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
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-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-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-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
allowance of our Liberties in the service of God according to his Word we must notwithstanding not forsake the a assembling of our selves together but walk together in the obedience of Christ and b confession of his Faith and Gospel even through the midst of all Trials not accounting our c Goods Lands d Wives Children Father Mother Brethren or Sisters nor our own e Lives dear unto us so as we may finish our f Course with Joy remembring we ought to obey g God rather than Man that so when we have finished our Course and have kept the Faith we may certainly expect to be given unto us the Crown of Righteousness which is laid up for all that love his appearing so that in the mean time we labour to give unto God the things that are h Gods and unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto all men that which i belongeth to them so endeavouring to have a k Conscience void of offence towards God and towards Man and having hope in God that the Resurrection of the l dead shall be of the just unto Life and of the unjust unto Condemnation everlasting If any take this to be m Heresy then do we with the Apostle confess after the way they call Heresy we worship God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ believing all things that are written in the Law and Prophets and Apostles on which foundation all true Christian n Faith is built Christ being the chief Corner-stone Now unto him that is able to keep us that we fall not even to the only wise God and our Saviour be Glory Majesty Dominion and Power both now and for ever Amen a Heb. 10.25 b Mat. 10.32 Rom. 10.9 1 John 4.15 c Heb. 10.34 d Luke 14.26 27. e Acts 21.13 f 2 Tim. 4.7 8. g Acts 4.19 2 Tim. 4.8 h Mat 22.21 i Rom. 12.17 and 13.8 k Acts 24.15 16. l Luke 14.14 Acts 23.6 1 Cor. 15. John 5.29 m Acts 24.14 n Eph. 2.20 A Description of the true Church of Christ with the Practice of all her Ordinances in that holy Order and Government which Christ by his Apostles established the Primitive Churches in as a Pattern for all true Christians to follow the Lamb on Mount Sion in the performance of his Worship With several grounded Reasons from the holy Scriptures to prove that the first Day of the Week is the Gospel-Sabbath With many-useful Observations needful to be known in this Age for the unfolding of the Right Use and Benefit of every Ordinance according to Gods holy Order SEeing glorious things are spoken of the City of God Psal 87.3 let us therefore take a view how and by whom this City or true Church of God was first planted in this Island of Great-Britain The Welch or British People the first Inhabitants of this Land as Gildas affirmeth received the Gospel in the time of Tiberius the Emperor under whom Christ suffered Acts and Mon. Book 2. Pag. 95. He also saith that Joseph of Arimathes after the dispersion of the Jews was sent of Philip the Apostle from France into Britain about the Year of our our Lord 63 and remained in Britain all his time who with his fellows laid the first foundation of the Christian Faith among the British People Gild. de lib. Vict. Aurelii Ambrosii Onesephorus saith that Simon Zelotes did spread the Gospel of Christ to the West Ocean and brought the same into the Isle of Britain Oneseph lib. 2. cap. 4. And thus we see the British People received the faith of Christ and not from Rome fulfilling the Words of the Prophet The Isles shall wait for his Law Isa 42.4 As is expounded by Christ The Gentiles shall trust in his Name Mat. 12. And thus the Gospel was preached to every Creature to wit of Mankind under Heaven Col. 1.22 And the Lords Name was great among the Heathen Mal. 1.11 as was promised to be given to Christ for his Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for his Possession And thus Christ by the preaching of the Gospel being King of Saints is set upon his holy Hill Mount Sion Psal 2.6 8. Rev. 14.1 Where all his Elect are gathered in the dispensation and fulness of times Eph. 1.10 to serve the Lord whose Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of his Kingdom under the whole Heavens hath no end Dan. 7.13 14 27. Luke 1.33 So that in all Nations him that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him Acts 10.35 And thus Christ in his Church doth reign on Earth over both Jews and Gentiles Rom. 15.11 12. and yet no earthly Monarch as will further appear in handling the Ordinance of Christs Government in his Church or Kingdom Now having shewed how and by whom the Church of Christ and his Gospel was first planted in England among the British People In the next place let us behold this Church of Christ how she was planted and established in her primitive Beauty in this Island as in other parts of the World by the heavenly Builders the Apostles 1. Forasmuch as the Scriptures hold forth unto us that every true Church of Christ is a Company of a faithful People called and b separated from the World 〈◊〉 all false Worships c gathered and joyned together with their seed into a holy d Covenant or Marriage-state with the Lord to serve him according to his written Word and thus the Govenant is the Form of the Church by which the faithful and their seed entring into the same do become members of Christs Mystical Body as the Scriptures shew a 1 Cor. 1.2 Rev. 18.4 John 15.19 Acts 19.9 10. and 2.40 b 2 Cor. 16 17. c Isa 60.4 d Esay 62.4 5. Jer. 50.5 2 Cor. 11.1 2. Deut. 26.17 18 19. and 29.10 11. Ezra 9.2 compared with 1 Cor. 7.14 Luk. 18.16 Isa 49.5 2. This Church being thus joyn'd together have power from their Head and Husband Christ Jesus to elect and ordain by a free consent of the whole Church that are come to understanding some from among themselves being found fitly qualified with Gifts and Graces to the office of a Pastor and Teacher for the work of the Ministry and Administration of the Signs or Seals of the benefit of Christs death to wit Baptism and the Lords Supper and likewise to chuse some to be b Elders with the Pastor and Teacher for the Oversight and Guidance of the Church and others to be Deacons c for the gathering the Contribution of the Saints to distribute to the maintenance of the Ministers and relief of the poor and when Widows for helpers be found fit for both Age and Qualifications the Church may likewise enjoy the same as d Deaconists to look after the sick as these Scriptures shew a 1 Tim. 3. Acts 14.23 b 1 Tim. 5.17 c Acts 6.2 3 4. d 1 Tim. 5.9 10. 3. Unto this Church thus gathered and constituted the Lord Jesus hath given his Ordinances every one of them in that holy Order he himself hath
the Ordinance of n Singing but as it was an Ordinance given to the Church and never repeal'd but to be practised by them as a means whereby the Word of Christ may dwell in them richly in all Wisdom singing with grace in their hearts to the Lord. a Psal 103.1 b Psal 65.1 c Psal 105 106 107. Psal 77.15 to 20. Exod. 14.19 d Psal 74.13 14. Exek 29.3 Esay 51.9 10 11. e Exod. 14.21 22. f Exod. 15.1 to 21. g Rev. 15.2 3. h Isa 51.3 1 Chron. 16.29 Eph. 5.19 i Rev. 12.3 Ezek. 32.2 k Psal 66.6 l Isa 1.9 m Mat. 26.26 n Col. 3.16 Eph. 5.19 III. After the Ordinance of Singing the Pastor a readeth some part of the Scripture when he hath b sanctified this Ordinance by Prayer he giveth the sense and meaning of the same bringing one Scripture to e expound another d comparing spiritual things with spiritual as it is written to the e Law to the f Testimony if they speak not according to it there is no true g Light in them for no Scripture is of any h private Interpretation but by the Scripture of the Prophets is shewed what is i Gospel that so the Church may with the k Bereans search the Scripture for the proof of the same seeing our Faith in all things must be built upon the l foundation or doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets Christ Jesus himself being the chief Corner-stone and not as some say on the Light within but as the Apostle witnessed both to small and great none other things concerning Christ and our Faith in him than what the m Prophets and Moses did say should come that so the Church may be edified in the fear n of the Lord according to these Scriptures a 1 Tim. 4.13 Neh. 8.8 Acts 13.15 b Phil. 4.16 c 2 Pet. 1.20 d 1 Cor. 2.13 e Isa 8.20 Luk. 16.29 31. f 1 Cor. 2.1 John 5.46 Deut. 18.18 Luk. 13.36 37. 2 Thes 1.10 Rev. 19.10 and 15.5 g Jer. 8.9 h 2 Pet. 1.20 i Rom. 16.25 26. Gal. 3.8 Rom. 15.16 Isa 52.7 and 53 chap. k Acts 17.11 l Eph. 2.20 m Acts 26.22 n Acts 11.31 IV. After the Ordinance of Reading is performed with what the Pastor by Doctrine laid as the food or bread a of Life before the Flock the Teacher according to the b Wisdom given him taketh some place of Scripture after he hath opened the same raiseth Doctrine from it and applieth it to the c consciences of the hearers that the Church may discern d Sin and e Righteousness working upon the f Will and Affections that a g reasonable Creature not without faith may be given up unto God and their Bodies as a living h sacrifice in his service so i growing in Grace and in all spiritual k understanding as l Plants in the Lords Vineyard and bringing forth the m fruits of his own Grace every good work to the praise and glory of the Lord Jesus a John 6.48 Mat. 4.4 Deut. 8.3 b 1 Cor. 128. 1 Tim 2.17 Luk. 4.18 21 22. 2 Tim. 3.16 c 2 Cor. 4.2 5.11 d Rom. 7.7 e Rom. 10.4 Phil. 3.9 Mat. 5.20 f Phil. 2.13 1 Cor. 3.7 Luk. 17.5 g 1 Thes 3.2 h Rom. 12.1 Mark 9.49 Psal 51.17 i 2 Pet 3.18 Psal 92.12 k Col. 1.9 2 Tim. 2.7 l Isa 5.7 m Cant. 4.16 Col. 1.10 Phil. 1.11 n 1 Cor. 10.31 Eph. 1.13 V. Now followeth the Ordinance of Prophecy being sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer by that Member which beginneth that Exercise who invocateth the Lord for a blessing thereon that so the Gifts and Graces the Lord bestoweth on his Church may not be a hid in the Earth or b covered under a Bushel but manifested as was prophesied The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-Tree he shall grow as the Cedar in Lebanon to shew forth the praises of the Lord in his c Temple observing time and order speaking to his glory For this cause therefore hath God ordained this Ordinance that Members not yet in office may exercise their Gifts as it is written Ye that are zealous of spiritual Gifts seek that ye may excell to the d edifying of the Church by which holy order of training up Youth or young Men in the Church by exercising their Gifts after two years time were some found fit in the Church of God at Ephesus to be chosen by the Church to the office of Bishop or Pastor and other offices when as they had no office before for two years time And thus when Gods way is taken for the fitting of Men in Gods own time and order for the work of the Ministry they need not as many do take a contrary way to make Ministers of the Gospel by human art in the knowledge onely of the Tongues as though the Gifts and Graces of God could be as f Simon Magus thought bought or purchased with Money neither is it obtained by any natural Art or human Industry for great is the difference beeween the attaining of the knowledge of the Tongues and the knowledge of the Mysteries of Faith as is evident for the Jews were as learned Men as any in the g World in the knowledge of those Languages the Scriptures were first spoken and wrote in yet they knew not the h voices of the Prophets when read every Sabbath concerning Christ in the Promises contained in the Prophets Writings but when he was preached unto them out of the Writings of the Prophets that Christ must dye for our sins according to the i Scriptures it was unto the Jews a k stumbling-block and unto the Greeks foolishness Also the Cardinals and Jesuits at Rome want not the knowledg of the Tongues yet how ignorant are they of the Mysteries of Faith in Gods Word and holy Order of Worship under the Gospel see Henry Ainsworths Arrow against Idolatry So that tongues are no essential mark of a true Minister as some men imagine for God sometimes called unlearned men to the Work of the Ministry as l Peter and Andrew and Amos a m Herdsman to be a Prophet as well as he doth Men that are learned in the Tongues so that Learning is but natural though an excellent Ornament in Nature And when God is pleased to call Men of such parts in Nature being sanctified by the gracious work of his Spirit to his Ministry it may bring much glory to God in its place but not that it makes Men fit for Ministers Now that which makes a Man a true Minister of Christ is First being a n Member of the true Church of Christ and by that Church called or o elected when duly tried and found p fit both for Gifts Grace and Qualifications then in the time of the Ordinance of Government in the Church by the meetest Members the Church thinks fit is ordained by the consent of the Church and this is Christ's spiritual School that traineth up Men for the Work of this Ministry in the exercising of the Graces the Lord bestoweth on them for
when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were q unlearned men they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus who when he ascended up on high gave r gifts unto Men so now in the ordinary Ministry continued to his Church in the Office of Pastors and Teachers for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ in the unity of the Faith and the knowledg of the Son of God which Knowledg is no less than Life eternal to them that attain to this Learning which all the Learning in Nature comes short of a Mat. 25.25 b Mat. 5.15 c Psal 92.12 to 15. d Psal 29.9 e 1 Cor. 14.12 f Acts 8.18 g Mat. 11.25 h Acts 13.26 27. i 1 Cor. 15.3 k 1 Cor. 1.23 24. l Mark 1.16 m Amos 7.14 n 1 Tim 3.1 to 15. Acts 6.3 Num. 8.10 Ezek. 33.2 o Acts 14.23 p 1 Tim. 3. with Tit. 1.5 6. q Acts 4.13 r Eph. 4.11 12 13. s John 17.3 t 1 Cor. 1.26 27. 1 Cor. 2.13 14. VI. Followeth the Ordinance of Contribution to be performed in the Church unto which the Deacon is chosen and put in office to a attend and therefore he seeketh unto the Lord by prayer to b sanctify the performance of the same and likewise to distinguish his Office from the Office of the Ministry of the Word and Ordinance of Prophecy And as there was none to go up to Jerusalem c empty the poor as well as the rich were bound d to manifest their faith by their obedience unto the Command of God who might thereby expect from the Lord a Blessing Even so are the Saints under the Gospel not to go to the Church of God or heavenly Jerusalem e empty therefore it is written Let every f one of you lay apart upon the first day of the week for the relief of the poor as God hath prospered him This must be done with a willing g mind If it be never so small it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not If it be but the poor widows h mite that did receive relief among the i fatherless or a farthing of our money we ought every one to shew the fruits of our Faith k in God's service by our obedience Even so likewise it is a duty in this Ordinance that every one of the Saints whether poor or rich as it is written Let l him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things that so the Minister may be fed of the Flock he feedeth and Vineyard m he dresseth and not mussel the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn that so if they have sown unto us spiritual things they may reap of our carnal things And further saith the Apostle Do ye not know that they which minister about the holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar Even so hath the Lord ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel And this is likewise to be done willingly then accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that a man hath not Not grudgingly n or of necessity for God loveth a chearful giver And as it is an Ordinance in the Church of God to give to the Poor and also to the Minister so is it an odour a sweet smell a o sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God Moreover as the Minister is left free as he knoweth the state of the Flock p what portion of Food for their Souls He gathereth with labour from the q Tree of Life and layeth before them as he shall account to the Lord Jesus the r chief Shepherd from whom he hath received his Charge s to watch over their Souls t according as the Lord hath appointed u in his Church Even so are the Flock left free what portion they shall give w out of what the Lord hath bestowed on them for his maintenance as they shall account to God for the same If they be able so to supply his Necessities with plenty that he may not be cumbered or intangled x with the Affairs of this Life that he may please him who hath called him to be a Souldier but it is the Ministers Duty if the Flock be poor and not able to labour with his own hands y to help to keep himself and to administer unto others and if need require to lay down his Life for the z Sheep in the service of the Lord in his Church See more of this matter handled in the time for Gospel-Worship or Christian Sabbath a Acts 6.2 3 5. b 1 Tim. 4.4 5. c Deut. 16.16 d Ezek. 44.30 e Heb. 12.22 f 1 Cor. 16.1 2. g 2 Cor. 8.12 1 Chron. 29.9 14. h Luk. 21.2 i Rev. 14.28 29. k James 2 17-26 l Gal. 6.6 m 1 Cor. 9.7 9 11 13 14. n 2 Cor. 9.6 7 8 9 10. o Phil. 4.18 p Prov. 27.23 q Rev. 22.2 Prov. 3.18 r 1 Pet. 5 4. s Act. 20.28 t Heb. 13.17 u Tit. 1.5 w Luke 8.3 10.7 x 2 Tim. 2.4 y Acts 20.34 35. z 1 John 3.16 John 10. VII Followeth the Ordinance of Christs Government in his Church performed by the a Ruling Elder who invocateth the Lord by prayer to sanctify this Ordinance of Christ being in the midst of them b on the c Throne of his Father David who figured Christ in his three Offices in Israel therefore David's Kingdom and Government was temporal as all Figures were but Christs Kingdom is spiritual so not of this d World as himself hath said Which David being a Prophet foresaw by the Spirit and therefore said the Lord said unto e my Lord Sit thou on my right-hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Now these Enemies which the Father will make the footstool of Christ are the Elect who while they are in the state of Unbelief are enemies in their minds by wicked works Col. 1.21 Some as Persecutors of Christ in his members through the f zeal of ignorance these enemies are subdued to Christ not by carnal weapons 2 Cor. 10.4 but by the ministry of his Word and Spirit in his Servants who in Christ's spiritual warfare are like the g goodly Horse in the Battel shooting the Arrows of his Truth by the Word preached which pricketh their hearts that they fall under him at his feet crying Lord what wouldst thou have me to do Acts 9.6 and 2.37 Thus from enemies are they become friends of Christ doing the Lords h Will and not their own now no more under the i government of Sin and Satan but under the Government of Christ in his Church at his feet for God gave Christ to be Head over all things to his Church Eph. 1.22 As it was foretold The Sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and they that despised thee shall how themselves at the
Rev. 11.19 i Acts 24.25 k Rev. 11.18 Heb. 6.2 l Rev. 17.1 2. m Acts 16.29 30. n Rev. 11.13 o Psal 45.5 Acts 2.37 Heb. 4.12 p Rev. 11.13 Rom. 11.4 5. q Rev. 13.18 r Acts 1.15 Phil. 4.3 Isa 4.3 s Rev. 3.12 t Luk. 15.16 u Rev. 11.15 w Rev. 12.10 x Rom. 4.13 y Gal. 3.29 Lastly as the a World knoweth not the Subjects of Christs Kingdom so likewise do they not know the Kingdom it self to wit of b Grace according to the Covenant of Grace which none but the new born Children of God can see because it is not carnal neither cometh with outward observations therefore the unbelieving Jews rejected Christ to reign over them in his spiritual Kingdom in his Church as David in the Spirit foresaw being a Prophet and a Figure of Christ in his Kingdom which had it been of this World terrestrial as David's was then David in his Kingdom could be no figure of Christ contrary to David's Confession Mat. 22. who knowing Christ's Kingdom to be spiritual and greater in glory than his therefore though Christ was his Son yet in spirit he called him his Lord which the Jews perceived not but withstood it therefore Christ told them the Kingdom of God should be taken from them which Kingdom was not the civil Government which the Romans had taken from them already but it was that Kingdom the Primitive Churches had received which could not be f shaken to wit the Government of Christ in his Church where the Laws of the King of Saints can only be g kept in the performance of all his holy Ordinances whose Throne is among them and his Saints round about him serving the Lord acceptably by Jesus Christ with reverence and godly fear unto which Kingdom the Lord is a i Wall of fire for our God saith the Apostle is a consuming fire So then seeing the Saints have already received the Kingdom which is promised them on Earth a Kingdom of Priests a holy Nation therefore vain will be the hopes of such Christians that expect they shall be made temporal Princes on the Earth to ride on white Horses with golden Crowns on their Heads they must be told they are mistaken for where Christ rideth on a white m Horse is meant on the purity and powerful administration n of Righteousness in his Church in which work his Saints or Armies in Heaven follow him upon white Horses cloathed in fine Linnen which is the Righteousness of Saints imputed from Christ to them These Mysteries of Christ's Kingdom cannot these personal Reigners see to wit believe any more than the unbelieving Jews as H. Ainsworth on Levit. 26.11 sheweth from the Jews own confession who say the days of Christ are of this World and the World goes after the wonted manner save the Kingdom shall be restored to Israel Of this Opinion was Cerinthus a Jew who dreamed that the Kingdom of Christ should become earthly and that after the Resurrection Christ should reign on Earth Euseb lib. 3. cap. 25. lib. 4. cap. 14. lib. 6 7. cap. 24. See Mr. Meredith Hamner in his Book of Ecclesiastical Histories pag. 565. where he further saith out of the same Author that John the Apostle abhorred the presence of Cerinthus in the Year of Christ 75. a 1 John 3.1 b Luke 17.21 c John 3.3 Acts 1.3 7. d Mat. 22.46 e Mat. 21.53 f Heb. 12.28 g Rev. 12.17 and 14.12 and 22.14 h Rev. 4.2 Jer. 3.17 Heb. 12.22 i Zach. 2.5 k Luke 12.32 l Rev. 1.9 m Rev. 19.11 n Psal 45.4 o Mat. 18.1 2. p Col. 1.13 q Rom. 5.17 r Mica 4.7 These things we thought good to lay down in the explaining the Ordinance of Christ's Government in his Church to help the weak that are deluded in this Point by such as seek whether out of ignorance or not to demean the glory of Christ's Reign in his Church or Kingdom who do as good as say Christ hath no a Kingdom yet when we are told by John that he was in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ Rev. 1.9 and the Primitive Christians are said all of them to be delivered from the Power of Darkness to wit Satan's Kingdom afore proved and translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.13 That as Sin once reigned in them in Satan's Kingdom now being in Christ's Kingdom b Grace might reign in them through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ and thus Christ reigns over his Saints in Mount Sion for ever and ever Moreover as Christ is God c equal with the Father so all Civil Magistratical Government in Nations is ordained by him so that by him d Kings reign and Princes decree Justice And though Christ by demeaning himself for the work of Mans Redemption and Mediation for them in which work he did take our e Nature on him and became a servant to his own Ordinance in paying the Magistrates Tribute yet as he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords unto whom all Judgment is commited all Kings Princes must bow their Scepters to f him in believing in him and submitting to him in obeying his Commands in his Church or Kingdom in the practice of all his holy Ordinances And thus are all the Kings and Judges of the Earth to g serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling so to kiss the Son lest he be angry and they perish bringing their glory and honour to preserve his Church from outward Injuries as Nursing-fathers And thus the Lord in his mercy directs both high and low rich and poor to make an end of their salvation with fear and trembling that so every one may fight the good fight of faith and finishing their course in keeping the faith shall surely have the Crown of h Righteousness and Glory at the day of his appearing a Rev. 1.9 b Rom. 5.17 c Phil. 2.6 d Prov. 18.15 e Heb. 4.15 f Rev. 21.24 Isa 60.12 g Psal 2.10 11 12. h 2 Tim. 4.8 1 Pet. 5.4 VIII The next Ordinance in order to be performed in the Church of Christ is Baptism of Water which peculiarly belongeth to the Pastor or Teacher to perform and no other Since extraordinary Offices of Apostles and Evangelists are ceased therefore in order for the performance thereof there must be a true Administrator for these Reasons first because the visible Seals of the Covenant Baptism and the Lord's Supper may not be administred by any other than the Ministers of the Word according to the Command of Christ Mat. 28.19 saying Go teach all Nations and baptize c. In which place our Lord commandeth Apostolick Authority unto his Disciples for teaching the Covenant of the Gospel contained in the Prophets and sealing the same to all those the Promise did belong unto Act. 2.39 and hath no-where admitted any to baptize whom he sent not in Office to a preach these things therefore what God hath joyned together let no man put asunder The applying of the Seals is a greater work
127.3 1 Pet. 5.3 h Esay 22.24 1 Thess 4.4 i Psal 22.9 10. k Mat. 21.15 16. Cant. 7.12 Isa 44.3 4 5. l Psal 58.3 m Eph. 2.3 n 2 Pet. 2.5 1 Pet. 3.19 20. o Gen. 18.28 p Mark 10.16 q Rom. 4.7 Acts 3.25 26. Esay 44.3 r 1 Cor. 12.13 s Rom. 8.9 t Acts 10.47 Therefore upon these Grounds did the Apostle baptize Believers and their House or Housholds seeing only the Children in respect of God's Covenant are so called The Man must take his Brother's Wife to build his Brother's House Deut. 25.5 6 9. Leah and Rachel built the House of Israel to wit by Children Ruth 4.11 The Widow of Zareptha's Son was called her House 1 Kings 17.12 13 14 15. A Bishop or Pastor must rule his own House well having his Children in subjection 1 Tim. 3.5 Jacob went down into Egypt every Man and his Houshold that is they and their Children Exod. 1.1 Joseph is said to nourish his Father and all his Father's Houshold as is expounded I will nourish you and your Children Gen. 45.11 and 46.5 6 7 8. with Gen. 50.21 David dwelt at Gath he and his Men every Man with his Houshold 1 Sam. 27.3 which by 1 Sam. 30.6 was their Sons and Daughters And to the barren Woman when promised Seed she is said to dwell in a House that is to be a joyful Mother of Children Psal 113.9 So that they must be wilfully blind that shall deny the Apostle to have baptized Children seeing the Houshold are the Children and they did baptize the Believers and their Houshold 1 Cor. 1.16 Acts 16.15 Thus we see the Gospel which the Apostle Matthew taught beginneth with a Ahraham according to the b Covenant of Grace made with him that in his Seed Christ shall all Nations of the Earth be blessed to wit the c Families or Kindreds the Believer and his Children in which Covenant God promised to be a d God to them and their Seed So that as Isaac in Infancy was a Child of Promise as saith the Apostle to the Church which consists of Men Women and e Children so are we Children of the Promise To which also agreeth the Doctrine of Peter who saith The f Promise is to you and your g Children And thus the Children of the Church under the Gospel are as h aforetime further confirmed by Christ to Zaccheus who said unto him because he believed This day is Salvation come to thy i House forasmuch as he was the Son of Abraham though supposed by nature a Gentile Thus Christ taught the Gospel afore preached to Abraham and he believing it was a Son of Abraham and so his House which was afore proved to be the Children had Salvation imputed equally to them as to their Parents and therefore as Zaccheus was accepted into the Lord's Covenant so was his Children who have their sins washed away in the Blood of Christ in the everlasting k Covenant Baptism being a visible Sign or Seal thereof Therefore have they both Father and Children right unto the same else the Apostle would not have baptized them and their l Housholds Therefore it is a gross Mistake in them that deny the Infants of Believers Water-Baptism and also account the Infants of Believers and Unbelievers in a like estate nay their Doctrine subverts the whole Order of the Gospel in respect of the Promises of Life Salvation by Jesus Christ and in a word it is another m Gospel than ever Christ and his Apostles taught that the Lord should accept the believing Father into his Covenant and leave his Children in an equal state with Turks and Pagans so that saith the Apostle Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached let him be accursed And again when any Proselyte Gentile of old did joyn himself by the Covenant of Grace in Christ promised to the Lord and his Church the Lord did require of him profession of his Faith because he had been an actual Transgressor as aforesaid yet he only was not received into the Church by the Covenant of Grace made with Abraham but also his Infants And though the Father was circumcised yet might he not partake of the Passeover till all his Males were n circumcised because they were accepted into the o Covenant and as the Females wanted that part of the Body and so could not be actually circumcised yet being in Covenant as well as the Males were accounted as circumcised else they might not enter into the p Temple And again as the Lord's Supper came in place of the q Passeover and Water-Baptism in the place of r Circumcision being the Seals of one and the same Covenant and the Subjects being by the Lord never rejected or removed it doth necessarily follow that when the Father believed of old he must not eat the Passeover till all his Males were circumcised s that is had the Seal of t Faith set on them even so by like reason seeing the Covenant is the same though the Father is baptized yet he must not eat of the Lords Supper till all his Infants are baptized which was one reason why the Apostles did not only baptize Believers but also their Children or u Houshold And thus the Faith of the Saints is built upon the Doctrine or Foundation of the Apostles and w Prophets and all other is but Fancy instead of Faith and so deceive themselves and them that are led by them to the destruction of their poor Souls a Mat. 1.1 Gal. 3.8 b Gen. 17.7 c Acts 3.25 d Gen. 17. Rev. 21.3 e Luke 18.16 Eph. 6.4 1 Cor. 7.14 f Gal. 4.28 g Acts 2.39 h Jer. 30.20 i Luke 19.9 k Zach. 9.11 Heb. 13.20 l 1 Cor. 1.16 m Gal. 1.6 7 8. n Exod. 12.48 o Deut. 29.10 11 12 13 14 15. p Luk. 2.37 38. q 1 Cor. 5.7 8. r Col. 2.12 s Exod. 12.48 t Rom. 4.11 u Acts 16.15 w Eph. 2.20 21. Esay 8.20 Rom. 15.4 2 Tim. 3.14 15 16. Rom. 16.25 26. Rev. 21.12 14. Therefore in order to the opening of the true meaning of the Word Baptism we shall observe in the Scriptures there are three several Baptisms One of the Spirit Mat. 3.11 One of Suffering Mark 10.38 The third of Water Acts 10.47 All which Baptisms bear one and the same signification because by one and the same Word they are all declared unto us so that what sence or signification is to be understood in the administration of the Spiritual Baptism the same is to be understood in the administration of the Water-Baptism and likewise in the Baptism of Suffering And so we shall by God's own way in comparing spiritual things with spiritual come to discern the Truth of God's Mind in the same 1. The Manner of the Administration of Spiritual-Baptism by the Lord himself is said by the Spirit of God to be by pouring his Spirit on persons and not by dipping as it is written in the Promise and after fulfilled
See Isa 32.15 Acts 2.17 18. 10.45 Ezek. 39.29 After the manner of rain or sprinkling Isa 52.15 Now some have the Spirit poured on them in a greater measure than others some were in the Church Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers and all differing in the measure of the Spirit received yet all were baptized of the Spirit yea the whole Church were by one Spirit baptized into one Body though some but Babes in Christ yet all had the Baptism of the Spirit Now therefore who dare presume to limit the Spiritual Baptism to say none were baptized with the Spirit but them that had the greatest measure After this manner in respect of measure are we to understand the Baptism of Suffering one suffering more another less as for example some suffer reproaches Heb. 13.13 others suffer reproaches and loss of goods others suffer reproaches loss of goods and liberty Esay 51.14 Rev. 1.9 2.10 Others suffer all the aforesaid and loss of life Rev. 12.11 Acts 12.2 Then who dare presume to say that they that did not suffer in the greatest measure as loss of Life did not partake of the Baptism of Suffering Now then Water-Baptism being one and the same Word in signification must be understood to agree with the former Baptism especially of the Spiritual Baptism after which manner the Lord himself baptized the Children of Israel in the Cloud and in the Sea When the Clouds poured forth water upon them Psal 77.17 yet they went through the Sea on dry foot The manner of which Baptism the Apostle Paul would not have the Church of God ignorant of saying All our Fathers were baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea 1 Cor. 10.2 Surely the manner of John's Baptism in Jordan and Enon and Philip on the Eunuch was after this manner in casting water after the manner of Rain or Sprinkling on them for Israel was not deprived of any sense when they were baptized in the Sea as of seeing hearing and breathing c. contrary to the Order of God's Creation as these in our days that are baptized by dipping Neither were they in the Sea nor in Jordan as we read of stript of their Apparel to one thin Covering which is not modest seemly nor of a good report for a Woman to appear before any Man besides her Husband in such a dress under the pretence they cannot be baptized with their Garments on surely if one may cover that part of the Body that he believes must be baptized with one Covering he may with more for without doubt that part of the Body that is to be baptized ought to have no Covering on it for if it hath a Covering they baptize the Covering and not the Flesh For as the Face representeth the whole Person as Hagar fled from the Face of Sarah Gen. 16.6 8. that was from her Person and Moses fled from the Face of Pharaoh was the like So likewise the sorrow of Man's labour which Sin brought is signified by the sweat of the Face Gen. 3. Likewise when Jacob set his Face to go to Mount Gilead from Laban it represented his Affection and Actions with desire So when Jacob sent a Present to Esau it was to appease him that is his Face Gen. 32.20 So when Lot intreated for Zoar Gen. 19.21 God is said to accept his Face in granting his request So then the Face that representeth the Person which being bare in the Red Sea was that part of the Body that was baptized washed or sprinkled And thus the Word in Water Baptism agreeth with the Spiritual by pouring forth or sprinkling and as the former Seal of the same everlasting Covenant of the Gospel Gen. 17. Heb. 13.20 was set on that Part of the Body the Instrument of Generation to teach them Regeneration of Nature even of the whole Man born in Sin Psal 51.7 And that the derivation of the Covenant might be to the Seed of the Faithful who are thereby holy Ezra 9.2 And though the Lips and Ears are said to be uncircumcised in some respects Exod. 6.3 Jer. 6.10 yet the whole Body is said to be circumcised as being done on a part signifying the whole Even so in Baptism Water is cast upon the Face as a Sign or Signal of Death or that we were worthy to die as when the Servants of King Ahasuerus understood by the King's words that Death was determined against Haman they a covered his Face as a Signal of Death Even so by reason of Sin we come short of the b glory of God and our Faces are vailed or covered under the c condemnation of the Law until Christ by his Baptism fulfilled the Righteousness of the Law for us In sign whereof have we water cast upon our faces as a sign that we were not only worthy to die and so e baptized for the dead but that Christ by his Death hath f washed us from our sins in his Blood so that by his g Righteousness imputed to us we with unvailed or h open faces behold the Glory of the Lord and are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory by the Spirit of the Lord. a Esth 7.8 b Rom. 3.23 c 2 Cor. 3.7 8. d Mat. 3.15 e 1 Cor. 15.29 f Rev. 1.5 g 1 Cor. 1.30 h 2 Cor. 3.18 Moreover Satan hath yet used in these last and perilous days wherein Deceivers grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived another slight to peryert the Gospel of Christ in contending about words to no profit saith the Apostle that is to limit or confine the signification of the word baptize to one signification in the English tongue only to dip the whole body in water and account all other senses unlawful contrary to all the Learned that have translated the Scriptures into English or wrote Dictionaries and also contrary to the Analogy of Faith in the Scriptures Therefore the Learned in translating the holy Scriptures durst not limit many words but rendred them in such terms as the Godly may by the help of the Spirit of God rightly divide the true sense and meaning of the same As for example the Greek word Ecclesia for Church signifying few or many is rendred Congregation or gathering together by holy Covenant in the Name of Christ to become the Lord's People who are sometimes a little flock Luke 12. even but two or three Mut. 18.20 sometimes three thousand and more Acts 4.4 Yet both few and many are a Church comprehended in the word Ecclesia and so in the Hebrew word Kahal for Church Likewise the Greek word for Worship Latria and Latrevo sometimes taken largely when in Worship all God's * Ordinances are persormed and sometimes strictly when only †to bow down and supplicate unto God is Worship Again the word Saviour sometimes signifieth Christ Luk. 2.11 Sometimes he makes those Ministers as Instruments to save persons by his Doctrine Obad. v. 21. 1 Tim. 4.16 So likewise the word Elohim sometimes is
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-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
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-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