go and gather them up But he said Nay lest whâ—le ye gather up the Tares ye root up also the Wheat with them Mat. 13. 27 28 29. Q. Doth he explain these Tares of the Wicked whom the Godly must not take upon them to cut off lest through Mistake they hurt the Good but leave it to God to do it by his Angels A. The Field is the World the good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom but the Tares are the Children of the Wicked One the Enemy that sowed them is the Devil the Harvest is the End of the World and the Reapers are the Angels As therefore the Tares are gathered and burnt in the Fire so shall it be in the End of this World The Son of Man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them which do Iniquity Mat. 13. 38 39 40 41. CHAP. XIV Concerning the Resurrection Question VVhat saith the Scripture of the Resurrection of the Dead A. And have Hope towards God which they themselves also allow that there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Unjust Acts 24. 15. Q. To what different End shall the Good be raised from the Bad and how are they thereunto reserved A. Marvel not at this for the Hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done Good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done Evil unto the Resurrection of Condemnation John 5. 28 29. But the Heavens and the Earth which are now by the same Word are kept in store reserv'd unto Fire against the Day of Judgment and Perdition of Ungodly Men 2 Pet. 3. 7. Q. What must be answered to such as ask How the Dead are raised and with what Body A. Thou Fool that which thou sowest is not quickned except it dye and that which thou sowest thou sowest not that Body that shall be but bare Grain it may chance of VVheat or some other Grain But God giveth it a Body as it hath pleased him and to every Seed his own Body All Flesh is not the same Flesh but there is one kind of Flesh of Men another Flesh of Beasts another of Fishes and another of Birds there are also Celestial Bodies and Bodies Terrestrial but the Glory of the Celestial is one and the Glory of the Terrestrial is another there is one Glory of the Sun and another Glory of the Moon and another Glory of the Stars for one Star differs from another Star in Glory so also is the Resurrection of the Dead it is sown in Corruption it is raised in Incorruption it is sown in Dishonour it is raised in Glory it is sown in VVeakness it is raised in Power it is sown a Natural Body it is raised a Spiritual Body There is a Natural Body and there is a Spiritual Body 1 Cor. 15. 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44. Q. The Apostle seems to be very positive that it is not that Natural Body which we now have that shall rise but a Spiritual Body A. Now this I say Brethren That Flesh Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God neither doth Corruption inherit Incorruption Behold I shew you a Mystery We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a Moment in the Twinkling of an Eye at the Last Trump for the Trumpet shall sound and the Dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed For this Corruptible must put on Incorruption and this Mortal must put on Immortality So when this Corruptible shall have put on Incorruption and this Mortal shall have put on Immortality then shall be brought to pass the Saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory 1 Cor. 15. 50 51 52 53 54 55. CHAP. XV. A Short Introduction to the Confession of FAITH HAving thus largely and evidently performed the chief Part of that which I promised in this Treatise in giving a full Account of our Principles in plain Scripture-words and also answering by the Scriptures the chief and main Objections made against us I come to a Confession of Faith in which I shall not be so large for that I judge it not convenient to make an Inter-repetition of all the Scriptures before-mentioned which if needful the Reader may easily observe were not very difficult to do But whereas a Confession of Faith calleth rather for an Affirmative Account of one's own Faith then for the Solution of Objections or any thing of Debate in a Discursive Way which is both more properly and pertinently performed in a Catechism therefore I have here only done so I am necessitate sometimes to intermix some words for coherence of the Matter as sometimes And and sometimes Therefore and the like but not such as any ingenous Person can affirm do add to the Matter or that may any wise justly be reckon'd a Comment or Meaning and therefore to avoid the Censure of the most Curious Carping Critieks these are marked with a different Character Likewise unless I should have ridiculously offered to publish incongruous Grammar there was a true Need sometimes to change the Mood and Person of a Verb in all which places whosoever will look to the words shall find it is done upon no Design to alter any whit the naked import of them as for instance where Christ sayes I am the Light of the World were it proper for me to write thus I am the Light c Or can it be reckoned any whit contradicting of my Purpose or Promise to write Christ is the Light where the first Person is changed to the third Also sometimes I express things which are necessarily understood as when any of the Apostles say We there instead of We I write Apostles and where they say You speaking to the Saints there I mention Saints instead of it for the Connexion of the Sentence sometimes requires it as in the first Article in mentioning that of 1 Joh. 1. 5. concerning God's being Light and in such like Cases which I know no impartial Reader would have quarrelled though wanting this Apology which I judged meet to premise knowing there is a Generation who when they cannot find any real or substantial Ground against Truth its Followers will he cavilling at such little Nicities therefore such may see this Objection is obviated CHAP. XVI A Confession of Faith Containing XXIII Articles ARTICLE I. Concerning GOD and the True and Saving Knowledge of him THere is one God Who is a Spirit And This is the Message which the Apostles heard of him and declared unto the Saints That he is Light and in him is no Darkness at all There are Three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these Three are One The Father is in the Son and the Son is in the
thou shalt have Praise of the same for he is the Minister of God to thee for Good But 〈◊〉 thou do that which is Evil 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 we must needs be subject not only for VVrath but also for Conscience sake for for this Cause pay we also Tribute for they are God's Ministers attending continually upon this very thing Render therefore to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour Therefore are we to submit our selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake whether it be to the King as Supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the Punishment of Evil-Doers and for the Praise of them that do well for so is the Will of God that with Well-doing we may put to Silence the Ignorance of Foolish Men Yet it is right in the Sight of God to hearken unto him more then unto them And though they straighly command us not to teach in Christ's Name we ought to obey God rather then Men ARTICLE XXIII Concerning the Resurrection THere shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Unjust They that have done Good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done Evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God neither doth Corruption inherit Incorruption Nor is that Body sown that shall be but God gives it a Body as it has pleased him and to every Seed his own Body It is sown in Corruption it is raised in Incorruption it is sown in Dishonour it is raised in Glory it is sown in Weakness it is raised in Power it is sown a Natural Body it is raised a Spiritual Body CHAP. XVII A Short Expostulation with and Appeal to all other Professors COme let us reason with you all ye Professors of Christianity of what sort or kind soever and bring forth your Catechisms and Confessions of Faith to that which by most of your selves is accounted the Touch-Stone or Rule And suffer your selves no more to be blinded and to Err through your Ignorance of the Scriptures and of the Power of God But freely acknowledg confess to that Glorious Gospel and Light which the Scriptures so clearly witness to and your Experience must needs answer as also to these other Doctrines which consequentially depend upon the Belief of that Noble and truly Catholick Principle wherein the Love of God is so mercifully exhibited to all men and his Justice and Mercy do like Twins so Harmonously concord his Mercy in the oft tendering of his Love through the Strivings and Wreslings of his Light during the Day of every man's Visitation and his Justice both in the destroying and cutting away of the Wicked Nature and Spirit in those that suffer themselves to be redeemed through his Judgments and in the utter Overthrow of such who rebelling against the Light and doing Despight to the Spirit of Grace hate to be reformed Now not only this Fundamental Principle is clearly held forth in this Treatise but all these that depend upon it as the real and inward Justification of the Saints through the Power and Life of Jesus revealed in them their full and Perfect Redemption from the Body of Death and Sin as they grow up by the Workings and Prevalency of his Grace and yet lest Security should enter there is great need of Watchfulness in that they may even depart after they have really witnessed a good Condition and make Ship-wrack of the Faith and of a good Conscience with all the Parts of the Doctrine of Christ as they lie lincked together like a Golden Chain which doth very much evidence the Certainty and Vertue of Truth above all Heresies Error and Deceit however so cunningly gilded with the specious Pretences thereof for Truth is intire in all its Parts and consonant to it self without the least Jar having a wonderful Coherence and notable Harmony answering together like the Strings of a well-tuned Instrument whereas the Principles of all other Professors though in some things most of them come near and divers acknowledge that which is Truth yet in most things they stray from it so that their Principles greatly contradict jar one against another and though they may alledge Scriptures for some of their Principles yet they are put strangely to wrest it and to deny it for others My Appeal then to and Expostulation with all sorts of professors is not to prove some one or two Points by the Scriptures for there be some general Notions of Truth which most if not all agree to but the whole Body of our Principles as they stand in relation to each other which none of them all is able to do for among the many Professors their Catechisms and Confessions of Faith I find none save the Dispensation of Truth now again revealed but such as in most of their substantial Principles differ greatly and in many contradict grosly the plain Text and Tenour of the Scripture I confess there be certain men in this Age who with some plausible Appearance of Reality undertake this Task These are they that joyn with and own not wholely any Imbodied People but while they pretend a general Love to all yet find Fault with some part of every sort while in the mean time they scarce can give any Account of their own Religion and most of them prove at bottom to have none at all These men I say may perhaps acknowledge some general Truths and also hold to the Letter of the Scripture in some other things so as thereby to take Occasion largly to judge others while themselves offer not to bring these good things to practise they blame others for the Want or Neglect of But such an Enterprize from these men will not when weighed prove a fulfilling of this Master seeing it is not enongh to acknowledge many Truths but also to deny and witness against all Error and likewise not to fall short of any Truth which ought to be acknowledged Whereas these sort of men for the most part cannot give account of their Faith in many things needful to be believed and whatever things they may acknowledge to be true they err most grievously and contradict a Truth most needful to be minded and answered as is proved hereto in that they stand not forth to appear for any of these Discoveries they pretend they have but make a shift to hide their Heads in Times of Tryal so as not to suffer for nor with any And through these fine Pretences above mentioned through their Scruples of joyning with any they can cunningly shun the Difficulties of Persecutions that attend the particular Sects of Christians and yet by their general Charity and Love to all claim a Share in any
Love which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1. 13. Q. What is the great Commandment given by Christ to his Disciples as that which even declareth them to be such and is also pressed by his Apostles A. A new Commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another by this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have Love to one another This is my Commandment that ye Love one another as I have loved you These things I command you that ye love one another Joh. 1â— 34 35. 15. 12 17. Be ye therefore Followers of God as dear Children and walk in Love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Savour Ephes. 5. 1 2. If any man say I love God and hateth his Brother he is a Lyar for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen And this Commandment have we from him that he who loveth God loveth his Brother also 1 John 4. 20 21. Q. Is Humility very needful to Christians what like must we be ere we can enter the Kingdom A. And said Verely verely I say unto you Except ye be converted and become as little Children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven whosoever therefore shall Humble himself as this little Child the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 18. 3 4. Q. Ought Christians to lord over one another what Rule giveth Christ in this Case A. But Jesus call'd them unto him and said Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise Dominion over them and they that are great exercise Authority upon them but it shall not be so among you but whosoever will be great among you let him be your Minister and whosoever will be chief among you let him be your Servant even as the Son of Man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his Life a Ransom for many Mat. 20. 25 26 27 28. Q. How then are Christians in this World A. Behold I send you forth as Sheep in the midst of Wolves be ye therefore wise as Serpents and harmless as Doves Mat. 10. 16. Go your wayes behold I send you forth as Lambs among Wolves Luke 10. 3. Q. Are we then to expect Afflictions and Persecution here A. And ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake but he that endureth to the End shall be saved Mat. 10. 22. Mark 13. 13. And ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake Luke 21. 17. If the World hate you ye know that it hated me before it hated you if ye were of the World the World would love his own but because ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you John 15. 18 19. These things I have spoaken unto you that in me ye might have Peace in the World ye shall have Tribulation but be of good Cheer I have overcome the World John 16. 33. And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution 2 Tim. 3. 12. Q. Ought we then to fear Persecution A. Fear not them which kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul but rather fear him who is able to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell Mâ—t. 10. 28. And I say unto you my Friends be not afraid of them that kill the Body and after that have no more that they can do But I will fore-warn you whom ye shall fear fear him which after he hath killed hath Power to cast into Hell yea I say unto you fear him Luke 12. 4 5. Q. What Advantage is to them that suffer Persecution cheerfully and Hazard to them that shun it A. Blessed are they which are persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5. 10. But if ye suffer for Righteousness sake happy are ye and be not afraid of their Terror neither be troubled 1 Pet. 3. 14. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before Men him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven but whosoever shall deny me before Men him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me and he that taketh not his Cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me He that findeth his Life shall loose it and he that looseth his Life for my sake shall find it Mat. 10. 32 33 37 38 39. Also I say unto you Whosoever shall confess me before Men him shall the Son of Man also confess before the Angels of God but he that denys me before Men shall be deny'd before the Angels of God Luke 12. 8 9. Then said Jesus unto his Disciples If any Man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me for whosoever will save his Life shall loose it and whosoever will loose his Life for my sake shall find it Mat. 16. 24 25. If we suffer we shall also reign with him if we deny him he also will deny us 2 Tim. 2. 12. If any come to me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his own Life he cannot be my Disciple Luke 14. 2â— And he said to them all If any Man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me for whosoever will save his Life shall loose it but whosoever will loose his Life for my sake the same shall save it Luke 9. 23 24. And when he had called the People to him with his Disciples also he said unto them whosoever will come after me let him deny himself take up his Cross follow me for whosoever will save his Life shall loose it but whosoever shall loose his Life for my sake and the Gospel the same shall save it Mark 8. 34 35. Q. There is nothing more certain according to these Scriptures then that Christians must suffer Persecution in this World even in their Persons and Estates But shall they not also suffer in their Good Names in being accounted Blasphemers Hereticks and Deceivers A. The Disciple is not above his Master nor the Servant above his Lord It is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master and the Servant as his Lord If they have called the Master of the House Bâ—elzebub how much more shall they call them of his Houshold Mat. 10. 24 25. Blessed are ye when Men shall revile you and Persecute you and shall say all manner of Evil against you falsly for my sake Mat. 5. 11. Then they suborned men which said We have heard him speak Blasphemous Words against Moses and against God And they stirred up the People and the Elders and the Scribes
Father No man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father but the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God For the Things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God Now the Saints have received not the Spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God that they might know the things which are freely given them of God For the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father sends in Christ's Name he teacheth them all things and bringth all things to their Remembrance ARTICLE II. Concerning the Guide and Rule of Christians CHrist pray'd to the Father and he gave the Saints another Comforter that was to abide with them forever even the Spirit of Truth whom the World cannot receive because it seeth him not nor knoweth him but the Saints know him for he dwelleth with them and is to be in them Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God For this is the Covenant that God hath made with the House of Israel he hath put his Laws in their Mind writ them in their Hearts and they are all taught of God And the Anointing which they have received of him abideth in them and they need not that any man teach them but as the same Anointing teacheth them of all things and is Truth and is no Lye ARTICLE III. Concerning the Scriptures VVHatsoever things were written afore time were written for our Learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope Which are able to make wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture being given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be Perfect throughly furnished unto all Good Works No Prophecy of the Scripture is of any private Interpretation for the Prophecy came not in old time by the Will of man but Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost ARTICLE IV. Concerning the Divinity of Christ and his Being from the Beginning IN the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God the same was in the Beginning with God All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Whose Goings forth have been from of old from Everlasting For God created all things by Jesus Christ Who being in the Form of God thought it no Robbery to be equal with God And his Name is called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Who is the Image of the Invisible God the First-born of every Creature The Brightness of the Father's Glory and the express Image of his Substance Who was cloathed with a Vesture dipt in Blood and his Name is call'd The Word of God In him dwells all the Fulness of the God head bodily And in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom Knowledge ARTICLE V. Concerning his Appearance in the Flesh. THe Word was made Flesh For he took not on him the Nature of Angels but he took on him the Seed of Abraham being in all things made like unto his Brethren Touched with a feeling of our Infirmities and in all things tempted like as we are yet without Sin He dyed for our Sins according to the Scriptures and he was buried and he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures ARTICLE VI. Concerning the End and Use of that Appearance GOD sent his own Son in the Likeness of sinful Flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh For this Purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil Being manifested to take away our Sins For he gave himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a Sweet-smelling Savour Having obtained Eternal Redemption for us And through the Eternal Spirit offered up himself without Spot unto God to purge our Consciences from dead Works to serve the living God He was the Lamb that was slain from the Foundation of the World Of whom the Fathers did all drink for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ Christ also suffered for us leaving us an Example that we should follow his Steps For we are to bear about in the Body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our Body being alway delivered unto Death for Jesus's sake that the Life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our Flesh That we may known him and the Power of his Resurrection and the Fellowship of his Sufferings being made conformable to his Death ARTICLE VII Concerning the Inward Manifestation of Christ. GOd dwelleth with the Contrite and Humble in Spirit For he hath said he will dwell in them and walk in them And Christ standeth at the Door and knocketh if any man hear his Voice and open the Door he will come into him and sup with him and he with him And therefore ought we to examine our selves and prove our own selves knowing how that Christ is in us except we be Reprobates For this is the Riches of the Glory of the Mystery which God would make known among or rather IN the Gentiles Christ Within the Hope of Glory ARTICLE VIII Concerning the New Birth EXcept a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Therefore ought we to put off the Old Man with his Deeds and put on the New Man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him and which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness For henceforth know we no man after the Flesh yea though we have known Christ after the Flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more For if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are past away behold all things are become new For such have put on the Lord Jesus Christ And are renewed in the Spirit of their Minds Sith as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Being born again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth abideth forever And glory in nothing save in the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ by whom the World is crucified unto them and they unto the World For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Uncircumcision but a new Creature ARTICLE IX Concerning the Unity of the Saints with Christ. HE that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all
that callupon him to all that call upon him in Truth He is far from the VVicked but he heareth the Prayers of the Righteous And this is the Confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his VVill he heareth us VVhat is it then We must pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding also we must sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our Infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit itself maketh Intercession for us with Greanings which cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the Heart knoweth what is the Mind of the Spirit because he maketh Intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God ARTICLE XVIII Concerning Baptism AS there is One Lord One Faith so there is One Baptism Which doth also now save us not the putting away of the Filth of the Flesh but the Answer of a Good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ For John indeed baptized with Water but Christ with the Holy Ghost and with Fire Therefore as many as are baptized into Jesus Christ are baptized into his Death and are buried with him by Baptism into Death that like as Christ was raised up from the Dead by the Glory of the Father even so they also should walk in Newness of Life Having put on Christ ARTICLE XIX Concerning Eating of Bread and Wine Washing of one anothers's Feet Abstaining from things Strangled and from Blood and Anointing of the Sick with Oyl THe Lord Jesus the same Night in which he was betrayed took Bread and when he had given Thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you this do in Remembrance of me After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood this do ye as oft as ye drink it in Remembrance of me for as oft as ye do eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew forth the Lord's Death till he come Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his Hands and that he was come from God and went to God he ariseth from Supper and laid aside his Garments and took a Towel and girded himself after that he poureth VVater into a Bason and began to wash the Disciples Feet and to wipe them with the Towel where with he was girded So after he had washed their Feet and had taken his Garments and was sate down again he said unto them Know ye what I have done unto you Ye call me Master Lord and ye say well for so I am If then I your Lord and Master have washed your Feet ye also ought to wash one another's Feet for I have given you Example that ye should do as I have done unto you For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater Burden then these Necessary Things That ye abstain from Meats offered to Idols from Blood and from things strangled and from Fornication from which if ye keep your selves ye do well Is any man sick amâ—ng you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with Oyl ARTICLE XX. Concerning the Liberty of such Christians as are come to know the Substance as to the Using or not Using of these Rites and of the Observation of Dayes THe Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Let no man therefore judge us in Meat or Drink or in Respect of an Holy Day or of the New Moon or of the Sabbath Days For if we be dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World why as though living in the World are we subject to Ordinances Let us not touch or taste or handle which all are to perish with the Using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men For now after we have known God or rather are known of him why should we turn again unto the Weak and Beggarly Elements or desire again to be in Bondage to observe Dayes and Months and Times and Years lest Labour have been bestowed on us in vain If one man esteem a Day above another another esteems every Day alike let every man be fully perswaded in his own Mind He that regardeth a Day regardeth it unto the Lord and he that regardeth not the Day to the Lord he doth not regard it ARTICLE XXI Concerning Swearing Fighting and Persecution IT hath bin said by them of old Thou shalt not Forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oathes But Christ says unto us Swear not at all neither by Heaven for it is God's Throne nor by the Earth for it is his Footstool neither by Jerusalem for it is the City of the great King neither shalt thou swear by thy Head because thou canst not make one Hair white or black but let your Communication be Yea Yea Nay Nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of Evil And James chargeth us Above all things not to Swear neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by any other Oath but let your Yea be Yea and your Nay Nay lesâ— ye fall into Condemnation Though we walk in the Flesh we are not to war after the Flesh for the Weapons of our Warfare are not to be carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong Holds casting down Imaginations and every High Thing that exalts it self against the Knowledge of God and bringing into Captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Christ For Wars and Fightings come of the Lusts that war in the Members Therefore Christ commands Not to resist Evil but whosoever will smite on the Right Cheek to turn the other also Because Christians are Lambs among Wolves Therefore are they hated of all men for Christ's sake And all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution Such are Blessed for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven For though they have lost their Lives yet shall they save them And because they have confessed Christ before men he will also confess them before the Angels of God We ought not then to 〈◊〉 them which kill the Body but are not able â—o the kill the Soul but rather him which is able to destroy both Soul and Body into Hell ARTICLE XXII Concerning Magistracy LET every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers for there is no Power but of God the Powers that be are ordained of God VVhosoever therefore resists the Power resists 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 then not be afraid of the Power do that which is Good and