Assemblies in what Place soever they are according as they have liberty or opportunity are therefore Church or Publick Assemblies XI The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any Person fitted and gifted by the Holy Ghost unto the Office of Pastor Teacher or Elder in a Church is that he be chosen thereunto by the common Suffrage of the Church it self and solemnly set apart by Fasting and Prayer with Imposition of Hands of the Eldership of that Church if there be any before constituted therein And of a Deacon that he be chosen by the like Suffrage and set apart by Prayer and the like Imposition of Hands XII The Essence of this Call of a Pastor Teacher or Elder unto Office consists in the Election of the Church together with his Acceptation of it and Separation by Fasting and Prayer And those who are so chosen though not set apart by Imposition of Hands are rightly constituted Ministers of Jesus Christ in whose Name and Authority they Exercise the Ministry to them so committed The Calling of Deacons consisteth in the like Election and Acceptation with Separation by Prayer XIII Although it be incumbent on the Pastors and Teachers of the Churches to be instant in Preaching the Word by way of Office yet the Work of Preaching the Word is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others also gifted and fitted by the Holy Ghost for it and approved being by lawful ways and means in the Providence of God called thereunto may publickly ordinarily and constantly perform it so that they give themselves up thereunto XIV However they who are engaged in the Work of publick Preaching and enjoy the publick Maintenance upon that account are not thereby obliged to dispense the Seals to any other than such as being Saints by Calling and gathered according to the Order of the Gospel they stand related to as Paâ—tors or Teachers yet ought they not â—o neglect others living within their Parochial Bounds but besides their constant publick Preaching to them â—hey ought to enquire after their profiting by the Word instructing them â—n and pressing upon them whether young or old the great Doctrines of the Gospel even personally and particularly so far as their strength and time will admit XV. Ordination alone without the Election or precedent consent of the Church by those who formerly have been Ordained by virtue of that Power they have received by their Ordination doth not constitute any Person a Church-Officer or communicate Office-Power unto him XVI A Church furnished with Officers according to the Mind of Christ hath full Power to administer all his Ordinances and where there is want of any one or more Officers required that Officer or those which are in the Church may Administer all the Ordinances proper to their particular Duty and Offices but where there are no Teaching Officers none may Administer the Seals nor can the Church authorize any so to do XVII In the carrying on of Church Administrations no Person ought to be added to the Church but by the consent of the Church it self that so love without dissimulation may be preserved between all the Members thereof XVIII Whereas the Lord Jesus Christ hath appointed and instituted as a means of Edification that those who walk not according to the Rules and Laws appointed by him in respect of Faith and Life so that just offence doth arise to the Church thereby be censured in his Name and Authority Every Church hath Power in it self to exercise and execute all those Censures appointed by him in the way and Order prescribed in the Gospel XIX The Censures so appointed by Christ are Admonition and Excommunication and whereas some Offences are or may be known only to some it is appointed by Christ that those to whom they are so known do first admonish the Offender in private in publick Offences where any Sin before all or in case of non-amendment upon private Admonition the Offence being related to the Church and the Offender not manifesting his Repentance he is to be duely admonished in the Name of Christ by the whole Church by the Ministry of the Elders of the Church and if this Censure prevail not for his Repentance then he is to be cast out by Excommunication with the consent of the Church XX. As all Believers are bound to joyn themselves to particular Churches when and where they have opportunity so to do so none are to be admitted unto the Privileges of the Churches who do not submit themselves to the Rule of Christ in the Censures for the Government of them XXI This being the way prescribed by Christ in case of Offence no Church-Members upon any Offences taken by them having performed their Duty required of them in this matter ought to disturb any Church-Order or absent themselves from the Publick Assemblies or the Administration of any Ordinances upon that pretence but to wait upon Christ in the further proceeding of the Church XXII The Power of Censures being seated by Christ in a particular Church is to be exercised only towards particular Members of each Church respectively as such and there is no Power given by him unto any Synods or Ecclesiastical Assemblies to Excommunicate or by their publick Edicts to threaten Excommunication or other Church-censures against Churches Magistrates or their People upon any account no Man being obnoxious to that Censure but upon his personal Miscarriage as a Member of a particular Church XXIII Although the Church is a Society of Men assembling for the celebration of the Ordinances according to the appointment of Christ yet every Society assembling for that end or purpose upon the account of Cohabitation within any Civil Precincts and Bounds is not thereby constituted a Church seeing there may be wanting among them what is essentially required thereunto and therefore a Believer living with others in such a Precinct may joyn himself with any Church for his Edification XXIV For the avoiding of Differences that may otherwise arise for the greater Solemnity in the Celebration of the Ordinances of Christ and the opening a way for the larger usefulness of the Gifts and Graces of the Holy Ghost Saints living in one City or Town or within such distances as that they may conveniently Assemble for Divine Worship ought rather to joyn in one Church for their mutual strengthning and Edification than to set up many distinct Societies XXV As all Churches and all the Members of them are bound to pray continually for the Good or Prosperity of all the Churches of Christ in all Plaâ—â—s and upon all occasions to further it Every one within the Bounds of their Places and Callings in the Exercise of their Gifts and Graces So the Churches themselves when planted by the Providence of God so as they may have opportunity and advantage for it ought to hold Communion amongst themselves for their Peace increase of Love and mutual Edification XXVI In Cases of Difficulties or Differences either in point of Doctrine or in Administrations wherein either the Churches in general are concerned or or any one Church in their Peace Union and Edification or any Member or Members of any Church are injured in or by any proceeding in Censures not agreeable to Truth and Order it is according to the Mind of Christ that many Churches holding Communion together do by their Messengers meet in a Synod or Counsel to consider and give their advice in or about that matter in difference to be reported to all the Churches concerned Howbeit these Synods so assembled are not intrusted with any Church Power properly so called or with any Jurisdiction over the Churches themselves to exercise any Censures either over any Churches or Persons or to impose their Determinations on the Churches or Officers XXVII Besides these occasional Synods or Counsels there are not instituted by Christ any stated Synods in a fixed Combination of Churches or their Officers in lesser or greater Assemblies nor are there any Synods appointed by Christ in a way of Subordination to one another XXVIII Persons that are joyned in Church-Fellowship ought not lightly or without just cause to withdraw themselves from the Communion of the Church whereunto they are so joyned Nevertheless where any Person cannot continue in any Church without his Sin either for want of the Administration of any Ordinances instituted by Christ or by his being deprived of his due Privileges or compelled to any thing in practice not warranted by the Word or in case of Persecution or upon the account of conveniency of Habitation he consulting with the Church or the Officer or Officers thereof may peaceably depart from the Communion of the Church wherewith he hath so walked to joyn himself with some other Church where he may enjoy the Ordinances in the Purity of the same for his Edification and Consolation XXIX Such Reforming Churches as consist of Persons found in the Faith and of Conversation becomming the Gospel ought not to refuse the Communion of each other so far as may consist with their own Principles respectively though they walk not in all things according to the same Rules of Church-Order XXX Churches gathered and walking according to the Mind of Christ judging other Churches though less pure to be true Churches may receive unto occasional Communion with them such Members of those Churches as are credibly testified to be Godly and to live without Offence FINIS
of the Substance of Bread and Wine into the Substance of Christ's Body and Blood commonly called Transubstantiation by Consecration of a Priest or by any other way is repugnant not to Scripture alone but even to common Sense and Reason overthroweth the Nature of the Sacrament and hath been and is the cause of manifold Superstitions yea of gross Idolatries VII Worthy Receivers outwardly partaking of the visible Elements in this Sacrament do then also inwardly by Faith really and indeed yet not carnally and corporally but spiritually receive and feed upon Christ Crucified and all benefits of his Death the Body and Blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally in with or under the Bread or Wine yet as really but spiritually present to the Faith of Believers in that Ordinance as the Elements themselves are to their outward Senses VIII All ignorant and ungodly Persons as they are unfit to enjoy Communion with Christ so are they unworthy of the Lord's Table and cannot without great Sin against him whilst they remain such partake of these holy Mysteries or be admitted thereunto yea whosoever shall Receive unworthily are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord eating and drinking Judgment to themselves CHAP. XXXI Of the State of Man after Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead THE Bodies of Men after Death return to Dust and see Corruption but their Souls which neither dye nor sleep having an immortal Subsistence immediately return to God who gave them the Souls of the Righteous being then made perfect in Holiness are received into the highest Heavens where they behold the Face of God in Light and Glory waiting for the full Redemption of their Bodies And the Souls of the Wicked are cast into Hell where they remain in Torment and utter Darkness reserved to the Judgment of the Great Day Besides these two Places for Souls separated from their Bodies the Scripture acknowledgeth none II. At the Last Day such as are found alive shall not dye but be changed and all the dead shall be raised up with the self-same Bodies and none other although with different Qualities which shall be united again to their Souls for ever III. The Bodies of the Unjust shall by the Power of Christ be raised to dishonour the Bodies of the Just by his Spirit unto honour and be made conformable to his own glorious Body CHAP. XXXII Of the Last Judgment GOD hath appointed a Day wherein he will Judge the World in Righteousness by Jesus Christ to whom all Power and Judgment is given of the Father in which Day not only the Apostate Angels shall be judged but likewise all Persons that have lived upon Earth shall appear before the Tribunal of Christ to give an account of their Thoughts Words and Deeds and to receive according to what they have done in the Body whether good or evil II. The end of God's appointing this Day is for the Manifestation of the Glory of his Mercy in the eternal Salvation of the Elect and of his Justice in the Damnation of the Reprobate who are Wicked and Disobedient For then shall the Righteous go into everlasting Life and receive that fulness of Joy and Glory with everlasting Reward in the presence of the Lord but the Wicked who know not God and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ shall be cast into eternal Torments and be punished with everlasting Destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his Power III. As Christ would have us to be certainly perswaded that there shall be a Judgment both to deterr all Men from Sin and for the greater Consolation of the Godly in their Adversity so will he have that Day unknown to Men that they may shake off all Carnal Security and be always watchful because they know not at what Hour the Lord will come and may be ever prepared to say Come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen OF THE INSTITUTION OF CHURCHES And the ORDER Appointed in them by JESUS CHRIST I. BY the Appointment of the Father all Power for the Calling Institution Order or Government of the Church is invested in a Supreme and Sovereign manner in the Lord Jesus Christ as King and Head thereof II. In the Execution of this Power wherewith he is so intrusted the Lord Jesus calleth out of the World unto Communion with himself those that are given unto him by his Father that they may walk before him in all the ways of Obedience which he prescribeth to them in his Word III. Those thus called through the Ministry of the Word by his Spirit he commandeth to walk together in particular Societies or Churches for their mutual Edification and the due Performance of that Publick Worship which he requireth of them in this World. IV. To each of these Churches thus gathered according unto his Mind declared in his Word he hath given all that Power and Authority which is any way needful for their carrying on that Order in Worship and Discipline which he hath instituted for them to observe with Commands and Rules for the due and right exerting and executing of that Power V. These particular Churches thus appointed by the Authority of Christ and intrusted with Power from him for the ends before expressed are each of them as unto those ends the seat of that Power which he is pleased to communicate to his Saints or Subjects in this World so that as such they receive it immediately from himself VI. Besides these particular Churches there is not instituted by Christ any Church more extensive or Catholick intrusted with Power for the Administration of his Ordinances or the Execution of any Authority in his Name VII A particular Church gathered and compleated according to the Mind of Christ consists of Officers and Members The Lord Christ having given to his called Ones united according to his Appointment in Church Order Liberty and Power to choose Persons fitted by the Holy Ghost for that purpose to be over them and to Minister to them in the Lord. VIII The Members of these Churches are Saints by Calling visibly manifesting and evidencing in and by their Profession and Walking their Obedience unto that Call of Christ who being further known to each other by their confession of the Faith wrought in them by the Power of God declared by themselves or otherwise manifested do willingly consent to walk together according to the Appointment of Christ giving up themselves to the Lord and to one another by the Will of God in professed Subjection to the Ordinances of the Gospel IX The Officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the Church so called and gathered for the peculiar Administration of Ordinances and Execution of Power or Duty which he intrusts them with or calls them to to be continued to the end of the World are Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons X. Churches thus gathered and assembling for the Worship of God are thereby visible and publick and their
made nor deriving any glory from them but onely manifesting his own glory in by unto and upon them He is the alone Fountain of all Being of whom through whom and to whom are all things and hath most Sovereign Dominion over them to do by them for them or upon them whatsoever himself pleaseth In his sight all things are open and manifest his Knowledge is infinite infallible and independent upon the Creature so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain He is most Holy in all his Counsels in all his Works and in all his Commands To him is due from Angels and Men and every other Creature whatsoever Worship Service or Obedience as Creatures they owe unto the Creator and whatever he is further pleased to require of them III. In the Unity of the God-head there be three Persons of one Substance Power and Eternity God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost The Father is of none neither begotten nor proceeding The Son is eternally begotten of the Father The Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. Which Doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our Communion with God and comfortable Dependence upon him CHAP. III. Of God's eternal Decree GOD from all eternity did by the most wise and holy Counsel of his own Will freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass Yet so as thereby neither is God the Author of Sin nor is violence offered to the will of the Creatures nor is the liberty or contingency of second Causes taken away but rather established II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed Conditions yet hath he not decreed any thing because he foresaw it as future or as that which would come to pass upon such Conditions III. By the Decree of God for the manifestation of his Glory some Men and Angels are predestinated unto everlasting Life and others fore-ordained to everlasting Death IV. These Angels and Men thus predestinated and fore-ordained are particularly and unchangeably designed and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished V. Those of Mankind that are predestinated unto Life God before the foundation of the World was laid according to his eternal and immutable Purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his Will hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting Glory out of his meer free Grace and Love without any fore-sight of Faith or good Works or Perseverance in either of them or any other thing in the Creature as Conditions or Causes moving him thereunto and all to the praise of his glorious Grace VI. As God hath appointed the Elect unto Glory so hath he by the eternal and most free purpose of his Will fore-ordained all the means thereunto Wherefore they who are elected being fall'n in Adam are redeemed by Christ are effectually called unto Faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due season are justified adopted sanctified and kept by his Power through Faith unto Salvation Neither are any other redeemed by Christ or effectually called justified adopted sanctified and saved but the Elect onely VII The rest of Mankind God was pleased according to the unsearchable Counsel of his own Will whereby he extendeth or withholdeth Mercy as he pleaseth for the glory of his Sovereign Power over his Creatures to pass by and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their Sin to the praise of his glorious Justice VIII The Doctrine of this high Mystery of Predestination is to be handled with special Prudence and Care that Men attending the will of God revealed in his Word and yielding Obedience thereunto may from the certainty of their effectual Vocation be assured of their eternal Election So shall this Doctrine afford matter of praise reverence and admiration of God and of Humility Diligence and abundant Consolation to all that sincerely obey the Gospel CHAP. IV. Of Creation IT pleased God the Father Son and Holy Ghost for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal Power Wisdom and Goodness in the beginning to create or make of nothing the World and all things therein whether visible or invisible in the space of six days and all very good II. After God had made all other Creatures he created Man Male and Female with reasonable and immortal Souls endued with Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness after his own Image having the Law of God written in their Hearts and power to fulfil it and yet under a possibility of transgressing being left to the liberty of their own Will which was subject unto change Besides this Law written in their hearts they received a command not to Eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil which whilst they kept they were happy in their communion with God and had dominion over the Creatures CHAP. V. Of Providence GOD the great Creator of all things doth uphold direct dispose and govern all Creatures actions and things from the greatest even to the least by his most wise and holy Providence according unto his infallible fore-knowledge and the free and immutable counsel of his own Will to the praise of the glory of his Wisdom Power Justice Goodness and Mercy II. Although in relation to the fore-knowledge and decree of God the first Cause all things come to pass immutably and infallibly yet by the same Providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second Causes either necessarily freely or contingently III. God in his ordinary Providence maketh use of Means yet is free to work without above and against them at his pleasure IV. The Almighty Power unsearchable Wisdom and infinite Goodness of God so far manifest themselves in his Providence in that his determinate Counsel extendeth it self even to the first Fall and all other sins of Angels and Men and that not by a bare Permission which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth and otherwise ordereth and governeth in a manifold Dispensation to his own most holy ends yet so as the sinfulness thereof proceedeth only from the Creature and not from God who being most holy and righteous neither is nor can be the author or approver of Sin. V. The most wise righteous and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own Children to manifold Temptations and the corruption of their own Hearts to chastise them for their former sins or to discover unto them the hidden strength of Corruption and deceitfulness of their Hearts that they may be humbled and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin and for sundry other just and holy ends VI. As for those wicked and ungodly Men whom God as a righteous Judge for former sins doth blind and harden from them he not only withholdeth his Grace whereby they might have been inlightned in their Understandings and wrought upon in their Hearts
but sometimes also withdraweth the Gifts which they had and exposeth them to such Objects as their Corruption makes occasions of sin and withall gives them over to their own Lusts the Temptations of the World and the Power of Satan whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves even under those means which God useth for the softning of others VII As the Providence of God doth in general reach to all Creatures so after a most special manner it taketh care of his Church and disposeth all things to the good thereof CHAP. VI. Of the Fall of Man of Sin and of the Punishment thereof GOD having made a Covenant of Works and Life thereupon with our first Parents and all their Posterity in them they being seduced by the subtilty and temptation of Satan did wilfully transgress the Law of their Creation and break the Covenant in eating the forbidden Fruit. II. By this Sin they and we in them fell from original Righteousness and Communion with God and so became dead in sin and wholly defiled in all the Faculties and Parts of Soul and Body III. They being the Root and by Gods appointment standing in the room and stead of all Mankind the guilt of this Sin was imputed and corrupted Nature conveyed to all their Posterity descending from them by ordinary Generation IV. From this original Corruption whereby we are utterly indisposed disabled and made opposite to all good and wholly inclined to all evil do proceed all actual Transgressions V. This Corruption of Nature during this Life doth remain in those that are regenerated and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified yet both it self and all the motions thereof are truly and properly Sin. VI. Every sin both original and actual being a Transgression of the righteous Law of God and contrary thereunto doth in its own nature bring guilt upon the sinner whereby he is bound over to the Wrath of God and Curse of the Law and so made subject to Death with all Miserie 's spiritual temporal and eternal CHAP. VII Of Gods Covenant with Man. THe distance between God and the Creature is so great that although reasonable Creatures do owe obedience unto him as their Creator yet they could never have attained the reward of Life but by some voluntary condescension on Gods part which he hath been pleased to express by way of Covenant II. The first Covenant made with Man was Covenant of Works wherein Life was promised to Adam and in him to his Posterity upon condition of perfect and personal Obedience III. Man by his Fall having made himself uncapable of Life by that Covenant the Lord was pleased to make a second commonly called the Covenant of Grace wherein he freely offereth unto sinners Life and Salvation by Jesus Christ requiring of them Faith in him that they may be saved and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto Life his holy Spirit to make them willing and able to believe IV. This Covenant of Grace is frequently set forth in the Scripture by the name of a Testament in reference to the Death of Jesus Christ the Testator and to the everlasting Inheritance with all things belonging to it therein bequeathed V. Although this Covenant hath been differently and variously administred in respect of Ordinances and Institutions in the time of the Law and since the coming of Christ in the flesh yet for the substance and efficacy of it to all its spiritual and saving ends it is one and the same upon the account of which various Dispensations it is called the Old and New Testament CHAP. VIII Of Christ the Mediator IT pleased God in his eternal Purpose to chuse and ordain the Lord Jesus his onely begotten Son according to a Covenant made between them both to be the Mediator between God and Man the Prophet Priest and King the Head and Saviour of his Church the Heir of all things and Judge of the World unto whom he did from all eternity give a People to be his seed and to be by him in time redeemed called justified sanctified and glorified II. The Son of God the second Person in the Trinity being very and eternal God of one Substance and equal with the Father did when the fulness of time was come take upon him Mans Nature with all the essential Properties and common Infirmities thereof yet without sin being conceived by the Power of the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin Mary of her Substance So that two whole perfect and distinct Natures the Godhead and the Manhood were inseparably joyned together in one Person without Conversion Composition or Confusion which Person is very God and very Man yet one Christ the onely Mediator between God and Man. III. The Lord Jesus in his Humane Nature thus united to the Divine in the Person of the Son was sanctified and annointed with the holy Spirit above measure having in him all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge in whom it pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell to the end that being holy harmless undefiled and full of Grace and Truth he might be throughly furnished to execute the Office of a Mediator and Surety which Office he took not unto himself but was thereunto called by his Father who also put all Power and Judgment into his hand and gave him Commandment to execute the same IV. This Office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake which that he might discharge he was made under the Law and did perfectly fulfil it and underwent the Punishment due to us which we should have borne and suffered being made Sin and a Curse for us enduring most grievous Torments immediately from God in his Soul and most painful Sufferings in his Body was Crucified and died was buried and remained under the Power of Death yet saw no Corruption on the Third day he rose from the Dead with the same Body in which he suffered with which also he ascended into Heaven and there fitteth at the Right hand of his Father making Intercession and shall return to judge Men and Angels at the end of the World. V. The Lord Jesus by his perfect Obedience and Sacrifice of himself which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God hath fully satisfied the Justice of God and purchased not onely Reconciliation but an everlasting Inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven for all those whom the Father hath given unto him VI. Although the Work of Redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after his Incarnation yet the Vertue Efficacy and Benefits thereof were communicated to the Elect in all Ages successively from the beginning of the World in and by those Promises Types and Sacrifices wherein he was revealed and signified to be the Seed of the Woman which should bruise the Serpent's head and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the World being yesterday and to day the same and for ever VII Christ in the Work of Mediation acteth according to both
whole body of Sin is destroyed and the several Lusts thereof are more and more weakned and mortified and they more and more quickned and strengthned in all Saving Graces to the practice of all true Holiness without which no Man shall see the Lord. II. This Sanctification is throughout in the whole man yet imperfect in this life there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part whence ariseth a continual and irreconcileable war the flesh lusting against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh III. In which war although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail yet through the continual supply of strength from the Sanctifying Spirit of Christ the Regenerate part doth overcome and so the Saints grow in Grace perfecting Holiness in the fear of God. CHAP. XIV Of Saving Faith. THE Grace of Faith whereby the Elect are inabled to believe to the Saving of their Souls is the Work of the Spirit of Christ in their Hearts and is ordinarily wrought by the Ministry of the Word by which also and by the Administration of the Seals Prayer and other means it is increased and strengthned II. By this Faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the Authority of God himself speaking therein and acteth differently upon that which each particular Passage thereof containeth yielding Obedience to the Commands trembling at the Threatnings and embracing the Promises of God for this Life and that which is to come But the principal Acts of Saving Faith are accepting receiving and resting upon Christ alone for Justification Sanctification and eternal Life by virtue of the Covenant of Grace III. This Faith although it be different in degrees and may be weak or strong yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it as is all other Saving Grace from the Faith and common Grace of temporary Believers and therefore though it may be many times assailed and weakened yet it gets the Victory growing up in many to the attainment of a full Assurance through Christ who is both the author and finisher of our Faith. CHAP. XV. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation SUch of the Elect as are Converted at riper Years having sometime lived in the state of Nature and therein served divers Lusts and Pleasures God in their Effectual Calling giveth them Repentance unto Life II. Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not and the best of Men may through the power and deceitfulness of their Corruptions dwelling in them with the prevalency of Temptation fall into great Sins and Provocations God hath in the Covenant of Grace mercifully provided that Believers so sinning and falling be renewed through Repentance unto Salvation III. This Saving Repentance is an Evangelical Grace whereby a Person being by the Holy Ghost made sensible of the manifold evils of his Sin doth by Faith in Christ humble himself for it with godly Sorrow Detestation of it and self-abhorrency praying for Pardon and strength of Grace with a purpose and endeavour by supplies of the Spirit to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things IV. As Repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our Lives upon the account of the body of Death and the motions thereof so it is every Mans Duty to repent of his particular known Sins particularly V. Such is the Provision which God hath made through Christ in the Covenant of Grace for the Preservation of Believers unto Salvation that although there is no sin so small but it deserves Damnation yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring Damnation on them who truly Repent which makes the constant Preaching of Repentance necessary CHAP. XVI Of Good Works GOod Works are only such as God hath commanded in his Holy Word and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by Men out of blind Zeal or upon any pretence of good Intentions II. These Good Works done in Obedience to Gods Commandments are the Fruits and Evidences of a true and lively Faith and by them Believers manifest their Thankfulness strengthen their Assurance edifie their Brethren adorn the Profession of the Gospel stop the mouths of the Adversaries and glorifie God whose workmanship they are Created in Christ Jesus thereunto that having their Fruit unto Holiness they may have the End eternal Life III. Their Ability to do Good Works is not at all of themselves but wholly from the Spirit of Christ And that they may be enabled thereunto besides the Graces they have already received there is required an actual Influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of his good Pleasure yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent as if they were not bound to perform any Duty unless upon a special Motion of the Spirit but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the Grace of God that is in them IV. They who in their Obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this Life are so far from being able to supererogate and to do more than God requires as that they fall short of much which in Duty they are bound to do V. We cannot by our best Works merit pardon of Sin or eternal Life at the hand of God by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the Glory to come and the infinite distance that is between us and God whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfie for the debt of our former Sins but when we have done all we can we have done but our Duty and are unprofitable Servants and because as they are good they proceed from his Spirit and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much Weakness and Imperfection that they cannot endure the severity of Gods Judgment VI. Yet notwithstanding the Persons of Believers being accepted through Christ their good Works also are accepted in him not as though they were in this Life wholly unblameable and unreproveable in Gods sight but that he looking upon them in his Son is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere although accompanied with many Weaknesses and Imperfections VII Works done by unregenerate Men although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands and of good Use both to themselves and to others yet because they proceed not from a Heart purified by Faith nor are done in a right manner according to the Word nor to a right end the glory of God they are therefore sinful and cannot please God nor make a Man meet to receive Grace from God and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God. CHAP. XVII Of the Perseverance of the Saints THey whom God hath accepted in his beloved Son effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of Grace but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be eternally