allowance of our Liberties in the service of God according to his Word we must notwithstanding not forsake the a assembling of our selves together but walk together in the obedience of Christ and b confession of his Faith and Gospel even through the midst of all Trials not accounting our c Goods Lands d Wives Children Father Mother Brethren or Sisters nor our own e Lives dear unto us so as we may finish our f Course with Joy remembring we ought to obey g God rather than Man that so when we have finished our Course and have kept the Faith we may certainly expect to be given unto us the Crown of Righteousness which is laid up for all that love his appearing so that in the mean time we labour to give unto God the things that are h Gods and unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto all men that which i belongeth to them so endeavouring to have a k Conscience void of offence towards God and towards Man and having hope in God that the Resurrection of the l dead shall be of the just unto Life and of the unjust unto Condemnation everlasting If any take this to be m Heresy then do we with the Apostle confess after the way they call Heresy we worship God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ believing all things that are written in the Law and Prophets and Apostles on which foundation all true Christian n Faith is built Christ being the chief Corner-stone Now unto him that is able to keep us that we fall not even to the only wise God and our Saviour be Glory Majesty Dominion and Power both now and for ever Amen a Heb. 10.25 b Mat. 10.32 Rom. 10.9 1 John 4.15 c Heb. 10.34 d Luke 14.26 27. e Acts 21.13 f 2 Tim. 4.7 8. g Acts 4.19 2 Tim. 4.8 h Mat 22.21 i Rom. 12.17 and 13.8 k Acts 24.15 16. l Luke 14.14 Acts 23.6 1 Cor. 15. John 5.29 m Acts 24.14 n Eph. 2.20 A Description of the true Church of Christ with the Practice of all her Ordinances in that holy Order and Government which Christ by his Apostles established the Primitive Churches in as a Pattern for all true Christians to follow the Lamb on Mount Sion in the performance of his Worship With several grounded Reasons from the holy Scriptures to prove that the first Day of the Week is the Gospel-Sabbath With many-useful Observations needful to be known in this Age for the unfolding of the Right Use and Benefit of every Ordinance according to Gods holy Order SEeing glorious things are spoken of the City of God Psal 87.3 let us therefore take a view how and by whom this City or true Church of God was first planted in this Island of Great-Britain The Welch or British People the first Inhabitants of this Land as Gildas affirmeth received the Gospel in the time of Tiberius the Emperor under whom Christ suffered Acts and Mon. Book 2. Pag. 95. He also saith that Joseph of Arimathes after the dispersion of the Jews was sent of Philip the Apostle from France into Britain about the Year of our our Lord 63 and remained in Britain all his time who with his fellows laid the first foundation of the Christian Faith among the British People Gild. de lib. Vict. Aurelii Ambrosii Onesephorus saith that Simon Zelotes did spread the Gospel of Christ to the West Ocean and brought the same into the Isle of Britain Oneseph lib. 2. cap. 4. And thus we see the British People received the faith of Christ and not from Rome fulfilling the Words of the Prophet The Isles shall wait for his Law Isa 42.4 As is expounded by Christ The Gentiles shall trust in his Name Mat. 12. And thus the Gospel was preached to every Creature to wit of Mankind under Heaven Col. 1.22 And the Lords Name was great among the Heathen Mal. 1.11 as was promised to be given to Christ for his Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for his Possession And thus Christ by the preaching of the Gospel being King of Saints is set upon his holy Hill Mount Sion Psal 2.6 8. Rev. 14.1 Where all his Elect are gathered in the dispensation and fulness of times Eph. 1.10 to serve the Lord whose Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of his Kingdom under the whole Heavens hath no end Dan. 7.13 14 27. Luke 1.33 So that in all Nations him that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him Acts 10.35 And thus Christ in his Church doth reign on Earth over both Jews and Gentiles Rom. 15.11 12. and yet no earthly Monarch as will further appear in handling the Ordinance of Christs Government in his Church or Kingdom Now having shewed how and by whom the Church of Christ and his Gospel was first planted in England among the British People In the next place let us behold this Church of Christ how she was planted and established in her primitive Beauty in this Island as in other parts of the World by the heavenly Builders the Apostles 1. Forasmuch as the Scriptures hold forth unto us that every true Church of Christ is a Company of a faithful People called and b separated from the World 〈◊〉 all false Worships c gathered and joyned together with their seed into a holy d Covenant or Marriage-state with the Lord to serve him according to his written Word and thus the Govenant is the Form of the Church by which the faithful and their seed entring into the same do become members of Christs Mystical Body as the Scriptures shew a 1 Cor. 1.2 Rev. 18.4 John 15.19 Acts 19.9 10. and 2.40 b 2 Cor. 16 17. c Isa 60.4 d Esay 62.4 5. Jer. 50.5 2 Cor. 11.1 2. Deut. 26.17 18 19. and 29.10 11. Ezra 9.2 compared with 1 Cor. 7.14 Luk. 18.16 Isa 49.5 2. This Church being thus joyn'd together have power from their Head and Husband Christ Jesus to elect and ordain by a free consent of the whole Church that are come to understanding some from among themselves being found fitly qualified with Gifts and Graces to the office of a Pastor and Teacher for the work of the Ministry and Administration of the Signs or Seals of the benefit of Christs death to wit Baptism and the Lords Supper and likewise to chuse some to be b Elders with the Pastor and Teacher for the Oversight and Guidance of the Church and others to be Deacons c for the gathering the Contribution of the Saints to distribute to the maintenance of the Ministers and relief of the poor and when Widows for helpers be found fit for both Age and Qualifications the Church may likewise enjoy the same as d Deaconists to look after the sick as these Scriptures shew a 1 Tim. 3. Acts 14.23 b 1 Tim. 5.17 c Acts 6.2 3 4. d 1 Tim. 5.9 10. 3. Unto this Church thus gathered and constituted the Lord Jesus hath given his Ordinances every one of them in that holy Order he himself hath
Ancient Truth REVIVED OR A true State of the Antient Suffering Church of Christ commonly but falsly called BROWNISTS living in London and other Places of this Nation WHEREIN I. Is shewed in the Preface the State of the Gospel-Church from the Time of Christ's Ascension to the End of the World gathered out of the Book of the Revelations II. The Confession of our Faith grounded on the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets III. By vvhom the Gospel vvas first preached in this Island IV. Our Practice in the Worship of God according to the Practice of the Primitive Church with an Explanation of every Ordinance and vvho have right to administer the same V. The First Day of the Week proved to be the Gospel-Sabbath LONDON Printed in the Year 1677. A Table of some particular Things in this Treatise OF the Articles or Confession of our Faith from pag. 1 to 9. By whom the Gospel-Church was first planted in this Island pag. 10. A true Church of Christ described with her Right and Priviledges and how she is beautified with Titles and all the Promises in Christ confirmed to her pag. 11 12. That every Ordinance in the Church of Christ ought to be sanctified by Prayer and that Singing of Psalms in holy Scriptures is a Gospel-Ordinance pag. 13. The Pastors and Teachers Duty in the Ordinance of Reading and Doctrine pag. 14. Of the Ordinance of Prophecy in the Church by Men Membbers not in office and how it is Gods way and order for to fit Men for the Work of his Ministry pag. 15 16. Of the Deacons Office in the Ordinance of Contribution and that it is the Duty of the Flock according to their abilities to distribute in that Ordinance for their Ministers maintenance and relief of the poor Saints pag. 17. Of Christs spiritual Government in his Church sitting on the Throne of his Father David both Priest and King whose Kingdom is not of this World but distinguished from the Civil Government in Nations with the opening of many mistakes of Men concerning the same from pag. 18. to 24. Of the Ordinance of Water-Baptism Who is the true Administrator of it Where it ought to be performed And the Subjects thereof proved to be Men VVomen and Children with the Housholds the Apostles baptized proved to be Children from pag. 25. to 30. The Word Baptism opened in three several Baptisms and how presumptuous it is to limit the Word Baptism to one sence by comparing it to like Words in Scripture of like signification from pag. 31 to 34. Of the Difference between the Work of the Apostles and ordinary Pasters of Churches p 35. Who began Baptism by way of Dipping among the English People that call themselves Baptists viz. by one John Smith who baptized himself proved by several Testimonies And that Baptism came in the place of Circumcision and as none were circumcised that returned out of Apostacy so ought none to be rebaptized when they return out of Apostacy being baptized before How the Ministers and Members in a true Church are by the Wisdom of God in holy Order serviceable to the Body pag. 36. How to know a true Minister from a false pag. 37. How the Primitive Churches did in order performe very Ordinance on the first Day one after another And that the Covenant and not Water-Baptism is the Form of every true Church pag. 38. The first Day of the Week proved by Scripture and Reason deduced from the same to be the Gospel-Sabbath from pag. 39. to 46. And lastly the many counterfeit shews which the false Church uses to counterfeit the true pag. 47 48. A common Objection against Infant-Baptism answered taken from Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned From hence they conclude because Infants have not Faith that is actually to believe therefore they ought not to be baptized If it were true that Infants have not Faith how false is their Doctrine that say all Infants shall be saved when without Faith none can please God for by Mark 16.6 He that believeth not shall be damned Again if Mark 16.16 denieth VVater-Baptism to Infants because they cannot actually believe it also denieth their salvation because they cannot believe Again if it were true as these men further say that Profession of Faith only giveth right to VVater-Baptism then the Right is no more of Grace by Christ according to the Covenant of Grace handled in pag. 29 31. but of Debt merited by an actual Profession And so the Gospel by these mens Doctrine is made a secondary Law of VVorks Do this and live as is the Popish Faith concerning VVater-Baptism as the Fathers have decreed in the Council of Trent that if any shall say grace is not conferred by the work done let him be accursed Concil Trident. Sess de Sacr. in Gen. Can. 8. To the Reader GOD who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his a Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things by whom also he made the Worlds who after he had finished the Work of Redemption for the whole b World of his Elect that Abraham was Heir of that should in due time partake of the Faith of Abraham and so become the Children of c Christ of which number were his Churches established by the Doctrine of the Apostles The Covenant of Grace made with Abraham called the d Kingdom of God the Jews rejected which the believing Jews with the believing Gentiles were Possessors of unto whom Christ the King of his Church had given his Laws to observe with his Ordinances Ministry Time and Maintenance till his second Coming to Judgment He was pleased in his Mercy and Love to his Children to signify to John by his Angel to acquaint the Churches what should befall them and the Enemies of the same from the Time of his Ascension unto the End of the World in that heavenly Book of the Revelations As 1. in chap. 4. is shewed the happy Estate of his Church compared to the Figure of Moses's Tabernacle whilst Christ's glorious Throne was in the midst of the twenty four Elders according to the number of the twenty four Divisions of the Priests and Levites by f David now made a Royal g Priesthood by Christ enlightned with the h Lamps of God's Spirit The Book that is sealed to the i World to wit God's secret Counsel is opened to this Church by the k Lyon of the Tribe of Juda who only hath revealed our of the l Bosom of his Father all things fitting and needful for his Church to know m in this Life In which Book the Words and Phrases are generally taken out of the Prophets and applied to the Prophecies in this heavenly Book unto which we must have respect in the right understanding of the same a Heb. 1.1 2. b Rom. 4.13 2. Cor. 5.19 c Gal. 3.4
so unfit to plow in the Lords Vineyard Deut. 22.10 Neither are such good Souldiers of Jesus Christ in the spiritual VVarfare of the Gospel that are afraid to reprove those of his Flock that wear Perriwigs but rather smooth them up with a few slender reproofs Isa 30.10 lest they lose their friendship with the world viz. such worldly Professors But if the Ministers themselves wear Perriwigs as many do then not one word against that odious guise lest they bid him cast out the beam out of his own eye and pluck off his own Perriwig and so make him look like his Father Adam with short hair in his Creation who was made very good without long hair the shame of Nature Gen. 1.31 1 Cor. 11.14 And again more Disorders abound all suiting these last times to the days of Noah in whose days all flesh had corrupted their way before God so that one particular is above all others named that the Sons of God to wit Members of the Church married with the Daughters of Men that is the World Cain's Posterity for which sin among others the Lord said his Spirit should not by Noah's Preaching strive with them any longer but till the Ark was finished and then were they all destroyed And how much differing is the state of the Sons of Men now especially among the Professors who are not onely corrupted in their Faith and Worship being compared to the Primitive Pattern but also in Marriages when generally Members of separated Congregations will marry those with whom they will not Joyn in communion in the Lords Supper and other spiritual Duties And is not this their Practice in their own judgments sinful in the breach of the plain Doctrine of the Apostle who teacheth all Christians to marry with whom they please only in the Lord and do not they that marry with them they refuse visibly to joyn with in the Church in all the Ordinances of the Lord say that such are not in the Lord 1 Cor. 7.39 Yet more Abominations than these there are While some deny the Resurrection of the Body and also deny the Scriptures to be the Rule of our Faith pressing men to observe only the Light within Some also believe that Men have free-will or power in themselves to turn from Sin to God contrary to John 6.44 Phil. 2.13 For these and the like Evils which these times are full of which saith the Apostle will come and is now come that Men will not endure sound Doctrine 2 Tim. 4.3 which is comparable to Fire Jer. 23.29 in the hearts of God's Children that is Zeal inflamed in love to Christ to follow him in the ways of his VVord 1 John 2.5 Rom 8.35 But it s Opposite is Self-love a clear sign it is the last time as the Apostle foresaw saying This know also that in the last days perillous times will come for men shall be lovers of themselves covetous boasters proud blasphemers and the like 2 Tim. 3.1 2. So that this sin of self-love is set as the capital and master-ruling sin in these latter days opposite to the love of God in the hearts of the Elect which many waters cannot quench Cant. 8.8 But the nature of self-love is cold as Christ saith Because Iniquity will abound and the Love of many will wax cold Mat. 24.12 comparable to Hail Rev. 16.21 Job 38.22 the coldest thing in Nature which will prove the effects of God's great Judgments on the Professors of these last Ages who because they received not the Truth in the love of it 2 Thess 2.10 but of themselves which seiseth on them as a Judgment of God out of Heaven that they blaspheme against God and his Truth Eph. 4.14 because of the airy Doctrine of Errors aforesaid which leadeth them from all love to God Mat. 22 37 39. and their Neighbours to all covetous and cruel oppression of one another with all fraud and deceit as men already complain that a man cannot tell who to believe or put trust unto for as Faith decayeth all unreasonableness in Men increaseth 2 Thess 3.2 And so Christs words will be fulfilled who saith When the Son of Man cometh shall he find Faith upon the Earth And to conclude Thus the Days of Noah hasten by a sign in the end of the seventh Seal taken from an action of the Priests under the Law who took fire from the Altar and cast it yonder to signify how the Lord rejected the disorderly service of Corah even so the Angel signifying Christ at the golden Altar took fire in his Censer and cast it into the Earth by a like sign how he rejected the service of all Christians that serve not him by his own Ministry Ordinances and holy Order he hath appointed in his last VVill and Testament Numb 16.37 Rev. 8.5 The Articles of the Confession of our Faith WEE believe with the heart and confess vvith the mouth I. That there is but one God a one Christ one Spirit one Church one Truth one Faith one true Religion one b Rule of Godliness and Obedience for all Christians in all places at all times to be observed a Deut 6.4 1 Tim. 2.5 Ephes 4.4 6. 1 Cor. 8.6 John 14.6 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6 13. b 1 Tim. 6.3 Deut. 4.6 12.32 1 Cor. 4.17 2 Tim. 3.15 16. Gal. 1.9 Rev. 22.18 19. II. God is a Spirit a whose Being b is of Himself and giveth Being c Moving and Preservation to all other things being himself Eternal d most Holy e every way Infinite f in Greatness Wisdom Power Goodness Justice and Truth In this Godhead there are Three g in One and One in Three the Father Son and Spirit being every one of them the same God and therefore not divided but distinguished by their several and peculiar Properties The Father of whom is the Son but he of none the Son begotten of the Father from everlasting the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son before all beginnings a John 4.24 b Exod. 3.14 c Rom. 11.36 Acts 17.28 d 1 Tim. 1.17 e Esay 6.3 f Esay 66.1 Psal 139.7 g 1 John 5.8 9. Mat. 28.19 Heb. 1.3 Phil. 2.6 Mic. 5.2 Psal 2.7 1 John 1.2 3. III. God hath decreed a in himself from everlasting touching b all things and the very least c circumstance of every thing effectually to work and dispose them according to the Counsel d of his Will to the Glory of his Name And as touching his chiefest Creatures God had in Christ before e the Foundation of the World fore-ordained f some Men and Angels g to eternal Life to be accomplish'd h through Jesus Christ to the Praise of his Glory and Grace and hath also according to his just purpose some of the Angels when fallen left them in their fallen Estate i to eternal Condemnation to be accomplish'd through their own leserts and also leaving some Men in their fallen Estate to eternal Condemnation through their own corruptions to the praise of his Justice a Isa
appointed in his Testament to be performed namely 1. Prayer 2. Singing of Psalms 3. The Pastor by office reading some part of the holy Scriptures giving the sense of the same with what else by doctrine as the time may permit the Teacher shall deliver and by the wisdom given him applying the same to the Consciences of the Hearers 4. The Men Members exercise their Gifts in Prophesying according to the ability given them of God by two or three at the most 5. The Deacons receiving the Contribution given by the Church for the Minister and the Poor 6. The ruling Elder governing the Affairs of the Church with the Pastor and Teacher in the time of Government 7. Water-Baptism if any were received in Members in the time of Government to be by the Pastor or Teacher administred on them 8. The performance of the Lords Supper after which by the example of Christ all the Church joyntly to sing a Psalm concluding the whole with Prayer All which Ordinances and Offices we find in the Testament of Christ and practised in the Churches wherein the Apostle Paul rejoyced to behold their Faith and the holy a Order they performed them in So that where the holy Doctrines of Christ in his Church are purely taught and all his Ordinances in order performed there is Christ beheld in his beauty and his Spouse at his right-hand in Gold of Ophir who for her incomparable beauty whilst she holdeth fast the Faith once given to the Saints according to the Covenant of Grace made with Abraham and his Infants the Faith of Gods Elect and walketh after Christ the Captain of her salvation in the heavenly Warfare of his glorious Gospel she looketh forth as the b Morning fair as the Moon clear as the Sun and terrible as an Army with Banners beautiful for c scituation the Joy of the whole Earth is this Mount Sion the City of the great King the Lords d House his e Temple and f Mountain of God a chosen g Generation a holy Nation a peculiar People the b Vineyard of the Lord his i Garden inclosed a Spring shut up the sealed Fountain and Orchard of Pomegranates abounding with the sweeet fruits of his Graces his k Heritage and l Kingdom his Spouse his m Queen his n Body Unto this Church belougeth all the o Promises in the Gospel made in Christ who is made unto her p Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption unto whom the Lord is a q Wall of fire his r Presence promised her his s Protection and even Life for evermore As these Scriptures shew to all them that will search the same a Col. 2.5 b Cant. 6.10 c Psal 48.1 2. d Heb. 3.6 e 2 Cor. 6.16 f Mica 4.1 Zach. 8.3 g 1 Pet. 2.9 h Isa 5.1 and 27.2 i Cant. 4.12 Isa 51.3 k Isa 19.25 l Col. 1.13 m Psal 45.9 n 1 Cor. 12.27 Eph. 1.23 o Gal. 4.28 1 Cor. 1.20 2 Pet. 1.4 Rom. 9.4 p 1 Cor. 1.30 q Zach. 2.5 Heb. 12.29 r Isa chap. 60. Ezek. chap. 47. Mat. 18.20 s Ezek. 48.35 Mat. 28.20 Esay chap. 62. Let us now with John in the Spirit ascend to the heights of the Mountains of Israel to behold the true Church of God the Bride the Lambs wife as she is held forth in the Scripture of the Prophets now following her Head and Husband in the performance of all his holy Ordinances in that holy Order Christ hath given her under the Gospel in his last Will and Testament how that all the glory of the Church of God in all Ages is applied to her in all the Promises of Life for her unmovable stability and eternal comfort in the 21th 22th chapters of the Revelations while she aboundeth in the work of the Lord. Therefore let us take a view how glorious this Church appeareth beautified with all God's Ordinances I. Prayer is a a sanctifying Ordinance ordained of the Lord given to his Church as a powerful means to prevail with the Lord for all things we stand in need of offered up by the mediation of Christ Jesus and also serveth to distinguish between every Ordinance as by the example of Christ in the Supper who prayed between the receiving the Bread and Wine And also Moses when the Camp removed sanctified the action by b Prayer and so likewise when it rested Unto which agreeth the Exhortation of the Apostle to the Churches d that by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving let your request be made known to God a 1 Tim. 4.4 Eph. 6.18 19. Act. 6.4 2.42 Zech. 8.21 22. Job 42.8 2 Chron. 6.24 1 Thess 5.17 Rev. 5.8 8.24 b Mat. 26.26 27. Numb 6.23 to 27. c Numb 10.35 36. d Phil. 4.6 with Mat. 6.5 to 15. II. Prayer being performed the Church together do sing with harmony of Voices some part of the Psalms in the holy Scriptures forasmuch as God created no a Faculty in vain but to be used to praise and glorifie the Name of the Lord in his Church where prayer and praises b wait for him for his Mercies and wonderful works of c Deliverance of his Church from the rage of d Pharaoh the Dragon making them to pass through the Sea as on dry e Ground who for their deliverance then sang his f praise So likewise ought the Saints now having received like precious Faith with them 2 Pet. 1.1 2 Cor. 4.13 in these Gospel-days stand on the Sea of g Glass having the Harps of God or like h Melody of joy in the Spirit to see in the Churches Deliverance of old how we were in them delivered by the seed Christ in the loins of the Church then preserved ought now to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb having gotten the victory over the Romish Beast and his Image of whom Pharaob was a i Figure and hereupon was that Psalm with others penn'd by the Spirit of God for the Saints now to sing as our deliverance which the Church of Israel did sing as their deliverance in the Churches deliverance of old many hundred years before they were born and could say by the same Spirit of Faith in Christ to come as we enjoy now he is come of that seed then preserved there did we k rejoyce in him to wit in God for our deliverance in them then delivered as saith the Prophet Except the Lord had left us a very small l Remnant we should have been as Sodom and Gomorrha But some will object that Singing of old was used with Instruments of Musick We answer so was Prayer with offering up of Incense therefore as Incense is ceased yet Prayer remaineth so by like reason though Musick is ceased yet Singing of Psalms remains as an Ordinance of God to his Church else Christ at the first institution of his last m Supper a Gospel-Ordinance would not with his Disciples have performed singing as a Pattern for all his Churches to follow his steps neither would the Apostles have instructed the Churches to employ themselves in
the Ordinance of n Singing but as it was an Ordinance given to the Church and never repeal'd but to be practised by them as a means whereby the Word of Christ may dwell in them richly in all Wisdom singing with grace in their hearts to the Lord. a Psal 103.1 b Psal 65.1 c Psal 105 106 107. Psal 77.15 to 20. Exod. 14.19 d Psal 74.13 14. Exek 29.3 Esay 51.9 10 11. e Exod. 14.21 22. f Exod. 15.1 to 21. g Rev. 15.2 3. h Isa 51.3 1 Chron. 16.29 Eph. 5.19 i Rev. 12.3 Ezek. 32.2 k Psal 66.6 l Isa 1.9 m Mat. 26.26 n Col. 3.16 Eph. 5.19 III. After the Ordinance of Singing the Pastor a readeth some part of the Scripture when he hath b sanctified this Ordinance by Prayer he giveth the sense and meaning of the same bringing one Scripture to e expound another d comparing spiritual things with spiritual as it is written to the e Law to the f Testimony if they speak not according to it there is no true g Light in them for no Scripture is of any h private Interpretation but by the Scripture of the Prophets is shewed what is i Gospel that so the Church may with the k Bereans search the Scripture for the proof of the same seeing our Faith in all things must be built upon the l foundation or doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets Christ Jesus himself being the chief Corner-stone and not as some say on the Light within but as the Apostle witnessed both to small and great none other things concerning Christ and our Faith in him than what the m Prophets and Moses did say should come that so the Church may be edified in the fear n of the Lord according to these Scriptures a 1 Tim. 4.13 Neh. 8.8 Acts 13.15 b Phil. 4.16 c 2 Pet. 1.20 d 1 Cor. 2.13 e Isa 8.20 Luk. 16.29 31. f 1 Cor. 2.1 John 5.46 Deut. 18.18 Luk. 13.36 37. 2 Thes 1.10 Rev. 19.10 and 15.5 g Jer. 8.9 h 2 Pet. 1.20 i Rom. 16.25 26. Gal. 3.8 Rom. 15.16 Isa 52.7 and 53 chap. k Acts 17.11 l Eph. 2.20 m Acts 26.22 n Acts 11.31 IV. After the Ordinance of Reading is performed with what the Pastor by Doctrine laid as the food or bread a of Life before the Flock the Teacher according to the b Wisdom given him taketh some place of Scripture after he hath opened the same raiseth Doctrine from it and applieth it to the c consciences of the hearers that the Church may discern d Sin and e Righteousness working upon the f Will and Affections that a g reasonable Creature not without faith may be given up unto God and their Bodies as a living h sacrifice in his service so i growing in Grace and in all spiritual k understanding as l Plants in the Lords Vineyard and bringing forth the m fruits of his own Grace every good work to the praise and glory of the Lord Jesus a John 6.48 Mat. 4.4 Deut. 8.3 b 1 Cor. 128. 1 Tim 2.17 Luk. 4.18 21 22. 2 Tim. 3.16 c 2 Cor. 4.2 5.11 d Rom. 7.7 e Rom. 10.4 Phil. 3.9 Mat. 5.20 f Phil. 2.13 1 Cor. 3.7 Luk. 17.5 g 1 Thes 3.2 h Rom. 12.1 Mark 9.49 Psal 51.17 i 2 Pet 3.18 Psal 92.12 k Col. 1.9 2 Tim. 2.7 l Isa 5.7 m Cant. 4.16 Col. 1.10 Phil. 1.11 n 1 Cor. 10.31 Eph. 1.13 V. Now followeth the Ordinance of Prophecy being sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer by that Member which beginneth that Exercise who invocateth the Lord for a blessing thereon that so the Gifts and Graces the Lord bestoweth on his Church may not be a hid in the Earth or b covered under a Bushel but manifested as was prophesied The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-Tree he shall grow as the Cedar in Lebanon to shew forth the praises of the Lord in his c Temple observing time and order speaking to his glory For this cause therefore hath God ordained this Ordinance that Members not yet in office may exercise their Gifts as it is written Ye that are zealous of spiritual Gifts seek that ye may excell to the d edifying of the Church by which holy order of training up Youth or young Men in the Church by exercising their Gifts after two years time were some found fit in the Church of God at Ephesus to be chosen by the Church to the office of Bishop or Pastor and other offices when as they had no office before for two years time And thus when Gods way is taken for the fitting of Men in Gods own time and order for the work of the Ministry they need not as many do take a contrary way to make Ministers of the Gospel by human art in the knowledge onely of the Tongues as though the Gifts and Graces of God could be as f Simon Magus thought bought or purchased with Money neither is it obtained by any natural Art or human Industry for great is the difference beeween the attaining of the knowledge of the Tongues and the knowledge of the Mysteries of Faith as is evident for the Jews were as learned Men as any in the g World in the knowledge of those Languages the Scriptures were first spoken and wrote in yet they knew not the h voices of the Prophets when read every Sabbath concerning Christ in the Promises contained in the Prophets Writings but when he was preached unto them out of the Writings of the Prophets that Christ must dye for our sins according to the i Scriptures it was unto the Jews a k stumbling-block and unto the Greeks foolishness Also the Cardinals and Jesuits at Rome want not the knowledg of the Tongues yet how ignorant are they of the Mysteries of Faith in Gods Word and holy Order of Worship under the Gospel see Henry Ainsworths Arrow against Idolatry So that tongues are no essential mark of a true Minister as some men imagine for God sometimes called unlearned men to the Work of the Ministry as l Peter and Andrew and Amos a m Herdsman to be a Prophet as well as he doth Men that are learned in the Tongues so that Learning is but natural though an excellent Ornament in Nature And when God is pleased to call Men of such parts in Nature being sanctified by the gracious work of his Spirit to his Ministry it may bring much glory to God in its place but not that it makes Men fit for Ministers Now that which makes a Man a true Minister of Christ is First being a n Member of the true Church of Christ and by that Church called or o elected when duly tried and found p fit both for Gifts Grace and Qualifications then in the time of the Ordinance of Government in the Church by the meetest Members the Church thinks fit is ordained by the consent of the Church and this is Christ's spiritual School that traineth up Men for the Work of this Ministry in the exercising of the Graces the Lord bestoweth on them for
Members of Christ's Church as many Heathen Magistrates in the Apostles days were h then are they said to have their portion in the Holy Land and they do bring their honour and glory as the Gentiles their i riches in becoming Nursing-fathers k preserving the Church from outward Injuries while they in Spirit and in Truth l worshipthe Lord in keeping his Commandments and so the m Earth is said to help the Woman As these Scriptures shew a 2 Chron. 26.16 18. b Jer. 27.6 8 12. c Jer. 40.5 d Jer. 29.22 23. e Jer. 29.7 f Mat. 17.24 25 26 27. g Rom. 13.6 h Ezek. 48.21 i Isa 60.3 6. Rev. 21.24 k Numb 11.12 Isa 49.23 l John 4.24 Phil. 3.3 Rev. 22.14 m Rev. 12.16 Again there are three Kingdoms here on Earth first the Kingdom of Magistratical a Government in Nations secondly the Kingdom or spiritual b Government of Christ in his Church thirdly the Kingdom of c Darkness where Satan the d Prince of this World ruleth in the hearts of the children of e disobedience The two first Kingdoms or Governments are ordained of God the third was usurped of the Devil The time when his Kingdom began was so soon as Man fell by his means into f Sin and thus Satan as a strong Man armed took g possession in our first Parents until a stronger than he came upon him and dispossest him to wit Christ by God promised to them that the Seed of the h Woman to wit Christ should bruise the Serpents Head and God gave them faith to believe the same and thus Christ threw out i and took possession in his Elect Children whom the Father had given k him to dwell in their hearts l by faith Thus the War began betwixt Christ and Satan in Paradise a figure of the m Church and n Heaven it self so that in a Mystery it is written There was War in Heaven o Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels and prevailed not neither was place found any more in Heaven for them Thus Christ in the purpose of God and in the fulness of time by his death spoiled p Principalities and Powers as it is written For this purpose the Son of God was manifest that he might q destroy the Works of the Devil Thus Christ by the Ministry of his Word as a r Prophet worketh upon the knowledge of his Elect Children that they may discern Sin and Righteousness as a Priest to work upon the Will and Affections s killing them a t sacrifice Which Work of Christ Abel by faith saw by killing the sacrifice he was worthy to die and by offering it up on the Altar he u confessed that Christ must die for his Sins but Cain who was not of the number of the Elect yet shewed he a form of Godliness offered his m Sacrifice as Hypocrites do without faith therefore it was not accepted as Abel's was for which cause he x slew his Brother so he is said to be of that wicked One in whose posterity Satan had his Kingdom called the World of y ungodly which perished in the Flood and their Spirits remain in prison in expectation of endless woe to have their portion with him they served a Rom. 13.2 b Psal 149.6 7 8 9. Mat. 18.18 c Rev. 16.10 Eph. 6.12 d John 14.30 e Eph. 2.2 f Gen. 3.1 John 3.8 g Luke 11.21 h Gen. 3.15 i Heb. 2.14 15. k John 6.37 39. l Eph. 3.17 m Cant. 4.12 n Luke 23.43 o Rev. 12.7 Dan. 12.1 p Col. 2.15 q 1 John 3.8 r Acts 3.22 s Phil. 2.13 t Rom. 12.1 u Heb. 10.4 Psal 40.6 7. Gal. 3.24 w Prov. 15.8 Isa 66.3 x 1 John 3.12 y 2 Pet. 2.5 1 Pet. 3.19 Mat. 25.41 Moreover after the Flood Satan began his Kingdom again in Noah's Son Canaan the Son of Ham whom Noah a cursed for his sin of tale-bearing who ought to have b concealed and not to have reproached his Father nevertheless in the Field of the c World God hath his Elect in whom as aforesaid Satan ruleth for a while until Christ by the Word of his Grace worketh Repentance in them to the acknowledgment of the Truth that they may be recovered out of the d snare of the Devil captivated by him at his will Thus we see the Work of Christ is to dispossess Satans Government or Kingdom out of the hearts of his Elect as is opened to us in Rev. 11. When Gods time was come that he would restore his Church by raising up of his Elect out of the e grave of sin wherein they lay f dead under the Antichristian Errors and Doctrines of Devils whom the Lord g awakened by the h Lightnings and thundering Power of his Law as was signified by the Temple of God being opened in Heaven and the voices of his servants signified under the seventh Angel sounding his true Doctrine out of the same which caused such an Earthquake or trembling that some like i Felix trembled yet not bettered but were angry to have the Doctrine of eternal k Judgment preached against the Romish Hirlot their Mother who had made all Nations drunk with the Wine or salfe Doctrine of her Fornication in this Earthquake Others like as the m Jaylor were converted insomuch that the tenth part of the City n fell from the belief of the Antichristian Errors to believe the Doctrine of Christ's Temple and Altar See the Preface to the Reader Thus the o Arrows of Gods Truth pricking the hearts of the Elect wrought so effectually that there was slain of Men or Names of Men p seven thousand now no more to be q named of the number of the Beast but of the number of the r Names that do follow the Lord Jesus on such is written a new s Name even the Name of the City of the Heavenly Jerusalem the Mother of all God's Children So that now in whom Satan had his Kingdom by ruling in them Christ by faith now dwelleth and ruleth which causeth the Angels who are round about the Throne of Christ in his Church to rejoyce at the conversion of poor sinners and so likewise do the Saints as it is written There were great voices in Heaven to wit in the Church saying The Kingdoms of this World are become the u Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever And again Now is come salvation and strength and the w Kingdom of our God for the Accuser of our Brethren is east down And thus the Kingdom of the World that Abraham was Heir of to wit the World of the Elect which in the dispensation of times are brought into subjection to Christ by the faith of Abraham as it is written If ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed and Heirs according to promise a Gen. 9.25 29. b Prov. 11.12 13. 17.19 c Mat. 13.28 d 2 Tim. 2.25 26. e Ezek. 37.13 John 5.25 f Rev. 20.5 Eph. 2.1 g Eph. 5.14 h Hos 6.5
used to signify Angels Psal 8.5 Heb. 2.7 sometimes it signifies Magistrates Psal 82.1 and many the like Even so the word Baptisma or baptizo is rendred by Scholars in Dictionaries to dive over head to wash to water to sprinkle to baptize see Gouldman's Dictionary So that he that shall confine the word haptizo to one sense may by the same reason limit all the former words to one sense and so make a confusion in every ones understanding of the use of holy Scriptures as they do that confine the word Baptizo to Dipping when all Churches according to the Wisdom of God are left free what quantity of water they may use in Baptism For though the Eunuch went into the water which was no part of his Baptism but what water Philip uses on him was his Baptism but how much we know not And so of John's Baptism Now with what presumption do these men which call themselves Bappists limit God's Word and so presume above what is written to say he dipped all the Body And might not others do so by many other words in Scripture confine how many persons in number make a Church or the like when it is evident Philip did not baptise all the Body for the Eunuch put some part of his Body in the water himself so Philip could but wash the rest So that it 's safe when we so understand the Scriptures that they agree in one harmony together * Deut. 5.6 7. †Mat. 2.3 And lastly the Place where all Pastors are bound to administer the visible Seals of God's Covenant Baptism is not now at Rivers or Ponds as did the Apostles and Evangelists whose Offices were extraordinary and not limited to any particular Congregation because they received not their Office ordinarily from the Church but were immedialy called by Christ and so not of Men not of a Man and therefore it is written to Pastors and Teachers chosen by the Church they are Members of to feed the Flock of God over which the Holy Ghost hath made them b Over seers so that Archippus is bid to take heed to his Ministry which he had received in the Lord that he c fulfil it Moreover as all ordinary Civil Offices in a Kingdom or Common Wealth are limited within their Corporated Cities and Charters and have no power to execute any part of their Office out of the Limits set them Even so are the ordinary Offices of Christ's Church as of Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons chosen by their corporated and particular Bodies and commanded as by Acts. 20.28 Col. 4.17 there to fulfil their Ministerial Office and not as some in the Apostles days who said they were Apostles to go from one Congregation to another when they please and baptize at any place but when the Church of Ephesus who knew that the full Number of the Apostles names was already recorded in the foundation of the d Walls of the heavenly Jerusalem tried them to prove their Call and found them * Liars false Apostles deceitful Workers transforming themselves into the e Apostles of Christ And we may believe that there are many in these days that by like trial will be found false Apostles who Apostle-like baptize out of the stative corporative Body of the Church gathered together and without the knowledge of the Church and so not with Archippus fulfill their Ministry within the Limits of their Charters Again as there are some authorized under Civil Kings as Embassadors who are sent to other Nations to treat with them of Peace or like State-Matters others they employ as Messengers and they are sent upon their Masters Business in any part of their Dominions others are Officers in Towns Cities or Burroughs limited within the Bounds of their Charter Even so the Lord Jesus King of Kings sent his Apostles Ambassadors f to other Nations to treat of Peace by the preaching of his Gospel others were sent as Evangelists or g Messengers from one Church to another so far as the Churches were gathered others were ordinary Officers as Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons and they were not to go without the h Limits of the Congregation that had chosen them to administer either Baptism with water or the Lord's Supper a Gal. 1.1 b Acts 20.28 c Col. 4.17 d Rev. 21.14 e 2 Cor. 11.13 * Rev. 2.2 f 2 Cor. 5.20 g 2 Cor. 8.23 h Acts 20.28 Rev. 3.8 Mat. 24.45 Yet we read of one John Smith first a Minister in England after joyned himself a Member of the English Church at Amsterdam where Henry Ainsworth was Teacher and for sin was cast out of that Church soon after Satan drew him to deny the Covenant preached to Abraham to be the Covenant of Grace which led him to deny his Baptism received in Infancy And though there were many more then of his Judgment yet they knew not where to have an Administrator to begin Baptism by dipping therefore as Satan had begun to instruct him he added Sin unto Sin and baptized himself then he baptized one Mr. Helvish and John Morton with the rest And this is testified by one Mr. Jessop who as he saith was one of them and after by grace renounced their evil doings and wrote a Book against them entituled a Discovery of the Errors of that People in the Year 1623 pag. 65. Likewise H. Ainsworth saith Mr. Smith baptized himself in his Book called a Defence of Holy Scripture wrote against Smith pag. 69 82. So saith Mr. Clifton in his Christian Plea against Mr. Smith pag. 185 224. Now let the wise judg in what abominable disorder they retain their Baptism ever since from Mr. Smith and whether it stinketh not in the Nostrils of the Lord ever since as the Ministry of Corah and his Company Moreover as Water-Baptism came in a place of Circumcision and when Israel fell into Apostacy yet they in that estate did circumcise and when they returned by repentance unto the Lord and renewed their Covenant the Lord did not require them to reiterate or b circumcise them again that were circumcised in Apostacy though they might have gathered the foreskin again by Surgery as the Apostle c observeth so likewise Joseph Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 6. and also History declares Having afore shewed how in this Land a Gospel-Church was planted after fell into Apostacy yet they still baptized their Children as the Apostles did the Housholds afore-proved to be Children So that when we that were baptized in Apostacy are returned by the Call of God to the Lord by unfeigned Repentance we are not to rebaptize again those that were baptized in Apostacy seeing the Covenant is the same that Circumcision was a Seal of as now Water-Baptism is And thus we have a ground in God's Word for our practice which they have not that receive their Baptism from John Smith that baptized himself as afore proved And thus when all God's Ordinances are ended the whole is concluded by Prayer a Col. 2.11 12. b 2 Chron. 30.