faith and holyness in us are the delightfull objects of this love Psa. 119.47 127.159 Psa. 5 11 and 69.36 and 1â—9 132 and 101.6 For it imbraceth with delight and complacency but as it discerneth the image of God and of Christ in the Soul his presence in the ministery and a suitableness in our worship to the word and mind of Christ. Psa. 26.8 and 27.4 and 84.1 4. 1 Thes. 5.13 Phil. 1.3 7. Eph. 4.32 Love also hath a blessed faculty and heavenly in bearing and suffering afflictions putting up wrongs overlooking the infirmities of the brethren and in serving in all Christian offices the necessities of the Saints Charity suffereth long and is kind charity envyeth not charity vaunteth not it self is not puffed up doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth heareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things charity never faileth 1 Cor 13. 1 Pet. 4.8 Gal. 5.13 In a word it designeth a holy conversation in this world that God and Christ and the word of may be glorified thereby 2 Cor. 11.10 11 12 1 Pet. 1.12 chap. 3.16 Of the Scriptures TOuching which word of God I thus believe and confess 1. That all the holy scriptures are the words of God All scriptures is given by inspiration of God For the prophecy of the scripture came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God speak as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Tim. 3 16. 2 Pet. 1.21 2 I believe that the holy scriptures of themselves without the addition of humane inventions are able to make the man of God perfect in all things and throughly to furnish him unto all good works They are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and to thee in all other things that either respect the worship of God or thy walking before all men 2 Tim. 3.14.17 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. 3. I believe the great end why God committed the Scriptures to writing was that we might be instructed to Christ taught how to believe encouraged to patience and hope for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ also that we might understand what is sin and how to avoid the commission thereof Joh. 20.31 1 Joh. 5 13. Rom. 15.4 Concerning the works of men said David by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the pathes of the destroyer Through thy precepts I get understanding therefore I hate every false way I have hid thy word in my heart that I might not sin against thee Psa. 17.4 and 119.104 v. 11. 4. I believe that they cannot be broken but will certainly be fulfilled in all the prophecies threatnings and promises either to the salvation or damnation of men They are like that flying roll that will go over all the earth to cut off and curse In them is contained also the blessing they preach to us also the way of salvation Take heed therefore lest that come upon you which is written in the prophets Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish For I work a work in your dayes a work which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you Gal 3.8 Acts 13.40 41. Joh. 10 35. chap. 12.37.41 chap. 3.17 18 19. Zach. 5.2.3 4. 5. I believe Jesus Christ by the word of the scriptures will judge all men at the day of doom For that is the book of the Law of the Lord according to Pauls Gospel Joh. 12.41 49. Rom 2.16 6 I believe that this God made the world and all things that are therein for in Six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is also that after the time of the making thereof be disposed of it to the children of men with a preserve thereof for the children of God that should in all ages be born thereunto When the most high divided to the nations their inheritance when he separated the Sons of Adam he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel for as he made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell upon the face of the earth so he hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation Acts 17 24 Exo 24 19 Deu 32 8 Acts 17 26. Of Magistracy I believe that Magistracy is Gods ordinance which he hath appointed for the government of the whole world And that it is a judgment of God to be without those ministers of God which he hath ordained to put wickedness to shame Judg 18.7 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation For rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evil Wilt thou not then be afraid of the power do that which is Good and thou shalt have praise of the same For he is the minister of God to thee for good But if thou do that which is evill be afraid for he beareth not the sword in vain For he is the minister of God a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil Wherefore ye must needs be subject not onely for wrath but also for conscience sake For this cause pay ye tribute also for they are Gods ministers attending continually unto this very thing Rom. 13. Many are the mercyes we receive by a well qualified Magistrate and if any shall at any time be otherwise inclined let us shew ovr christianity in a patient suffering for well doing what it shall please God to inflict by them A reason of my Practise in Worship HAving thus made confession of my Faith I now come to shew you my practise in Worship with the reasons thereof The which I shall have occasion to touch under two distinct heads 1 With whom I dare not hold communion 2. With whom I dare Only first Note that by the word Communion I mean fellowship in the things of the Kingdom of Christ or that which is commonly called Church communion the Communion of Saints For in civil affairs and in things of this World that are honest I am not altogether tyed up from the fornicators thereof Cor. 5 9 10 Wherefore in my following discourse understand me in the first sense Now Then I dare not have communion with them that profess not faith and holiness or that are not visible Saints by calling but note that by this assertion I meddle not with the elect but as he is a visible Saint by calling neither do I exclude the secret Hypocrite if he be hid from me by visible Saint ship Wherefore I dare not have communion with men from a single supposition that they may be elect neither dare I exclude the other from a single supposing that he may be a secret Hypocrite I meddle not here with these things I onely exclude him that
21. I believe that when he comes his saints shall have a reward of grace for all their work and labour of Love which they shewed to his name in the world And every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour And then shall every man have praise of God And behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be Wherefore my beloved brethren be stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord for asmuch as ye know your labour is not in vain in the Lord Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ 1 Cor. 3.8 chap. 4.5 Rev. 22.12 1 Cor. 15 58. Col 3 24. How Christ is made ours or by what means this or that man hath that benefit by him us to stand just before God now and in the day of judgement 1. I believe we being sinfull Creatures in our selves that no good thing done by us can procure of God the imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. But that the imputation thereof is an act of grace a free gift without our deserving Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. He called us and saved us with an holy calling Not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus Rom. 3.24 chap. 5.17 2 Tim. 1 9. 2. I believe also that the power of imputing righteousness resideth onely in God by Christ 1 Sin being the transgression of the Law 2. The soul that hath sinned being his creature and the righteousness also his and his onely Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom God imputeth righteousness without works saying Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sin is covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin Hence therefore it is said again that men shall abundantly utter the memory of his great goodness and sing of his righteousness For he saith in Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion So then it is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Rom. 4.6 7. Psal. 145.7 Rom. 9.15 16. 3. I believe that the offer of this righteousness as tendered in the Gospell is to be received by faith we still in the very act of receiving it judging our selves sinners in our selves Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved The Gospel is preached in all nations for the obedience of faith Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation a sacrifice to appease the displeasure of God through faith in his blood To declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God to declare I say at this time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifyer of him that believeth on Jesus Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins And by him all that believe are justifyed from all things from which they could not be justifyed by the law of Moses Rom 7.24 Act. 16.31 Rom 3.24.25 Act. 13.38 39. 4. I believe that this faith as it respecteth the imputation of this righteousness for justification before God doth put forth it self in such acts as purely respect the offer of a gift It receiveth accepteth of imbraceth or trusteth to it As many as received him to them he gave power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospell of your salvation In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise I believe therefore that as to my justication from the curse of the Law I am as I stand in my self ungodly to receive accept of imbrace and trust to the righteousness that is already provided by and wrapt up in the personal doings and sufferings of Christ it being faith in that and that onely that can justify a sinner in the sight of God Joh. 1.12 1 Tim. 1.15 Heb. 11.13 Eph. 1.13 5. I believe that the faith that so doth is not to be found with any but those in whom the Spirit of God by mighty power doth work it all others being fearfull and incredulous dare not venture their souls and eternity upon it And hence it is called the faith that is wrought by the exceeding great and mighty power of God The faith of the operation of God And hence it is that others are said to be fearfull and so unbelieving These with other ungodly sinners must have their part in the lake of fire Eph. 1.18 19. Col. 2.12 Eph. 2.8 Phil. 1.19 Rev. 21.8 6. I bilieve that this faith is effectually wrought in none but those which before the world were appointed unto Glory And as many as were ordained unto eternal life believed That he might make known the riches of his Glory upon the vessels of mercy which he had before prepared unto Glory We give thanks unto God alwayes for you all making mention alwayes of you in our prayers remembring without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God knowing brethren beloved your election of God But of the rest he saith ye believed not because ye are not of my sheep as I said which latter words relate to the 16. v. which respecteth the election of God Joh. 10.26 Therefore they could not believe because Esaias said again he hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart and I should heal them Act. 13.48 Rom. 9.23 1 Thes. 1.2 3 4. Joh. 10.26 chap. 12 38 39 40. Of Election 1. I believe that Election is free and permanent being founded in Grace and the unchangeable will of God Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of Grace And if by Grace then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace But if it be of works then it is no more of grace otherwise work is no more work Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth who are his In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after
have in their first and primitive institution T is possible to commit Idolatry even with Gods own appointments But I pass this and come to the thing propounded Secondly then I dare have communion Church communion with those that are visible Saints by calling with those that by the word of the Gospell have been brought over to faith and holyness And it maketh no matter to me what their life was heretofore if they now be washed if they be sanctified if they â—e justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. Now in order to the discovery of this faith and holyness and so to fellowship in Church communion I hold it requisite that a faithful relation be made thereof by the party thus to be received yea if need be by witnesses also for the satisfaction of the church that she may receive in faith and judgment such as best shall suit her holy profession Acts 9.26 27 28. 1 Cor. 16.10 2 Cor. 8.23 Observe it these Texts do respect extraordinary officers and yet see that in order to their reception by the Church there was made to them a faithfull relation of the faith and holyness of these very persons For no man may intrude himself upon or thrust himself upon or thrust himself into a Church of Christ without the Church have first the knowledge and liking of the person to be received If otherwise there is a door opened for all the hereticks in the world yea for Divels also if they appear in humane shapes But Paul shews you the manner of receiving by pleading after some disgrace thrown upon him by the false Apostles for his own admission of his companions Receive us saith he we have wronged no man we have defrauded no man we have corrupted no man and so concerning Timothy If Timothy come saith he see that he may be with you without fear for he worketh the work of the Lord as I also do 2 Cor. 7.2 1 Cor 16 10. Also when Paul supposed that Titus might be suspected by some see how he pleades for him If any do enquire of Titus he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you or our brethren be enquired of they are the messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ. 2 Cor. 8.23 Phaebe also when she was to be received by the Church at Rome see how he speaketh in her behalf I commend unto you Phaebe our sister which is a servant of the Church which is at Ceuchrea that ye receive her in the Lord as becometh Saints and that you assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you for she hath been a succourer of many and of my self also Rom. 16.1 2 Yea when the Apostles and brethren sent their Epistles from Jerusalem to Antioch under what characters do those go that were the messengers to them It seemed good unto the holy Ghost and to us to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Saul men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ c. Acts 15.25 26 27. Now though the occasion upon which these commendations were written were not simply or onely in order to Church relation but also for other causes yet because the persons concerned were of the Churches to be received as faithfull and such who would partake of Church priviledges with them they have therefore their faith and faithfulness relate to the Churches as those that were particularly imbodyed there Besides Timothy and Titus being extrordinary officers stood as members and officers in every Church where they were received Likewise Barnabas and Saul Judas and Silas abode as members and officers there where they were sent 'T was requisite therefore that the Letters of recommendation should be in substance the same with that relation that ought to be made to the Church by or for the person that is to be imbodyed there But to return I dare have communion Church-communion with those that are visible Saints by calling Quest. But by what rule would you receive him into fellowship with your selves Answ Even by a discovery of their faith and holyness and their declaration of willingness to subject themselves to the laws and government of Christ in his Church Quest. But do you not count that by water-baptism and not otherwise that being the initiating and entering ordinance they ought to be received into felowship Answ. No But tarry and take my sense with my word For herein lyes the mistake To think that because in time past Baptism was administred upon conversion that therefore it is the initiating and entring ordinance into Church-communion when by the word no such thing is testifyed of it Besides that it is not so will be manifest if we consider the nature and power of such an ordinance That ordinance then that is the initiating or entering ordinance as before Doth give to them that partake thereof aright to and a being of membership with that particular Church by which it is administred I say a right to and a being of membership without the addition of another Church-Act This is evident by the Law of circumcision which was the initiating Law of old For by the administration of that very ordinance the partaker thereof was forthwith member of that congregation without the addition of another Church-act Gen. 17. This is declared in its first institution and therefore it is called the token of the Covenant The token or sign of righteousness of Abrahams Faith and of the visible membership of those that joyned themselves to the Church with him the very inlet into Church-communion that gave a being of membership among them And thus Moses himself expounds it Every Man-servant saith he that is bought with money when thou hast circumcised him he shall eat of the passover without the addition of another Church-act to impower him there unto his circumcision hath already given him a being there and so a right to and priviledge in the blessing of Church-relation A Forreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof because not circumcised but when a stranger that sojourneth with thee will keep the Passover to the Lord let all his males be circumcised and then let him come near and keep it for then he is one of the Church and he shall be as one born in the Laad for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof Exo. 12.43 45 46 47 48 49. Neither could any other thing according to the Law of Circumcision give the devoutest person that breathed a being of membership with them He that is born in thine house he that is bought with thy money must needs be circumcised the uncircumcised man-child whose flesh of his foreskin is not câ—rcumcised that Soul shall becut off from his people Gen. 17.13 14. Note then that that which is the initiating ordinance admitteth none into Church-communion but those that first partake thereof The Angel sought to kill Moses
Father the Word and the holy Ghost 1 Joh. 5.7 see also Gen. 1.26 chap. 3.22 chap. 11.7 and Esa. 6.8 5. I believe that these three are in Nature Essence and Eternity equally one These three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 6. I believe there is a World to come Heb. 2.5 chap. 6.5 7. I believe that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust Many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and contempt Marvail not at this For the hour is coming in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evill to the resurrection of Damnation Act. 24.15 Dan. 12.2 Joh. 5.28 8. I believe that they that shall be counted worthy of that world and of the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dye any more for they are equall to the Angels and are the children of God being the children of the resurrection Luk. 10.34.35 36. Joh. 10.27 28 29. Rev. 7.16 chap. 20.6 9. I believe that those that dye impenitent shall be tormented with the Divel and his Angels and shall be cast with them into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone where their worm dyeth not and the fire is not quenched Rev. 21.8 Mar. 9.43.48 Mat. 25 41.46 Joh. 5.29 10. I believe that because God is naturally holy and just even as he is Good and Mercifull therefore all having sinned none can be saved without the means of a redeemer Then he is gracious unto him and saith deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransome We have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of our sins For which out shedding of blood is no remission Job 33.24 Col. 1.14 Hebr. 9.22 11. I believe that Jesus Christ our Lord himself is the redeemer They remembred that God was their rock and the high God their redeemer Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and Gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your Fathers But with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot Psa. 78.35 1 Pet. 1.18 19. 12. I believe that the great reason why the Lord the second person in the God-head did cloth himself with our flesh and blood was that he might be capable of obtaining the redemption that before the world was intended for us Forasmuch then as the children were made partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same mark that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Divel and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage When the fulness of the time was Come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithfull high priest in things pertaining to God To make reconciliation for the sins of the people For in that himself hath suffered being tempted he is able also to succour them that are tempted Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us As it is written cursed is every one that is hanged on a tree That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through faith in Jesus Christ. Heb. 2.14 15. Gal. 4 4. Heb. 2. 17 18. Gal. 3.13 14. 13. I believe that the time when he clothed himself with our flesh was in the dayes of the reign of Caesar Augustus then I say and not till then was the word made flesh or clothed with our nature And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed And Joseph went up from Galilee out of the City of Nazareth unto Judah unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and linage of David to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child And so it was that while they were there the dayes were accomplished that she should be delivered This child was he of whom godly Simeon was told by the holy Ghost when he said That he should not see death untill he had seen the Lord Christ. Joh 1.14 1 Tim. 3.16 Luk. 2.1 2 3 6.25 26 27. 14. I believe therefore that this very child as afore is testified is both God and man the Christ of the living God And she brought forth her first born son and wrapt him in swadling clothes and laid him in a manger Because there was no room for them in the inn And there were in the same Countrey shepheards keeping watch over their flock by night And Lo the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the Glory of the Lord shined round about them and they were sore afraid And the Angel said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people For unto you is born this day in the City of David a saviour which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you you shall find the babe wrapped in swadling clothes lying in a manger Again But while he thought on these things behold the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him saying Joseph thou son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghost And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Now all this was done that it might be fullfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying Behold a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Immanuel which being interpreted is God with us Luk. 2.7 12. Mat. 1.21 22. 15. I believe therefore that the righteousness and redemption by which we that believe stand just before God as saved from the curse of the Law is the righteousness and redemption that consists in the personal acts performancas of this child Jesus this God man the Lords Christ it consisteth I say in his personal fulfilling the law for us to the utmost requirement of the justice of God Do not think said he that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophet I am not come to destroy but to fulfill By which means he became the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own son in the likeness of sinfull flesh and and for sin oondemned sin in the flesh So finishing
transgressions and making an end of sins and making reconciliation for iniquity he brought in everlasting righteousness Math. 5.17 Rom. 10.3 chap. 8 3. 1 Joh. 3.8 2 Tim. 1 9. Hebr. 10.5 6 7 8 9 â—0 Dan. 9.24 16. I believe that for the compleating of this work he was alwayes sinless did alwayes the things that pleased God's Justice that every one of his acts both of doing and suffering and rising again from the dead was really and infinitely perfect being done by him as God-man Wherefore his acts before he dyed are called the righteousness of God his blood the blood of God and herein perceive we the love of God in that he laid down his life for us The Godhead which gave vertue to all the acts of the humane nature was then in perfect union with it when he hanged upon the cross for our sins Heb. 4.15 chap. 7.26 27 28. Joh. 8.29 Acts. 10 30. Rom. 3.21 22. Act. 20.28 1 Joh. 3.16 Joh. 20 28. Rom. 1.4 17. I believe then that the righteousness that saveth the sinner from the wrath to come is properly and personally Christs and ours but as we have union with him God by grace imputing it to us Yea doubtless and I count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ ' and be found in him not haveing my own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith For of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Phil. 3 8 9. 1 Cor. 1.30 2 Cor. 5.20 21. 18. I believe that God as the reward of Christs undertakings for us hath exalted him to his own right hand as our mediatour and given him a name above every name and hath made him Lord of all and judge of quick and dead and all this that we who believe might take courage to believe and hope in God And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself unto death even the death of the cross where he dyed for our sins wherefore God hath highly alted him and given him a name above every name That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow both of things in heaven and things in earth things that are under the earth And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testify that it was he that was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you who by him do believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God Ph. 2.5 10. Eph. 1.18 22. Act. 10.42 ch 17.31 1 Pet. 1.19 20 21. 19. I believe that being on the right hand of God in heaven he doth there effectually exercise the office of his excellent priesthood and mediatorship presenting himself continually before God in the righteousness which is accomplished for us when he was in the world For by the efficacy of his blood he nor onely went into the holy place but being there and having by it obtained eternal redemption for us now as receiving the worth and merit thereof from the Father doth bestow upon us grace repentance faith and the remission of sins Yea he also received for us the holy Ghost to be sent unto us to ascertain us of our adoption and Glory For if he were on earth he should not be a Priest seeing then we have a great high priest that is entred into the heavens Jesus the son of God Let us hold fast our profession For there is one God and one mediatour between God and men the man Christ Jesus For by his own blood he entred into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figure of the true but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Hebr. 8.4 1 Tim. 2 5. Hebr. 9.12.24 Act. 5.31 chap. 2 33. 20. I believe that being there he shall so continue till the restitution of all things and then he shall come again in Glory and shâ—ll sit in judgment upon all flesh And I believe that according to his sentence so shall their judgment be Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you whom the heaven must receive untill the restitution of all things spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began For this same Jesus which ye have seen go up into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voyce of the Arch-angel and the trumphet of God c. When the son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then he shall sit upon the throne of his Glory And before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepheard divideth his sheep from the Goats And he shall set his sheep on his right hand but the Goats on the left Then shall the King say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Then shall he say to them on the left hand Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Divel and his Angels And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal For the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up Seeing then that all these things must be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godlinels looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God Wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat Act. 3.19 20 21. 1 Thes. 4 16. Act. 1.11 Mat. 25.31 32 33 41 46. 2 Pet. 3.10 11 12.
his mouth Act. 22.14 True Sauls call was out of the ordinary way but yet as to the matter and truth of the work t was no other then all the chosen have viz. 1. An effectual awakening about the evil of sin and especially of unbelief Joh. 16.9 And therefore when the Lord God called Adam he also made unto him an effectual discovery of sin insomuch that he stript him of all his righteousness Gen. 3. Thus he also served the Gealer Yea it is such an awakening as by it he sees he was without Christ without hope and a stranger to the common-wealth of Israel and without God in the word Act. 16.29 30. Eph 2.12 Oh the dread and amazement that the guilt of sin brings with it when t is revealed by the God of heaven and like to it is the sight of mercy when it pleaseth God who calleth us by his grace to reveal his son in us 2. In effectual calling there is great awakenings about the world to some and the glory of unseen things The resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement The salvation that God hath prepared for them that love him with the blessedness that will attend us and be upon us at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ are great things in the soul that is under the awakening calls of God And hence we are said to be called to Glory to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes 2.12 2 Thes. 2.13 14. 3. In effectual calling there is also a sanctifying vertue And hence we are said to be called with an holy calling with an heavenly calling Called to glory and vertue But ye are a chosen Generation a royall priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that you should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light Heb. 3.1 1 Thes. 4 7. 1 Pet. 1.8 9. Yea effectual calling hath annexed to it as its unseparable companion the promise of through sanctification Faithfull is he that hath called you who also will do it 1 Thes. 5 22 23 24. 2. I believe that effectual calling doth therefore produce 1. Faith and therefore it is said that faith cometh by hearing by hearing the word that calleth us unto the grace of Christ. For by the word that calleth us is Jesus Christ held forth to us and offered to be our righteousness and therefore the Apostle saith again that God hath called us unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ that is to be made partakers of the riches of grace and the righteousness that is in him Rom. 10.17 Gal. 1.6 1 Cor. 1.9 2. It produceth hope It giveth a ground to hope and therefore hope is said to be the hope of our calling And again Even us you are called in one hope of your calling Eph. 1.18 19. chap. 4 4. Now the Godly wise know whoso misseth of effectual calling misseth of eternal life because God justifyeth none but them whom he calleth and glorifyes none but those whom he justifyes And therefore it is that Peter said before Make your calling and so your election sure make it sure that is prove your calling right by the word of God For whoso staggereth at the certainty of his calling cannot comfortably hope for a share in eternal life Remember the word unto thy servant whereon thou hast caused me to hope My soul fainted for thy salvation but I hope in thy word Psa. 119.49.81 3. It produceth repentance For when a man hath heaven and hell before his eyes as he will have if he be under the power of effectual calling or when a man hath a revelation of the mercy and justice of God with an heart-drawing invitation to lay hold on the tender forgiveness of sins and being made also to behold the goodly beauty of holiness it must needs be that repentance appears and puts forth it self unto self-revenging acts for all its wickedness which in the dayes of ignorance it delighted in And hence is that saying I came not to call the righteous but sinners to Repentance For the effecting of which the preaching of the word of the Kingdom is most proper Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand Mar. 2.17 chap. 1.10 1. Repentane is a turning the heart to God in Christ a turning of it from sin and the Divel and darkness to the goodness and grace and holyness that is in him Wherefore they that of old are said to repent are said to loath and abhor themselves for all their abominations I abhor my self said Iob and repent in dust and ashes Ezek. 6.9 chap 2.43 chap. 36.31 Job 42.5 6. Ezek. 16. v. last 2. Godly repentance doth not onely affect the soul with the loathsome nature of sin that is past but filleth the heart with godly hatred of sins that yet may come When Moses feared that through his being overburthened with the care of the children of Israel some unruly or sinfull passions might shew themselves in him what saith he I beseech thee kill me out of hand if I have found grace in thy sight and let me not see my wretchedness Num. 14.13 14 15. See also how that that Paul calleth godly repentance wrought in the upright Corinthians Behold saith he this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a Godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you what clearing of your selves yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge In all things you have approved your selves to be clear in this matter 2 Cor. 7.9 10 11. 4. It produceth also Love Wherefore Paul when he had put the church in remembrance that they were called of God addes That concerning brotherly Love they had no need that he should write unto them 1 Thes. 4.17.19 As who should say If God be so kind to us to forgive us our sins to save our souls and to give us the kingdom of heaven let these be motives beyond all other to provoke us to love again Farther If we that are thus beloved of God are made members of one mans body all partakers of his grace clothed all with his glorious righteousness and are together appointed to be the children of the next world why should we not love one another Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another 1 Joh 4.11 And truly so we shall if the true grace of God be upon us because we also see them to be the called of Jesus Travellers that are of the same countrey love and take pleasure one in another when they meet in a strange Land why we sojourn here in a strange countrey with them that are heirs together with us of the promised kingdom and glory Heb. 11.9 Now as I said this holy love worketh by love Mark Love in God and Christ when discovered constraineth us to love 2 Cor. 5.14 The name therefore and word and truth of God in Christ together with the sincerity of Grace of
and served their Idols which were a snare to them Psa. 106.25 26 27 3 It is the mingled people that God hath threatned to plague with those deadly punishments of his with which he hath threatned to punish Babylon it self saying When a sword is upon her Glyars her mighty her chariots and treasures a sword also shall be upon the mingled people that are in the middest of her And no marvail for 1 Mixed communion polluteth the ordinances of God Say to the rebells saith the Lord God Let it suffice you of all your abominations that you have brought into my san uary strangers uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh to be in my sanctuary to pollute it even my house when ye offered my bread and the fat and the blood And they have broken my Covenant because of all their abominations Eze. 44.6 7 8. 2. It violateth the law her priests have violated my Law and prophaned my holy things how they have put no difference between the holy and prophane neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean Eze. 22.6 3 It prophaneth the holyness of God Judah hath dealt treacherously and an abomination is committed in Israel and Jerusalem For Judah hath prophaned the holyness of thâ— Lord which he loved and hath married the daughter of a strange God Mal. 2 11. 4. It defileth the truly Gracious Know ye not that a little Leaven leaveneth the whole lump Look diligently therefore lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled 1 Cor. 5 6 Heb. 12 15 16. Lastly To conclude as I said before it provoketh God to punish with severe judgments And therefore heed well 1. As I said before The drowning of the whole world was occasioned by the sons of God commixing themselves with the daughters of men and the corruption of worship that followed thereupon Gen. 6 and 7 chapters 2 He sent a plague upon the children of Israel for joyning themselves unto the people of Moab and for following their abominations in worship And let no man think that now I have altered the state of the question for it is all one with the Church to Communicate with the prophane and to sacrifice and offer their gifts to the Divel the reason is because such have by their sin forsaken the protection of heaven and are given up to their own heart-lusts and left to be overcome of the wicked to whom they have joyned their selves Num 25 1 2 3 4 5. Jos 22 17 Deut 32 16 19 Psa. 106 30 40 Deut 12 Deut 7 1 2 6 Neh 1â— 26. Joyn not your selves saith God to the wicked neither in religion nor marriages for they will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other Gods so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you and destroy thee suddainly Did not Solomon King of Israel sin by these things ye among many nations was there no King like him who was beloved of his God Hear how Paul handleth the point This I say saith he That the things which the Gentiles or openly prophane sacrifice they sacrifice to Devils and not to God And I would not that you should have fellowship with Divels Ye cannot drink of the Cup of the Lord and the cup of Divels Ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord of the table of Divels Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie Are we stronger then he 1 Cor. 10 21 22 23. I conclude that therefore it is an evil a dangerous thing to hold Church-communion with the open prophane and ungodly It polluteth his ordinances It violateth his Law It prophaneth his holyness It defileth his people and provoketh the Lord to severe and terrible judgments Object But we can prove in all ages there have been the open prophane in the Church of God Answ. In many ages indeed it hath been so but marke they appeared not such when first they were received unto Communion neither was they with Gods liking as such to be retained among them but in order to their admonition repentance and amendment of life of which if they failed God presently threatned the Church and either cut them off from the Church as he did the Idolaters Fornicators murmurers Tempters Sabbath-breakers with Korah Dathan Achan and others or else cut of them with the Church and all as he served the ten tribes at one time and the two tribes at another My God shall cast them away because they did not hearken to him and they shall be wanderers among the nations Exod 1â— 48. 2 Cor. 6 1 Cor. 5.4 5 10.12 13. Exo. 32 25. Numb 25. 1 9. chap. 21. 5â—6 chap. 1.4 37. chap. 16. chap. 15 32 36. Josh 72 Kin. 17. Ezek. 22. chap 23. Hos 9.17 Neh 13.1 2 3 I might here greatly enlarge but I only intend brevity yet let me tell you that when Nehemiah understood by the book of the Law of the Lord that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude Many have pleaded for the prophane that they should abide in the Church of God but such have not considered that Gods wrath at all times hath with great indignation hath been shewed against such offenders and their conceits Indeed they like not for to plead for them under that notion but rather as Korah and his company All the congregation is holy every one of them Num. 16 3. But it maketh no matter by what name they are called if by their deeds they shew themselves openly wicked for names and notions sanctify not the heart and nature they make not vertues of vice neither can it save such advocates from the heavy curse both of God and Men. The righteous men they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses and after the manner of women that shed-blood because they are adulteresses and blood is in their hands Pro. 17.15 chap. 24 24. Eze. 23.45 Thus have I shewed you with whom I dare not have communion And now to shew you with whom I dare But in order thereto I desire you first to take notice That touching shaddowish or figurative ordinances I believe that Christ hath ordained but two in his Church viz. Water baptism and the Supper of the Lord both which are of excellent use to the Church in this world they being to us representations of the death and resurrection of Christ and are as God shall make them helps to our faith therein But I count them not the fundamentals of our Christianity nor grounds or rule to communion with Saints servants they are and our mystical Ministers to teach and instruct us in the most weighty matters of the Kingdom of God I therefore here declare my reverent esteem of them yet dare not remove them as some do from the place and end where by God they are set and appointed nor ascribe unto them more then they were ordered to
flow is carnall and thy actions discoveries of childishness But doubtless when these contentions were among the Corinthians and one man vilifyed that another might be promoted a lift with a carnall Brother was thought great wisedom to widen the breach But why should he be rebuked that said he was for Christ because he was for him in opposition to his holy Apostles Hence he saith Is Christ divided or separate from his servants Note therefore that these divisions are deserted by the persons the divisions were made about Neither Paul nor Apollo nor Cephas nor Christ is here Let the cry be never so loud Christ order the rule the command or the like Carnality is but the bottom and they are but babes that do it their zeal is but a puffe 1 Cor 4.6 And observe it the great division at Corinth was helped forward by Water-baptism This the Apostle intimates by Were ye Baptized in the name of Paul Ah Brethren Carnall Christians with outward circumstances will if they be let alone make sad work in the Churches of Christ against the spiritual growth of the same But I thank God saith Paul that I Baptized none of you c. Not but that it was then an ordinance of God but they abused it in making parties thereby I Baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius and the houshold of Stephanus men of note among the Brethren men of good judgement and reverenced by the rest they can tell you I intended not to make a party to my self thereby Besides I know not whether I Baptized any other By this negligent relating who were Baptized by him he sheweth that he made no such matter of Baptism as some in these dayes do nay that he made no matter at all thereof with respect to Church-communion for if he did not heed who himself had Baptized he much less heeded who were Baptized by others but if Baptism had been the initiating or entering ordinance and so appointed of God no doubt he had made more conscience thereof then so lightly to pass it over For Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel The Gospel then may be effectually preached and yet Baptism neither administred nor mentioned The Gospel being good tidings to sinners upon the account of free grace through Christ but Baptism with things of like nature are dutyes injoyned such a people who received the Gospel before I speak not this because I would teach men to break the least of the Commandments of God but to perswade my brethren of the Baptized way not to hold too much thereupon not to make it an essential of the Gospel of Christ nor yet of communion of Saints He sent me not to Baptize These words are spoken with holy indignation against them that abuse this ordinance of Christ. So when he speaketh of the Ministers themselves which also they had abused in his speaking he as it were trampleth upon them as if they were nothing at all Who then is Paul and who is Apollo He that planteth is not any thing neither is he that watereth but God that giveth the increase 1 Cor. 3.5 7. Yet for all this the Ministers and their ministry are a glorious appointment of God in the World Baptisme also is a holy ordinance but when Sathan abuseth it and wrencheth it out of its place making that which was ordained of God for the edification of believers the only weapon to break in pieces the love the unity the concord of Saints then what is Baptism then neither is Baptism any thing And this is no new doctrine For God by the mouth of his Prophets of old cryed out against his own institutions when abused by his people To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me saith the Lord I am full of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed Beasts I delight not in the blood of Bullocks or of Lambs or of he Goats When you come to appear before me Who hath required these things at your hands to tread my Courts Bring no more vain oblations incense is an abominatien to me The new Moons and the Sabbaths and the calling of assemblyes I cannot away with it is iniquiâ—y even the solemn meeting Your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth they are a trouble to me my Soul hateth I am even weary to bear them Isa. 1.11 12 13 14. And yet all these were his own appointments But why then did he thus abhor them Because they retained the evil of their doings and used them as they did other of his appointments viz. For strife and debate and to strike with the fist of wickedness chap. 58.4 Wherefore when that of God that is great is overweighed by that which is small it is the wisedom of them that see it to put load to the other end of the scale untill the things thus abused poise in their own place But to pass this and proceed Ninthly If we shall reject visible Saints by calling Saints that have communion with God that have received the Law at the hand of Christ that are of holy conversation among men they desiring to have communion with us as much as in us lyeth we take from them their very priviledge and the blessings to which they are born of God For Paul saith not only to the gathered Church at Corinth but to all scattered Saints that in every place call upon the name of the Lord That Jesus Christ is theirs That Paul and Apollo and the World and Life and Death and all things are theirs because they are Christs and Christ is Gods But saith he let no man glory in men such as Paul and Cephas though these were excellent because this priviledge comes to you upon another bottom even by Faith of Jesus Christ. Drink you all of this is intailed to Faith not Baptism Nay Baptized persons may yet be excluded this when he that discerneth the Lords body hath right and priviledge to it 1 Cor. 11.28 29. But to exclude Christians from Church communion and to debar them their Heaven-born priviledges for the want of that which yet God never made a wall of division between us 1. This looks too like a spirit of persecution Job 19.25 26 27 28. 2. It respecteth more a form then the spirit and power of Godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 3. This is to make Laws where God hath made none and to be wise above what is written contrary to Gods word and our own principles 4. It is a directing of the Spirit of God 5. It bindeth all mens Faith and light to mine opinion 6. It taketh away the Childrens Bread 7. It withholdeth from them the increase of Faith 8. It tendeth to harden the hearts of the wicked 9. It tendeth to make wicked the Hearts of weak Christians 10 It setteth open a door to all temptations 11. It tempteth the Divel to fâ—l upon those that are alone and have none tâ— help them 12. It is the Nursery of all
the conusail of his own will Rom. 11.5 6. 2 Tim. 2.19 Eph. 1.11 2. I believe that this decree choyce or election was before the foundation of the world and so before the elect themselves had being in themselves For God who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things which be not as though they were stayes not for the being of things to determine his eternal purpose by but having all things present to and in his wisdome he made his choice before the world was Rom. 4.17 Eph. 1.4 2 Tim. 1.9 3. I believe that the decree of election is so far off from making works in us foreseen the ground or cause of the choyce that it containeth in the bowels of it not onely the persons but the graces that accompany their salvation And hence it is that it is said Wa are predestinated to be conformed to the image of his son not because we are but that we should be holy and without blame before him in love For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto Good workes which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them He blessed us according as he chose us in Christ. And hence it is again that the salvation and calling of which we are now made partakers is no other then what was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began according to his eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Eph 1.3 4. chap. 2 10. chap. 3.8 9 10 11. 2 Tim. 1.9 Rom 8.26 4 I believe that Christ Jesus is he in whom the elect are alwayes considered and that without him there is neither election Grace nor salvation Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace Wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace That in the dispensasation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are in earth even in him Neither is their salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Eph. 1.5 6 7.10 Act. 4.12 5. I believe that there is not any impediment attending the election of God that can hinder their conversion and eternal salvation Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justifyed and whom he justifyed them he also glorifyed What shall we say to these things if God be for us who can be against us Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's eiect It is God that justifyeth Who is he that condemneth c. What then Israel hath not obtaâ—ned that which he seeketh for but the election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded For Israel hath not been forsaken nor Judah of his God of the Lord of hosts though their land was filled with sin against the holy one of Israel When Ananias made intercession against Saul saying Lord I have heard by many of this man how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem and here he hath authority from the high-priest to bind all that call upon thy name What said God unto him Go thy way for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and Kings and the children of Israel Rom. 8.30 31 32 33 34. chap. 11.7 Jer. 51.5 Act. 9.12 13 14 15. 6 I believe that no man can know his election but by his calling The vessels of mercy which God afore prepared unto Glory do thus claim a share sherein Even us say they whom he hath called not onely of the Jews but also of the Gentiles As he also saith in O see I will call them my people which were not my people and her beloved which was not beloved Rom. 9.23 24 â—5 7 I believe therefore that election doth not forestall or prevent the means which are of God appointed to bring us to Christ to grace and glory but rather putteth a necessity upon the use and effect thereof because they are chosen to be brought to heaven that way that is by the faith of Jesus Christ which is the end of effectual calling Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure 2 Thes. 2.13 1 Pet. 1.12 2 Pet. 1.10 Of Calling 1. I believe that to effectual Calling the holy Ghost must accompany the word of the Gospel and that with mighty power I mean that calling which of God is made to be the fruit of electing love I know saith Paul to the Thessalonians brethren beloved your election of God for our Gospell came not unto you in word onely but also in power and in the holy Ghost and in much assurance c 1 Thes. 1.4.8 Otherwise men will not cannot hear and turn Samuell was called four times before he knew the voice of him that spake from heaven It is said of them in Hosea That as the Prophets called them so they went from them And instead of turning to them sacrificed to Balaam and burnt incense to Graven Images 1 Sam 4.6.10 Hos. 11.2 The reason is because men by nature are not only dead in sins but enemys in their minds by reason of wicked works The call then is Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Eph. 5.14 Understand therefore that effectual calling is like that word of Christ that raised Lazarus from the dead A word attended with an arm that was omnipotent Lazarus come forth was a word to the dead but not onely so It was a word for the dead a word that raised him from the dead a word that outwent all opposition and that brought him forth of the grave though bound hand and foot therein Joh. 11.43 Eph. 2 1 2. Heb. 10.32 Gal. 1.15 Act. 9. And hence it is that calling is sometimes expressed by quickening awakening illuminating or bringing them forth of darkness to light that amazeth and astonisheth them For as it is a strange thing for a man that lay long dead or never saw the light with his eyes to be raised out of the grave or to be made to see that which he could not so much as once think of before so it is with effectual calling 1 Pet. 2.9 Hence it is that Paul when called stood trembling and was astonished and that Peter saith he hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light Eph. 4.21 Act. 7.2 In effectual calling the voyce of God is heard and the gates of heaven are opened when God called Abraham he appeared to him in glory Oh that of Ananius to Saul is experienced but by few The God of our Fathers hath chosen thee saith he that thou shouldest know his will and see that just one and shouldest hear the voyce of