be testified in due time 1 Tim. 2. 1. 3 4 6. Q. What is the Apostle Peter's Testimony in this A. The Lord is not â—lack concerning his Promise as some men count Slackness but is Long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. Q. Are there any more Scripture-Passages that prove this thing A. Say unto them As I live saith the Lord God I have no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked but that the Wicked turn from his VVay and live Ezek. 33. 11. The Lord is Gracious and full of Compassion slow to Anger and of great Mercy The Lord is good to all and his tender Mercies are over all his VVorks Plal. 145. 8 9. To wit That God was in Christ reconciling the VVorld unto himself 2 Cor. 5. 19. Q. Seeing then by these Scriptures it appears that the Love of God is held out to all that all might have been or may be saved by Christ What is to be judged of those who assert that God nor Christ never purposed Love nor Salvation to a great part of Mankind and that the Coming and Sufferings of Christ never were intended nor could be useful to their Justification but will and must be effectual for their Condemnation even according to God's Purpose who from their very Infancy to their Grave with-held from them all Means of Salvation What saith the Scripture to such A. For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through him might be saved John 3. 17. I am come a Light into the World that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in Darkness And if any man hear my words and believe not I judge him not for I came not to judge the World but to save the World Joh. 12. 46 47. Q. From what Scripture then come these men to wrest an Opinion so contrary to Truth A. For the Children being not yet born neither having done any Good or Evil that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand it was said unto her The Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated Rom. 9. 11 12 13. Q. I perceive in that Scripture it was only said before the Children were born The Elder shall serve the Younger These other words Jacob have I loved Esau have I hated are mention'd out of the Prophet Malachie who wrote them many hundred years after both were dead Doth not the Scripture mention any â—ther Cause of God's Hating Esau then meerly his Decree What saith the same Apostle elsewhere A. Left there be any Fornicator or Prophane Person as Esau who for one Morsel of Meat sold his Birth Right for ye know how that afterward when he would have inherited the Blessing he was rejected Heb. 12. 16 17. Q. But seeing that such allege that it is because of Adam's Sin that many even Children are damned Doth not the Scripture â—ver that the Death of Christ was as large to Heal as Adam's Sin could Condemn A. For if through the Offence of one many be dead much more the Grace of God and the Gift by Grace which is by one Man Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all men unto Justification of Life Rom. 5. 15 18. Q. That proves abundantly that Christ's Death is of sufficient Extent to make up any Hurt Adam's Sin brought upon Mankind What is then the Cause of Condemnation A. He that believeth on him is not Condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God John 3. 18. And with all Deceivableness of Unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved And for this Cause God shall send them strong Delusions that they should believe a Lye that they all might be damned who believe not the Truth but had Pleasure in Unrighteousness 2 Thess. 2. 10 11 12. Q. Seeing it is so of a Truth according to the Scripture's Testimony that God has purposed Love and Mercy to all in the Appearance of his Son Jesus Christ Is the Gospel or Glad-Tidings of this Salvation brought nigh unto all by which they are put into a Capacity of receiving the Grace and being saved by it A. If ye continue in the Faith grounded and setled and be not moved away from the Hope of the Gospel which ye have heard and which was preached to every Creature which is under Heaven whereof I Paul am made a Minister Col. 1. 23. Q. What is the Gospel A. I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the Power of God unto Salvation unto every one that believeth Rom. 1. 16. Q. Is this Gospel hid A If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are Lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. Q. Is this Light then come into the World and are not men condemned because they love it not and not because it is hid from them A. And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and men love Darkness rather then Light Joh. 3. 19. Q. Why do they so A. Because their Deeds are Evil John 3. 19. Q. Is every man enlightened by this Light A. He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light that was the True Light which enlightneth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 8 9. Q. Doth this Light discover all things A. All things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light for whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Ephes. 5. 13. Q. Do Evil Men preach up this Light or mind it A. Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved John 3. 20. They are of those that Rebel against the Light Job 24. 13. Q. Do Good Men love it and follow it A. He that doth Truth comes to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God John 3. 21. Q. What Benefit doth redound to such as love the Light and walk in it A. If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have â—ellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all Sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. Q. Doth Christ command to take heed to the Light A. While ye have the Light believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light Joh. 12. 36. Q. Were the Apostles commanded to turn People to the Light A. Delivering thee from the People and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee To open their Eyes
and to turn them from Darkness unto Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive Forgiveness of Sins and Inheritance among them which are sanctified through Faith that is in me Acts 26. 17 18. Q. Doth this Light abide with every man all his Life time in order to save or only during the Day of his Visitation A. Yet a little while is the Light with you walk while ye have the Light lest Darkness come upon you John 1â— 35. Again He limiteth a certain Day saying in David to day after so long time as it is said To day if ye will here his Voice harden not your Hearts Heb. 4. 7. Q. How can it be proved that there is a day wherein People may know things concerning their Peace which afterwards may be hid from them A. And when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes Luke 19. 41 42. Q. Is there any further Scripture-Proof of the Lord's Willingness to gather a People who would not and therefore were condemned A. O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee How oft would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not Mat. 23. 37. Luke 13. 34. Then his Lord after that he had called him said unto him O thou Wicked Servant I forgave thee all the Debt because thou desiredst me shouldst not thou also have had Compassion on thy Fellow Servant even as I had Pitty on thee And his Lord was wroth and delivered him to the Tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto him Mat. 18. 32 33 34. Then Paul and Barnabas waâ—ed bold and said It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoaken to you but seeing ye put it from you and judge your selves unworthy of Everlasting Life â—o we turn to the Gentiles Acts 13. 46. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my Hand and no man regarded But ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would none of my Reproof I also will laugh at your Calamity I will mock when your Fear cometh Prov. 1. 24 25 26. And at what Instant I shall speak concerning a Nation and concerning a Kingdom to build and to plant it If it do Evil in my Sight that it obey not my Voice then I will Repent of the Good wherewith I said I would benefit them Jer. 18. 9 10. Q. Doth God's Spirit strive then for a season and afterwardâ— forbear A. And the Lord said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man Gen. 6. 3. Q. May it then be resisted A. Ye Stiff-necked and Uncircumcised in Heart and Ears ye do alwayes Resist the holy Ghost as your Fathers did so do ye Act. 7. 51. For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness Rom. 1. 18. Q. Hath God manifested to man that which may be known of himself A. That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them Rom. 1. 19. Q. Is then this Light or Seed sown in the Hearts of Evil Men A. And he spake many things to them in Parables Behold a Sower went forth to sow when he sowed some Seeds fell by the Way side c. some fell among stony Places c. and some fell among Thorns c. Matth. 13 3 4 5 7. Q. Are these Places where the Seed is said 〈◊〉 have fallen understood of the Hearts of Men A. Hear ye therefore the Parable of thâ— Sower when any one heareth the Word oâ— the Kingdom and understandeth it not theâ— cometh the wicked One and catcheth awaâ— that which was sown in his Heart this is hâ— which receiv'd the Seed by the Way side c Mat. 13. 18 19. Q. Is this Seed small in its first Appearanceâ— A. The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a Grain of Mustard Seed which a man took and sowed in his Field which indeed is the least of all all Seeds Mat. 13. 31 32. Q. Forasmuch as many understand not this under the Notion and Appellation of Light or Seed it being quite another Dialect then the common though I must needs confess it is the very Language of the Scriptures Is a Saving Manifestation of the Spirit given unto all A. The Manifestation of the Spirit given to every man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12. 7. Q. Sure if it be to profit withal it must be in order to save for if it were not useful yea sufficient to save what Profit could it be of But in regard some speak of a Grace that is common and of a Grace that is saving is there such a Grace common unto all as brings Salvation A. The Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all men Tit. 2. 11. Q. That which brings Salvation must needs be saving What doth that Grace teach us A. Teaching us that denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live Soberly Righteously Godlily in this present World Tit. 2. 11. Q. Certainly that which teacheth both Righteousness and Godliness must be sufficient for therein consisteth the whole Duty of Man What saith the Apostle else-where of this Instructor A. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all those that are sanctified Acts 20. 32. Q. What is the Word of God A. The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper then any Two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a Discerner of the Thooghts and Intents of the Heart Neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his Sight but all things are naked and open to the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 12 13. Q. Ought we to take heed to this Word A. We have also a More Sure Word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a Dark Place until the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your Hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. Q. I perceive the Scriptures are very clear both concerning the Vniversality Sufficiency of this Light Seed Grace and Word of God but is this Word nigh or afar off inward or outward A. Say not in thine Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shal descend into the Deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead But what saith it The Word is nigh in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach Rom. 10. 6 7 8. Q. That is clear
made free from Sin and become Servants to God ye have your Fruit unto Holiness and the End Everlasting Life For the Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lord Rom. 6. 3 4 5 6 7 11 12 13 â—6 17 18 19 20 21 â—2 23. Q. It would appear then that God requires of us to be perfect A. Be ye therefore Perfect even as your Father which is in Heaven is Perfect Mat. 5. 48. Q. Is it then possible to keep the Commandments A. My Yoak is easie and my Burden is light Mat. 11. 30. For this is the Law of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. Q. Is it necessary then for Salvation to keep the Commandments A. Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have Right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City Rev. 22. 14. Q. Do you understand by this Perfection that any have so kept the Commandments as never to have sinned A. If we say that we have not sinned we make him a Lyar and his Word is not in us 1 Joh. 1. 10. Q. Do you understand that those who are perfect may say they have no Sin or only that having sinned and so having Sin in respect they once sinned as the Apostle in the Passage cited mentions May they not withstanding thereof come to know Forgiveness for the Guilt but also Cleansing from the Filth A. If we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1. 8. Q. That Scripture seems to be very plain being compared with the other before-mentioned But because some are apt to mistake and wrest the Words of that Apostle what saith he elsewhere Did he judge any could know God or be True Christians who keeped not the Commandments A. My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not and if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous And hereby do we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar and the Truth is not in him But whoso keepeth his Word in him verely is the Love of God perfected Hereby know we that we are in him He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked Beloved now are we the Sons of God it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is And every man that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure Whosoever committeth Sin transgresseth also the Law for Sin is the Transgression of the Law And ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sins and in him is no Sin Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him Little Children let not man deceive you he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous He that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother 1 John 2. 1 3 4 5 6. and 3. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Q. It is very plain by these Passages that the Apostles were far of another Mind then those that plead for Sin during term of Life and much against the Deceit of those who will esteem themselves Good Christians while they live in their Sins A. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him unto the Wise Man which built his House upon a Rock Mat. 7. 21 24. If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Joh. 13. 17. Q. What saith the Apostle Paul further concerning the Needfulness of this thing A. Circumcision is nothing and Uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the Commandments of God 1 Cor. 7. 19. Q. Was not this according to the Apostle Paul's Judgment the very Intention of Christ to have his Church and Children to be pure and without Spot A. According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be Holy and without Blame before him in Love Eph. 1. 4. Even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it that he might present it to himself a Glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blemish Eph. 5. 25 26 27. Q. Doth not Paul press the same thing further besides the other Passages above-mentioned A. Having therefore these Promises Dearly Beloved Let us cleanse our selves from all Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. Finally Brethren farewell be perfect 2 Cor. 13 11. Christ in you the Hope of Glory whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all Wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 28. Labouring fervently for you in Prayers that ye may stand perfect and compleat in all the Will of God Col. 4. 12. To the End he may establish your Hearts unblamable in Holiness before God 1 Thess. 3. 13. And the very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and Body be presented blameless unto the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thess. 5. 23. Q. Is not this then the very End for which God appointed Teachers in his Church A. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the Perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the Edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the Unity of the Faith and of the Knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. Q. Seeing this is so much pressed by the Holy Men doth not the Scripture which cannot lye give none of the Saints this Testimony as being free from Sin at sometimes and so not alwayes and daily sinning as is supposed A. Noah was a Just Man and Perfect in his Generations
of one For by the exceding great and precious Promises that are given them they are made Partakers of the divine Nature Because for this Endprayed Christ that they all might be one as the Father is in him and he in the Father that they also might be one in them the Glory which he had gotten from the Father he gave them that they might be one even as the Father and he is one Christ in the Saints and the Father in Christ that they might be made perfect in one ARTICLE X. Concerning the Universal Love and Grace of God to all GOd so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life And in this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son that we might live through him So that if any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World For by the Grace of God he hath tasted Death for every Man And gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due Time Willing all Men to be saved and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through him might be saved And Christ came a Light into the World that whosoever believeth in him should not abide in Darkness Therefore as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all Men to Justification of Life ARTICLE XI Concerning the Light that enlighteneth every Man THe Gospel was preached to every Creature under Heaven Which Gospel is the Power of God unto Salvation to them that believe And if it be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine into them And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather then Light because their Deeds are Evil And this was the true Light which lightneth every Man that cometh into the World By which all things that are reproveable are made manifest for whatsoever maketh manifest is Light Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God And they that walk in the Light as Christ is in the Light have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth them from all Sin Therefore ought we to believe in the Light while we have the Light that we may be the Children of the Light Therefore to Day if we will hear his Voice let us not harden our Hearts For Christ wept over Jerusalem saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the Things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes And he would often have gathered her Children as a Hen gathereth her Chickens but they would not for the stiff-necked and uncircumcised in Heart and Ears do alwayes resist the Holy Ghost And are of those that rebel against the Light Therefore God's Spirit will not alwayes strive with Man For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness Because what is to be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them And a Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withall For the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men teaching us that denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World And this Word of his Grace is able to build up and give an Inheritance among all those that are sanctified For the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper then any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the Soul and Spirit and of the Joints and Marrow and is a Discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart This is that more sure Word of Prophecie whereunto we do well that we take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark Place until the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in the Heart And this is the Word of Faith which the Apostles preached which is nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart For God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ But we have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us for the Kingdom of God cometh not by Observation but is within us ARTICLE XII Concerning Faith and Justification FAith is the Substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen VVithout which is is impossible to please God Therefore we are justified by Faith which worketh by Love For Faith without Works being dead is by Works made perfect By the Deeds of the Law there shall no Flesh be justified Nor yet by the Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy we are saved by the VVashing of Regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost For we are both washed sanctified and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God ARTICLE XIII Concerning Good Works IF we live after the Flesh we shall dye but if we through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Body we shall live For they which believe in God must be careful to maintain Good Works For God will render to every Man according to his Deeds according to his righteous Judgment to them who by patient Continuance in well-doing seek for Glory Honour and Immortality Eternal Life For such are counted worthy of the Kingdom of God And cast not away their Confidence which hath great Recompence of Reward Blessed then are they that do his Commandments that they may have Right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City ARTICLE XIV Concerning Perfection SIn shall not have Dominion over such as are not under the Law but under Grace For there is no Condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after
the Spirit for the Law of the Spirit of Life maketh free from the Law of Sin and Death For such are become dead unto Sin and alive unto Righteousness and being made free from Sin are become Servants of Righteousness Therefore ought we to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect For the Yoak of Christ is easie and his Burthen is light And his Commandments are not grievous And whosoever will enter into Life must keep the Commandments Hereby do we know that we know God if we keep his Commandments He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar and the Truth is not in him Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him Let no Man deceive us he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous He that committeth Sin is of the Devil whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God For not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of the Father which is in Heaven Circumcision is nothing and Uncircimcision is nothing but the keeping of the Commandments of God ARTICLE XV. Concerning Perseverance and Falling from Grace VVE ought to give Diligence to make our Calling and Election sure which things if we do we shall never fall For even Paul kept under his Body and brought it into Subjection lest by any Means when he preached to others he himself become a Cast-away Let us therefore take Heed lest there be in any of us an evil Heart of Unbelief in departing from the living God Likewise let us labour to enter into that Rest lest any Man fall after the same Example of Unbelief For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift and were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted of the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come if they shall fall away to renew them again unto Repentance For he that abideth not in Christ is cast forth and is withered Yet such as overcometh he will make as Pillars in the Temple of his God and they shall go no more out And these are perswaded that nothing shall be able to separate them from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus ARTICLE XVI Concerning the Church Ministry THe Church of God is the Pillar and Ground of Truth Whereof the Dear Son of God is the Head From which all the Body by Joynts and Bands having Nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the Increase of God Which Church of God is them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus Who when he ascended up on high gave Gifts unto Men And he gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry Who ought to be blameless vigilant sober of good Behaviour given to Hospitality apt to teach not given to Wine no Strikers not greedy of filthy Lucre but patient not Brawlers not covetous Lovers of good Men sober just holy temperate holding fast the faithful as they have been taught that they may be able by found Doctrine both to exhort and to convince Gain-sayers Taking heed to themselves and to the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made them Overseers to feed the Church of God Taking the Oversight thereof not by Constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready Mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but as being Ensamples to the Flock And such Elders as rule well are to be counted worthy of double Honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine And to be esteemed very highly in Love for their Works sake As every Man hath received the Gift so ought the same to be ministred if any Man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God if any Man minister let him do it as of the Ability which God giveth Preaching the Gospel not with the Wisdom of Words lest the Cross of Christ be made of none Effect Nor yet with enticing Words of Man's Wisdom but in Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power that the Faith may not stand in the Wisdom of Men but in the Power of God Howbeit such speak Wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the Wisdom of this World nor of the Princes of this World which cometh to nought but they speak the Wisdom of God in a Mystery even the hidden Wisdom which God ordained before the World to their Glory VVhich things they also speak not in the Words which man's Wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth For it is not they that speak but the Holy Ghost of Spirit of the Father that speaketh in them Who if they sow spiritual things ought to reap carnal Things for so the Lord hath ordain'd that they â—hâ—ch preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel for the Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzle the Mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn and the Labourer is worthy of his Reward Yet a Necessity is laid upon them yea VVo is unto them if they preach not the Gospel and their Reward is that when they preach the Gospel they make the Gospel of Christ without Charge Not coveting any Man's Silver or Gold or Apparel but their Hands minister to their Necessities that so labouring they may support the Weak remembring the VVords of the Lord Jesus how he said It s more blessed to give then to receive For they are not of the greedy Dogs that can never have enough Nor of the Shepherds that look to their own VVay every one his Gain from his Quarter That feed themselves and not the Flock That make the People err biting with their Teeth and crying Peace and preparing VVar against all such as put not in their Mouths teaching for Hire and divining for Money Nor yet of those which teach things which they ought not for fiâ—thy Lucres sake That run greedily after the Error of Baâ—aâ— for Reward loving the VVages of Unrighteousness And through Covetousness with feigned VVords making Merchandize of Souls Men of corrupt Minds destitute of the Truth supposing that Gain is Godliness But they know that Godliness with Contentment is great Gain and having Food and Rayment they are therewith content ARTICLE XVII Concerning Worship THe Hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him God is a Spirit and they which worship him must worship in the Spirit and in the Truth For the Lord is nigh to all them
thou shalt have Praise of the same for he is the Minister of God to thee for Good But 〈◊〉 thou do that which is Evil be afraid for he beareth not the Sword in vain for he is the Minister of God a Revenger to execute Wrath upon him that doth Evil Wherefore we must needs be subject not only for VVrath but also for Conscience sake for for this Cause pay we also Tribute for they are God's Ministers attending continually upon this very thing Render therefore to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour Therefore are we to submit our selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake whether it be to the King as Supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the Punishment of Evil-Doers and for the Praise of them that do well for so is the Will of God that with Well-doing we may put to Silence the Ignorance of Foolish Men Yet it is right in the Sight of God to hearken unto him more then unto them And though they straighly command us not to teach in Christ's Name we ought to obey God rather then Men ARTICLE XXIII Concerning the Resurrection THere shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Unjust They that have done Good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done Evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God neither doth Corruption inherit Incorruption Nor is that Body sown that shall be but God gives it a Body as it has pleased him and to every Seed his own Body It is sown in Corruption it is raised in Incorruption it is sown in Dishonour it is raised in Glory it is sown in Weakness it is raised in Power it is sown a Natural Body it is raised a Spiritual Body CHAP. XVII A Short Expostulation with and Appeal to all other Professors COme let us reason with you all ye Professors of Christianity of what sort or kind soever and bring forth your Catechisms and Confessions of Faith to that which by most of your selves is accounted the Touch-Stone or Rule And suffer your selves no more to be blinded and to Err through your Ignorance of the Scriptures and of the Power of God But freely acknowledg confess to that Glorious Gospel and Light which the Scriptures so clearly witness to and your Experience must needs answer as also to these other Doctrines which consequentially depend upon the Belief of that Noble and truly Catholick Principle wherein the Love of God is so mercifully exhibited to all men and his Justice and Mercy do like Twins so Harmonously concord his Mercy in the oft tendering of his Love through the Strivings and Wreslings of his Light during the Day of every man's Visitation and his Justice both in the destroying and cutting away of the Wicked Nature and Spirit in those that suffer themselves to be redeemed through his Judgments and in the utter Overthrow of such who rebelling against the Light and doing Despight to the Spirit of Grace hate to be reformed Now not only this Fundamental Principle is clearly held forth in this Treatise but all these that depend upon it as the real and inward Justification of the Saints through the Power and Life of Jesus revealed in them their full and Perfect Redemption from the Body of Death and Sin as they grow up by the Workings and Prevalency of his Grace and yet lest Security should enter there is great need of Watchfulness in that they may even depart after they have really witnessed a good Condition and make Ship-wrack of the Faith and of a good Conscience with all the Parts of the Doctrine of Christ as they lie lincked together like a Golden Chain which doth very much evidence the Certainty and Vertue of Truth above all Heresies Error and Deceit however so cunningly gilded with the specious Pretences thereof for Truth is intire in all its Parts and consonant to it self without the least Jar having a wonderful Coherence and notable Harmony answering together like the Strings of a well-tuned Instrument whereas the Principles of all other Professors though in some things most of them come near and divers acknowledge that which is Truth yet in most things they stray from it so that their Principles greatly contradict jar one against another and though they may alledge Scriptures for some of their Principles yet they are put strangely to wrest it and to deny it for others My Appeal then to and Expostulation with all sorts of professors is not to prove some one or two Points by the Scriptures for there be some general Notions of Truth which most if not all agree to but the whole Body of our Principles as they stand in relation to each other which none of them all is able to do for among the many Professors their Catechisms and Confessions of Faith I find none save the Dispensation of Truth now again revealed but such as in most of their substantial Principles differ greatly and in many contradict grosly the plain Text and Tenour of the Scripture I confess there be certain men in this Age who with some plausible Appearance of Reality undertake this Task These are they that joyn with and own not wholely any Imbodied People but while they pretend a general Love to all yet find Fault with some part of every sort while in the mean time they scarce can give any Account of their own Religion and most of them prove at bottom to have none at all These men I say may perhaps acknowledge some general Truths and also hold to the Letter of the Scripture in some other things so as thereby to take Occasion largly to judge others while themselves offer not to bring these good things to practise they blame others for the Want or Neglect of But such an Enterprize from these men will not when weighed prove a fulfilling of this Master seeing it is not enongh to acknowledge many Truths but also to deny and witness against all Error and likewise not to fall short of any Truth which ought to be acknowledged Whereas these sort of men for the most part cannot give account of their Faith in many things needful to be believed and whatever things they may acknowledge to be true they err most grievously and contradict a Truth most needful to be minded and answered as is proved hereto in that they stand not forth to appear for any of these Discoveries they pretend they have but make a shift to hide their Heads in Times of Tryal so as not to suffer for nor with any And through these fine Pretences above mentioned through their Scruples of joyning with any they can cunningly shun the Difficulties of Persecutions that attend the particular Sects of Christians and yet by their general Charity and Love to all claim a Share in any