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A57456 An appendix to Mr. Perkins his six principles of Christian religion by Mr. Iohn Robinson. Robinson, John, 1575?-1625.; Perkins, William, 1558-1602. Foundation of Christian religion. 1641 (1641) Wing R1691; ESTC R4813 7,049 17

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AN APPENDIX TO Mr. PERKINS his Six Principles of Christian Religion BY Mr. IOHN ROBINSON Printed in the yeere ANNO 1641. AN APPENDIX TO Mr. PERKINS his Six Principles of Christian Religion VNto the former Principles published by that Reverend mā Mr. William Perkins fully containing what every Christian is ●● beleeve touching God and himselfe I have thought it fit for the good especially of those over whom I am set the younger sort of whom I have formerly catechised in private according to the same Principles to annex a few other touching the more solemne fellowship of Christians the Church of God as being a divine institution the spirituall Paradijse and Temple of the living God in which his most solemne Services are to bee performed and to which he addeth daily such as shall be saved promising to dwell in the middest of them by his most powerfull and gracious presence Question WHat is the Church A. A company of faithfull and holy people with their seed called by the word of God into publicke covenant with Christ amongst themselves for mutuall fellowship in the use of all the meanes of Gods glory and their salvation Q. Of what sort or number of people must this company consist A. It is all one whether they be high or low few or many so as they exceed not such a number as may ordinarily meet together in one place for the worshipping of God and sanctification of the Lords day Q. What are the reasons why the Church must consist of faithfull and holy persons A. 1. The a Scriptures every where so teach 2 The b Church is the body of Christ all whose members therefore should be conformable in some measure to him their head 3 Onely such worshippers please God are accepted of him c have right to the covenant of grace and seales thereof Q. But are not hypocrites mingled with the faithfull in the Church A. None ought to be by the word of God and where such are they are not truly added by the Lord to the Church but doe d creepe in through their owne hipocrisie and not without the Churches sin also if they may be discerned to be such Q. By what meanes is the Church gathered A. By the word preached and by faith received of them that heare it Q. Is every beleever a member of the visible Church A No but he must also by his personall publick profession adioyne himselfe to some particular fellowship and societie of Saints Q. How prove you the seed of the faithfull to be of the Church with them A. By the covenant which God made with Abraham and his seed which was the covenant of the Gospell and confirmed in Christ the seale there of circumcision being the seale of the righteousnesse of saith Q. What are the essentiall markes of the Church A. Faith and Order as the Church in them may be seene and beheld to walke in Christ Iesus whom she hath received Faith professed in word and deed shewing the matter to be true and Order in the holy things of God shewing the forme to be true which are the two essentiall parts of the Church Q. Are not the preaching of the word and administring of the Sacraments certaine marks of the Church A. No for the word may and that rightly be preached to assemblies of unbeleevers for their conversion as may the sacraments also though uniustly bee administred unto them and so be made lying signes Besides the true Church may for a time want the use of divers ordinances of God but hath alwayes right unto them as may also the false Church usurpe and abuse them but without right Q. What are the meanes in and by which Christ and the Church have fellowship together A. 1. In the gifts of the Spirit of Christ 2 In the Offices of Ministery given to the church 3. In the Workes done in and by those gifts and Offices Q. Wherein standeth this communion of the Spirit A. In the in dwelling operation of the gifts graces thereof conveyed from Christ as the head unto the Church as his body and members one of another Whence ariseth that most streight and divine conjunction by which as by the civill bond of mariage the man and wife are one flesh so they who are thus iojned to Christ are one spirit Q. How many are the offices of ministery in the Church A. Five besides the extraordinary offices of Apostles Prophets and Evangelists for the first planting of the Churches which are ceased with their extraordinarie gifts Q. How is that proved A. Partly by the Scriptures which both mention them expresly describe them by their principall gifts and workes and partly by reason agreable to the Scriptures Q. Shew me which those officers be with their answerable gifts and workes A. 1. The Pastor to whom is given the spirit of wisedome for exhortation 2. The Teacher to whom is given the gift of knowledge for doctrine 3. The governing Elder who is to rule with diligence 4. The Deacon who is to administer the holy treasure with simplicie 5. The Widow or Deaconnesse who is to attend the sick and impotent with compassion and cheerefulnesse Q. What is the reason for the proving of these ministeries A. Because all these are necessary these alone sufficient for the Church as being the most perfect societie and bodie of Christ which neither faileth in that which is necessary nor exceedeth in any thing superfluous Q. Whence ariseth the necessity sufficiencie of these ministeries in the Church A From the condition partly of the soules and partly of the bodies of the members Q. How doth that appeare A 1 In the soule is the facultie of understanding about which the Teacher is to be exercised for information by doctrine 2. The will and affections upon which the Pastor is especially to work by exhortation and comfort 3. For that doctrine and exhortation without obedience are unprofitable the diligence of the ruling Elder is requisite for that purpose Q How are the other two Ministeries to be excised A. As the Church consisteth of men and they of soules and bodies so are the Deacons our of the Churches treasure contribution to provide for the common uses of the Church reliefe of the poore maintenance of the officers as are the widowes to afford unto the sick and impotent in body not able otherwise to helpe themselves their cheerefull and comfortable service Q. Wherefore call you those offices by the name of Ministeries or Services A. For two causes 1. For that they are no Lordships but meere services of Christ and of the Church 2. Because they consist in administring onely of those things which are Christs and the Churches under him Q. By whom are these Officers to have their outward calling A. By the Church whereof they are members for the present and to which they are to administer Q. How doth that