evil that he may know that the fear of the Lord is his tresure as sayth the Prophet 16. But because the end of the Commandement is Love out of a pure hart and of a good cōscience of faith vnfeighned Love is the fulfilling of the Law therfore hath God comprised his whol wil touching our Sanctification and obedience in two precepts 1 Thow shalt Love thy Lord thy God with al thy hart with al thy sowl and with al thy mind 2 Thou shalt Love thy neighbour as thy self on these two commandements hangeth the whol Law and the Prophets As evil therfore is to be hated and eschewed so that which is good ought to be loved and cleaved vnto the head and fountain of al which good is onely God himself who first is to be loved and above all but hath given vs this commandement that he which loveth God should love his brother also 17. And as we have of him this Law of love so have we from him the grace to love both him his law and shal from him receive the fruit therof which is Life This Moses shewed Israel of old saying The Lord thy God wil circumcise thyne hart and the hart of thy seed that thou mayst Love the Lord thy God with al thy hart and with al thy sowl that thou mayst Live Thus we love him because he loved vs first and hath inclined our harts drawn vs after him Again because as Christ sayth he that hath his cōmandements and keepeth them is he that Loveth him therefore have we this rule direction given vs by Moses further joyning these two togeither Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and shalt keep that which he commandeth to be kept that is his ordinances and his lawes and his commandements alway 18. From this ariseth much cōfort to the Saints which finding themselves affected with the Lov of God feeling his love shed abroad in their harts by the holy Ghost which is given vnto thē do grow in this grace keep themselves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternal life They lov his commandements above the finest gold therfore have much peace and shal have no hurt or scandal their delight is in his cōmandements which they have loved their hands also doe they lift vp vnto them and herevpon doe expect to be quickened and conserved in life according to the loving kindnes of the Lord who preserveth al them that love him keepeth covenant and mercy towards them and causeth al things to work togither for the best vnto them For God is Love as sayth the disciple whom Iesus loved and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him and grace shal be vnto al them that love him vnto immortalitie Moses in spirit foreseing this sayd vnto Israel I cal heaven and earth to record this day agaynst you that I have set before you Life death the blessing the curse therfore chuse Life that thou and thy seed may live by loving the Lord thy God by obeying his voice and by cleaving vnto him for he is thy Life and the length of thy dayes 19. But because our Life is hid with Christ in God though now we be the sonnes of God yet it doth not appear what we shal be but when Christ which is our Life shal appear then shal we also appear with him in glory be like vnto him and see him as he is therfore hath he given vs another grace perteyning to Life and godlines called a living Hope vnto which God of his aboundāt mercy hath begotten vs by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead This vertue respecteth our good that is to come our inheritance reserved for vs in heaven yea thither hath it power to come entring as the Apostle saith into that which is within the vail whither the forerunner Iesus is for vs entred in this Hope we have as an anker of the soul both sure stedfast holding it fast in al tempests of tribulations or tentations knowing as Salomon sayth that ther is an end and our hope shal not be cut-off 20. Ther be two companions and as it were sisters of this grace 1 Faith 2 patience Faith goeth before as the guide and susteyner being the subsistance or ground of things hoped for as Abraham by faith even above hope beleeved vnder hope Patience accompanieth it and teacheth to wayt as it is written if we hope for that we see not we doe with patience abide for it And thus is fulfilled that which Isaias sayth he that beleeveth shal not make hast and consequently shal not be ashamed but being assured that he which shal come wil come and wil not delay though he tary yet we wayt as the prophet biddeth vs because the Father which hath loved vs hath given vs everlasting consolation and good hope through grace and hope maketh not ashamed yea we rejoyce in hope as being the thing wherby we ar saved he which is the God of hope filleth vs with al joy and peace in beleeving and causeth vs to abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost 21. One of the special promises which the anker of Hope layeth hold vpon and that by reason of the Covenant of God with vs is the Resurrection of the Dead For as God caling himself the God of Abraham Isaak Iaakob when they wer dead vnto the world but Living vnto him did teach his people therby that he would rayse them vp again from death as our Saviour expoundeth his Fathers oracle even so we all that are in the same covenant of grace and have him for our God do beleev that after our flesh hath ben sown in dishonour and seen corruption it shal be raysed in glory by the power of God for in our graves we shal heare the voyce of Christ at his appearing shal come forth vnto the resurrection of Life And then shall we injoy all the good promises in that Citie which hath foundations whose buylder and maker is God who is not ashamed of vs to be called our God because he hath prepared for vs a citie 22. Thus have we through the grace of our God those three heavenly vertues mentioned by the Apostle 1 an effectual Faith 2 adiligent Love 3 and the patience of Hope in our Lord Iesus Christ by Faith to beleev the mysteries of life and al his word by Love to cleav vnto him and keep his commandemēts by hope to exspect the fulfilling of al good promises which God that cannot lie hath made vnto vs and these three things doe abide with vs during this present life that walking in them we may
church of Ierusalem not to do the like nor partake in her sisters evils but when they became both after one sort the Lords hart forsook them both alike and because Ierusalem walked in her sisters way therfore God gave the others cup into her hand the cup of destruction and desolation For the Lord being exceeding wroth with Israel and having put them out of his sight that none was left but the tribe of Iudah onely yet Iudah not keeping the coÌ„mandements of the Lord their God but walking after the fashion of Israel which they vsed the Lord did therfore cast off al the seed of Israel afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of spoylers vntil he had cast them out of his sight It behooveth al therfore to mind wel their communion both with their own and other churches and to nourish peace but in holynes to keep coÌ„munion but in light not in darknes for we must all appear before the judgmeÌ„t seat of Christ where everie one of vs shall give account of himself vnto God and every man bear his own burtheÌ„ As we have sown in this flesh so shal we reap the sowl that hath sinned shall die Noah Daniel and Iob shal deliver neyther son nor daughter but their own sowles by their righteousnes And whosoever overcometh shall inherit all things and shal not be hurt of the second death Sow to your selves in righteousnes reap after the measure of mercie Hos. 10. 12. The conclusion SEeing theÌ„ we hav received such grace from God so many as beleev in the name of his son Christ as that we are raised vp from the graves of syn wherin we al lay naturally the children of wrath ar caled with a holy caling from the servitude of Satan and syn and al coÌ„munion with the wickednes of this world to serv the Lord in freedome of spirit and newnes of life according to his word are conjoyned in a holy societie with himself after a wonderful incomprehensible manner apprehended by fayth and one with another in the fellowship of the Gospel being through his mercie made a chosen generation a kingly priesthood washed froÌ„ al our syns in the blood of Christ and reigning with him on earth by mortifying subduing our earthly members and seing we hav in this estate al the promises of life blessing and salvation the presence and protection of him our God the guard and assistance of his holy Angels whatsoever thing is good for our help joy and comfort whiles we live on earth What remayneth theÌ„ but that we purge our selves from al filthines of the flesh and spirit so grow vp vnto ful holines in the fear of God making streight steps vnto our seet ruÌ„ning with patience the race that is set before vs fighting the good fight of faith and of afflictions resisting syn both in our selves and others nourishing mutual love and peace making an end of our salvation in fear trembling That after we hav ended this warfare in the flesh and hav so fought as we win the victory and none other get our crown when our sowles shal flit out of these earthly tabernacles our bodies may sleep and rest in their beds til our chaÌ„ge come our sowles not sent to the spirits in prison but received among the spirits of just and perfect men we may so rest from our labours and wayt for the ful redemption of our bodies at that day when our Lord Iesus shal shew himself from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming syre to render vengeance vnto them that know not God nor obey the Gospel of our Lord Christ punishing them with everlasting perdition froÌ„ his presence from the glory of his power and to be glorified in his saincts and made marveilous in al them that beleev which al shal be wher himself is see the blessed face of God there enjoy that heavenly communioÌ„ in the great assembly of al Saincts with everlasting joy vpon the 〈…〉 heads wher sorow and mourning shal be forgotten and al happines pleasures possessed for evermore For desire of that day the spirit the Bride say Come And let him that heareth say Come The faithful and true witnesse sayth Surely 〈…〉 quickly Amen Even so come Lord Iesus He that is a Sainct let him be sanctified stil Rev. 22. 11. Of the three sorts of meÌ„ al diversly affected in things concerning God Men are eyther OPEN WICKED HYPOCRITES SAINCTS â—icentious and profane livers professed enimies of the law of the Lord. Iob. 21. 14. 15. outwardly religious but inwardly wicked hating Gods law and the true righteousnes Isa. 29. 13. Mic. 3 11 that rightly beleev obey Gods word with their vtmost power the friends of the Lord. Psal. 119. 3 5 10. 11 c. These are born but after the flesh therfore savour they onely the things of the flesh aÌ„d remayn as they ar by nature Children of wrath Ioh. 3. 6. 1 Cor. 2. 14. â—â—h 2. 3. These seem to be renewed born again of ye Spirit they are inlightned and boast of heavenly grace yet continew they stil in their old naturall corruption vnwashed from their filthines Heb 6. 4. Isa 65. 5. Ioh. 8. 41. 42. Pro. 30. 12. These are born a new not of blood nor of the wil of the flesh or of man but of God therefore they savour the things of God and mind heavenly things being children of Wisdome Iohn 1. 13. 3. 3â— Luk. 7. 35. These ar neither chosen of God nor called being neyther of the church nor in the saine Psa. 11. 5 Rev. 22. 15. 1 Cor. 5. 82. These are caled but not chosen ar in the church for a a while but not of it Math. 22. 14. 1 Iohn 2. 19. These are called and chosen of God ar both in of the Church and so continew Ephes. 1. 4. c. Iob. 17. 9. In these syn dayly increaseth inwardly aÌ„d outwardly til righteousnes in them be vtterly extinct Psal. 36. 1. 2. 3. 4. In these righteousnes increaseth outwardly but sin liveth inwardly and aboundeth Isa. 1. 11. c. Ier. 3. 4. 5. In these syn dyeth and righteousnes revâ—â—eth dayly both inwardly and outwardly 〈◊〉 6. 2. â— 4. c. To these the Law if it be sent cometh in tables of stone for such is the nature of their harts but they receiv it not the tables ar broken before they come at them for these dance as it were about the goldeÌ„ calf of their own impietie Iâ—â—â—w not what is becom of Moses they break and violate all Exod. 32. Yet vnto such the law is given mid lieth vpon them as a â—urse and condeÌ„nation 1 Tim. â— 9. Deut. 27. 15-26 To these God giveth the stony tables and they receiv them but Moses face so shineth that they can not look vpoÌ„ him vnlesse heveil
youth for now ther shal be no more curse but the throne of God of the Lamb that was slayn shal be in the city he wil be merciful vnto his land vnto his people The Angels saw this were glad for our salvation they sung at our Saviours birth Glory to God in the highest heavens and vpon earth peace towards men goodwill And when he was glorified the thowsand thowsands of them praysed him saying worthy is the Lamb that was killed to receiv power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and prayse The heavens rejoyced for that the Lord had done the lower parts of the earth showted the mountaynes forrests and every tree burst forth into prayses for that the Lord had redeemed Iaakob would be glorified in Israel and al creatures in heaven in earth vnder the earth and in the sea al that are in them gave Praise honour and glorie power vnto him that sitteth vpon the throne and vnto the Lamb for ever more Amen 14. This grace was the Wisedom of God in a mysterie the hidden wisedom which God had fore-determined before the world vnto our glorie but it was hid from the eyes of al the living hid from the fowls of the heaveÌ„ none of the Princes of this world knew it no ye had seen it nor ear heard it neyther came it into mans hart onely God vnderstood the Way thereof and from the beginning of the world it was kept secret and hid in him and stil he hideth it from the wise men of vnderstanding neyther can the natural perceiv it vntil he revele it vnto them by his spirit which spirit sercheth al things even the deep things of God and by it we know the things that are given to vs of God 15. And now he hath opened vnto vs the mysterie of his will according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in Christ he hath proclaymed vnto the ends of the world that the Saviour of the daughter Sion is come his wages with him and his work before him that we might cleerly see the fellowship of the mystery might be able to coÌ„prehend with al Saincts what is the bredth and length and depth and height to know the lov of Christ which passeth knowledge and might be filled with al fulnes of God who hath given vs bewty for ashes the oyl of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heavines because our ‡ warfare is accomplished and our iniquitie is pardoned For while we were yet sinners Christ died for vs and when wee were enemies we were reconciled to God by his death and now shal be saved by his life for the chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are healed he hath washed vs from our syns in his blood and purged our conscience from dead works to serve the living God and is gone vp into very heaven to appear now in the sight of God for vs and there to prepare vs a place that where he is we may be also From whence he wil shortly shew himself with his mightie Angels to be glorified in his Saincts and made marveilous in them that beleev who after that they have drunk of his cup been baptised into his death and buriall and walked with him in newnes of life in this vale of tears and fulfilled the rest of his afflictions in their flesh shal have their vile bodies changed fashioned like to his glorious bodie the dead being raysed vp incorruptible and such as live remayn being chaÌ„ged and caught vp with them also in the clowds to meet the Lord in the ayre and so shall they ever be with the Lord their faces shyning as the Sun in the kingdome of their Father 16. Although this mysterie of Christ was not opened vnto the sons of men in other ages as it was at last reveled vnto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the spirit yet was the effect and summe therof made known to all the Patriarchs from the beginning For Iesus Christ was yesterday is to day the same for ever Abraham saw his day and was glad Abel also by faith in him obteyned testimonie that he was righteous which faith he learned of his father Adam who heard of God the riches of this grace freely preached in paradise before the sentence of exile and death was pronounced vpon him namely that the womans seed should crush the Serpents head who also was shewed the way to be by death and sacrifice a shadow wherof he saw in the Lambs then slayn and sacrificed in the service of the Lord. The great afflictions of Christ and of his people wer foretold in the Serpents crushing of his â—eel and the enmitie between the womans seed that Serpents foreshewed also in the murder of Abel the iust by Cain his wicked brother To Christ gave all the Prophets witnes that through his name all that beleeved in him should receive remission of syns and the twelve tribes instantly serving God night day hoped to come vnto this promise So in this hope and exspectation of redemption by the Son of God the Fathers rested and comforted their fainting sowles by faith the evidence of things not seene by which faith they saw the promises a farr off were perswaded saluted them confessed that they were strangers and pilgroms vpon earth and so died having through their faith obteyned testimony but received not the promise God providing a better thing for vs that they without vs should not be made perfect but in patient hope passe out their dayes on earth after death wayt al the dayes of their appoynted time til their changing shall come and then stand vp in their lot with vs and al Saincts at the end of the dayes 17. But al this grace and riches of the glorious mysterie now manifested to the Saincts which is Christ in vs the hope of glory God did not communicate with al men neyther yet doeth save with some few chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world Which little flock have their election not by works but by him that caleth according to the good pleasure of his own wil who without any vnrighteousnes hath mercy on whom he wil and whom he will he hardneth having made as the clay-potter of one lump some men vessels of mercie prepared vnto glorie some vessels of wrath prepared to destruction which yet notwithstanding have many favours and benefits from God to draw them to repentance out of the snare of Satan but all in vayn for they despise the grace proffered vnto them and run headlong into the condemnation whereto they were of old ordeyned
them outwardly by kingdome priesthood and prophesie he gave them also his good Spirit to instruct them and Iesus Christ his Son the Angel of his face or presence saved them yet they both envied Moses and Aaron the holy one of the Lord and often provoked grieved tempted God himself and limited the Holy one of Israel they rebelled vexed his holy Spirit the Spirit of the Lord which had given theÌ„ rest therefore was he turned to be their enimy and fought against them In these last dayes of the Gospell we are also taught how some that have tasted of the heavenly gift were made partakers of the Holy Ghost yet fall so away that they caÌ„not be renewed vnto repeÌ„tance So that even wicked men and reprobates do often receive the gifts of the Spirit whereby they do many great works yet are not benifited hereby vnto salvation for they have not the grace of God to sanctifie those gifts seal theÌ„ vp vnto the day of redemption therfore God taketh his holy Spirit from them and sometyme sendeth his evil spirit in sted thereof to vex them as he did vnto Saul this worthily seing there are of these wretches that do even despite the Spirit of grace 7. But the Saincts elect of God have an other manner coÌ„munion with the Holy Ghost for their help comfort and sanctification in this life and assurance of life eternall For because they are sons God sendeth the Spirit of his son into their harts which crieth Abba Father so they are no more servants but sons and heyrs also of God through Christ who hath obteyned of his Father this Comforter to abide with them for ever even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receiv because it seeth him not neyther knoweth him but they know him for hee dwelleth with them shal be in them their bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost 8. The communion which the Saincts have with the Spirit is in many particulars and that from the beginning of their dayes vnto the end For Ieremiah was sanctified and Iohn Baptist filled with the Holy Ghost even from their mothers wombs And we all that are born of God have our regeneration and new birth of the Spirit according to his mercy are saved by the washing of the new birth the renewing of the Holy Ghost 9. The word of God which it the immortal seed whereby we are begotten hath alwayes been vttered explayned and vnderstood by means of this Spirit David testifieth of himself that the Spirit of the Lord spake in him his word was in his tongue our saviour Christ and his Apostles doe witnesse also the same concerning him so the things that he spake we must receiv as the sayings of the Holy Ghost The like is to be minded for Isaias Michaias and al other Prophets by whose hands the Lord protested among his people by his spirit for Prophesie as the Apostle saith came not in old time by the wil of man but holy men of God spake as they wer moved by the Holy Ghost the Lord Iehovah his Spirit sent them Yea Christ himself had the Spirit of God put on him that hee might shew judgment to the Gentils and was anoynted with the Spirit that he might preach the Gospel to the poor and vnto the Apostles whom hee had chosen gave he coÌ„mandements through the Holy Ghost who also having received the Spirit which is of God spake the things that were given them of him not in the words which mans wisdome taught but which the holy Ghost did teach them so preached they the Gospel vnto the Saincts by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven 10. Vnto this Gospel of salvation first preached by the Lord and after coÌ„firmed by them that heard him God bare witnes both with signes and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost For to one as the Apostle sayth was given by the Spirit the word of wisdom to an other the word of knowledge by the same spirit to an other Faith by the same Spirit to an other the gifts of healing by the same Spirit to an other the operations of great works to an other Prophesie to an other discerning of spirits to an other diversities of tongues to an other the interpretatioÌ„s of toÌ„gues and al these things wrought even the self same Spirit distributing to every man severally as he would 11. But these spiritual gifts though they were powred out vpon many yet are they not neyther ever were given vnto al as it is written Are al doers of miracles have al the gifts of healing doe al speak with tongues doe al interpret Agayn to al that have them they ar not seals of the adoption of Sons for if men have prophesie and know al secrets and al knowledge if they have al fayth so that they can remove mountayns and have not Love they ar nothing Yet is this manifestation of the Spirit given to every man to profit withall as the Apostles were Gods witnesses concerning the things which they sayd so was the holy Ghost whom God gave to them that obeyed him the Spirit was one of the three witnesses on earth as the Apostle Iohn sayth 12. As the mysterie of Christ was reveled to his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit they preached the Gospel vnto others by the Holy Ghost sent down froÌ„ heaven as the ordinary permanent officers of the Churches are made Overseers by the Holie Ghost to feed the Church of God so by the hearing of Faith preached do men receive the Spirit which God openly shewed when while Peter yet was speaking the Holy Ghost fel on all them which heard thâ—â— word And as by the work of the Spirit the word is received and beleeved so is the same also obeyed kept and reteyned through the Holy Ghost that dwelleth in us The Sacraments also have by him their effects in vs as it is written by one Spirit are we al baptised into one body whither Iewes or Greeks whither bond or free and have bene aâ—â— made to drink into one Spirit 13. And having thus our new birth caling vnto and stablishing in the faith by the work of the holy Ghost we ar further by him confirmed comforted emboldned assisted in al our spiritual battels against Satan this world and our own corruptioÌ„s For wear streÌ„gthned by Gods Spirit in the inner maÌ„ being armed with the word of God which is the sword of the Spirit we stand fast and though the enimy come like a flood yet the Spirit of the Lord shal chase him away as sayth the Prophet And in rebuking the world he vseth great boldnes convincing them of syn of righteousnes and of judgement so
creditors These were to be wel intreated like brethren not overruled with crueltie they wer to be dismissed in the seventh or at furthest in the fiftith year called the Iubilee And when they went out they were to be liberally rewarded with their maisters goods Of the latter sort were the hethens either bought with price or conquered by battel which remayned servants alwaies theÌ„selves and their seed after theÌ„ Servitude especially bondage is a judgment of God vpon the world for syn inflicted vpon Chams posteritie as a curse yet is the curse by Christ taken away in whom the bond the free ar one And this was the case of many strangers in Israel as of the Gibeonites the offspring of CanaaÌ„ vpon whom their fathers curse for outward slaverie was inflicted which they cheerfully vnderwent and had Gods favour and blessing vpoÌ„ their sowles they serving him and he continewing theÌ„ though Saul sought to root them out punishing all Israel for their injurie The like was also to be seen in others of that progenie whom Solomon subdued vnder servile tribute whose children remayned among the Israelits after the captivitie of Babylon as did also the Nethinims of Gibeon and wer named the sons of Solomons servants When such bondmen ar brought to the faith of the Gospel their civil servitude is not therby at an end no not though they hav beleeving maisters but they ar stil to giv honour and do service even hartily as to the Lord and not to men 〈◊〉 they serv the Lord Christ in that estate and ar his freemen therfore they should not care for this yoke yet if they may be free they should vse it rather The maisters ar to do vnto their servants that which is just and equal knowing that they also hav a maister in heaven they may chasten theÌ„ but not oppresse them nor contemne their judgement when they coÌ„tend with theÌ„ Thus servaÌ„ts notwithstaÌ„ding their freedom in the faith ar to be in subjection and humble themselves vnder the haÌ„d of their governours they are to obey in labour and attendance in service at home or abroad in peace or in war and both maister and servant ar to keep communion togither in their holy faith wherin is no respect of persons without oppression fâ—awd murmuring or debate til they end their dayes in peace and come to the place appointed for al the living wher smal great do lodge togither and the servant free from his maister 6. This much of families which being wel ordered and conjoyned in the faith of Christ are as litle churches so caled by the Apostle and ought to hav care whatsoever be done in others that Gods true worship be continewed in them The secoÌ„d sort of humane societie is in Policies or Commune weals which may be diversly coÌ„stituted lesser or greater vnder suÌ„dry sorts of govermeÌ„t As many families coÌ„pact togither in one tribe many tribes in one nation or Kingdome many kingdomes in one Empire these menaged by one or by many by Princes Sâ—natouis Iudges Kings or Kaesaâ—s as God shal dispose the publick states see best For al powers are of God what soever be their names titles dignities or formes of regiment and when or howsoever they be altered at the discretion of man in respect wherof they ar caled â—â—mane creations or ordinaÌ„ces they ar to be submitted vnto for the Lords sake And this though they be vnbeleevers how much more if they also beleev hav brought their glorie to the Church of Christ and have their portion in the holy land 7. These magistrats if they be freely chosen of the church must be of their brethren men of wisdome and good conscience who must judge al causes aright govern the people in justice and in the fear of God whom the Commons are to honour submit vnto and reverence in deed word and gesture as to the Lord for the word of God is committed vnto them and they therfore ar caled Gods This subjection is due vnto al whither vnto the King as to the superior or vnto the Governors as they that ar sent of him It must be both openly secretly even of conscience not for fear of wrath onely The coÌ„munion of the faith is not a cause why eyther princes should forsake their place titles or dignities or the people shake off their subjection For seing Magistracie is stil Gods ordinance none ar meeter to execute it to hav his word and sword coÌ„mitted to theÌ„ to carie his titles to judge in his coÌ„gregatioÌ„ then his own servants furnished with his spirit And seeing it is stil his ministerie for the good of his people the punishmeÌ„t of malefactors praise of weldoers none caÌ„ better performe this dutie be noursing fathers mothers of Christs church then Christians Kings ar not to cast away but bring their glorie honour to IerusaleÌ„ as the gentiles do their riches theÌ„selves to minister therevnto 8. In which ministration they both mainteyn and conserve the true religion of God according to his word reforme things amisse in themselves and their subjects as is before touched and also mainteyn civil peace by executing mercie and judgment justifying delivering the poor and needy and beating down the oppressor Such magistrates are eyes to the blind feet to the lame fathers to the poor whose cause when they know not they seek out diligently breaking the jawes of the vnrighteous man plucking the prey out of his teeth And as their sword preserveth peace at home so it resisteth injuries from abroad that they are not onely ornameÌ„ts of coÌ„mune weals but their safety and strength vnder God and may wel be caled as the Prophets name them the Shields of the world For which cause all Christians as they may by Pauls example be partakers of the benefit of their lawes politick so do they ow homage service and subiectioÌ„ vnto theÌ„ should allow them maintenance pay them tributes and other like duties in recompence of their cares labours and employments that so mutual peace and concord in the coÌ„munion of the Saincts may all manner wayes be conserved 9. There remayneth yet an other sort of civil duties among the Saincts general vnto al maried or vnmaried bond or free magistrate or subject which are love mercy relief kindenes courtesie and many other the like sociable actions at al times to be performed of al persons as there is occasion and according to their power and place For Christians are to have care of those that labour among them aâ— over them in the Lord and admonish them that they have them in singular love for their works sake
one shepheard that hath made one sheepfold and are therfore exhorted to be al of one mind and to lov as brethren For so was it prophefied of the latter dayes that peoples should ioyntly seek for knowledge of Gods wayes in the mountayn of his howse and nation not lift vp a sword against natioÌ„ nor learn to fight any more 4. From hence ariseth the coÌ„munion of love al Gods graces and blessings among the churches wherin our elder sister the Congregation of Israel hath walked before vs for an example For she had mind and care of vs when we were smal and without breasts not able to bear or nourse vp children to the Lord she prayed for vs vnto God made mention of vs to her acquaintance taught her children by many prophesies to exspect our birth caling and coÌ„joyning in one spiritual body faith worship and religion And now that we through Christ hav obteyned this riches mercie though it be by her fal and diminishing we ought both to nourish vnity peace among our selves and to remember her again who notwithstanding her present miserie is beloved for her fathers sakes shal againe obteyn mercy which what wil it be vnto vs but life from the dead 5. Examples also we have of yâ— churches in the Apostles dayes who coÌ„municated ech with other in blessings spiritual and temporal as amongst others cheifly appeareth in those two loving sisters the Churches at Ierusalem and Antiochia the one of which wer Iewes the other Gentiles For they in Ierusalem hearing that many in Antioch wer turned vnto Christ sent for their further edification Bainabas vnto them a good man and ful of the holy Ghost and of faith by whose meanes much people joyned themselves vnto the Lord. The Antiochians knowing as the Apostle sayth that if they were made partakers of their spiritual things their dutie was to minister vnto them in carnal things wheÌ„ they heard of a famine foretold to come over al the world sent succour to their brethren in Iudea by the hands of Barnabas and Saul Again when ther grew a dissention by meanes of false doctrine sown amoÌ„g theÌ„ they sent the sayd Paul and Barnabas for advise and help vnto Ierusalem which church after great disputation even by the Apostles themselves sent back choise and chief men of their own company to Antiochia with Paul and Barnabas and wrote letters also of the same matter so botâ— by word writing the multitude of beleevers there were confirmed in the trueth and rejoyced for the consolation 6. Thus have we a pattern and president of Christian duties between Churches in that Church which first was crowned with the name of Christians have besides this many other instructions and exaÌ„ples proposed in the scriptures as of the Churches in Macedonia so ready and instant to bestow grace and fellowship of ministring to other Saincts of Corinth also in the like case whose readines of mind Paul boasted of to other congregations and their zele provoked many And wel was it with the churches theÌ„ which strove not for primacie nor knew no preeminence one over an other but walked al as brethren vnder one Archpastour Christ who stil walked among theÌ„ visiting the wayes and works of those golden candlesticks whose lights shined not onely in them selves but vnto others so as they wer followers of the Apostles of yâ— Lord ensamples to their sister churches in doctrine faith vertue folowers of theÌ„ in patience for which the Apostles rejoyced in the churches of God Herevpon followed prayers one for another thanks salutations with al other means to nourish lov and continew peace Then was fulfilled the prophesie of Isaiah which foretold of a path from Aegypt to Asshur that is from one church and nation of the Gentils to another wherby they should come and coÌ„municate togither in the worship of God Israel also being a third with them even a blessing in the midds of the land as we hav seen before in the church at Ierusalem and the blessing of the Lord vpon it in this holy coÌ„munion saying Blessed be my people Aegypt and Asshur the work of my hands and Israel myne inheritance 7 From these few examples coÌ„pared with the former general duties of al Christians may appear how churches owe help comfort and refreshing one to another as they hav need ability and should not one envie or vex an other but as Ephraim and Iudah flee togither vpon the shoulders of the common enimie yet avoiding both ambition confusioÌ„ For although we may advise exhort warn reprove c so far as Christian love and power extendeth yet find we no authority committed to one congregation over an other for excoÌ„municating the same as every church hath over her own members Christ reserveth this power in his own hand to remove the Candlestiks out of their places if they syn and repent not And he in his Epistles to the seven churches dealeth with every of them severally for their own estate and faults not imputing the syns of one vnto an other though the admonitions given to every one were to be a warning to al churches eveÌ„ whosoever had an ear to hear Neyther may members disorderly runn from church to church which may work trouble and confusion for avoiding wherof in the Apostles dayes letters of coÌ„mendation wer written for such as by occasion traveiled to other places that they might be esteemed and received as brethren as on the contrary false teachers hereticks excommunicats and such like be shunned avoided 8. As for communicating with an other church when it lieth in syn Christians ar to consider the rules meÌ„tioned in the former chapter For when they may not partake with their own congregation vnto which they ar joyned neyther may they partake with an other being in the same estate and transgression A Multitude cannot make an evil thing good neyther can many or al churches togither justify or make tollerable that which Gods law condemneth for al men though they be layd togither in the ballance ar lighter then vanity as the prophet sayth It is iustice according to the true proverbe which exalteth a nation but syn is the shame of peoples As therfore when Israel was in trespasse Iudah was forbidden to syn and every godly Iew to go to their assemblies so the Christians in Sardi which wer commended of Christ for not dofiling their garments in the syns of that church could not hav been blamelesse if they had joyned with their sister church of Thyatira wher Iesabel sate as Doctresse to teach to deceiv Gods servants 9. When â—holah the church of Samaria had defiled her self with the idols of Asshur and was therfore chastised of God it should hav been a warning to Aholihah the