of them yet dare not remove them as some do from the place and end where by God they are set and appointed nor ascribe unto them more then they were ordered to
he bringth them to the moral precept â—o prove the sincerity of his good conversation by Acts 20.28.32.33 And when men have juggled what they can and made never such a prattle about religion yet if their greatest excellency as to the visibility of their Saintship lyeth in an outward conformity to an outward circumstance in religion their profession is not worth two mites Let us walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkenss not in chambering and wantonness not in strife and envy but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13.13 14. And it is observable That after the Apostle had in the 9th and 10th verses of this chapter told us that the moral precept is the rule of a good conversation and exhorted us to make no provision for the flesh he adds these things provided we may receive any that believe in Christ Jesus unto communion with us how weak soever and dark in circumstantialls and chiefly designs the proof thereof in the remaining part of his Epistle For he that is of sound Faith and of conversation honest in the world no man however he may fail in circumstances may lightly reproach or vilify him And indeed such persons are honour of Christian congregations Indeed he is prejudiced for want of light in those things about which he is dark as of Baptism or the like but seeing that is not the initiating ordinance or the visible character of a Saint yea seeing it maketh no breach in a good and holy life nor intrencheth upon any mans right but his own and seeing his Faith may be effectual without it and his life approved by the worst of his enemies why should his friends while he keeps the Law dishonour God by breaking of the same Speak not evil one of another brethren he that speaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother speak evil of the Law and judgeth the Law But if thou judge the Law thou art not a doer of the Law but a judge Jam. 4.11 He that is judged must needs fail somewhere in the apprehension of him that judgeth him else why is he judged But he must not fail in substance for then he is worthy to be judged 1 Cor. 5.12 his failure is then in a circumstance for which he ought not to be judged Object But notwithstanding all that you have said Water baptism ought to go before Church-membership shew me one in all the New Testament that was received into fellowship without it Answ. 1. That Water-baptism hath formerly gone first is granted But that it ought of necessity so to do I never saw proof 2. None ever received it without light going before unless they did play the Hypocrite And besides on marvail though in the primitive times it was so generally practised first for the unconverted themselves know it belonged to the Disciples of Jesus Christ. Joh 1.24 25 26 27. Yet that all that were received into fellowship were even then baptized first would strain a weak mans wit to prove it if arguments were closely made upon these three texts of holy scriptures 1 Cor. 1.14 15 16 Gal. 37.27 Rom 6.3 But I pass them and say If you can shew me the Christian that in the primitive times remained dark about it I will shew you the Christian that was received wthout it But should I grant more then can be proved viz. That Baptism were the initiating ordinance and that it once did as circumcision of old give a being of membership to the partakers yea set the case that men were forbidden then to enter into fellowship without it yet the case may so bee that these things notwithstanding men might be received into fellowship without it All these things intailed to circumcision That was the initiating ordinance that gave being of membership that was it without which it was positively commanded none should be received into fellowship Jos. 5. Yet for all this more then six hundred thousand were received into the Church without it yea received and also retained there and that by Moses and Joshua even those to whom the Land was promised when the uncircumcised were cut off But why then were they not circumcised Doubtless there was a reason either they wanted time or opportunity or instruments or something But they could not â—ender a bigger reason then this I have no light therein which is the cause at this day that many a faithful man denyeth to take up the ordinance of Baptism But I say what ever the hinderance was it mattereth not our brethren have a manifest one an invincible one one that all the men on earth nor Angels in heaven cannot remove For it is God that createth light and for them to do it without light would but prove them unfaithfull to themselves and make them sinners against God For whatsoever is not of Faith is sin Rom. 14. If therefore Moses and Joshuah thought fit to communicate with six hundred thousand uncircumcised persons when by the Law not one such ought to have been received among them why may not I have communion the closest communion with visible Saints as afore described although they want light in and so cannot submit to that which of God was never made the wall of division betwixt us I shall therefore hold communion with such First Because the true visible Saint hath already subjected to that which is better even to the righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ by which he stands just before God he also hath made the most exact and strict rule under heaven that whereby he squares his life before men He hath like precious Faith with the best of Saints and a conversation according to light received becoming the Gospell of Christ He is therefore to be received received I say not by thy light not for that in circumstances he jumpeth with thy opinion but according to his own Faith which he ought to keep himself before Gâ—d Conscience I say not thine own but of the other For why is my liberty judged by another mans conscience 1 Cor. 10.29 Some indeed do object that what the Apostles wrote they wrote to gathered Chruches and so to such as were baptized And therefore the arguments that are in the Epistles about things circumstantial respect not the case in hand But I will tell such that as to the first part of their objection they are utterly under a mistake The first to the Corinthians The Epistle of James both them of Peter and the first Epistle of John were expresly written to all the Godly as well as particular Churches Again if Water-baptism as the circumstances with which the Churches were pestered of old trouble their peace wound the consciences of the Godly dismember and break their fellowships it is although an ordinance for the present to be prudently shunned for the edification of the Church as I shall shew anon is to be preferred before it