Ezra 6.21 22. c 1 Cor. 7.18 And again As this Spouse of Christ is his Body compact together by the supply of every joynt so the Eyes are call'd Seers or Teachers when they by heavenly Doctrine see good for the Body are instead of Eyes and when they administer the Seals Baptism and the Supper with the Censures they are Hands to the Church and when they reprove Sin they are the Mouth and when they are employed in the Churches Message they are the Feet of the Church and when they themselves have done amiss and are reproved by the Church they are the Ears of the Church to hear Reproof and so proportionably are all the Members in their places keeping order every one within the Limits of their Places set by God in the Body his Church 1 Cor. 12. And again as the Church in her beginning is said to be a Sister that hath no breasts Cant. 8.8 that is Ministers as Pastor and Teacher Which Breasts do naturally arise out of the Body when God's Gifts and Graces are increased and some found fit to be called or elected and ordained into Office by the Church then are her Breasts said to be fashioned as was of old in Israel Ezek. 16.7 and in the Church of Ephesus And so are the new born Children of God said to suck the Breasts of Sion's Consolation Isa 66. Thus out of every true Church or Body of Christ ariseth Christ's true Ministry But what a contrary thing in Nature is it to believe that the Body groweth out of the Breast or in plainness of speech for a Minister to be made and not by a true Church as one Minister as they call them to make another or that a Minister maketh the Church or that a People cannot be a true Church before they have a Minister This unnatural belief is for want of better learning in the School of Christ which leads Men to retain the Ordination of their Ministers successively from Rome left in this Land when Queen Mary died who then were Ministers in the Popish Orders and when Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown they that would conform to the things then imposed on them did still administer without any other Ordination and so from that Root ever since doth one Minister make another He that is wise may consider this and know that they that retain any other Ministry or Worship which Christ hath not appointed in his Testament he will tell them for all their preaching he never knew them IX Next followeth the Ordinance of the Lords Super to be performed as a a Remembrance of Christ's Death and the Communion all that partake thereof have with Christ as his b Members and the Communion they have one with another in Christ as one anothers Members so that all of years able to examine themselves ought to partake thereof and no others because it is not a passive Ordinance as Water-Baptism to be administred upon but it is written Take and eat And thus when this Ordinance is performed the Church according to the Example of Christ do sing a e Psalm concluding all with Prayer So that as we do believe that God is a God of d Order and hath recorded his great displeasure when in his Worship e Order was not kept Therefore we have as we do believe and practise laid down the holy Order the Primitive Churches performed Christ's Ordinances in and we are to follow the good old Way in the f Footsteps of the Lord's Flock Therefore as the Ordinance of Singing was used after sanctified by the Word Christ and Prayer in him to the Father as an Ordinance of Joy when the Church entred into the Lord's g Court in his service so do we believe the Primitive Churches practised 2dly As h Reading was in Israel performed before Doctrine so doth the Apostle exhort Timothy that in the Church it be so i performed Next after the Word is read and expounded and likewise the Word taught by Doctrine by Office followeth the Ordinance of k Prophtey the Youth or young Men by good Order are to give place to the Elders as in another case l Elihu did Then in Order followeth the Ordinance of Government that as all are to judg of what was taught either by Office or membral Right in the Church so that if Error hath by any been taught and after the first and second admonition m they remain impenitent in this time of Government before the Throne of Christ on them may be executed the Judgment written that a little leaven do not leaven the whole lump so likewise on any Member for other Sins according to Mat. 18. And also in this time of Government if any Person were converted before by the Word of God taught the Gates of this heavenly City are n opened by the authority of Christ on his Throne and they joyned with their seed by a willing Covenant with the Lord and his People which Covenant is the Form of the Church as it is the Form of Marriage and without it a People are no Church any more than without a Covenant Man and Woman can become Man and Wife therefore was the Church said to be o espoused to Christ As a young Man marrieth a Virgin so shall thy Sons p marry thee Next followeth the Ordinance of Baptism that those the Lord received by Covenant to be a q People to him must have the visible Sign and Seal of the benefit of the same as a Token of the Remission of their Sins by the Blood of Christ if they never were baptized before for Baptism is not the Form of the Church neither are any joyned to the Lord nor his Church by it but it is the Sign of the benefit of the Covenant after we are joyned to the Lord. But if any think Persons are made Members of Christ by Water-Baptism then as often as they may be cast out of the Church for Sin if they repent they must be joyned to the Church by Baptism again a 1 Cor. 11.25 b 1 Cor. 10.16 17. c Mat. 26.30 d 1 Cor. 14.40 e Lev. 10.1 2. f Cant. 1.8 g Psal 95.2 Col. 3.16 h Acts 13.15 i 1 Tim. 4.13 k 1 Cor. 14.29 31. l Job 32.6 7. m Tit. 3.10 n Rev. 3.7 o 2 Cor. 11.2 p Esay 62.5 q Deut 29.10 11 12. Reasons gathered out of the holy Scriptures to prove that since the Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus not only the Ceremonial Ordinances for Worship are abolished but also the chief Time in which they were performed to wit the seventh-Seventh-Day Sabbath And also to prove that as the Lord Jesus hath not only ordained new Gospel-Ordinances but also a new Time in which they are to be performed to wit the first Day of the Week for the Gospel Sabbath THat which moveth us to give our Judgment about the time of Gospel-Worship is first for the Glory of God and secondly for the Comfort of the Elect Children of God who we fear are many of
the Ministers of Christ should disdain to be maintain'd with Pope Pascalis his Provision Tithes which he appointed for his Massing Priests in the Year of our Lord 827. as Mr. Bacon in his Book entituled the Reliques of Rome makes appear For before that time all true Ministers of Christ were fed of the Flock they fed and drank of the Vineyard they dressed Therefore let not such say they are Christ's Servants that take Antichrist's wages forasmuch as the Lord Christ who walketh in the midst of his Church is Lord and Lawgiver to the same From whose Throne we may hear his Voice saying Behold I make all things new a new People 1 Pet. 2.10 new Ordinances new Ministry new Maintenance new Time And therefore is the first Day of the Week rightly call'd the Lord's Day by the Spirit of God Rev. 1.10 the Gospel Sabbath As doth also appear further For as the next immediate time after the Lord had finished the work of the old Creation was the seventh day sanctified a Day of holy Rest for the Service and Worship of God Even so the next immediate time after the Lord Jesus had finished the new Creation or Man's Redemption by his Resurrection was the first Day of the Week sanctified a Day of holy Rest by the example of Christ and his Apostles with the Churches whose example in all things they joyntly practised with the Churches as they did keep the first Day of the Week for the Gospel-Sabbath are sufficient Commands for all Christians to follow because it is written Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 And again Be ye followers together of me and mark them which walk so as you have us for an Ensample Phil. 3.18 So that all things the Apostles joyntly practised with the Churches are exemplary Commands to bind us to follow them but they did joyntly with the Churches keep the first Day of the Week to be the Gospel-Sabbath in performing with the Churches the Ordinances ordained by Christ for his Worship So that it is further written If any man think himself to be a Prophet or Spiritual let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the Commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant of this let him be ignorant 1 Cor. 14.37 38. Yet that the first Day of the Week is the gospel-Gospel-Sabbath is confirmed by a second Reason That as the Light was created in the first Day with which the Lord deck'd the World as with a Garment Psal 104.2 Unto which Work of the Lord in the first Day is the Spiritual Light compared by the Apostle in the new Creation as it is written 2 Cor. 4. God who said that out of Darkness Light should shine hath shined in our hearts That they that once were in Darkness might be made light in the Lord Eph. 5.8 And thus on the first Day of the Week by Christ's Resurrection was Life and Immortality brought to light by the Gospel in the glad tidings of Christ's Resurrection who was risen for the Justification of those he died for Therefore is it a Day of everlasting Joy to all such as are made Partakers thereof never to be forgotten but to be kept in holy remembrance of God's Love to Man in Christ and in performing Christ's Ordinances in which the Love of God in Christ shineth and is evidently set forth unto them And thus much to convince them that say Christ hath not appointed any particular Time for his Gospel-Worship The next Place to answer the seventh day Sabbath Keepers Argument for the seventh Day in opposition to the first Day who say The seventh Day Sabbath is not abolished because it was commanded to be kept by a Moral Precept Ans Though the seventh Day was commanded to be kept by a Moral Precept so likewise the Ordinances for the Worship of God then appointed and chiefly performed on the seventh Day were commanded by a like Moral Precept in the second Commandment And as the Ordinances for Worship then all christians grant are now abolished by Christ though commanded by a Moral Precept being Figures of good things to come by Christ Even so by the like reason the seventh Day Sabbath figuring rest in Christ is abolished by Christ though commanded to be kept by a Moral Precept So though the Ceremonial Ordinances with the Time under the Law are ended yet the Spiritual Equity remaineth of both second and fourth Commandments As for Example as the second Commandment bound all Israel to worship the Living God with the Ordinances given by the hand of Moses and likewise forbid them all Inventions of Men in God's Worship and all Christians grant these Ceremonial Ordinances of the Law are abolished yet the second Commandment remains binding to all Christians now as of old to worship the living God with those Ordinances appointed by the Lord Jesus and no other and likewise forbiddeth all Inventions of Men in the Worship of God under the Gospel Col. 2.20 21 22. So likewise though the seventh Day Sabbath is abolished yet the fourth Commandment remaineth binding to all Christians now to keep one Day in seven holy to the Lord and who should appoint us which Day of the seven but Christ's Example with his Disciples John 20. and his Apostles whose Examples as aforesaid in what they joyntly practised with the Churches are Commands for us to follow as is afore proved Therefore the first Day is the Gospel Sabbath And that all the Sabbaths under the Law are ended is proved by the same Apostle to the Churches Let no Man judg you in Meats or in Drinks or in respect of an holy Day or of the New-Moons or of the Sabbaths which are shadows of good things to come but the Body is of Christ Col. 2.16 17. And thus by the Day-break of the Gospel the Shadows Cant. 2.17 are gone yet not one Tittle of the Moral Law in the Spirituality thereof is abolished Mat. 5.17.18 As doth further appear By the Number Seven in the Law of Moses were many Mysteries shaddowing good things in Christ to be fulfilled To instance a few of many as the sprinkling of the Blood seven times before the Lord signifying a full cleansing of all our Sins by the Blood of Christ Heb. 9.18 1 John 1.9 And seven times sprinkling the Leper Lev. 14.17 And seven days consecrating the Priests Lev. 8.8 The seventh Year a Year of Rest Lev. 25.3 4. and seven times seven Years brought the Jubile Ver. 8 9. And every seventh day was a Sabbath All which Shadows Christ the Substance being come are in him abolished and all that do believe in him are freed from the literal keeping of the same Nevertheless there remaineth a special Use from all these Figures to us that believe being apprehended by Faith in Christ according as Christ himself and his Apostles have applied them for the Saints Use and Comfort As namely when the Altar of Burnt-Offering is mentioned in the New
Testament we are taught the Doctrine of Christ's Oblation Rev. 11.1 Heb. 13.10 So likewise from the Altar of Incense the Doctrine of his Mediatorship Rev. 8.5 So the Passover to the Supper 1 Cor. 5.7 8. Circumcision to Baptism Col. 2.11 the Pillars to the Teachers Gal. 2.9 And when the Tabernacle is mentioned it is a sign of God's dwelling with his People Rev. 21.3 Also the Candlesticks signify the Churches Rev. 1.20 And so likewise the 7th-day-Sabbath to our Rest in Christ Heb. 4.10 From all which Shadows and many more we may draw spiritual Comfort forasmuch as our Faith is not built only on the Doctrine of the Apostles but also upon the Doctrine of the Prophets Christ being held forth to be the chief Corner-Stone in both as they are expounded by Christ and his Apostles And so if the Lord open the Eyes of our Understanding as he did his Disciples Luk. 24.45 we shall behold the wondrous things in God's Law Psal 119.18 Therefore Christ beginning at Moses and in all the Prophets expounded the Scriptures in all things concerning himself which until the vail be taken away from off the eyes and heart none can steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished 2 Cor. 3.13 neither do understand how Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to all that believe Rom. 10.4 yet not one tittle useless but all Scripture is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness able to make the Man of God perfect in all understanding in the mystery of the same 2 Tim. 3.16 as in that mystery why Moses must be honoured above all other Prophets to be buried of God himself Because the Law of Shadows was given by the hand of Moses from God therefore God would have the Shadows of his Son honourably buried by the Lord Jesus who buried all Shadows in the Law with the time himself resting in the grave the whole time of the seventh-day Sabbath so buried all Moses's Shadows in the Law And therefore in this sense is it written The Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. So that by Grace we are saved in Christ and not by the works of the Law as the seventh-day Keepers expect in the New-Testament A form of words saying Remember to keep holy the first day as it was said in the Law to keep the seventh day These with Thomas are weak in the Faith that must feel by the sense of Nature before they will believe and so remain under the Curse and not the Blessing by exercising Faith and not resting on the letter of the Law in expecting a literal Commandment in the Gospel for all our belief and practice and so make the Gospel a secondary Law of Works when all Christians ought to stand on a better foundation and to know that the things chiefly necessary to be specified in the New Testament were the exhibiting the Messiah in the flesh for the redemption of his People with the manner of his Birth Life Doctrine Suffering Death Burial Resurrection and Ascension and sitting at the right-hand of God with the calling of the Gentiles to the Faith with their Infants to be fellow-heirs with the believing Jews and their children forasmuch as the Promises in the Prophets belonged to them with the abolishing the Ordinances with the time in the Law in the literal performance as aforesaid and now to follow the footsteps and examples of Christ and his Apostles who have established by their practices in the Churches new Ordinances new Ministers Maintenance Time and Place for Gospel-Worship c. as we have proved before and that the Apostles with the Churches did keep the first-day of the week for Gospel-Worship so did the Christians some hundreds of years after as is shewed in Anno Christi 111. Ignatius in Epistola ad Magnes after the Sabbath or setting aside the Sabbath as some translate it Let every one that loves Christ keep holy the Lord's Day the Queen of Days the Resurrection day the highest of all Days Anno 150. Justin Martyr Apol. 2. saith Vpon the day call'd Sunday or Lord's Day all that abide within the Cities or Villages do meet together in some place where the Records of the Apostles and Writings of the Prophets are read unto us then standing up together we send up our Prayers to Heaven which being ended there is delivered unto us Bread and Wine And the richest sort every one as his good will is contributeth something towards the relief of the poor Brethren Anno 160. Dionysius Bishop of Corinth in his Epistle to Soter Bishop of Rome Euseb Histor Eccles lib. 4. cap. 22. saith We have spent or passed through the Lords Day to day an holy Day Anno 226. Origen Exod. 16. Homil. 7. saith Vpon the Lords Day the Lord always rains Manna from Heaven namely the heavenly Truth of the Word read and preached to the People All which Testimonies and many more shew that the Christians before Constantine's time did keep the first Day for the gospel-Gospel-Sabbath and not as some have said that the first Day was not kept till Constantine's time which is a gross Mistake for Constantine did not reign till about the Year of our Lord 316. And because as is likely the first Day then as now among Christians was prophaned with Mens corrupt Minds in doing their worldly business and neglect of God's Service therefore did Constantine the Emperor as our King hath now sign an Act or Edict for the better keeping or restraining Abuses in Civil things on the Lord's Day yet the Edict in Constantines time did not any more than this Act in our time doth prove by its then setting forth that the Lord's Day was not kept before as Authors afore named shew before Constantine's time and in our Days before the Act came forth the Lord's Day was kept holy a Sabbath to the Lord though by many much prophaned And thus we see how greatly some that go by the Name of Seventh-Day Men are mistaken to say that the first Day of the VVeek was not kept for Gospel-VVorship till Constantines time Moreover though the seventh Day in the fourth Commandment is abolished and the first Day come in the place yet the Holiness remains to the first as it did to the seventh Day by virtue of the fourth Commandment As for Example If the same Scriptures in the Law commandeth the Worshippers under the Gospel to be holy as God is holy because the Covenant by which the Lord was a Husband to them was holy 1 Pet. 1.15 16. Levit. 11.44 Then the same Scriptures that commanded the Time for Worship under the Law commands the Time for Gospel-Worship to be kept now holy under the Gospel Esay 58.13 14. Moreover as there was a Time when the Seventh-day Sabbath did begin so there is a Time when the Gospel-Sabbath taketh its beginning And because many People in divers Nations differ much about the Time as
them misled in their understandings by some that now keep the seventh Day for the time of Gospel-Worship and also by others who though they say the seventh Day is abolished yet do believe that Christ hath appointed no peculiar Day for his Gospel-Worship and others that say every Day is alike to them and keep no Day conscionably at all only meet for fushions sake when others do partly by that opportunity to draw People to their way and also for fear if they open their Shops they should be punished by the Magistrate First We direct our Words to those that say Christ under the Gospel appointed no peculiar day for his Worship Such ought to know That as it stands not to the Honour of Kings and Princes and Masters of Servants to appoint their Subjects and Servants their Work and leave the Time to their Discretion when they think good to do the same How much more doth it not stand with the Honour of our Lord Jesus Prince of the Kings of the Earth Lord of Lords and only Lawgiver to his Church or Subjects having appointed new Ordinances for his Worship that he should leave the Time to their Pleasure when they shall think good to perform the same And were it so as they suppose that Christ hath appointed no peculiar day for his Worship when as he hath commanded his Church not to forsake the assembling of themselves together and promised his Presence to be with them which if the time is not by his appointment but theirs is not this to make the Lord to wait on his Subjects pleasure and not they on his when he shall meet with them and not when they should meet with him which is contrary to the Order of God both in Grace and Nature even against the Honour and Prerogative of a King over his Subjects of a Master over his Servants bringing a Babel or Confusion both in Church and State and an Article of the Romish Faith about the time of God's Worship who say they are bound to believe as the Church believes in this and many other things 2. We are to know that the living God is a God of Order but it was not his Way and Order from the very beginning of the Creation to appoint Man his Work and leave the Time to his Discretion for Adam by Creation was only Lord of the Earth and all things therein but by a Covenant Estate made between the Lord and himself he was made Heir of Heaven by Promise confirmed to him by two Sacramental Signs set before them one called the Tree of Life representing Christ the now Tree of Life in the spiritual Garden of his Church Rev. 22.1 the Way and no other to Heaven from the beginning Acts 4.12 The other called the Tree of Knowledg signifying the a Law now in the spiritual Garden of God the Church of Christ by which is the knowledge of Sin which Tree of Knowledg in the figure was then forbidden Adam and his Wife to touch or meddle with the fruit thereof as we are now by the Law by eating or believing that by the works or fruits thereof we can be made happy eternally And thus Adam and his VVife b willingly covenanted with their Creator to serve and obey the Pleasure of his VVill but the Lord left not the Time to their c discretion but after he had ordered them six days for their bodily Exercise in d dressing of the Garden and such like civil Employments did also appoint them a Sabbath of holy Rest in his Service to imploy their Minds in the Meditation of God's Love to them in the benefit of the Sacramental Signs aforesaid and likewise to praise the Lord for all his Mercies in all the VVorks of his Creation made for their e sakes and also to teach them that by the Time of God's Service instituted by the Lord for them that it was a Sign to them the Lord had sanctified them a Rom. 7.7 b Gen. 3.2 c Gen. 2.3 d Ver. 15. e Deut. 4.19 f Ezek. 20.12 3. After Man's Fall Moses the first VVriter of holy Scripture ending his first Book called Genesis or Generations with Israel going into Aegypt a Figure of Man's Captivity by the Fall of Adam and his Generations in him Rom. 5. beginneth his next Book called Exodus or Departure upon Israel's being called to depart out of Aegypt and by the Covenant of Grace after they were come out made with them in Christ they became the Lords People a holy Nation Exod. 19. Unto whom the Lord after gave his Law with Ordinances for his VVorship But here we are to note he did not leave the Time to their Discretion when they thought good to do the same but appointed them the seventh-Seventh-day Sabbath afore given to the first Adam by the Lord and to Israel by the hand of Moses and hereupon the Holy Ghost witnesseth of Moses that he was faithful in the House of God as a Servant who being a Figure of Christ in his Prophetical Priestly and Kingly Offices appointing both the Ordinances for Worship and also the Time And as Christ who is said to be like unto Moses yea more than a Servant to wit a Son and faithful in his own House inasmuch as he hath not only appointed new Ordinances for his Worship but also a new Time and so in nothing was he inferiour to Moses as those people would make him that say he hath appointed no particular Day for his Worship under the Gospel But Christ's Disciples were better acquainted with the mind of the Lord and knew that the day of Christ's Resurrection was the Gospel Sabbath Therefore on the first Day did they assemble together to Prayer and Religious Duties Christ himself appearing among them after he was risen justifying their Faith and Practice in proclaiming peace unto them John 20.19 4. Accordingly did the Apostle Paul practise by the Spirit of Faith who coming to Troas with his Company abode there seven days and did not assemble with the Disciples there to perform Christ's Ordinances for Worship till the first day of the Week whose example is written for our learning Phil. 3.17 Acts 20.7 Vpon the first day of the Week the Disciples came together to break Bread that is to communicate in the Lord's Supper as a remembrance of Christ's Death who died for their Sins and rose the first day for their Justification And likewise the Ordinance of Contribution commanded on the first Day not to be neglected but perform'd because it is an odour of a sweet-smelling Sacrifice to the Lord in the Church of God and therefore are Deacons appointed to attend on that work to gather the free-gift of the Saints then cast into the Lord's Treasury in his Spiritual Temple of living stones that the Deacons may according to the Wisdom of God given them distribute it to the maintenance of the Minister and relief of the poor Saints Now then if God's way is to be preferr'd as it is the best then
the Athenians kept the first Day from Evening to Evening as the Jews kept their Sabbath the Chaldeans begin the time at Sun-rising the Aegyptians at Noon but most People in these Western parts of the World keep the first Day from Midnight to Midnight which most agreeth with the time of Christ's Resurrection who lying in the Grave the whole Seventh-day Sabbath rose most likely so soon as the seventh Day ended because then the first Day began with the Sun-rising for it riseth to us after twelve a clock So Christ the Sun of Righteousness is said to be risen very early in the Morning while it was yet dark John 20.1 So then the Seventh-day Sabbath was past Mat. 16.1 at the rising of the Sun Acts 2. For it may be said the Sun is risen after twelve a clock as we call it Morning at one a clock about which time our Gospel-Sabbath takes its beginning and endeth about the same time as Paul upon an extraordinary occasion continued his Preaching with the Performing of the rest of Christ's Ordinances till twelve a Clock of the First Day of the Week at Night Acts 20.7 And as the time being changed to the first Day with the Holiness thereof even so by the virtue of the fourth Commandment are we also forbidden all manner of Work on the first Day as was forbidden on the seventh Day of old As saith the Prophet If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a Delight the holy of the Lord honourable not doing thy one pleasures nor speaking thy own words Isa 58.13 Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord ver 14. But it is much to be feared that Gospel Professors are not acquainted with this Scripture when on the first Day of the Week they can work in their Trade apart some all day some carry home Work sell Wares write Letters of worldly Business ride Journies make Bargains and cast up their Books of Accompts take Voyage to Sea Let all such know that because Sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily therefore the heart of the Sons of Men is fully set in them to do evil Eccles 8 11. God will punish the Breakers of this Time for Gospel-Worship as he did the Breakers of the seventh-Seventh-day Sabbath under the Law Moreover If the Lord made it a special Reason that Israel of old should keep the Seventh day Sabbath upon their Deliverance out of Aegypt on which Day it may be supposed they came out Deut. 5.15 Sure our Spiritual Deliverance from the Spiritual Bondage of Sin and Satan of which Bondage Aegypt was a Figure is therefore a more weightier reason why we should keep the Day of our Deliverance even the first Day of the Week the Day wherein the Redemption of all the Elect was accomplished by Christ's Resurrection from the dead And again if Israel were enjoyned to keep the Seventh-day upon their Deliverance how much more are all Christians bound upon the same Ground and Reasons to keep the Day of our Deliverance And again If the bringing of Israel out of Aegypt was such a Work as God for the memorial thereof made both the Day and Month the Beginning and first Month of the Year which was not so before Exod. 12.2 and the Deliverance as afore but a Figure of our Spiritual How much more then is that Day to be accounted of and kept holy above all Days in the Year in which we were delivered from our Spiritual Bondage by the Resurrection of Christ who suffered on that day that Sin was first committed in Paradise and also after he had suffered for Sin lay in the Grave the Seventh day Sabbath the chief time that the Sacrifice for Sin was consumed on the Altar And thus when the holy Scriptures which consist of Prophecies Histories Parables Mysteries Statutes Judgments and the like are rightly as saith the Apostle divided we may not be ashamed as some whom he blamed that desired to be Teachers of the Law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm keeping the seventh-Seventh-day Sabbath for the Gospel-Sabbath mingling the Law and Gospel together either in our Justification before God and likewise in practice by keeping the Letter of the Law in the seventh-Seventh-day Sabbath as the only Time for Gospel-Worship so making the Lord Jesus in his Church inferior to Moses And lastly Having given this brief observation of the state of the Church of Christ from his Ascension to the end of the World with the Confession of Faith in which the Primitive Churches were established and the heavenly Order they performed all the Ordinances of Christ with the Ministry Maintenance and Time Let the Reader wisely observe that in this last Age of the World we are told that after the last glorious Reformation under the seventh Angel as is described in the Preface Satan will be loosed out of his Restraint or Prison again and because he knows he hath but a short time will gather together his Armies comprehended under the name of Gog and Magog Rev. 20. whose names signify covered or to cover to wit but not with my Spirit saith the Lord Isa 30.1 but with his Angelick Doctrines as if they came from Heaven So will he use his uttermost sleights to deceive as Christ saith if it were possible the very Elect by his false Apostles and Prophets with their vain titles and gilded shews of Church and Ministry So that the Harlot or false Church called a Beast is said to have Horns like the Lamb Christ Rev. 13.11 yea she is said to be arrayed with Purple and Scarlet gilded with Gold precious Stones and Pearls Rev. 17.4 as if she were the Queen and Spouse of Christ Psal 45.9 13. Ezek. 16.10 13. Cant. 7.5 She hath Peace-offerings and Vows Prov. 7.14 as if she were the very Church of God Psal 66.13 Bread and Water to refresh her Children Prov. 9.16 17. and her number great and many Jer. 5.7 yet but a well-favoured Harlot Nah. 3.4 who by her alluring tongue whereby she lieth in wait to deceive Eph. 4.14 Rom 16.18 hath cast down many wounded yea many strong men have been slain by her for her house is the way to Hell going down to the Chambers of Death Prov. 7.26 27. Therefore what special care ought every one to have that tender their souls eternal happiness to examine what estate they are in and whether the Congregation they are members of be the true Church of God seeing in these last days Christ telleth us that many false Christs and false Prophets shall arise and deceive many Now if in Nature we were warned of these dangers and harms to the Body what strong watch would we set at our gates both night and day to prevent it how much more being warned by these Lines of the dangers of these last and perilous days wherein so many unstable souls are beguiled that never try by God's Word what they hear but if it suit with the natural sense it is yeelded to for a Truth when as the natural man cannot judg in matters of Faith seing he perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God and so upon this false ground is the whole Gospel of Christ perverted and made a secondary Law of works that if men believe as the general part of the Church believes it is true belief and if they go to hear a Sermon and sometimes break Bread it is all the service God requires of them in the Church or Congregation Let us intreat such not thus to deceive themselves or any longer be led away by Deceivers to think if they imitate a part of God's service or without Faith in what they do they are in a good condition Let such know the contrary for Cain as well as Abel offered sacrifice yet were not both accepted Gen. 4. Israel in their Apostacy erected a Temple an Altar and Ministry 1 King 12.28 And did not the two women plead both considently for the living Child 1 King 3.16 and whose could it be but hers that loved it most Even so who is the true Church of Christ but they that love him most and who are those Churches that love Christ most but they that keep all his Commandments as it is written He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Joh. 14.21 But how shall such Churches be said to love Christ that shut out of his Church or Kingdom his true Ministry and also the performance of several of his Ordinances For proof thereof we refer the conscienable Reader that will judg without partiality comparing the practice of the Church in this day and their faith to the primitive practice that we the poor despised Christians falsly called Brownists have here set down as our Belief and Practice desiring the Lord in his mercy to bless these our Labours to this Generation even the elect among them that they seeing their Lords pleasure may flee to him whom they love in his true Church as Doves to their windows Isae 60.8 Now to him that is able to keep us from falling even the only wise God and our Lord Jesus Christ be all Glory Honour and Praise rendred now and for evermore Amen FINIS
29. d Mat. 21.43 e 1 Thess 2.12 Rev. 1.9 Heb. 12.28 f 1 Chron. 24.25 26. g 1 Pet. 2.9 h Rev. 4.5 Levit. 24.8 Numb 8.2 i Rev. 10.4 k Rev. 5.5 l John 15.15 Col. 2.3 m Mat. 13.11 n Rom. 16.25 Again 2. In chap. 6 is shewed How that for the Sins of the Churches who began to revolt from the Faith once given to the Saints which they were commanded to a contend for but neglecting their b Watch herein Hypocrites crept in among them deluding them by their c fair Speeches so deceiving the hearts of the simple they soon embraced the Doctrine of Antichrist for many Opposers of the Truth were in those days And so the Churches fell more and more from the Truth as was clearly signified by the opening of the Seals Rev. 6. and sounding of the Trumpets Rev. 8. So that the Sun wherewith the Church was cloathed became black as d Sackcloth of Hair the Moon bloody the Stars the Ministers fell from the heavenly Doctrines of Faith to e earthly things like unto the Doctrine of these times that Men speak evil of those things they cannot comprehend by f corrupt Nature So that the heavenly State of the Church was rolled up together as a g Scroll That as God of old delivered his Church for like sins into the hands of the old Babylonians who destroyed both Temple and City and killed many and would not suffer their Bodies to be put in the h Grave Even so did the Lord deliver the Christians into the hands of the Spiritual Babylon the Romish Harlot who like old Babylon killed many of God's Servants and would not suffer their Bodies to be put in the i Grave Notwithstanding though the Beast was said in a sense to overcome k he Saints yet he could not for they were with Christ in this War the called chosen and faithful l all the time of the thousand Years of the Beasts Reign and would not worship the Beast nor his Image neither had received his Mark in their Foreheads by openly yielding unto his Canons nor secretly in their Hands by paying his Priests their duties as they call them but by Falth keeping the Commands of God they lived and m reigned with Christ a thousand years on n Earth and this was in the time of the Beast's Reign else the Praise given them by God's Spirit had not been properly belonging unto them of not worshipping the Beast So that they are under a great Mistake that have taught from Rev. 20.4 that the Saints have not yet reigned with Christ on Earth and how many have been deceived in this Point by them when the Saints Reign on Earth is not after an earthly manner as in pag. 18. is shewed but over Sin the World and the Devil and this is the Saints Victory even their Faith So saith Paul I have fought the good Fight I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown not of Gold as some expect on Earth but of Righteousness and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ a Jude v. 3. b 1 Cor. 16.13 c Rom. 16.18 d Rev. 6 12. e Phil. 3.19 f Jude 10. John 6.60 g Rev. 6.14 h Psal 79.1 2 3. 2 Chron. 36.19 20. i Rev. 11.8 9. k Rev. 13.7 l Rev. 17.14 m Rev. 20.4 n Rev. 5.10 3. As God of old in Wrath remembred mercy to his ancient Church captivated in Babylon signified to Ezekiel there by the little Book given him to a eat that he must prophesie again to the dry b Bones to call them to Repentance and to return and build the Temple as was further signified to Zachary by a measuring c Line shewed him that Jerusalem should be built and the Temple in it and God's Worship restored as was accomplished in the days of Nehemiah Ezra Zachary and Haggai As their Books do shew at large Even so did the Lord in Wrath remember Mercy to his Church captivated by the spiritual Babylon Therefore by a like Sign as was shewed to Ezekiel so to John that he must eat the little d Book signifying how the Lord after a thousand years of the Beasts Reign would raise up his faithful Servants and deliver his Captives as was fulfilled in the end of the sixth Seal Rev. 7. and the beginning of the seventh with a measure of John's Spirit to call his Elect out of the Spiritual e Babylon the Romish Church the great City which reigned over the Kings of the Earth whose f City was so large as she reigned over all People Kindreds Tongues and Nations where her Canons and Orders were obeyed So that to the Elect among these must the Eaters of the little Book prophesy as Ezekiel did to the dry Bones that lay dead in the g Antichristian Errors So that the rest of the dead lived not again h since their Fall in Adam and their own Trespasses and Sins since comitted in spiritual i Fornication with the Romish Harlot until the thousand years Reign of the Beast was ended which time of her Reign to wit her Eclesiastical Estate in making Laws over Mens Consciences began about the year of our Lord 313 or 315. and made not an end of making Laws till about the year 1564. The Councel of Trent was the last wherein the Beast perceiving that the Lord began to raise up his Servants to shew all Nations deluded by her k Sorceries the Judgment of the great Whore who now did gather together her Armies of m Locusts in this last Councel but all in vain as was said to Ezekiel when God's time was come to deliver his People out of old Babylon The Time is at hand and the n Effect of every Vision So was it in like sence said to John There shall be Time no o longer But in the dayes of the Voice of the seventh Angel when he shall begin to sound the Mysteries of God shall be finished as he hath declared to his Servants the Prophets So that it appeareth the last great Mystery in the Prophets before Christ's coming to Judgment was to raise up all his Elect out of the Graves of Sin as is this last restoring of his Church out of the spiritual Babylon so that from the time the Kingdom of Israel was divided under p Rehoboam there was no Mystery more to be observed from that Estate as it is written Behold Israel 1 Cor. 10.18 but in their Captivity and Return out of the same Which second Temple building answered this second Restauration as aforesaid in these last days A Point worth observing a Ezek. 3.3 b Ezek. 3.7 c Rev. 18.4 f Rev. 17.18 g Eph. 2.1 2. h Rev. 20.5 i Rev. 17.2 k Rev. 18.23 l Rev. 17.1 m Rev. 9.3 n Ezek. 12.22 o Rev. 10.6 p 1 Kin. 11.11 12 13. 4. The Time when the seventh Angel began to sound or the Eaters of the little Book began to prophesy as aforesaid was about the year of our Lord 1541. To mention one one or two
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
Vespasian and his Souldiers destroyed not so many of them in the Siege as the Sects in the City destroyed one another who remain in dispersion to this day yet we believe God will call his Elect among them by what means in his Wisdom he knoweth best A fair warning for the Gentile Churches when God will have his Controversie with them for their Errors in Faith and Disorder in Worship for if God spared not his ancient People but punished them for their sins as aforesaid how shall the Gentile Churches living in their sins think to escape the Judgments of God which hang over them in this and other Nations for their declining from the Lord's Truth since the last Reformation a Ezek. 34.26 b John 14.21 c Mat. 22.37 e Jer. 23. f Luke 7.9 g John 2.14 h Mat. 15.6 i Mat. 5.6 7. k Psal 83. l John 6.60 66. m Luke 21.20 24. While some deny that heavenly Doctrine of Election taught by the Apostles as a special Comfort to the hearts of God's Children others teach the Elect may totally fall from their * Election God's †Preservation of them Some teach that the everlasting Covenant of Grace in Christ made with Abraham and his Children to wit that God would be a God to him and his Seed was but a carnal Covenant Some also teach that Christ shall come from Heaven and reign a thousand years on Earth as an earthly Prince with the temporal Sword Some hold and practise that Men not in office of Pastor or Teacher may administer the ordinance of Water-Baptism the visible Sign or Seal of God's Covenant in Christ Some believe that the Infants of Believers have not now as of old right to the Sign or Seal of the Covenant and that all Infants in the World to wit of Believers Jews Turks and Pagans are in respect of the Promises of Life and Salvation in an equal State Some believe that the Soul is mortal and dieth with the Body contrary to these Scriptures Eccles 12.7 Gen. 35.18 Psal 146.4 1 Kings 17.21 22. Luke 23.43 Some deny the Ordinance of Singing of Psalms in holy Scriptures in the time of God's Worship though given to the Church of God in express Command by the hand of the Prophet even to sing the Words of Asaph and David 2 Chron 29.25 30. and never yet repealed but commended to the Church of Christ under the Gospel Others deny the holy Order of making and ordaining Ministers by the consent of the Flock they are Members of and over whom they must take care to watch for their Souls And also some deny that Ordinance of Prophesying in the Church by those of the Brethren upon whom the Lord hath bestowed his Gifts and Graces though not in Office Others deny the first Day of the Week to be the gospel-Gospel-Sabbath Others hold it lawful in their Congregations that if a Brother be deluded in his understanding to deny his Baptism in Infancy and though he be informed by them that there is no warrant for rebaptizing any Person that was baptized before into the Name of Jesus than there was for re-circumcising those circumcised in Apostacy yet they yield to his Fancy rather than Faith that he may be baptized again and by one which calleth himself a Baptist in their disorderly Way And now this Brother being again baptized in his own Judgment and by his Practice doth say that the Congregation he was of are all unbaptized Persons and that Person new baptized is made by his Baptism no more a Member of their Church seeing they hold that Persons are made Members of true Churches by Covenant and not by Baptism as the rebaptized say Yet for all this the Congregation that allowed this Brother to be baptized do still receive him into their Communion in the Lords Supper though they with him are all condemned in themselves in that they have allowed Rom. 14.22 Two such contrary Seeds or Beliefs which in figure was forbidden to be sowed together Deut. 22.9 in the Lords Vineyard Esay 5.7 the Church of God and contrary to the Doctrine of the Gospel as it is written Now I beseech you Brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus that ye all speak the same things and that there be no division among you but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgment 1 Cor. 1.10 So that it appears though Differences did arise in the Churches by reason of Hypocrites that did creep in among them Jude 4. in the Apostles days yet they were not suffered to abide unless they renounced their erroneous perswasion See John 2.9 10 11. 1 Tim. 6.3 4 5. Tit. 3.10 11. Rom. 16.17 18. 2 Tim. 2.16 17 18. 1 Tim. 1.19 20. Gal. 5.7 8 9. * 1 Pet. 1.2 Eph. 1.4 5. Rom. 8.29 to 34. 1 Thess 1.3 4. 2 Pet. 1.10 11. Mat. 24.24 Acts 3 48. †John 10.28 Jer 32.40 Rom. 11.29 1 John 3.9 Psal 37.24 Mat. 24.24 And again what blind Watchmen have these Congregations that see this evil of Judgment arising and sound not the Trumpet against it See Ezek. 3.1 to 6. but yield that the Evil shall be accomplished Unto such a Church saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 11.19 20. Ye suffer Fools gladly for ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage Wo to such blind Guides that look more after the Fleece or Gain from their Flock than after the Souls whom they shall account for before God to suffer the Church to be mixed in the Lords Plough Deut. 22.10 with a Ox or an Ass together for two such contrary Judgments cannot be both clean Yet more abominations do we see in these last and perillous days among the Ancients in Israel Ezek. 8 that are ashamed of their hoary Heads Lev. 19.32 Prov. 20.29 and shave off all their Beards which God forbiddeth Lev. 19.27 because it is one sign in Nature to distinguish Man from Woman 2 Sam. 10.4 5. Psal 133 2. So that the Beard is an honour to the Man and long hair a glory to the VVoman before her fall which since she must cover as we have handled in a particular Treatise about Hair not long since set forth so many as we have left in our hands shall be put at the end of this Treatise to which we refer the Reader But what Ministers have we in this last Age of the VVorld that as aforesaid shave not only all the gray hairs of their Beards but also shave their Heads and wear Perriwigs made of VVomans hair are these Men Ministers or Rev. 9.8 Monsters let Nature be Judg as it is written Doth not even Nature it self teach you that it is a shame for a Man to wear long hair 1 Cor. 11.4 Are such as these spiritual men that are ignorant what is the shame of Nature Surely then they would not walk so to be judged of man that is condemned in Nature Man being in honour and understandeth not is like the Beast that perisheth Psal 49.20 and
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
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
soals of thy feet Isa 60.14 As the Converts did in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 14.25 and in the Church of Philadelphia Rev. 3.9 who came and heard and attended upon the Ordinances of Christ in his Church where Christ as a k Prophet was represented in his Ministry in the Ordinance of Teaching working upon the knowledge of the Hearers that they may discern Sin and Righteousness 2dly as a Priest working upon the Will and Affections killing them a sacrifice that a new and reasonable Creature may be given up to God in his service Heb. 9.11 14. Rom. 12.1 3ly In this time of government now as a l King on his Throne effectually working upon their hearts that the things taught by Prophecy and applied by Priesthood may be orderly practised in a holy Life And thus the Man whose name is the m BRANCH shall bear the Glory and shall sit and rule upon his Throne And he shall be a Priest on his Throne and the Counsel of Peace shall be between them both And thus he must reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his Feet 1 Cor. 15.25 compared with Psal 110.1 fulfilling the words of the Angel to Mary according to the words of the Prophet Isa 9. Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and the Lord shall give unto him the Throne of his father David to reign over both Jews and Gentiles in the Church of God Luke 1.31 32. Rom. 15.12 whom David figured in his terrestrial warfare now spiritually fulfilled in the Church by Jesus Christ and therefore to the Church of God in Philadelphia it is written concerning Christ who is the King of Saints Rev. 15.3 and hath the Key of David that openeth the gates of the City New Jerusalem or Church of God that the Regenerate or Righteous Nation to wit the believing Parents and their Children may enter in in the time of Government who by Covenant do become the Lord's People Deut. 29.10 11. Act. 2.47 Thus in the Church when the Mysteries of Faith are purely taught and opened as the Truth is in Jesus and the Ordinances of Christ in holy Order performed then doth the Spouse or Queen of Christ at his right-hand Psal 45.9 behold the King in his Beauty Isa 33.17 Psal 27.4 90.17 Cant. 5.10 the chiefest among ten thousand Moreover because the Church or Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a Draw-Net that gathereth good and bad to wit some Hypocrites among the Elect. When any such appear to be in the Church and not of it according to God's Order such for their evil-deeds or Heresy being brought in order to the Throne of Christ in his Church in this time of Government and by their obstinacy in sin are known to be dross then according to the Proverb purge out the drose And again Cast out the Scorner and Contention and Strife shall cease Prov. 25.45 22.10 and by this n order of Government Christ's Kingdom is purged the Church is preserved in peace and all confusion avoided the unclean or o leavened persons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ put out from among them for the destruction or humbling of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus And whilst the Excommunicated person remaineth impenitent in such a condition he is not fit to be received in again until he repent a 1 Tim. 3.5 1 Cor. 12.28 b Mat. 18.20 Exod. 25.8 and 20.24 c Rev. 4.2 and 5.6 and 7.17 Luke 1.32 d John 18.36 e Mat. 22.42 43 44 45. Psal 100.3 f 1 Tim. 1.13 Rom. 5.10 g Zach. 10.3 Rev. 19.14 h Rom. 12.2 Psal 2.13 i Rom. 6 12 13 14 19. k Acts 3.22 l Rev. 19.16 m Zach. 6.12 13. n 1 Cor. 14.33 40. o Mat. 16.6 1 Cor. 5. Now then these things being so according as the Truth is in Jesus what a gross Mistake are some Men under who call themselves Baptists who have published in their Confession of Faith to the World from Rev. 11.15 presented to King Charles the II. from these Words That the Kingdoms of this World there spoken of which shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ's are say they the Kingdomes of this World which men so mightily strive after when all know that the Kingdoms of this World which men so mightily strive after are such Kingdoms as England Spain and Denmark and the like which are governed by Civil Magistrates according to Gods Ordinance whose Office and Sword they have received next under God to be Heads of their Kingdoms Whether such Magistrates be Believers or no a yet all Christians are bound to obey them not for b fear but for Conscience sake and that in the Lord. a Acts 25.11 b Rom. 13.5 2. To help these Men to see their Mistake in interpreting Prophecies literally and that others may not be deceived by them let the Reader further note That Christ hath his Office next under God to be a a Head and Mediator to his Church and the Magistrates have their Office next under God to be Heads of their Kingdoms These two Governments being both ordained of God yet so distinct the one from the other as they neither do nor can take in hand the Work peculiarly belonging unto one another for which cause it may appear that God divided his Laws into two Tables the one appertaining to the worship and service of God in his Church or Kingdom Christ by it spiritually governing the same the other concerning temporal matters in things appertaining to this Life between man and man which last Work appertaineth to the civil Magistrates Office therefore would not Christ meddle with the c civil Sword in Government d because his Kingdom was not to be of this World neither would he decide civil Controversies e though desired thereunto a Eph. 1.22 b Rom. 13. Job 12.24 c Mat. 26.52 d John 18.36 e Luke 12.14 3. On the other hand the Kings of Judah a might not meddle with the Priests work to burn Incense yet the Magistrates Office when Israel was under Heathen Governours might be performed by them in that Nation and the Israelites bound to b obey them in all their Commands according to the second Table of Gods Law as appeareth by their appointting c Officers judging Controversies and punishing d Malefactors and the Israelites bound to pray e for the peace of that Nation Therefore so long as the two Tables of Gods Law remain unjoyned together so long the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdoms of this World which Christ's Kingdom is not of will remain distinct the one from the other for which cause Christ paid them Tribute f and commanded his Subjects so to do g teaching us that his Office was subordinate unto them in civil things and also to pray for their good both in body and soul And when it pleaseth the Lord in whose hands the hearts of all Kings and Magistrates are to turn their hearts to obey his Truth and they become
Members of Christ's Church as many Heathen Magistrates in the Apostles days were h then are they said to have their portion in the Holy Land and they do bring their honour and glory as the Gentiles their i riches in becoming Nursing-fathers k preserving the Church from outward Injuries while they in Spirit and in Truth l worshipthe Lord in keeping his Commandments and so the m Earth is said to help the Woman As these Scriptures shew a 2 Chron. 26.16 18. b Jer. 27.6 8 12. c Jer. 40.5 d Jer. 29.22 23. e Jer. 29.7 f Mat. 17.24 25 26 27. g Rom. 13.6 h Ezek. 48.21 i Isa 60.3 6. Rev. 21.24 k Numb 11.12 Isa 49.23 l John 4.24 Phil. 3.3 Rev. 22.14 m Rev. 12.16 Again there are three Kingdoms here on Earth first the Kingdom of Magistratical a Government in Nations secondly the Kingdom or spiritual b Government of Christ in his Church thirdly the Kingdom of c Darkness where Satan the d Prince of this World ruleth in the hearts of the children of e disobedience The two first Kingdoms or Governments are ordained of God the third was usurped of the Devil The time when his Kingdom began was so soon as Man fell by his means into f Sin and thus Satan as a strong Man armed took g possession in our first Parents until a stronger than he came upon him and dispossest him to wit Christ by God promised to them that the Seed of the h Woman to wit Christ should bruise the Serpents Head and God gave them faith to believe the same and thus Christ threw out i and took possession in his Elect Children whom the Father had given k him to dwell in their hearts l by faith Thus the War began betwixt Christ and Satan in Paradise a figure of the m Church and n Heaven it self so that in a Mystery it is written There was War in Heaven o Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels and prevailed not neither was place found any more in Heaven for them Thus Christ in the purpose of God and in the fulness of time by his death spoiled p Principalities and Powers as it is written For this purpose the Son of God was manifest that he might q destroy the Works of the Devil Thus Christ by the Ministry of his Word as a r Prophet worketh upon the knowledge of his Elect Children that they may discern Sin and Righteousness as a Priest to work upon the Will and Affections s killing them a t sacrifice Which Work of Christ Abel by faith saw by killing the sacrifice he was worthy to die and by offering it up on the Altar he u confessed that Christ must die for his Sins but Cain who was not of the number of the Elect yet shewed he a form of Godliness offered his m Sacrifice as Hypocrites do without faith therefore it was not accepted as Abel's was for which cause he x slew his Brother so he is said to be of that wicked One in whose posterity Satan had his Kingdom called the World of y ungodly which perished in the Flood and their Spirits remain in prison in expectation of endless woe to have their portion with him they served a Rom. 13.2 b Psal 149.6 7 8 9. Mat. 18.18 c Rev. 16.10 Eph. 6.12 d John 14.30 e Eph. 2.2 f Gen. 3.1 John 3.8 g Luke 11.21 h Gen. 3.15 i Heb. 2.14 15. k John 6.37 39. l Eph. 3.17 m Cant. 4.12 n Luke 23.43 o Rev. 12.7 Dan. 12.1 p Col. 2.15 q 1 John 3.8 r Acts 3.22 s Phil. 2.13 t Rom. 12.1 u Heb. 10.4 Psal 40.6 7. Gal. 3.24 w Prov. 15.8 Isa 66.3 x 1 John 3.12 y 2 Pet. 2.5 1 Pet. 3.19 Mat. 25.41 Moreover after the Flood Satan began his Kingdom again in Noah's Son Canaan the Son of Ham whom Noah a cursed for his sin of tale-bearing who ought to have b concealed and not to have reproached his Father nevertheless in the Field of the c World God hath his Elect in whom as aforesaid Satan ruleth for a while until Christ by the Word of his Grace worketh Repentance in them to the acknowledgment of the Truth that they may be recovered out of the d snare of the Devil captivated by him at his will Thus we see the Work of Christ is to dispossess Satans Government or Kingdom out of the hearts of his Elect as is opened to us in Rev. 11. When Gods time was come that he would restore his Church by raising up of his Elect out of the e grave of sin wherein they lay f dead under the Antichristian Errors and Doctrines of Devils whom the Lord g awakened by the h Lightnings and thundering Power of his Law as was signified by the Temple of God being opened in Heaven and the voices of his servants signified under the seventh Angel sounding his true Doctrine out of the same which caused such an Earthquake or trembling that some like i Felix trembled yet not bettered but were angry to have the Doctrine of eternal k Judgment preached against the Romish Hirlot their Mother who had made all Nations drunk with the Wine or salfe Doctrine of her Fornication in this Earthquake Others like as the m Jaylor were converted insomuch that the tenth part of the City n fell from the belief of the Antichristian Errors to believe the Doctrine of Christ's Temple and Altar See the Preface to the Reader Thus the o Arrows of Gods Truth pricking the hearts of the Elect wrought so effectually that there was slain of Men or Names of Men p seven thousand now no more to be q named of the number of the Beast but of the number of the r Names that do follow the Lord Jesus on such is written a new s Name even the Name of the City of the Heavenly Jerusalem the Mother of all God's Children So that now in whom Satan had his Kingdom by ruling in them Christ by faith now dwelleth and ruleth which causeth the Angels who are round about the Throne of Christ in his Church to rejoyce at the conversion of poor sinners and so likewise do the Saints as it is written There were great voices in Heaven to wit in the Church saying The Kingdoms of this World are become the u Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever And again Now is come salvation and strength and the w Kingdom of our God for the Accuser of our Brethren is east down And thus the Kingdom of the World that Abraham was Heir of to wit the World of the Elect which in the dispensation of times are brought into subjection to Christ by the faith of Abraham as it is written If ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed and Heirs according to promise a Gen. 9.25 29. b Prov. 11.12 13. 17.19 c Mat. 13.28 d 2 Tim. 2.25 26. e Ezek. 37.13 John 5.25 f Rev. 20.5 Eph. 2.1 g Eph. 5.14 h Hos 6.5