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
when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were q unlearned men they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus who when he ascended up on high gave r gifts unto Men so now in the ordinary Ministry continued to his Church in the Office of Pastors and Teachers for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ in the unity of the Faith and the knowledg of the Son of God which Knowledg is no less than Life eternal to them that attain to this Learning which all the Learning in Nature comes short of a Mat. 25.25 b Mat. 5.15 c Psal 92.12 to 15. d Psal 29.9 e 1 Cor. 14.12 f Acts 8.18 g Mat. 11.25 h Acts 13.26 27. i 1 Cor. 15.3 k 1 Cor. 1.23 24. l Mark 1.16 m Amos 7.14 n 1 Tim 3.1 to 15. Acts 6.3 Num. 8.10 Ezek. 33.2 o Acts 14.23 p 1 Tim. 3. with Tit. 1.5 6. q Acts 4.13 r Eph. 4.11 12 13. s John 17.3 t 1 Cor. 1.26 27. 1 Cor. 2.13 14. VI. Followeth the Ordinance of Contribution to be performed in the Church unto which the Deacon is chosen and put in office to a attend and therefore he seeketh unto the Lord by prayer to b sanctify the performance of the same and likewise to distinguish his Office from the Office of the Ministry of the Word and Ordinance of Prophecy And as there was none to go up to Jerusalem c empty the poor as well as the rich were bound d to manifest their faith by their obedience unto the Command of God who might thereby expect from the Lord a Blessing Even so are the Saints under the Gospel not to go to the Church of God or heavenly Jerusalem e empty therefore it is written Let every f one of you lay apart upon the first day of the week for the relief of the poor as God hath prospered him This must be done with a willing g mind If it be never so small it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not If it be but the poor widows h mite that did receive relief among the i fatherless or a farthing of our money we ought every one to shew the fruits of our Faith k in God's service by our obedience Even so likewise it is a duty in this Ordinance that every one of the Saints whether poor or rich as it is written Let l him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things that so the Minister may be fed of the Flock he feedeth and Vineyard m he dresseth and not mussel the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn that so if they have sown unto us spiritual things they may reap of our carnal things And further saith the Apostle Do ye not know that they which minister about the holy things live of the things of the Temple and they which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar Even so hath the Lord ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel And this is likewise to be done willingly then accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that a man hath not Not grudgingly n or of necessity for God loveth a chearful giver And as it is an Ordinance in the Church of God to give to the Poor and also to the Minister so is it an odour a sweet smell a o sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God Moreover as the Minister is left free as he knoweth the state of the Flock p what portion of Food for their Souls He gathereth with labour from the q Tree of Life and layeth before them as he shall account to the Lord Jesus the r chief Shepherd from whom he hath received his Charge s to watch over their Souls t according as the Lord hath appointed u in his Church Even so are the Flock left free what portion they shall give w out of what the Lord hath bestowed on them for his maintenance as they shall account to God for the same If they be able so to supply his Necessities with plenty that he may not be cumbered or intangled x with the Affairs of this Life that he may please him who hath called him to be a Souldier but it is the Ministers Duty if the Flock be poor and not able to labour with his own hands y to help to keep himself and to administer unto others and if need require to lay down his Life for the z Sheep in the service of the Lord in his Church See more of this matter handled in the time for Gospel-Worship or Christian Sabbath a Acts 6.2 3 5. b 1 Tim. 4.4 5. c Deut. 16.16 d Ezek. 44.30 e Heb. 12.22 f 1 Cor. 16.1 2. g 2 Cor. 8.12 1 Chron. 29.9 14. h Luk. 21.2 i Rev. 14.28 29. k James 2 17-26 l Gal. 6.6 m 1 Cor. 9.7 9 11 13 14. n 2 Cor. 9.6 7 8 9 10. o Phil. 4.18 p Prov. 27.23 q Rev. 22.2 Prov. 3.18 r 1 Pet. 5 4. s Act. 20.28 t Heb. 13.17 u Tit. 1.5 w Luke 8.3 10.7 x 2 Tim. 2.4 y Acts 20.34 35. z 1 John 3.16 John 10. VII Followeth the Ordinance of Christs Government in his Church performed by the a Ruling Elder who invocateth the Lord by prayer to sanctify this Ordinance of Christ being in the midst of them b on the c Throne of his Father David who figured Christ in his three Offices in Israel therefore David's Kingdom and Government was temporal as all Figures were but Christs Kingdom is spiritual so not of this d World as himself hath said Which David being a Prophet foresaw by the Spirit and therefore said the Lord said unto e my Lord Sit thou on my right-hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Now these Enemies which the Father will make the footstool of Christ are the Elect who while they are in the state of Unbelief are enemies in their minds by wicked works Col. 1.21 Some as Persecutors of Christ in his members through the f zeal of ignorance these enemies are subdued to Christ not by carnal weapons 2 Cor. 10.4 but by the ministry of his Word and Spirit in his Servants who in Christ's spiritual warfare are like the g goodly Horse in the Battel shooting the Arrows of his Truth by the Word preached which pricketh their hearts that they fall under him at his feet crying Lord what wouldst thou have me to do Acts 9.6 and 2.37 Thus from enemies are they become friends of Christ doing the Lords h Will and not their own now no more under the i government of Sin and Satan but under the Government of Christ in his Church at his feet for God gave Christ to be Head over all things to his Church Eph. 1.22 As it was foretold The Sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and they that despised thee shall how themselves at the
See Isa 32.15 Acts 2.17 18. 10.45 Ezek. 39.29 After the manner of rain or sprinkling Isa 52.15 Now some have the Spirit poured on them in a greater measure than others some were in the Church Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers and all differing in the measure of the Spirit received yet all were baptized of the Spirit yea the whole Church were by one Spirit baptized into one Body though some but Babes in Christ yet all had the Baptism of the Spirit Now therefore who dare presume to limit the Spiritual Baptism to say none were baptized with the Spirit but them that had the greatest measure After this manner in respect of measure are we to understand the Baptism of Suffering one suffering more another less as for example some suffer reproaches Heb. 13.13 others suffer reproaches and loss of goods others suffer reproaches loss of goods and liberty Esay 51.14 Rev. 1.9 2.10 Others suffer all the aforesaid and loss of life Rev. 12.11 Acts 12.2 Then who dare presume to say that they that did not suffer in the greatest measure as loss of Life did not partake of the Baptism of Suffering Now then Water-Baptism being one and the same Word in signification must be understood to agree with the former Baptism especially of the Spiritual Baptism after which manner the Lord himself baptized the Children of Israel in the Cloud and in the Sea When the Clouds poured forth water upon them Psal 77.17 yet they went through the Sea on dry foot The manner of which Baptism the Apostle Paul would not have the Church of God ignorant of saying All our Fathers were baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea 1 Cor. 10.2 Surely the manner of John's Baptism in Jordan and Enon and Philip on the Eunuch was after this manner in casting water after the manner of Rain or Sprinkling on them for Israel was not deprived of any sense when they were baptized in the Sea as of seeing hearing and breathing c. contrary to the Order of God's Creation as these in our days that are baptized by dipping Neither were they in the Sea nor in Jordan as we read of stript of their Apparel to one thin Covering which is not modest seemly nor of a good report for a Woman to appear before any Man besides her Husband in such a dress under the pretence they cannot be baptized with their Garments on surely if one may cover that part of the Body that he believes must be baptized with one Covering he may with more for without doubt that part of the Body that is to be baptized ought to have no Covering on it for if it hath a Covering they baptize the Covering and not the Flesh For as the Face representeth the whole Person as Hagar fled from the Face of Sarah Gen. 16.6 8. that was from her Person and Moses fled from the Face of Pharaoh was the like So likewise the sorrow of Man's labour which Sin brought is signified by the sweat of the Face Gen. 3. Likewise when Jacob set his Face to go to Mount Gilead from Laban it represented his Affection and Actions with desire So when Jacob sent a Present to Esau it was to appease him that is his Face Gen. 32.20 So when Lot intreated for Zoar Gen. 19.21 God is said to accept his Face in granting his request So then the Face that representeth the Person which being bare in the Red Sea was that part of the Body that was baptized washed or sprinkled And thus the Word in Water Baptism agreeth with the Spiritual by pouring forth or sprinkling and as the former Seal of the same everlasting Covenant of the Gospel Gen. 17. Heb. 13.20 was set on that Part of the Body the Instrument of Generation to teach them Regeneration of Nature even of the whole Man born in Sin Psal 51.7 And that the derivation of the Covenant might be to the Seed of the Faithful who are thereby holy Ezra 9.2 And though the Lips and Ears are said to be uncircumcised in some respects Exod. 6.3 Jer. 6.10 yet the whole Body is said to be circumcised as being done on a part signifying the whole Even so in Baptism Water is cast upon the Face as a Sign or Signal of Death or that we were worthy to die as when the Servants of King Ahasuerus understood by the King's words that Death was determined against Haman they a covered his Face as a Signal of Death Even so by reason of Sin we come short of the b glory of God and our Faces are vailed or covered under the c condemnation of the Law until Christ by his Baptism fulfilled the Righteousness of the Law for us In sign whereof have we water cast upon our faces as a sign that we were not only worthy to die and so e baptized for the dead but that Christ by his Death hath f washed us from our sins in his Blood so that by his g Righteousness imputed to us we with unvailed or h open faces behold the Glory of the Lord and are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory by the Spirit of the Lord. a Esth 7.8 b Rom. 3.23 c 2 Cor. 3.7 8. d Mat. 3.15 e 1 Cor. 15.29 f Rev. 1.5 g 1 Cor. 1.30 h 2 Cor. 3.18 Moreover Satan hath yet used in these last and perilous days wherein Deceivers grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived another slight to peryert the Gospel of Christ in contending about words to no profit saith the Apostle that is to limit or confine the signification of the word baptize to one signification in the English tongue only to dip the whole body in water and account all other senses unlawful contrary to all the Learned that have translated the Scriptures into English or wrote Dictionaries and also contrary to the Analogy of Faith in the Scriptures Therefore the Learned in translating the holy Scriptures durst not limit many words but rendred them in such terms as the Godly may by the help of the Spirit of God rightly divide the true sense and meaning of the same As for example the Greek word Ecclesia for Church signifying few or many is rendred Congregation or gathering together by holy Covenant in the Name of Christ to become the Lord's People who are sometimes a little flock Luke 12. even but two or three Mut. 18.20 sometimes three thousand and more Acts 4.4 Yet both few and many are a Church comprehended in the word Ecclesia and so in the Hebrew word Kahal for Church Likewise the Greek word for Worship Latria and Latrevo sometimes taken largely when in Worship all God's * Ordinances are persormed and sometimes strictly when only †to bow down and supplicate unto God is Worship Again the word Saviour sometimes signifieth Christ Luk. 2.11 Sometimes he makes those Ministers as Instruments to save persons by his Doctrine Obad. v. 21. 1 Tim. 4.16 So likewise the word Elohim sometimes is
the Ministers of Christ should disdain to be maintain'd with Pope Pascalis his Provision Tithes which he appointed for his Massing Priests in the Year of our Lord 827. as Mr. Bacon in his Book entituled the Reliques of Rome makes appear For before that time all true Ministers of Christ were fed of the Flock they fed and drank of the Vineyard they dressed Therefore let not such say they are Christ's Servants that take Antichrist's wages forasmuch as the Lord Christ who walketh in the midst of his Church is Lord and Lawgiver to the same From whose Throne we may hear his Voice saying Behold I make all things new a new People 1 Pet. 2.10 new Ordinances new Ministry new Maintenance new Time And therefore is the first Day of the Week rightly call'd the Lord's Day by the Spirit of God Rev. 1.10 the Gospel Sabbath As doth also appear further For as the next immediate time after the Lord had finished the work of the old Creation was the seventh day sanctified a Day of holy Rest for the Service and Worship of God Even so the next immediate time after the Lord Jesus had finished the new Creation or Man's Redemption by his Resurrection was the first Day of the Week sanctified a Day of holy Rest by the example of Christ and his Apostles with the Churches whose example in all things they joyntly practised with the Churches as they did keep the first Day of the Week for the Gospel-Sabbath are sufficient Commands for all Christians to follow because it is written Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 And again Be ye followers together of me and mark them which walk so as you have us for an Ensample Phil. 3.18 So that all things the Apostles joyntly practised with the Churches are exemplary Commands to bind us to follow them but they did joyntly with the Churches keep the first Day of the Week to be the Gospel-Sabbath in performing with the Churches the Ordinances ordained by Christ for his Worship So that it is further written If any man think himself to be a Prophet or Spiritual let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the Commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant of this let him be ignorant 1 Cor. 14.37 38. Yet that the first Day of the Week is the Gospel-Sabbath is confirmed by a second Reason That as the Light was created in the first Day with which the Lord deck'd the World as with a Garment Psal 104.2 Unto which Work of the Lord in the first Day is the Spiritual Light compared by the Apostle in the new Creation as it is written 2 Cor. 4. God who said that out of Darkness Light should shine hath shined in our hearts That they that once were in Darkness might be made light in the Lord Eph. 5.8 And thus on the first Day of the Week by Christ's Resurrection was Life and Immortality brought to light by the Gospel in the glad tidings of Christ's Resurrection who was risen for the Justification of those he died for Therefore is it a Day of everlasting Joy to all such as are made Partakers thereof never to be forgotten but to be kept in holy remembrance of God's Love to Man in Christ and in performing Christ's Ordinances in which the Love of God in Christ shineth and is evidently set forth unto them And thus much to convince them that say Christ hath not appointed any particular Time for his Gospel-Worship The next Place to answer the seventh day Sabbath Keepers Argument for the seventh Day in opposition to the first Day who say The seventh Day Sabbath is not abolished because it was commanded to be kept by a Moral Precept Ans Though the seventh Day was commanded to be kept by a Moral Precept so likewise the Ordinances for the Worship of God then appointed and chiefly performed on the seventh Day were commanded by a like Moral Precept in the second Commandment And as the Ordinances for Worship then all christians grant are now abolished by Christ though commanded by a Moral Precept being Figures of good things to come by Christ Even so by the like reason the seventh Day Sabbath figuring rest in Christ is abolished by Christ though commanded to be kept by a Moral Precept So though the Ceremonial Ordinances with the Time under the Law are ended yet the Spiritual Equity remaineth of both second and fourth Commandments As for Example as the second Commandment bound all Israel to worship the Living God with the Ordinances given by the hand of Moses and likewise forbid them all Inventions of Men in God's Worship and all Christians grant these Ceremonial Ordinances of the Law are abolished yet the second Commandment remains binding to all Christians now as of old to worship the living God with those Ordinances appointed by the Lord Jesus and no other and likewise forbiddeth all Inventions of Men in the Worship of God under the Gospel Col. 2.20 21 22. So likewise though the seventh Day Sabbath is abolished yet the fourth Commandment remaineth binding to all Christians now to keep one Day in seven holy to the Lord and who should appoint us which Day of the seven but Christ's Example with his Disciples John 20. and his Apostles whose Examples as aforesaid in what they joyntly practised with the Churches are Commands for us to follow as is afore proved Therefore the first Day is the Gospel Sabbath And that all the Sabbaths under the Law are ended is proved by the same Apostle to the Churches Let no Man judg you in Meats or in Drinks or in respect of an holy Day or of the New-Moons or of the Sabbaths which are shadows of good things to come but the Body is of Christ Col. 2.16 17. And thus by the Day-break of the Gospel the Shadows Cant. 2.17 are gone yet not one Tittle of the Moral Law in the Spirituality thereof is abolished Mat. 5.17.18 As doth further appear By the Number Seven in the Law of Moses were many Mysteries shaddowing good things in Christ to be fulfilled To instance a few of many as the sprinkling of the Blood seven times before the Lord signifying a full cleansing of all our Sins by the Blood of Christ Heb. 9.18 1 John 1.9 And seven times sprinkling the Leper Lev. 14.17 And seven days consecrating the Priests Lev. 8.8 The seventh Year a Year of Rest Lev. 25.3 4. and seven times seven Years brought the Jubile Ver. 8 9. And every seventh day was a Sabbath All which Shadows Christ the Substance being come are in him abolished and all that do believe in him are freed from the literal keeping of the same Nevertheless there remaineth a special Use from all these Figures to us that believe being apprehended by Faith in Christ according as Christ himself and his Apostles have applied them for the Saints Use and Comfort As namely when the Altar of Burnt-Offering is mentioned in the New
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-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
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
127.3 1 Pet. 5.3 h Esay 22.24 1 Thess 4.4 i Psal 22.9 10. k Mat. 21.15 16. Cant. 7.12 Isa 44.3 4 5. l Psal 58.3 m Eph. 2.3 n 2 Pet. 2.5 1 Pet. 3.19 20. o Gen. 18.28 p Mark 10.16 q Rom. 4.7 Acts 3.25 26. Esay 44.3 r 1 Cor. 12.13 s Rom. 8.9 t Acts 10.47 Therefore upon these Grounds did the Apostle baptize Believers and their House or Housholds seeing only the Children in respect of God's Covenant are so called The Man must take his Brother's Wife to build his Brother's House Deut. 25.5 6 9. Leah and Rachel built the House of Israel to wit by Children Ruth 4.11 The Widow of Zareptha's Son was called her House 1 Kings 17.12 13 14 15. A Bishop or Pastor must rule his own House well having his Children in subjection 1 Tim. 3.5 Jacob went down into Egypt every Man and his Houshold that is they and their Children Exod. 1.1 Joseph is said to nourish his Father and all his Father's Houshold as is expounded I will nourish you and your Children Gen. 45.11 and 46.5 6 7 8. with Gen. 50.21 David dwelt at Gath he and his Men every Man with his Houshold 1 Sam. 27.3 which by 1 Sam. 30.6 was their Sons and Daughters And to the barren Woman when promised Seed she is said to dwell in a House that is to be a joyful Mother of Children Psal 113.9 So that they must be wilfully blind that shall deny the Apostle to have baptized Children seeing the Houshold are the Children and they did baptize the Believers and their Houshold 1 Cor. 1.16 Acts 16.15 Thus we see the Gospel which the Apostle Matthew taught beginneth with a Ahraham according to the b Covenant of Grace made with him that in his Seed Christ shall all Nations of the Earth be blessed to wit the c Families or Kindreds the Believer and his Children in which Covenant God promised to be a d God to them and their Seed So that as Isaac in Infancy was a Child of Promise as saith the Apostle to the Church which consists of Men Women and e Children so are we Children of the Promise To which also agreeth the Doctrine of Peter who saith The f Promise is to you and your g Children And thus the Children of the Church under the Gospel are as h aforetime further confirmed by Christ to Zaccheus who said unto him because he believed This day is Salvation come to thy i House forasmuch as he was the Son of Abraham though supposed by nature a Gentile Thus Christ taught the Gospel afore preached to Abraham and he believing it was a Son of Abraham and so his House which was afore proved to be the Children had Salvation imputed equally to them as to their Parents and therefore as Zaccheus was accepted into the Lord's Covenant so was his Children who have their sins washed away in the Blood of Christ in the everlasting k Covenant Baptism being a visible Sign or Seal thereof Therefore have they both Father and Children right unto the same else the Apostle would not have baptized them and their l Housholds Therefore it is a gross Mistake in them that deny the Infants of Believers Water-Baptism and also account the Infants of Believers and Unbelievers in a like estate nay their Doctrine subverts the whole Order of the Gospel in respect of the Promises of Life Salvation by Jesus Christ and in a word it is another m Gospel than ever Christ and his Apostles taught that the Lord should accept the believing Father into his Covenant and leave his Children in an equal state with Turks and Pagans so that saith the Apostle Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached let him be accursed And again when any Proselyte Gentile of old did joyn himself by the Covenant of Grace in Christ promised to the Lord and his Church the Lord did require of him profession of his Faith because he had been an actual Transgressor as aforesaid yet he only was not received into the Church by the Covenant of Grace made with Abraham but also his Infants And though the Father was circumcised yet might he not partake of the Passeover till all his Males were n circumcised because they were accepted into the o Covenant and as the Females wanted that part of the Body and so could not be actually circumcised yet being in Covenant as well as the Males were accounted as circumcised else they might not enter into the p Temple And again as the Lord's Supper came in place of the q Passeover and Water-Baptism in the place of r Circumcision being the Seals of one and the same Covenant and the Subjects being by the Lord never rejected or removed it doth necessarily follow that when the Father believed of old he must not eat the Passeover till all his Males were circumcised s that is had the Seal of t Faith set on them even so by like reason seeing the Covenant is the same though the Father is baptized yet he must not eat of the Lords Supper till all his Infants are baptized which was one reason why the Apostles did not only baptize Believers but also their Children or u Houshold And thus the Faith of the Saints is built upon the Doctrine or Foundation of the Apostles and w Prophets and all other is but Fancy instead of Faith and so deceive themselves and them that are led by them to the destruction of their poor Souls a Mat. 1.1 Gal. 3.8 b Gen. 17.7 c Acts 3.25 d Gen. 17. Rev. 21.3 e Luke 18.16 Eph. 6.4 1 Cor. 7.14 f Gal. 4.28 g Acts 2.39 h Jer. 30.20 i Luke 19.9 k Zach. 9.11 Heb. 13.20 l 1 Cor. 1.16 m Gal. 1.6 7 8. n Exod. 12.48 o Deut. 29.10 11 12 13 14 15. p Luk. 2.37 38. q 1 Cor. 5.7 8. r Col. 2.12 s Exod. 12.48 t Rom. 4.11 u Acts 16.15 w Eph. 2.20 21. Esay 8.20 Rom. 15.4 2 Tim. 3.14 15 16. Rom. 16.25 26. Rev. 21.12 14. Therefore in order to the opening of the true meaning of the Word Baptism we shall observe in the Scriptures there are three several Baptisms One of the Spirit Mat. 3.11 One of Suffering Mark 10.38 The third of Water Acts 10.47 All which Baptisms bear one and the same signification because by one and the same Word they are all declared unto us so that what sence or signification is to be understood in the administration of the Spiritual Baptism the same is to be understood in the administration of the Water-Baptism and likewise in the Baptism of Suffering And so we shall by God's own way in comparing spiritual things with spiritual come to discern the Truth of God's Mind in the same 1. The Manner of the Administration of Spiritual-Baptism by the Lord himself is said by the Spirit of God to be by pouring his Spirit on persons and not by dipping as it is written in the Promise and after fulfilled
them misled in their understandings by some that now keep the seventh Day for the time of Gospel-Worship and also by others who though they say the seventh Day is abolished yet do believe that Christ hath appointed no peculiar Day for his Gospel-Worship and others that say every Day is alike to them and keep no Day conscionably at all only meet for fushions sake when others do partly by that opportunity to draw People to their way and also for fear if they open their Shops they should be punished by the Magistrate First We direct our Words to those that say Christ under the Gospel appointed no peculiar day for his Worship Such ought to know That as it stands not to the Honour of Kings and Princes and Masters of Servants to appoint their Subjects and Servants their Work and leave the Time to their Discretion when they think good to do the same How much more doth it not stand with the Honour of our Lord Jesus Prince of the Kings of the Earth Lord of Lords and only Lawgiver to his Church or Subjects having appointed new Ordinances for his Worship that he should leave the Time to their Pleasure when they shall think good to perform the same And were it so as they suppose that Christ hath appointed no peculiar day for his Worship when as he hath commanded his Church not to forsake the assembling of themselves together and promised his Presence to be with them which if the time is not by his appointment but theirs is not this to make the Lord to wait on his Subjects pleasure and not they on his when he shall meet with them and not when they should meet with him which is contrary to the Order of God both in Grace and Nature even against the Honour and Prerogative of a King over his Subjects of a Master over his Servants bringing a Babel or Confusion both in Church and State and an Article of the Romish Faith about the time of God's Worship who say they are bound to believe as the Church believes in this and many other things 2. We are to know that the living God is a God of Order but it was not his Way and Order from the very beginning of the Creation to appoint Man his Work and leave the Time to his Discretion for Adam by Creation was only Lord of the Earth and all things therein but by a Covenant Estate made between the Lord and himself he was made Heir of Heaven by Promise confirmed to him by two Sacramental Signs set before them one called the Tree of Life representing Christ the now Tree of Life in the spiritual Garden of his Church Rev. 22.1 the Way and no other to Heaven from the beginning Acts 4.12 The other called the Tree of Knowledg signifying the a Law now in the spiritual Garden of God the Church of Christ by which is the knowledge of Sin which Tree of Knowledg in the figure was then forbidden Adam and his Wife to touch or meddle with the fruit thereof as we are now by the Law by eating or believing that by the works or fruits thereof we can be made happy eternally And thus Adam and his VVife b willingly covenanted with their Creator to serve and obey the Pleasure of his VVill but the Lord left not the Time to their c discretion but after he had ordered them six days for their bodily Exercise in d dressing of the Garden and such like civil Employments did also appoint them a Sabbath of holy Rest in his Service to imploy their Minds in the Meditation of God's Love to them in the benefit of the Sacramental Signs aforesaid and likewise to praise the Lord for all his Mercies in all the VVorks of his Creation made for their e sakes and also to teach them that by the Time of God's Service instituted by the Lord for them that it was a Sign to them the Lord had sanctified them a Rom. 7.7 b Gen. 3.2 c Gen. 2.3 d Ver. 15. e Deut. 4.19 f Ezek. 20.12 3. After Man's Fall Moses the first VVriter of holy Scripture ending his first Book called Genesis or Generations with Israel going into Aegypt a Figure of Man's Captivity by the Fall of Adam and his Generations in him Rom. 5. beginneth his next Book called Exodus or Departure upon Israel's being called to depart out of Aegypt and by the Covenant of Grace after they were come out made with them in Christ they became the Lords People a holy Nation Exod. 19. Unto whom the Lord after gave his Law with Ordinances for his VVorship But here we are to note he did not leave the Time to their Discretion when they thought good to do the same but appointed them the Seventh-day Sabbath afore given to the first Adam by the Lord and to Israel by the hand of Moses and hereupon the Holy Ghost witnesseth of Moses that he was faithful in the House of God as a Servant who being a Figure of Christ in his Prophetical Priestly and Kingly Offices appointing both the Ordinances for Worship and also the Time And as Christ who is said to be like unto Moses yea more than a Servant to wit a Son and faithful in his own House inasmuch as he hath not only appointed new Ordinances for his Worship but also a new Time and so in nothing was he inferiour to Moses as those people would make him that say he hath appointed no particular Day for his Worship under the Gospel But Christ's Disciples were better acquainted with the mind of the Lord and knew that the day of Christ's Resurrection was the Gospel Sabbath Therefore on the first Day did they assemble together to Prayer and Religious Duties Christ himself appearing among them after he was risen justifying their Faith and Practice in proclaiming peace unto them John 20.19 4. Accordingly did the Apostle Paul practise by the Spirit of Faith who coming to Troas with his Company abode there seven days and did not assemble with the Disciples there to perform Christ's Ordinances for Worship till the first day of the Week whose example is written for our learning Phil. 3.17 Acts 20.7 Vpon the first day of the Week the Disciples came together to break Bread that is to communicate in the Lord's Supper as a remembrance of Christ's Death who died for their Sins and rose the first day for their Justification And likewise the Ordinance of Contribution commanded on the first Day not to be neglected but perform'd because it is an odour of a sweet-smelling Sacrifice to the Lord in the Church of God and therefore are Deacons appointed to attend on that work to gather the free-gift of the Saints then cast into the Lord's Treasury in his Spiritual Temple of living stones that the Deacons may according to the Wisdom of God given them distribute it to the maintenance of the Minister and relief of the poor Saints Now then if God's way is to be preferr'd as it is the best then
the Athenians kept the first Day from Evening to Evening as the Jews kept their Sabbath the Chaldeans begin the time at Sun-rising the Aegyptians at Noon but most People in these Western parts of the World keep the first Day from Midnight to Midnight which most agreeth with the time of Christ's Resurrection who lying in the Grave the whole Seventh-day Sabbath rose most likely so soon as the seventh Day ended because then the first Day began with the Sun-rising for it riseth to us after twelve a clock So Christ the Sun of Righteousness is said to be risen very early in the Morning while it was yet dark John 20.1 So then the Seventh-day Sabbath was past Mat. 16.1 at the rising of the Sun Acts 2. For it may be said the Sun is risen after twelve a clock as we call it Morning at one a clock about which time our Gospel-Sabbath takes its beginning and endeth about the same time as Paul upon an extraordinary occasion continued his Preaching with the Performing of the rest of Christ's Ordinances till twelve a Clock of the First Day of the Week at Night Acts 20.7 And as the time being changed to the first Day with the Holiness thereof even so by the virtue of the fourth Commandment are we also forbidden all manner of Work on the first Day as was forbidden on the seventh Day of old As saith the Prophet If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a Delight the holy of the Lord honourable not doing thy one pleasures nor speaking thy own words Isa 58.13 Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord ver 14. But it is much to be feared that Gospel Professors are not acquainted with this Scripture when on the first Day of the Week they can work in their Trade apart some all day some carry home Work sell Wares write Letters of worldly Business ride Journies make Bargains and cast up their Books of Accompts take Voyage to Sea Let all such know that because Sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily therefore the heart of the Sons of Men is fully set in them to do evil Eccles 8 11. God will punish the Breakers of this Time for Gospel-Worship as he did the Breakers of the Seventh-day Sabbath under the Law Moreover If the Lord made it a special Reason that Israel of old should keep the Seventh day Sabbath upon their Deliverance out of Aegypt on which Day it may be supposed they came out Deut. 5.15 Sure our Spiritual Deliverance from the Spiritual Bondage of Sin and Satan of which Bondage Aegypt was a Figure is therefore a more weightier reason why we should keep the Day of our Deliverance even the first Day of the Week the Day wherein the Redemption of all the Elect was accomplished by Christ's Resurrection from the dead And again if Israel were enjoyned to keep the Seventh-day upon their Deliverance how much more are all Christians bound upon the same Ground and Reasons to keep the Day of our Deliverance And again If the bringing of Israel out of Aegypt was such a Work as God for the memorial thereof made both the Day and Month the Beginning and first Month of the Year which was not so before Exod. 12.2 and the Deliverance as afore but a Figure of our Spiritual How much more then is that Day to be accounted of and kept holy above all Days in the Year in which we were delivered from our Spiritual Bondage by the Resurrection of Christ who suffered on that day that Sin was first committed in Paradise and also after he had suffered for Sin lay in the Grave the Seventh day Sabbath the chief time that the Sacrifice for Sin was consumed on the Altar And thus when the holy Scriptures which consist of Prophecies Histories Parables Mysteries Statutes Judgments and the like are rightly as saith the Apostle divided we may not be ashamed as some whom he blamed that desired to be Teachers of the Law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm keeping the Seventh-day Sabbath for the Gospel-Sabbath mingling the Law and Gospel together either in our Justification before God and likewise in practice by keeping the Letter of the Law in the Seventh-day Sabbath as the only Time for Gospel-Worship so making the Lord Jesus in his Church inferior to Moses And lastly Having given this brief observation of the state of the Church of Christ from his Ascension to the end of the World with the Confession of Faith in which the Primitive Churches were established and the heavenly Order they performed all the Ordinances of Christ with the Ministry Maintenance and Time Let the Reader wisely observe that in this last Age of the World we are told that after the last glorious Reformation under the seventh Angel as is described in the Preface Satan will be loosed out of his Restraint or Prison again and because he knows he hath but a short time will gather together his Armies comprehended under the name of Gog and Magog Rev. 20. whose names signify covered or to cover to wit but not with my Spirit saith the Lord Isa 30.1 but with his Angelick Doctrines as if they came from Heaven So will he use his uttermost sleights to deceive as Christ saith if it were possible the very Elect by his false Apostles and Prophets with their vain titles and gilded shews of Church and Ministry So that the Harlot or false Church called a Beast is said to have Horns like the Lamb Christ Rev. 13.11 yea she is said to be arrayed with Purple and Scarlet gilded with Gold precious Stones and Pearls Rev. 17.4 as if she were the Queen and Spouse of Christ Psal 45.9 13. Ezek. 16.10 13. Cant. 7.5 She hath Peace-offerings and Vows Prov. 7.14 as if she were the very Church of God Psal 66.13 Bread and Water to refresh her Children Prov. 9.16 17. and her number great and many Jer. 5.7 yet but a well-favoured Harlot Nah. 3.4 who by her alluring tongue whereby she lieth in wait to deceive Eph. 4.14 Rom 16.18 hath cast down many wounded yea many strong men have been slain by her for her house is the way to Hell going down to the Chambers of Death Prov. 7.26 27. Therefore what special care ought every one to have that tender their souls eternal happiness to examine what estate they are in and whether the Congregation they are members of be the true Church of God seeing in these last days Christ telleth us that many false Christs and false Prophets shall arise and deceive many Now if in Nature we were warned of these dangers and harms to the Body what strong watch would we set at our gates both night and day to prevent it how much more being warned by these Lines of the dangers of these last and perilous days wherein so many unstable souls are beguiled that never try by God's Word what they hear but if it suit with the natural sense it is yeelded to for a Truth when as the natural man cannot judg in matters of Faith seing he perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God and so upon this false ground is the whole Gospel of Christ perverted and made a secondary Law of works that if men believe as the general part of the Church believes it is true belief and if they go to hear a Sermon and sometimes break Bread it is all the service God requires of them in the Church or Congregation Let us intreat such not thus to deceive themselves or any longer be led away by Deceivers to think if they imitate a part of God's service or without Faith in what they do they are in a good condition Let such know the contrary for Cain as well as Abel offered sacrifice yet were not both accepted Gen. 4. Israel in their Apostacy erected a Temple an Altar and Ministry 1 King 12.28 And did not the two women plead both considently for the living Child 1 King 3.16 and whose could it be but hers that loved it most Even so who is the true Church of Christ but they that love him most and who are those Churches that love Christ most but they that keep all his Commandments as it is written He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Joh. 14.21 But how shall such Churches be said to love Christ that shut out of his Church or Kingdom his true Ministry and also the performance of several of his Ordinances For proof thereof we refer the conscienable Reader that will judg without partiality comparing the practice of the Church in this day and their faith to the primitive practice that we the poor despised Christians falsly called Brownists have here set down as our Belief and Practice desiring the Lord in his mercy to bless these our Labours to this Generation even the elect among them that they seeing their Lords pleasure may flee to him whom they love in his true Church as Doves to their windows Isae 60.8 Now to him that is able to keep us from falling even the only wise God and our Lord Jesus Christ be all Glory Honour and Praise rendred now and for evermore Amen FINIS