the Apostle Peter testifieth Act. 2. in these words For the promise belongs to you and to your children and to as many as are afarre off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Hence it is that God hath of ould commanded that Infants should bee circumcised which circumcision was a seale of this Covenant and the righteousnesse of faith and therefore also Christ received the little Children layd his hands upon them and blessed them Marc. 10. Seeing then Baptisme is put in the place of circumcision therefore Infants are to bee Baptized as heyrs of the Kingdome of God and of the Covenant and Parents are admonished to instruct their Children in these things when they are come to yeares of discretion That therefore this holy ordinance of God may at this time bee administred to the glory of God to our comfort and the edification of his Church let us call upon the name of our God. O Almighty and Eternall God who according to thy severe judgment didst punish with the Flood the impenitent and unbeleeving World and according to thine infinite mercy didst save Noah with his family who didst drowne hard-hearted Pharao with all his people in the Red Sea and didst safely leade thy people Israell through the same by which Baptisme was signified unto us wee beseech thee that thou wilt bee pleased out of thy infinite mercy graciously to looke upon these Infants this Infant and incorporate them it by thy holy spirit into thy Son Jesus Christ that so they it may bee buryed with him into his death and also rise with him to newenesse of life that they it may take upon them it daily their his Crosse follow him and cleave unto him with a true faith firme hope and fervent love and willingly leave this life which is nothing else but a continuall death and at the last day may appeare without feare before the tribunall seat of Christ thy Son through Jesus Christ our Lord who with thee and the Holy Ghost one God lives and reigns for ever An Exhortation to the Parents and those that come with them to Baptisme Beloved in the Lord yee have heard that Baptisme is an ordinance of God to seale unto us and unto our seed his Covenant therefore wee must use the same to this end and not out of custome or superstition That it may then bee manifest that ye are thus minded you are to answer sincerely upon these questions First Whether you doe not acknowledge that however our children are conceived and borne in sinne and therefore are subject to all manner of miseries yea to condemnation it selfe yet that they are sanctified in Christ and therefore as members of his Church ought to bee baptized Secondly Whether you do not acknowledge the Doctrine contained in the Ould and Newe Testament and in the Articles of the Christian Faith which is also taught in these Christian Churches here to bee the true and perfect Doctrine of Salvation Thirdly Whether you do not promise and intend to see your children when they come to yeares of discretion every one whereof hee is either Father or Witnesse to bee brought up in the foresaid Doctrine to the uttermost of your power Answer Yea. After in baptizing the Minister of the Word of God shall say N. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost A Thankesgiving O Almighty and most mercifull God and Father wee blesse and praise thee that thou hast forgiven all our sinnes to us and our children through the blood of thy beloved Sonne Jesus Christ and through thy Spirit received us as members of thy Son and adopted us to bee thy children and confirmed the same by this holy Baptisme wee beseech thee through the same Son of thy love to rule alwayes these baptized Infants Infant that they it may bee educated in true piety and Christianity and growe up in the Lord Jesus Christ acknowledging thy Fatherly goodnesse and loving kindnesse shewen to them it and to us and live in all righteousnesse under our Onely Teacher King and Priest Jesus Christ fighting manfully against sinne Satan and his whole Kingdome to land and praise thee and thy Son Jesus Christ with the Holy Ghost the one and eternall God to all eternity Amen FORME For the administration of Holy Baptisme to persons of yeares HOwever children of Christian Parents notwithstanding they understand not this mystery must be baptized by vertue of the Covenant yet it is not lawfull to baptize those who are come to yeares of discretion except they first bee sensible of their sinnes and make confession both of their repentance and faith in Christ For for this cause hath not onely John the Baptist preached according to the Commandement of God the baptisme of Repentance for the remission of sins to those who confessed their sinnes Marc. 1. Luc. 3. But our Lord Jesus Christ hath also commanded his Disciples to teach all Nations and then to baptize them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Math. 28. Marc. 16. adding this promise Hee that beleeveth and is baptized shall bee saved According to which rule the Apostles as appeareth out of Act. 2. 10. 16. have baptized none who were of yeares of discretion but such who made confession of their Faith and Repentance therefore is it not lawfull now a dayes to baptize those of yeares except they have learned out of the preaching of the Gospell the mysteries of holy Baptisme and are able to give an account of their Faith by a confession of the mouth Seeing therefore you are also desirous of holy Baptisme to the end it may be to you a seale of your ingrafting into the Church of God that it may appeare that you do not onely receive the Christian Religion in which you have beene privately examined by us and of which also you have made Confession before us but that you through the grace of God intend and purpose to lead a life according to the same you are sincerely to give answer before God and his Church First Whether you beleeve in the true God distinct in three Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost who hath made Heaven and Earth and all that is therein and that hee sustaineth and governeth the same in so much that nothing can come to passe in Heaven or in Earth without his will Answer Yea. Secondly Whether you beleeve that you are conceived and borne in sinne consequently that you are a child of wrath by nature unfit to any thing that is good and prone to all evill and that you in thoughts words and deeds have many times transgressed the Commandements of God and whether you bee heartily forry for your sinnes Answer Yea. Thirdly Whether you beleeve that Christ who is the true and eternall God and a true Man who hath taken his humane nature out of the flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary bee also given of God to you as your Saviour and that you
a Gracious Father unto us for ever Therefore hee has given a Charge to Baptize all that are his in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost onely with pure water giving us thereby to understand that as the water cleanses the filth of the body when it is powred upon us which may be seen upon the body of him who receives the Baptisme being sprinkeled thereby so the blood of Christ performeth the same within in the souls by the holy Ghost sprinkling and cleansing them from their sins and regenerating us from Children of wrath unto Children of God. However this is not done by the outward water but by the Sprinkling of the precious blood of the Son of God who is our red Sea through which wee must pass for to escape the Tyranny of Pharao which is the Devil and to enter in to the Spiritual Land of Canaan Likewise the Ministers give us on their part the Sacrament and that which is visible but our Lord gives that which is signifyed by the Sacrament viz. the invisible gifts and graces washing cleansing and purifying our Souls from all filthiness and iniquities and renewing our hearts and silling them with all comfort giving us a true assurance of his Fatherly Kindness enduing us with the new man and putting away the ould man with all his deeds Therefore wee believe that whosoever intends to enter into life eternal he must be Baptised but once with the onely Baptism without ever repeating the same for wee cannot be born twice And this Baptism is not onely usefull whilst the water is upon us and that wee receive the same but also through all our life time therefore wee reject the error of the Anabaptists who are not content with the one onely Baptism which once they have received but condemn also the Baptism of the Infants of Believers which wee believe ought to be baptized and sealed with the mark of the Covenant as the Infants in Israel were circumcised on the same promise which is made to our Children And indeed Christ has shed his bloud no less for the washing of the Children of the faithfull as he hath done for adulted persons And therefore they ought to receive the sign and the Sacrament of that which Christ has done for them as under the Law the Lord commanded to participate unto them the Sacrament of the sufferings and dying of Christ shortly after their birth offering for them a Lambe which was a Sacrament of Jesus Christ Besides what the Circumcision did unto the Jewes the same is done by the Baptisme unto our Children which is the cause why St. Paul call's the Baptisme the Circumcision of Christ XXXV Wee believe and confess that our Saviour Jesus Christ has instituted and ordained the Sacrament of the holy Supper to nourish and sustain those which hee hath already regenerated and incorporated into his Family which is his Church those now who are regenerated have two sorts of lives in them the one corporal and temporal which hath accompanied them from their very birth and is common to all men the other is spiritual and heavenly which is given them in the second birth proceeding from the Word of the Gospel in the fellowship of the body of Christ and this life is not universal but belongs onely to the Elect of God. Thus God hath afforded us to the nourishing of the corporal and earthly life earthly and ordinary bread which is serviceable thereunto and common to every one as life is But to the sustaining of the spiritual and heavenly life which the Believers enjoy he hath sent the living Bread which comes down from Heaven to wit Christ Jesus who feeds and nourishes the spiritual life of the Believers when he is eaten that is assumed and received by faith in the Spirit And for to represent unto us this Spiritual and Celestial Bread Christ hath ordained an earthly and visible Bread which is a Sacrament of his Body and the Wine for a Sacrament of his Blood to testify unto us that as really as wee receive and have in our hands the Sacraments and do eat and drink the same with our mouth by which our life is afterwards sustained so likewise by faith which is the hand and mouth of our Souls the true Body and Blood of Christ our onely Saviour is received in our soules for our spiritual life And it is certain and without all doubt that Jesus Christ has not commanded us the use of his Sacraments invain Therefore he worketh in us whatever he represents unto us by these holy Signs although his method surpasseth our understanding and is incomprehensible to us even as the operations of the holy Ghost are hidden and incomprehensible In the mean while wee do not err in saying that which wee have eaten and drunk is the natural Body and true Blood of Christ but the manner of our partaking of the same is not the mouth but the Spirit through Faith. Wherefore then Christ Jesus sits alwayes at the righthand of God his Father in the Heavens and nevertheless he makes us partakers of him by Faith. This Feast is a Spiritual table at which Christ distributes him self unto us with all his goods and he causes us to enjoy both him self and the merits of his sufferings and Death nourishing strengthening and comforting our poor distressed Souls by the eating of his flesh and refreshing and cherishing the same by the drinking of his Blood. Further thô the Sacraments are joined with the things signified yet they are not received with these two things by every one for the wicked receives the Sacrament to his condemnation but he doth not receive the truth of the Sacrament so Judas and Simon the sorcerer both did receive the Sacrament but not Christ who was signified by it for onely the Believers are made Partakers of him Lastly wee receive the holy Sacrament in the Congregation of the people of God with humility and reverence solemnizing the holy remembrance of the death of Christ our Saviour with thanksgivings making there Confession of our Faith and the Christian Religion None therefore ought to apply him selfe thereunto without a foregoing trial least eating of the bread and drinking of the cup he eats and drinks him self a condemnation To be short through the using of this holy Sacrament wee are stirred up to fervent Love to God and our neighbour Therefore wee reject all mixings and damnable inventions which men have added unto the Sacraments accounting them but profanations of the same and say that wee ought to be content with the ordinance delivered unto us by Christ and his Apostles and that wee ought to speak in the same Termes as they did XXXVI Wee believe that our Gracious God because of the corruption of Mankind hath ordained Kings Princes and Magistrates intending that the World should be governed by Laws and Policy that so the dissolution of mankind might bee refrained and all things proceed orderly among men To that purpose
he hath given the Magistrates the sword in their hands for a punishment of the wicked and a protection of the godly And their office is not onely to take heed unto and to watch over politick assaires but also to maintain the holy Ecclesiastical service for the hindring and exstirpating of all Idolatry and false worship for the throwing down of the Kingdom of Antichrist and the exalting that of Jesus Christ and to cause the Gospel to be preached everywhere that so God may be honoured and served of every one as he has commanded in his Word Moreover every one of what quality condition or State he is is bound to submitt him self to the Magistrates to pay taxes to give them all honour and due respect and to obey them in all things that are not contrary to the Word of God praying for them in their prayers that the Lord may guide them in all their wayes and that wee may live quietly and peaceably in all God liness and honesty And therefore wee reject the Anabaptists and other seditious people and in generall al those that do reject Magistrates and the higher powers and would subsert Justice introducing a communion of goods and confounding the decency which God hath instituted among men XXXVII Lastly wee believe according to the Word of God that when the time ordained of the Lord thô unknown to all Creatures shall be accomplished and the number of the elect compleated our Lord Jesus Christ will come down from heaven corporally and visibly as he is ascended with great Glory and Majesty for to declare him self a Judge both of the living and the dead appointing this ould world to bee burnt with fire and slames for its purification and then shall all men personally appear before this great Judge both Men Women and Children that ever have been from the beginning of the World unto the end being summoned by the voice of the Archangel and the sound of the divine Trumpet For all the dead shall be raised out of the grave and the Soules shall be joined and united with their own bodies in which formerly they have lived And as for those who then shall live they shall not dye as the others but be changed in a moment and from corruptible become incorruptible Then the Books of the Conscience will be opened and the dead shall be judged according to their deeds done in this World whether they be good or evil Nay men shall give an account of every idle word which they have spoken which hath bene accounted by the World but sport and pastime and then the hidden things and the Hypocrisy of men will be made manifest and discovered before every one And therefore the very remembrance of this Judgment is terrible and dreadfull to the evildoers and the wicked but very desirable and comfortable to the godly and Elect seing then their full deliverance shall bee accomplished and they shall there receive the fruits of their labour and troubles which they have undergone their innocency will appear to all and they shall see the terrible vengeance which God will execute against the wicked who have most cruelly persecuted oppressed and vexed them in this world They will be convicted by the testimony of their own consciences and shall be immortall but in such a manner that it shall be for to be tormented in the everlasting fire which is prepared for the Devil and his Angels On the contrary the Faithfull and Elected shall be crowned with glory and honour The Son of God will confess their names before God his Father and his chosen Angels all teares shall be wiped away from their eyes Their cause which now is condemned by many Judges and Magistrates as heretical and ungodly will beeknown to be the cause of the Son of God. And for a gracious reward the Lord will cause them to enjoy such a glory as the heart of men never should be able to imagine Therefore wee expect that great day with a great longing that so wee may fully enjoy the promises of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. FORME For the administration of the Sacrament of Baptisme to Infants THE Doctrine of Baptisme consisteth of these three points First That wee with our Children are conceived and borne in sinne and are therefore children of wrath insomuch that wee cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven except wee bee borne againe This is signified unto us by sprinkling the childe with water whereby the uncleannesse of our soules is set forth unto us and wee are admonished to loath our selves and to be humbled before God and to seeke our cleansing and salvation out of our selves Secondly Baptisme doth signifie and seale unto us the washing away of our sinnes through Jesus Christ therefore are wee baptized in the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost God the Father doth witnesse and seale unto us that hee hath entred into an everlasting Covenant of grace with us that hee hath adopted us to bee his children and heyrs and will provide for us all manner of good and keepe from us all evill or turne it into good When wee are baptized in the name of the Son the Lord Jesus Christ doth seale unto us that he washeth us in his blood from all our sinnes incorporating us into the fellowship of his death and resurrection that wee are freed from our sinnes and accounted just before God. In like manner when wee are baptized in the name of the Holy Ghost the holy Spirit of God doth assure us by this Sacrament that hee will dwell with us and sanctifie us to bee members of Christ applying unto us what wee have in Christ namely the washing away of our sinnes the daily reneuwing of our soules till wee bee presented at last among the rest of the Elect without spot to partake of everlasting life Thirdly Whereas in all Covenants there are contained two parts therefore are wee by God through Baptisme admonished of and obliged unto new obedience namely that wee cleave to this One God Father Son and Holy Ghost that wee trust in him and love him with all our heart with all our soules and all our minde that wee forsake the world crucifie our ould nature and walke in a new and holy life And if through weakenesse somtimes wee fall into sinne wee must not despaire of Gods mercy nor continue in sinne considering that Baptisme is a signe and seale of our everlasting Covenant with God. And although our children understand not these things yet may they not therefore bee excluded from Baptisme for as they are without their knowledge partakers of the condemnation through Adam so are they againe received to mercy in Christ as God speakes to Abraham the Father of all the Faithful and consequently to us and our children Genes 17. saying I will establish my Covenant betweene mee and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to bee thy God to thy seed after thee This also
suffered his blessed body to be nayled to the Crosse that hee might fasten upon it the handwriting of our sinnes and hath also taken upon himselfe the cursse due to us that hee might fill us with his blessing and hath humbled himselfe into the deepest pangs of Hell with soule and body on the tree of the Crosse where hee cryed out with a loud voyce My God my God Why hast thou forsaken mee that wee might bee received of God and never forsaken of him and finally confirmed with his death and bloodshedding the new and everlasting Covenant of grace and reconciliation when hee sayd It is finished And that wee might firmly believe that wee belong to this Covenant of grace the Lord Jesus Christ in his last Supper tooke Bread gave thankes brake it and gave it to his Disciples and sayd Take eate this is my Body which is given for you do this in remembrance of mee In like maner also after Supper hee tooke the Cup gave thankes and sayd Drinke yee all of this This Cup is the new Testament in my blood which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sinnes do this so often as yee drincke of it in remembrance of mee That is as often as yee eate of this Bread and drincke of this Cup yee shall thereby as by a certaine pledge and remembrance bee admonished and assured of this my hearty love and faithfulnesse towards you that whereas yee should have suffered eternall death I have given my body into the death of the Crosse and shed my blood for you and as certainely as you see this Bread broken before your eyes and this Cup given to you and yee with your mouth do eate and drincke the same to my remembrance so do I feed and refresh your hungry and thirsty soules with my body and blood to everlasting life Out of this Institution of the Supper of the Lord Jesus Christ wee do see that hee directs our faith and confidence to his perfect sacrifice which was once offered on the Crosse as to the onely ground and foundation of our soules that hee is become to our hungry and thirsty soules the true food to eternall life For by his death he hath taken away the cause of our everlasting death and miseries namely sinne and hath merited for us the quickening spirit that wee by the same which dwelleth in Christ as the head and in us as his members might have true Communion and fellowship and be made partakers of all his blessings to everlasting life and glory Besides that wee by the same spirit may also be united together into brotherly love as members of the same mystecall body as the Scripture saith One Bread is it so are wee one Body because wee are all made partakers of one Bread For as out of many graines being grinded one Bread is made and out of many Berries being prest together one drincke floweth so shall wee all who by a true Faith are ingrafted into Christ bee one body through brotherly love for Christ his sake who hath so exceedingly loved us and manifested the same one towards another not onely in words but also in workes and deeds Heereto assist us the Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ through his Holy Spirit Amen And that wee may obtaine this let us humble our selves before God and in true Faith call upon him for his grace O Most mercifull God and Father wee beseech thee that in this ordinance in which wee celebrate the blessed memory of the most bitter death and passion of thy Son Jesus Christ thou wilt bee pleased to worke in our hearts through the Holy Ghost that wee may give our selves more and more with true confidence to thy Son Jesus Christ that so our broken and burdened hearts may bee fed and comforted through the power of the Holy Spirit with his body and blood yea with him true God and Man the onely Bread of Heaven and that henceforth wee may not live any longer in our sinnes but hee in us and wee in him and bee also really partakers of that new and everlasting Covenant of Grace no wayes doubting but that thou wilt bee our eternall and Gracious God not imputing our sinnes unto us but filling us with all good things for body and soule as thy beloved Children and Heyres Graunt also unto us thy grace that wee may take upon us our crosse cheerefully deny our selves confesse our Saviour and in all tribulations expect our Lord Jesus Christ out of Heaven where hee will make our mortall bodies conformable to his most glorious body and take us to himselfe to bee with him in all eternity Ans OUr Father which art in heaven 1. Hallowed be thy Name 2. Thy Kingdome come 3. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven 4. Give us this day our daily bread 5. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us 6. And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evill For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for ever and ever Amen Strengthen us also by this Holy Sacrament in the Articles of our Christian Faith of which wee make Confession saying with heart and mouth I Beleeve in God the Father almightie maker of heaven and earth ij And in Jesus Christ his onely begotten Sonne our Lord. iij. Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost borne of the virgine Marie iv Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hel v. The third day he rose again from the dead vj. He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almightie vij From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead viij I beleeve in the Holy Ghost ix I beleeve an Holy Catholike church the Communion of Saints x. The forgivenes of sinnes xj The resurrection of the body xij And life everlasting Amen That wee may now bee fed with the true heavenly Bread the Lord Jesus Christ so let not our hearts cleave to the outward elements of Bread and Wine but let us lift up the same into Heaven where Christ our Advocate is sitting on the right hand of his heavenly Father whether also wee are directed by the Articles of our Christian faith nothing doubting but wee shall bee fed and refreshed with his Body and Blood by the power of the Spirit so certainly as wee receive this holy Bread and Wine to his remembrance In breaking and distributing of the Bread the Minister shall say The Bread which wee breake is the Communion of the body of Christ. And when hee gives the Cup The Cup of blessing wherewith wee blesse is the Communion of the Blood of Christ. During the Communion there shall eyther bee sung some Psalm or some Chapter read which may serve to the remembring of the Passion of Christ as Esa Chap. 53. Joh. 13. and 14. and 15. and 16. and 18. or the like After the Communion the Minister shall
fall God said to Eve and in her to all women Your will shall bee subject to your Husband you shall not resist this ordinance of God but bee obedient to the Word of God and follow the examples of Godly women who trusted in God and were subject to their Husbands as Sara was obedient to her Husband calling him her Lord You shall also bee an helpe to your Husband in all good and lawfull things looking to your family and walke in all honesty and vertue without worldly pride that you may give an example to others of modesty Wherefore you N. and you N. having now understood that God hath instituted Marriage and what hee commands you therein are yee willing thus to carry your selves in this holy estate as you heere doe confesse before this Christian assembly and are desirous that you be confirmed in the same Answer Yea. Whereupon the Minister shall say to the Assembly I take you all who are met heere to witnesses that there is brought no lawfull impediment Further to the married persons Seeing then it is fit that you be furthered in this your worke the Lord God confirme your purpose which hee hath given you and your beginning be in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth Heereupon they shall joyne hands together and the Minister speake first to the Bridegroome N. Doe you acknowledge heere before God and this his holy Church that you have taken and doe take to your lawfull wife N. heere present promising her never to forsake her to love her faithfully to maintaine her as a faithfull and pious Husband is bound to doe to his lawfull wife that you will live holily with her keeping faith and trueth to her in all things according to the Holy Gospell Answer Yea. Afterwards to the Bride N. Doe you acknowledge heere before God and his holy Church that you have taken and doe take to your lawfull Husband N. promising to be obedient to him to serve and assist him never to forsake him to live holily with him keeping faith and trueth to him in all things as a pious and faithfull wife is bound to her Husband according to the Holy Gospell Answer Yea. Then the Minister shall say The Father of mercies who hath called you out of his mercy to this holy estate of Marriage knit you together with true love and faithfulnesse and give you his holy blessings Amen Hearken now how firme this bond of Marriage is as Matth. describes it Chap. 19. Vers 3.4.5.6.7.8.9 The Pharisees came unto Christ tempting him and saying unto him Is it lawfull for a man to put away his wife for every cause and Hee answered and said unto them Have yee not read that hee which made them at the beginning made them Male and Female and said For this cause shall a Man leave Father and Mother and shall cleave to his Wife and they twaine shall be one flesh wherefore they are no more twaine but one flesh What therefore God hath joyned together let no man put a sunder They sayd unto him Why did Moses then command to give a Writing of divorcement and to put her away Hee said unto them Moses because of the hardnesse of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives but from the beginning it was not so and I say unto you whosoever shall put away his wife except it bee for fornication and shall marry an other committeth adultery and who so marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery Afterwards shall the Minister command the married persons to kneele downe and exhort the Church to pray for them ALmighty God who shewest thy power and goodnesse in all thy workes and ordinances who hast sayd from the beginning that it is not good that Man should bee alone and for that cause hast made a helpe meet for him and hast ordained that these two should bee one who also doest punish all uncleanesse wee beseech thee seeing thou hast called these two persons to the State of Marriage and knit them together that thou wilt give unto them thy holy Spirit that they may live holily together with a true and firme faith according to thy holy Name and set themselves against all manner of sinne Blesse them O Lord as thou blessest those faithfull Fathers thy friends and Servants Abraham Isaack and Jacob that being partakers of that Covenant which thou confirmest to those thy Servants they may beget holy Children and educate them in a godly manner to the honour of thy holy Name to the edification of thy Church and propagation of the Gospell Heare us Father of all mercyes through Jesus Christ thy deare Sonne our Lord and Saviour in whose name wee pray further Our Father c. Hearken now unto the promise which God made in the 128 Psalm Blessed is hee who feareth the Lord and walketh in his wayes for thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands happy shalt thou be and it shall be wel with thee Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull Vine by the sides of thine house thy Children like olive-plants round about thy Table Behold thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord the Lord shall blesse thee out of Zion and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the dayes of thy life yea thou shalt see thy childrens children and peace upon Israël Our blessed Lord God fulfill your hearts with his grace and graunt that yee may live long together in all piety and holinesse AMEN
incumbent on all believers according to the Word of God to separate them selves from those that are not of the Church and to join to this Congregation in what place socever God hath constituted the same although it were contrary to the decrees of Magistrates and Princes even on pain of corporal punishment or death Wherefore all those who separate them selves from this Church or do not join with it act against the ordinance of God. XXIX Wee believe that it is requisite to search diligently and with a circumspect care to discerne from the Word of God which is the true Church since all Sects that are in the World now adayes do cover them selves with the name of the Church Wee do not speak of the company of Hypocrites who are mixed in the Church amongst the good ones without belonging to the Church thô outwardly they are in it but wee say that the body and Communion of the true Church ought to be distinguished from all Sects who call them selves the Church The marks to know the true Church by are these If in the Church there is a pure preaching of the Gospel If the pure administration of the Sacraments so as it is instituted by Christ him self is made use of If the Ecclesiastical censure is exercised for the punishment of sins In a word if the conversation is according to the pure Word of God rejecting all things contrary thereunto and holding Jesus Christ as the onely head By these tokens one may certainly know the true Church and none ought to separate themselves from the same And as for those that are of the Church they may be known by the marks of the Christians viz. by their Faith and when they have received the onely Saviour Jesus Christ avoiding sin and pursuing righteousness loving the true God and their neighbour not declining neither to the right nor to the left hand and crucifying their flesh with its deeds Nevertheless they may be attended with great weakness but they sight against it through the Spirit all the dayes of their life having continually recours to the blood death susterings and obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ in which they have remission of sins through Faith in him As for the false Church she ascribes unto her self and her ordinances more power and Authority then to the Word of God and will not submit unto the yoke of Christ she administers the Sacraments not after such a Manner as Christ hath instituted in his word but she adds and takes away according to her pleasure She relyeth more upon men then upon Christ she persecutes those who live a holy life according to the Word of God and who rebuke her faults coveteousness and Idolatry These two Churches may easily be known and distinguished XXX Wee believe that this true Church must be governed according to the Spirituall policy which our Lord hath taught us in his word viz. That there must be Ministers or Pastors for to preach the Word of God and to administer the Sacraments as also Overseers and Deacons to make up together with the Pastors an Ecclesiastical Councel and by this means to maintain the true Religion and to procure a free course for the true Doctrine likewise that the Transgressors be punished and restrained by Spirituall means that the poor and distressed be also relieved and comforted according to what they stand in need of Through these means all things will proceed well and orderly in the Church when such persons are chosen who are faithfull and according to the rule which St. Paul preseribes in his Epistle to Timothy XXXI Wee believe that the Ministers of the Word of God and the Elders and Deacons ought to be chosen to their respective offices by a lawfull Election with invocation of the Name of the Lord and in good order as the Word of God teacheth Every one therefore must take care of intruding him self by undecent means but ought to stay untill he be call'd by God that so he may have a testimony of his calling and be certain and assured that it is of the Lord And as for the Ministers of the Word where ever they-are they have an equal power and Authority being all Ministers of Jesus Christ the one general Bishop and onely head of the Church Moreoever least the holy ordinance of God be violated or despised wee say that every one ought te have a speciall respect unto the Ministers of the Word and the Elders of the Church for their works sake and to live in peace with them without murmuring strife or dissention as much as possibly can be XXXII In the mean while wee believe although it may be serviceable and good that those who govern the Church do institute among them selves certain ordinances for the maintenance and supporting the body of the Church yet that they ought to take heed of departing from any thing which Christ our onely master hath ordered And therefore wee reject all manner of humane inventions and Laws which any might introduce in the Worship of God thereby to bind and compell the consciences Admitting of nothing but what may serve to the nourishing and preservation of Concord and Unity and to keep all in the obedience of God unto which the Excommunication is required according to the Word of God and the circumstances belonging thereunto XXXIII Wee believe that our gracious God having regard on our meanness and infirmity hath assorded us the Sacraments for to be seales of his promises and pledges of the kindness and grace of God unto us and thereby to nourish and sustain our faith having joyned them with the Word of the Gospel that so he might propound to our outward senses both that which he signifies unto us by his Word and that which he workes inwardly in our hearts assuring us of the salvation which he doth impart us For they are visible signs and Seals of an inward and invisible thing by which means God worketh in us through the power of the holy Ghost Therefore the signs are not invain or empty to be deceived thereby for Christ Jesus is the truth thereof without whom they would signify nothing at all Moreover wee are content with the number of the Sacraments which Christ our Master hath instituted being but two to wit the Sacrament of Baptism and that of the holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ XXXIV Wee believe and confess that Jesus Christ who is the end of the Law hath made an end by the shedding of his blood of all other sheddings of blood that might be made for the propitiation and satisfaction of sin and that having abrogated the circumcision which was done with blood hath instituted instead thereof the Sacrament of Baptisme by which wee are received in the Church of God and become separated from all other people and strange Religions that so wee may be fully addicted to him and bear his Mark and Ensign And it serves us for a testimony that hee will be our God and
say Beloved in the Lord Because the Lord hath fed our souls at his Table let us all with thanckesgiving praise his Name and every one say in his heart thus Blesse the Lord o my soule and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord o my soule and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies who satisfied thee with good things The Lord is mercifull and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Hee doth not deale with us after our sinnes nor rewarde us according to our iniquities for as the Heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him as farre as the East is from the West so farre hath hee remooved our transgressions from us like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that feare him who also hath not spared his owne Sonne but hath given him for us all and hath given us with him all things there fore doth God shew his love towards us thereby that Christ dyed for us when wee were yet sinners therefore shall wee be the more saved by him from his wrath after wee are justified through his blood For if wee be reconciled through the death of his Sonne when wee were yet enemyes much more shall wee bee saved through his life after wee are reconciled with him therefore shall my heart and mouth praise the Lord from this time forth and evermore Amen Let every one therefore say with an attentive heart ALmighty and most mercifull God and Father wee render thankes to thee with all our hearts that thou hast given unto us out of thy infinite mercy thine onely begotten Sonne to bee our Mediator and a Saerifice for our sinnes yea to bee our food to everlasting life and hast also given unto us a true and lively Faith whereby wee are made partakers of all his benefits and that thou hast caused thy Son to institute this Holy Supper for the confirmation of our Faith Graunt wee beseech thee most faithfull God and Father that through the operation of thy Holy Spirit this commemoration of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ may tend to the encrease of our saith and saving fellowship with him through Jesus Christ thy Sonne our Saviour in whose name wee conclude our Prayers saying Our Father c. FORME Of Excommunication BEloved in the Lord Jesus Christ It is knowen unto you how that at severall times by severall degrees wee have propounded unto you what a haynous sinne hath beene committed by our fellow-member N. and what great offence thereby is given to the end that hee through the helpe of your prayers and Christian admonition might be brought to repentance and so bee freed from the bonds of Sathan where in hee is kept and awake to the will of the Lord Now wee can not conceale from you with great heavinesse that there is no body yet come to us who hath in the least measure given us to understand that hee through the manifold admonitions which have beene given to him both apart by himselfe alone and before witnesse in the presence of many is come to any sorrow or remorse for his sinne or to the manifestation of the least token of repentance Seeing therefore that hee doth aggravate his sinne which yet in it selfe is no small one by his stifnesse and hardheartednesse and seeing wee have signifyed unto you the last time that in case hee after such patience shewed towards him by the Church do not repent that wee should bee forced yet further to bee grieved for him and to come to the last remedy therefore wee are necessitated for the present to proceed to his excommunication according to the power and commandement given unto us in the Worde of God to the end that hee by this meanes if it bee possible might bee brought to shame and remorse for his sinne and that the whole body of the Church may not bee put in danger by this rotten and as yet incurable member and that the name of the Lord may not bee blasphemed Therefore wee Ministers and Elders of the Church being met in the name and power of our Lord Jesus Christ declare before you all that for reasons above mentioned wee have excommunicated and by these do excommunicate N. from the Church of the Lord and from fellowship with Christ and his Sacraments and all spirituall blessings which God hath promised and doth fulfill to his Church so long as hee persists in his stubbornnesse and impenitency and therefore is to be esteemed of you as an heathen and publican according to the Commandement of God Mat. 18. who saith that is bound in Heaven what his Ministers binde heere on Earth Further wee do admonish you beloved Christians that you keepe no company with him that hee may bee ashamed yet holde him not as an enemy but admonish him sometimes as you do a brother meane while every one take to heart this and the like example to feare the Lord and if hee thinckes hee stands to bee carefull that hee may not fall but having true fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ as also with all true believing Christians persevere therein to the end and so partake of everlasting salvation You have seene Beloved Brethren and Sisters in what manner this our Excommunicated Brother hath begunne to fall and by little and little is come to ruine observe therefore how subtile Sathan is to bring people to destruction and to take them off from all wholesome meanes to salvation therefore take heed of the least beginning of evill and according to the admonition of the Apostle laying aside all weight and sinne which doth so easily beset us runne constantly the race which is set before us looking unto Jesus the beginner and finisher of our Faith bee sober watch and pray that you fall not into temptation to day if you heare the voyce of the Lord harden not your hearts but worke out your salvation with feare and trembling and every one repent of his sinnes that God do not againe humble us and wee bee forced to bee grieved over any of you but that you living godly with one accord may bee our joy and crowne in the Lord. But seeing God must worke in us both the will and the deed according to his good pleasure let us with confession of our sinnes call upon his name MOst righteous God and mercifull Father wee bewaile our sinnes before thy most high Majesty acknowledging that wee have deserved that sorrow and griefe which hath beene caused by the cutting off of this party once a member of us yea wee are worthy in regard of our great sinnes if thou shouldest enter into judgement with us to bee eternally separated from thee But thou O Lord art gracious unto us for Christ his sake Pardon unto us our sinnes for wee are