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A25343 Ancient truth revived, or, A True state of the antient, suffering Church of Christ, commonly (but falsly) called Brownists, living in London, and other places of this nation wherein I. Is shewed (in the preface) the state of the gospel-church, from the time of Christ's ascension, to the end of the world, gathered out of the book of Revelations, II. The confession of our faith, grounded on the doctrine of the apostles and prophets, III. By vvhom the gospel vvas first preached in this island, IV. Our practice in the worship of God, according to the practice of the primitive church, with an explanation of every ordinance, and vvho have right to administer the same, V. The first day of the week proved to be the gospel-sabbath. 1677 (1677) Wing A3076; ESTC R40283 61,216 57

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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
Testament we are taught the Doctrine of Christ's Oblation Rev. 11.1 Heb. 13.10 So likewise from the Altar of Incense the Doctrine of his Mediatorship Rev. 8.5 So the Passover to the Supper 1 Cor. 5.7 8. Circumcision to Baptism Col. 2.11 the Pillars to the Teachers Gal. 2.9 And when the Tabernacle is mentioned it is a sign of God's dwelling with his People Rev. 21.3 Also the Candlesticks signify the Churches Rev. 1.20 And so likewise the 7th-day-Sabbath to our Rest in Christ Heb. 4.10 From all which Shadows and many more we may draw spiritual Comfort forasmuch as our Faith is not built only on the Doctrine of the Apostles but also upon the Doctrine of the Prophets Christ being held forth to be the chief Corner-Stone in both as they are expounded by Christ and his Apostles And so if the Lord open the Eyes of our Understanding as he did his Disciples Luk. 24.45 we shall behold the wondrous things in God's Law Psal 119.18 Therefore Christ beginning at Moses and in all the Prophets expounded the Scriptures in all things concerning himself which until the vail be taken away from off the eyes and heart none can steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished 2 Cor. 3.13 neither do understand how Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to all that believe Rom. 10.4 yet not one tittle useless but all Scripture is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness able to make the Man of God perfect in all understanding in the mystery of the same 2 Tim. 3.16 as in that mystery why Moses must be honoured above all other Prophets to be buried of God himself Because the Law of Shadows was given by the hand of Moses from God therefore God would have the Shadows of his Son honourably buried by the Lord Jesus who buried all Shadows in the Law with the time himself resting in the grave the whole time of the seventh-day Sabbath so buried all Moses's Shadows in the Law And therefore in this sense is it written The Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. So that by Grace we are saved in Christ and not by the works of the Law as the seventh-day Keepers expect in the New-Testament A form of words saying Remember to keep holy the first day as it was said in the Law to keep the seventh day These with Thomas are weak in the Faith that must feel by the sense of Nature before they will believe and so remain under the Curse and not the Blessing by exercising Faith and not resting on the letter of the Law in expecting a literal Commandment in the Gospel for all our belief and practice and so make the Gospel a secondary Law of Works when all Christians ought to stand on a better foundation and to know that the things chiefly necessary to be specified in the New Testament were the exhibiting the Messiah in the flesh for the redemption of his People with the manner of his Birth Life Doctrine Suffering Death Burial Resurrection and Ascension and sitting at the right-hand of God with the calling of the Gentiles to the Faith with their Infants to be fellow-heirs with the believing Jews and their children forasmuch as the Promises in the Prophets belonged to them with the abolishing the Ordinances with the time in the Law in the literal performance as aforesaid and now to follow the footsteps and examples of Christ and his Apostles who have established by their practices in the Churches new Ordinances new Ministers Maintenance Time and Place for Gospel-Worship c. as we have proved before and that the Apostles with the Churches did keep the first-day of the week for Gospel-Worship so did the Christians some hundreds of years after as is shewed in Anno Christi 111. Ignatius in Epistola ad Magnes after the Sabbath or setting aside the Sabbath as some translate it Let every one that loves Christ keep holy the Lord's Day the Queen of Days the Resurrection day the highest of all Days Anno 150. Justin Martyr Apol. 2. saith Vpon the day call'd Sunday or Lord's Day all that abide within the Cities or Villages do meet together in some place where the Records of the Apostles and Writings of the Prophets are read unto us then standing up together we send up our Prayers to Heaven which being ended there is delivered unto us Bread and Wine And the richest sort every one as his good will is contributeth something towards the relief of the poor Brethren Anno 160. Dionysius Bishop of Corinth in his Epistle to Soter Bishop of Rome Euseb Histor Eccles lib. 4. cap. 22. saith We have spent or passed through the Lords Day to day an holy Day Anno 226. Origen Exod. 16. Homil. 7. saith Vpon the Lords Day the Lord always rains Manna from Heaven namely the heavenly Truth of the Word read and preached to the People All which Testimonies and many more shew that the Christians before Constantine's time did keep the first Day for the gospel-Gospel-Sabbath and not as some have said that the first Day was not kept till Constantine's time which is a gross Mistake for Constantine did not reign till about the Year of our Lord 316. And because as is likely the first Day then as now among Christians was prophaned with Mens corrupt Minds in doing their worldly business and neglect of God's Service therefore did Constantine the Emperor as our King hath now sign an Act or Edict for the better keeping or restraining Abuses in Civil things on the Lord's Day yet the Edict in Constantines time did not any more than this Act in our time doth prove by its then setting forth that the Lord's Day was not kept before as Authors afore named shew before Constantine's time and in our Days before the Act came forth the Lord's Day was kept holy a Sabbath to the Lord though by many much prophaned And thus we see how greatly some that go by the Name of Seventh-Day Men are mistaken to say that the first Day of the VVeek was not kept for Gospel-VVorship till Constantines time Moreover though the seventh Day in the fourth Commandment is abolished and the first Day come in the place yet the Holiness remains to the first as it did to the seventh Day by virtue of the fourth Commandment As for Example If the same Scriptures in the Law commandeth the Worshippers under the Gospel to be holy as God is holy because the Covenant by which the Lord was a Husband to them was holy 1 Pet. 1.15 16. Levit. 11.44 Then the same Scriptures that commanded the Time for Worship under the Law commands the Time for Gospel-Worship to be kept now holy under the Gospel Esay 58.13 14. Moreover as there was a Time when the Seventh-day Sabbath did begin so there is a Time when the Gospel-Sabbath taketh its beginning And because many People in divers Nations differ much about the Time as
allowance of our Liberties in the service of God according to his Word we must notwithstanding not forsake the a assembling of our selves together but walk together in the obedience of Christ and b confession of his Faith and Gospel even through the midst of all Trials not accounting our c Goods Lands d Wives Children Father Mother Brethren or Sisters nor our own e Lives dear unto us so as we may finish our f Course with Joy remembring we ought to obey g God rather than Man that so when we have finished our Course and have kept the Faith we may certainly expect to be given unto us the Crown of Righteousness which is laid up for all that love his appearing so that in the mean time we labour to give unto God the things that are h Gods and unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto all men that which i belongeth to them so endeavouring to have a k Conscience void of offence towards God and towards Man and having hope in God that the Resurrection of the l dead shall be of the just unto Life and of the unjust unto Condemnation everlasting If any take this to be m Heresy then do we with the Apostle confess after the way they call Heresy we worship God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ believing all things that are written in the Law and Prophets and Apostles on which foundation all true Christian n Faith is built Christ being the chief Corner-stone Now unto him that is able to keep us that we fall not even to the only wise God and our Saviour be Glory Majesty Dominion and Power both now and for ever Amen a Heb. 10.25 b Mat. 10.32 Rom. 10.9 1 John 4.15 c Heb. 10.34 d Luke 14.26 27. e Acts 21.13 f 2 Tim. 4.7 8. g Acts 4.19 2 Tim. 4.8 h Mat 22.21 i Rom. 12.17 and 13.8 k Acts 24.15 16. l Luke 14.14 Acts 23.6 1 Cor. 15. John 5.29 m Acts 24.14 n Eph. 2.20 A Description of the true Church of Christ with the Practice of all her Ordinances in that holy Order and Government which Christ by his Apostles established the Primitive Churches in as a Pattern for all true Christians to follow the Lamb on Mount Sion in the performance of his Worship With several grounded Reasons from the holy Scriptures to prove that the first Day of the Week is the Gospel-Sabbath With many-useful Observations needful to be known in this Age for the unfolding of the Right Use and Benefit of every Ordinance according to Gods holy Order SEeing glorious things are spoken of the City of God Psal 87.3 let us therefore take a view how and by whom this City or true Church of God was first planted in this Island of Great-Britain The Welch or British People the first Inhabitants of this Land as Gildas affirmeth received the Gospel in the time of Tiberius the Emperor under whom Christ suffered Acts and Mon. Book 2. Pag. 95. He also saith that Joseph of Arimathes after the dispersion of the Jews was sent of Philip the Apostle from France into Britain about the Year of our our Lord 63 and remained in Britain all his time who with his fellows laid the first foundation of the Christian Faith among the British People Gild. de lib. Vict. Aurelii Ambrosii Onesephorus saith that Simon Zelotes did spread the Gospel of Christ to the West Ocean and brought the same into the Isle of Britain Oneseph lib. 2. cap. 4. And thus we see the British People received the faith of Christ and not from Rome fulfilling the Words of the Prophet The Isles shall wait for his Law Isa 42.4 As is expounded by Christ The Gentiles shall trust in his Name Mat. 12. And thus the Gospel was preached to every Creature to wit of Mankind under Heaven Col. 1.22 And the Lords Name was great among the Heathen Mal. 1.11 as was promised to be given to Christ for his Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for his Possession And thus Christ by the preaching of the Gospel being King of Saints is set upon his holy Hill Mount Sion Psal 2.6 8. Rev. 14.1 Where all his Elect are gathered in the dispensation and fulness of times Eph. 1.10 to serve the Lord whose Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of his Kingdom under the whole Heavens hath no end Dan. 7.13 14 27. Luke 1.33 So that in all Nations him that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him Acts 10.35 And thus Christ in his Church doth reign on Earth over both Jews and Gentiles Rom. 15.11 12. and yet no earthly Monarch as will further appear in handling the Ordinance of Christs Government in his Church or Kingdom Now having shewed how and by whom the Church of Christ and his Gospel was first planted in England among the British People In the next place let us behold this Church of Christ how she was planted and established in her primitive Beauty in this Island as in other parts of the World by the heavenly Builders the Apostles 1. Forasmuch as the Scriptures hold forth unto us that every true Church of Christ is a Company of a faithful People called and b separated from the World 〈◊〉 all false Worships c gathered and joyned together with their seed into a holy d Covenant or Marriage-state with the Lord to serve him according to his written Word and thus the Govenant is the Form of the Church by which the faithful and their seed entring into the same do become members of Christs Mystical Body as the Scriptures shew a 1 Cor. 1.2 Rev. 18.4 John 15.19 Acts 19.9 10. and 2.40 b 2 Cor. 16 17. c Isa 60.4 d Esay 62.4 5. Jer. 50.5 2 Cor. 11.1 2. Deut. 26.17 18 19. and 29.10 11. Ezra 9.2 compared with 1 Cor. 7.14 Luk. 18.16 Isa 49.5 2. This Church being thus joyn'd together have power from their Head and Husband Christ Jesus to elect and ordain by a free consent of the whole Church that are come to understanding some from among themselves being found fitly qualified with Gifts and Graces to the office of a Pastor and Teacher for the work of the Ministry and Administration of the Signs or Seals of the benefit of Christs death to wit Baptism and the Lords Supper and likewise to chuse some to be b Elders with the Pastor and Teacher for the Oversight and Guidance of the Church and others to be Deacons c for the gathering the Contribution of the Saints to distribute to the maintenance of the Ministers and relief of the poor and when Widows for helpers be found fit for both Age and Qualifications the Church may likewise enjoy the same as d Deaconists to look after the sick as these Scriptures shew a 1 Tim. 3. Acts 14.23 b 1 Tim. 5.17 c Acts 6.2 3 4. d 1 Tim. 5.9 10. 3. Unto this Church thus gathered and constituted the Lord Jesus hath given his Ordinances every one of them in that holy Order he himself hath
soals of thy feet Isa 60.14 As the Converts did in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 14.25 and in the Church of Philadelphia Rev. 3.9 who came and heard and attended upon the Ordinances of Christ in his Church where Christ as a k Prophet was represented in his Ministry in the Ordinance of Teaching working upon the knowledge of the Hearers that they may discern Sin and Righteousness 2dly as a Priest working upon the Will and Affections killing them a sacrifice that a new and reasonable Creature may be given up to God in his service Heb. 9.11 14. Rom. 12.1 3ly In this time of government now as a l King on his Throne effectually working upon their hearts that the things taught by Prophecy and applied by Priesthood may be orderly practised in a holy Life And thus the Man whose name is the m BRANCH shall bear the Glory and shall sit and rule upon his Throne And he shall be a Priest on his Throne and the Counsel of Peace shall be between them both And thus he must reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his Feet 1 Cor. 15.25 compared with Psal 110.1 fulfilling the words of the Angel to Mary according to the words of the Prophet Isa 9. Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and the Lord shall give unto him the Throne of his father David to reign over both Jews and Gentiles in the Church of God Luke 1.31 32. Rom. 15.12 whom David figured in his terrestrial warfare now spiritually fulfilled in the Church by Jesus Christ and therefore to the Church of God in Philadelphia it is written concerning Christ who is the King of Saints Rev. 15.3 and hath the Key of David that openeth the gates of the City New Jerusalem or Church of God that the Regenerate or Righteous Nation to wit the believing Parents and their Children may enter in in the time of Government who by Covenant do become the Lord's People Deut. 29.10 11. Act. 2.47 Thus in the Church when the Mysteries of Faith are purely taught and opened as the Truth is in Jesus and the Ordinances of Christ in holy Order performed then doth the Spouse or Queen of Christ at his right-hand Psal 45.9 behold the King in his Beauty Isa 33.17 Psal 27.4 90.17 Cant. 5.10 the chiefest among ten thousand Moreover because the Church or Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a Draw-Net that gathereth good and bad to wit some Hypocrites among the Elect. When any such appear to be in the Church and not of it according to God's Order such for their evil-deeds or Heresy being brought in order to the Throne of Christ in his Church in this time of Government and by their obstinacy in sin are known to be dross then according to the Proverb purge out the drose And again Cast out the Scorner and Contention and Strife shall cease Prov. 25.45 22.10 and by this n order of Government Christ's Kingdom is purged the Church is preserved in peace and all confusion avoided the unclean or o leavened persons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ put out from among them for the destruction or humbling of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus And whilst the Excommunicated person remaineth impenitent in such a condition he is not fit to be received in again until he repent a 1 Tim. 3.5 1 Cor. 12.28 b Mat. 18.20 Exod. 25.8 and 20.24 c Rev. 4.2 and 5.6 and 7.17 Luke 1.32 d John 18.36 e Mat. 22.42 43 44 45. Psal 100.3 f 1 Tim. 1.13 Rom. 5.10 g Zach. 10.3 Rev. 19.14 h Rom. 12.2 Psal 2.13 i Rom. 6 12 13 14 19. k Acts 3.22 l Rev. 19.16 m Zach. 6.12 13. n 1 Cor. 14.33 40. o Mat. 16.6 1 Cor. 5. Now then these things being so according as the Truth is in Jesus what a gross Mistake are some Men under who call themselves Baptists who have published in their Confession of Faith to the World from Rev. 11.15 presented to King Charles the II. from these Words That the Kingdoms of this World there spoken of which shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ's are say they the Kingdomes of this World which men so mightily strive after when all know that the Kingdoms of this World which men so mightily strive after are such Kingdoms as England Spain and Denmark and the like which are governed by Civil Magistrates according to Gods Ordinance whose Office and Sword they have received next under God to be Heads of their Kingdoms Whether such Magistrates be Believers or no a yet all Christians are bound to obey them not for b fear but for Conscience sake and that in the Lord. a Acts 25.11 b Rom. 13.5 2. To help these Men to see their Mistake in interpreting Prophecies literally and that others may not be deceived by them let the Reader further note That Christ hath his Office next under God to be a a Head and Mediator to his Church and the Magistrates have their Office next under God to be Heads of their Kingdoms These two Governments being both ordained of God yet so distinct the one from the other as they neither do nor can take in hand the Work peculiarly belonging unto one another for which cause it may appear that God divided his Laws into two Tables the one appertaining to the worship and service of God in his Church or Kingdom Christ by it spiritually governing the same the other concerning temporal matters in things appertaining to this Life between man and man which last Work appertaineth to the civil Magistrates Office therefore would not Christ meddle with the c civil Sword in Government d because his Kingdom was not to be of this World neither would he decide civil Controversies e though desired thereunto a Eph. 1.22 b Rom. 13. Job 12.24 c Mat. 26.52 d John 18.36 e Luke 12.14 3. On the other hand the Kings of Judah a might not meddle with the Priests work to burn Incense yet the Magistrates Office when Israel was under Heathen Governours might be performed by them in that Nation and the Israelites bound to b obey them in all their Commands according to the second Table of Gods Law as appeareth by their appointting c Officers judging Controversies and punishing d Malefactors and the Israelites bound to pray e for the peace of that Nation Therefore so long as the two Tables of Gods Law remain unjoyned together so long the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdoms of this World which Christ's Kingdom is not of will remain distinct the one from the other for which cause Christ paid them Tribute f and commanded his Subjects so to do g teaching us that his Office was subordinate unto them in civil things and also to pray for their good both in body and soul And when it pleaseth the Lord in whose hands the hearts of all Kings and Magistrates are to turn their hearts to obey his Truth and they become
used to signify Angels Psal 8.5 Heb. 2.7 sometimes it signifies Magistrates Psal 82.1 and many the like Even so the word Baptisma or baptizo is rendred by Scholars in Dictionaries to dive over head to wash to water to sprinkle to baptize see Gouldman's Dictionary So that he that shall confine the word haptizo to one sense may by the same reason limit all the former words to one sense and so make a confusion in every ones understanding of the use of holy Scriptures as they do that confine the word Baptizo to Dipping when all Churches according to the Wisdom of God are left free what quantity of water they may use in Baptism For though the Eunuch went into the water which was no part of his Baptism but what water Philip uses on him was his Baptism but how much we know not And so of John's Baptism Now with what presumption do these men which call themselves Bappists limit God's Word and so presume above what is written to say he dipped all the Body And might not others do so by many other words in Scripture confine how many persons in number make a Church or the like when it is evident Philip did not baptise all the Body for the Eunuch put some part of his Body in the water himself so Philip could but wash the rest So that it 's safe when we so understand the Scriptures that they agree in one harmony together * Deut. 5.6 7. † Mat. 2.3 And lastly the Place where all Pastors are bound to administer the visible Seals of God's Covenant Baptism is not now at Rivers or Ponds as did the Apostles and Evangelists whose Offices were extraordinary and not limited to any particular Congregation because they received not their Office ordinarily from the Church but were immedialy called by Christ and so not of Men not of a Man and therefore it is written to Pastors and Teachers chosen by the Church they are Members of to feed the Flock of God over which the Holy Ghost hath made them b Over seers so that Archippus is bid to take heed to his Ministry which he had received in the Lord that he c fulfil it Moreover as all ordinary Civil Offices in a Kingdom or Common Wealth are limited within their Corporated Cities and Charters and have no power to execute any part of their Office out of the Limits set them Even so are the ordinary Offices of Christ's Church as of Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons chosen by their corporated and particular Bodies and commanded as by Acts. 20.28 Col. 4.17 there to fulfil their Ministerial Office and not as some in the Apostles days who said they were Apostles to go from one Congregation to another when they please and baptize at any place but when the Church of Ephesus who knew that the full Number of the Apostles names was already recorded in the foundation of the d Walls of the heavenly Jerusalem tried them to prove their Call and found them * Liars false Apostles deceitful Workers transforming themselves into the e Apostles of Christ And we may believe that there are many in these days that by like trial will be found false Apostles who Apostle-like baptize out of the stative corporative Body of the Church gathered together and without the knowledge of the Church and so not with Archippus fulfill their Ministry within the Limits of their Charters Again as there are some authorized under Civil Kings as Embassadors who are sent to other Nations to treat with them of Peace or like State-Matters others they employ as Messengers and they are sent upon their Masters Business in any part of their Dominions others are Officers in Towns Cities or Burroughs limited within the Bounds of their Charter Even so the Lord Jesus King of Kings sent his Apostles Ambassadors f to other Nations to treat of Peace by the preaching of his Gospel others were sent as Evangelists or g Messengers from one Church to another so far as the Churches were gathered others were ordinary Officers as Pastors Teachers Elders and Deacons and they were not to go without the h Limits of the Congregation that had chosen them to administer either Baptism with water or the Lord's Supper a Gal. 1.1 b Acts 20.28 c Col. 4.17 d Rev. 21.14 e 2 Cor. 11.13 * Rev. 2.2 f 2 Cor. 5.20 g 2 Cor. 8.23 h Acts 20.28 Rev. 3.8 Mat. 24.45 Yet we read of one John Smith first a Minister in England after joyned himself a Member of the English Church at Amsterdam where Henry Ainsworth was Teacher and for sin was cast out of that Church soon after Satan drew him to deny the Covenant preached to Abraham to be the Covenant of Grace which led him to deny his Baptism received in Infancy And though there were many more then of his Judgment yet they knew not where to have an Administrator to begin Baptism by dipping therefore as Satan had begun to instruct him he added Sin unto Sin and baptized himself then he baptized one Mr. Helvish and John Morton with the rest And this is testified by one Mr. Jessop who as he saith was one of them and after by grace renounced their evil doings and wrote a Book against them entituled a Discovery of the Errors of that People in the Year 1623 pag. 65. Likewise H. Ainsworth saith Mr. Smith baptized himself in his Book called a Defence of Holy Scripture wrote against Smith pag. 69 82. So saith Mr. Clifton in his Christian Plea against Mr. Smith pag. 185 224. Now let the wise judg in what abominable disorder they retain their Baptism ever since from Mr. Smith and whether it stinketh not in the Nostrils of the Lord ever since as the Ministry of Corah and his Company Moreover as Water-Baptism came in a place of Circumcision and when Israel fell into Apostacy yet they in that estate did circumcise and when they returned by repentance unto the Lord and renewed their Covenant the Lord did not require them to reiterate or b circumcise them again that were circumcised in Apostacy though they might have gathered the foreskin again by Surgery as the Apostle c observeth so likewise Joseph Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 6. and also History declares Having afore shewed how in this Land a Gospel-Church was planted after fell into Apostacy yet they still baptized their Children as the Apostles did the Housholds afore-proved to be Children So that when we that were baptized in Apostacy are returned by the Call of God to the Lord by unfeigned Repentance we are not to rebaptize again those that were baptized in Apostacy seeing the Covenant is the same that Circumcision was a Seal of as now Water-Baptism is And thus we have a ground in God's Word for our practice which they have not that receive their Baptism from John Smith that baptized himself as afore proved And thus when all God's Ordinances are ended the whole is concluded by Prayer a Col. 2.11 12. b 2 Chron. 30.