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-Gospel-Church from the Time of Christ's Ascension to the End of the World gathered out of the Book of the 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-Gospel-Sabbath LONDON Printed in the Year 1677. A Table of some particular Things in this Treatise OF the Articles or Confession of our Faith from pag. 1 to 9. By whom the Gospel-Church was first planted in this Island pag. 10. A true Church of Christ described with her Right and Priviledges and how she is beautified with Titles and all the Promises in Christ confirmed to her pag. 11 12. That every Ordinance in the Church of Christ ought to be sanctified by Prayer and that Singing of Psalms in holy Scriptures is a Gospel-Ordinance pag. 13. The Pastors and Teachers Duty in the Ordinance of Reading and Doctrine pag. 14. Of the Ordinance of Prophecy in the Church by Men Membbers not in office and how it is Gods way and order for to fit Men for the Work of his Ministry pag. 15 16. Of the Deacons Office in the Ordinance of Contribution and that it is the Duty of the Flock according to their abilities to distribute in that Ordinance for their Ministers maintenance and relief of the poor Saints pag. 17. Of Christs spiritual Government in his Church sitting on the Throne of his Father David both Priest and King whose Kingdom is not of this World but distinguished from the Civil Government in Nations with the opening of many mistakes of Men concerning the same from pag. 18. to 24. Of the Ordinance of Water-Baptism Who is the true Administrator of it Where it ought to be performed And the Subjects thereof proved to be Men VVomen and Children with the Housholds the Apostles baptized proved to be Children from pag. 25. to 30. The Word Baptism opened in three several Baptisms and how presumptuous it is to limit the Word Baptism to one sence by comparing it to like Words in Scripture of like signification from pag. 31 to 34. Of the Difference between the Work of the Apostles and ordinary Pasters of Churches p 35. Who began Baptism by way of Dipping among the English People that call themselves Baptists viz. by one John Smith who baptized himself proved by several Testimonies And that Baptism came in the place of Circumcision and as none were circumcised that returned out of Apostacy so ought none to be rebaptized when they return out of Apostacy being baptized before How the Ministers and Members in a true Church are by the Wisdom of God in holy Order serviceable to the Body pag. 36. How to know a true Minister from a false pag. 37. How the Primitive Churches did in order performe very Ordinance on the first Day one after another And that the Covenant and not Water-Baptism is the Form of every true Church pag. 38. The first Day of the Week proved by Scripture and Reason deduced from the same to be the Gospel-Sabbath from pag. 39. to 46. And lastly the many counterfeit shews which the false Church uses to counterfeit the true pag. 47 48. A common Objection against Infant-Baptism answered taken from Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned From hence they conclude because Infants have not Faith that is actually to believe therefore they ought not to be baptized If it were true that Infants have not Faith how false is their Doctrine that say all Infants shall be saved when without Faith none can please God for by Mark 16.6 He that believeth not shall be damned Again if Mark 16.16 denieth VVater-Baptism to Infants because they cannot actually believe it also denieth their salvation because they cannot believe Again if it were true as these men further say that Profession of Faith only giveth right to VVater-Baptism then the Right is no more of Grace by Christ according to the Covenant of Grace handled in pag. 29 31. but of Debt merited by an actual Profession And so the Gospel by these mens Doctrine is made a secondary Law of VVorks Do this and live as is the Popish Faith concerning VVater-Baptism as the Fathers have decreed in the Council of Trent that if any shall say grace is not conferred by the work done let him be accursed Concil Trident. Sess de Sacr. in Gen. Can. 8. To the Reader GOD who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his a Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things by whom also he made the Worlds who after he had finished the Work of Redemption for the whole b World of his Elect that Abraham was Heir of that should in due time partake of the Faith of Abraham and so become the Children of c Christ of which number were his Churches established by the Doctrine of the Apostles The Covenant of Grace made with Abraham called the d Kingdom of God the Jews rejected which the believing Jews with the believing Gentiles were Possessors of unto whom Christ the King of his Church had given his Laws to observe with his Ordinances Ministry Time and Maintenance till his second Coming to Judgment He was pleased in his Mercy and Love to his Children to signify to John by his Angel to acquaint the Churches what should befall them and the Enemies of the same from the Time of his Ascension unto the End of the World in that heavenly Book of the Revelations As 1. in chap. 4. is shewed the happy Estate of his Church compared to the Figure of Moses's Tabernacle whilst Christ's glorious Throne was in the midst of the twenty four Elders according to the number of the twenty four Divisions of the Priests and Levites by f David now made a Royal g Priesthood by Christ enlightned with the h Lamps of God's Spirit The Book that is sealed to the i World to wit God's secret Counsel is opened to this Church by the k Lyon of the Tribe of Juda who only hath revealed our of the l Bosom of his Father all things fitting and needful for his Church to know m in this Life In which Book the Words and Phrases are generally taken out of the Prophets and applied to the Prophecies in this heavenly Book unto which we must have respect in the right understanding of the same a Heb. 1.1 2. b Rom. 4.13 2. Cor. 5.19 c Gal. 3.4
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-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-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
so unfit to plow in the Lords Vineyard Deut. 22.10 Neither are such good Souldiers of Jesus Christ in the spiritual VVarfare of the Gospel that are afraid to reprove those of his Flock that wear Perriwigs but rather smooth them up with a few slender reproofs Isa 30.10 lest they lose their friendship with the world viz. such worldly Professors But if the Ministers themselves wear Perriwigs as many do then not one word against that odious guise lest they bid him cast out the beam out of his own eye and pluck off his own Perriwig and so make him look like his Father Adam with short hair in his Creation who was made very good without long hair the shame of Nature Gen. 1.31 1 Cor. 11.14 And again more Disorders abound all suiting these last times to the days of Noah in whose days all flesh had corrupted their way before God so that one particular is above all others named that the Sons of God to wit Members of the Church married with the Daughters of Men that is the World Cain's Posterity for which sin among others the Lord said his Spirit should not by Noah's Preaching strive with them any longer but till the Ark was finished and then were they all destroyed And how much differing is the state of the Sons of Men now especially among the Professors who are not onely corrupted in their Faith and Worship being compared to the Primitive Pattern but also in Marriages when generally Members of separated Congregations will marry those with whom they will not Joyn in communion in the Lords Supper and other spiritual Duties And is not this their Practice in their own judgments sinful in the breach of the plain Doctrine of the Apostle who teacheth all Christians to marry with whom they please only in the Lord and do not they that marry with them they refuse visibly to joyn with in the Church in all the Ordinances of the Lord say that such are not in the Lord 1 Cor. 7.39 Yet more Abominations than these there are While some deny the Resurrection of the Body and also deny the Scriptures to be the Rule of our Faith pressing men to observe only the Light within Some also believe that Men have free-will or power in themselves to turn from Sin to God contrary to John 6.44 Phil. 2.13 For these and the like Evils which these times are full of which saith the Apostle will come and is now come that Men will not endure sound Doctrine 2 Tim. 4.3 which is comparable to Fire Jer. 23.29 in the hearts of God's Children that is Zeal inflamed in love to Christ to follow him in the ways of his VVord 1 John 2.5 Rom 8.35 But it s Opposite is Self-love a clear sign it is the last time as the Apostle foresaw saying This know also that in the last days perillous times will come for men shall be lovers of themselves covetous boasters proud blasphemers and the like 2 Tim. 3.1 2. So that this sin of self-love is set as the capital and master-ruling sin in these latter days opposite to the love of God in the hearts of the Elect which many waters cannot quench Cant. 8.8 But the nature of self-love is cold as Christ saith Because Iniquity will abound and the Love of many will wax cold Mat. 24.12 comparable to Hail Rev. 16.21 Job 38.22 the coldest thing in Nature which will prove the effects of God's great Judgments on the Professors of these last Ages who because they received not the Truth in the love of it 2 Thess 2.10 but of themselves which seiseth on them as a Judgment of God out of Heaven that they blaspheme against God and his Truth Eph. 4.14 because of the airy Doctrine of Errors aforesaid which leadeth them from all love to God Mat. 22 37 39. and their Neighbours to all covetous and cruel oppression of one another with all fraud and deceit as men already complain that a man cannot tell who to believe or put trust unto for as Faith decayeth all unreasonableness in Men increaseth 2 Thess 3.2 And so Christs words will be fulfilled who saith When the Son of Man cometh shall he find Faith upon the Earth And to conclude Thus the Days of Noah hasten by a sign in the end of the seventh Seal taken from an action of the Priests under the Law who took fire from the Altar and cast it yonder to signify how the Lord rejected the disorderly service of Corah even so the Angel signifying Christ at the golden Altar took fire in his Censer and cast it into the Earth by a like sign how he rejected the service of all Christians that serve not him by his own Ministry Ordinances and holy Order he hath appointed in his last VVill and Testament Numb 16.37 Rev. 8.5 The Articles of the Confession of our Faith WEE believe with the heart and confess vvith the mouth I. That there is but one God a one Christ one Spirit one Church one Truth one Faith one true Religion one b Rule of Godliness and Obedience for all Christians in all places at all times to be observed a Deut 6.4 1 Tim. 2.5 Ephes 4.4 6. 1 Cor. 8.6 John 14.6 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6 13. b 1 Tim. 6.3 Deut. 4.6 12.32 1 Cor. 4.17 2 Tim. 3.15 16. Gal. 1.9 Rev. 22.18 19. II. God is a Spirit a whose Being b is of Himself and giveth Being c Moving and Preservation to all other things being himself Eternal d most Holy e every way Infinite f in Greatness Wisdom Power Goodness Justice and Truth In this Godhead there are Three g in One and One in Three the Father Son and Spirit being every one of them the same God and therefore not divided but distinguished by their several and peculiar Properties The Father of whom is the Son but he of none the Son begotten of the Father from everlasting the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son before all beginnings a John 4.24 b Exod. 3.14 c Rom. 11.36 Acts 17.28 d 1 Tim. 1.17 e Esay 6.3 f Esay 66.1 Psal 139.7 g 1 John 5.8 9. Mat. 28.19 Heb. 1.3 Phil. 2.6 Mic. 5.2 Psal 2.7 1 John 1.2 3. III. God hath decreed a in himself from everlasting touching b all things and the very least c circumstance of every thing effectually to work and dispose them according to the Counsel d of his Will to the Glory of his Name And as touching his chiefest Creatures God had in Christ before e the Foundation of the World fore-ordained f some Men and Angels g to eternal Life to be accomplish'd h through Jesus Christ to the Praise of his Glory and Grace and hath also according to his just purpose some of the Angels when fallen left them in their fallen Estate i to eternal Condemnation to be accomplish'd through their own leserts and also leaving some Men in their fallen Estate to eternal Condemnation through their own corruptions to the praise of his Justice a Isa
b dead all power in Heaven and in Earth was given unto him he being set at the right-hand of his Father doth spiritually c govern his Church and defendeth e the same to the preservation and salvation of his Elect and destruction of Reprobates out of this his Kingdom that at any time have crept f in at unawares as wolves in sheeps cloathing and communicateth and applieth the benefit of his Prophecy and Priesthood unto his Elect g namely to the remission of their sins and justification and adoption of Sons h regenerating sanctifying preserving and strengthning them in all their conflicts against Satan the World and the Flesh and Temptations of them continually dwelling in governing and keeping their hearts in his true faith and fear by his holy Spirit which having once given he never taketh away from them for whom he loveth he loveth to the end and by it still begetteth repentance k faith love and obedience comfort l peace joy hope and all Christian virtues m unto eternal life which he giveth unto his sheep n only though sometime through sin and temptation it is interrupted o and as it were overwhelmed for a time yet raiseth and receiveth them again to the glory of his Name and their eternal comfort a John 18.36 b 1 Cor. 15.4 c Mat. 28.18 19 20. d Psal 2.6 Acts 5.30 31. Rev. 19.16 Rom. 14.17 e Josh 5.14 Jer. 1.8 Heb. 1.14 f Jud. 4. Mat. 7.15 g Eph. 5.26 27. Rom 5 6 7 and 8 chap. h 1 John 3.1 i John 13.1 and 10.28 29. and 14.16 17. Luke 22.31 32 40. Rom. 11.29 k Psal 51.10 11. Psal 89.34 l Isa 54.8 9 10. Eph. 6.10 m 2 Pet. 1.5 11. n John 10.15 o Job 33.30 and 2 Gor. 12.7 8 9. XI This Kingdom shall be fully perfected a when he shall come the second time in glory with his mighty Angels b to judg the living and the dead c having put down all rule and all authority and power separating the sheep from the goats punishing the wicked with everlasting destruction from his presence gathering and carrying d the godly with himself into endless glory and then to deliver up the Kingdom e to God the Father that so the glory of the Father may be full and perfect in the Son and the glory of the Sun in all his members and God be all in all a 1 Cor. 15.24 28. Dan. 12.2 3. John 5.22 28 29. Heb. 9.28 b 2 Thes 1.4 Mat. 13.41 49. c Mat. 25.31 d 1 Thes 4.15 16 17. John 17.21 e 1 Cor. 15.28 XII To this Church or Kingdom of Christ hath he made all his a promises given the seals b of his Covenant presence c love peace blessing and protection d with his holy Oracles e to be faithfully kept and purely taught f Here are all the fountains and springs g of his Grace continually flowing and refreshing h his Church here is Christ lifted up i to all Nations inviting men to his supper his marriage-feast k even all men of all degrees l whatsoever that by the gift of Gods grace m bestowed on them whom he effectually n calleth to acknowledge him for their Prophet o Priest p and King q and to be enrolled r amongst his houshold-servants to be under his heavenly conduct and government to lead their lives in his walled sheep-fold s and watered garden having communion here with all his Saints that they may be meet to be partakers of their Inheritance t in the Kingdom of God a Lev. 26.11 12. Mat. 28.18 19 20. Rom. 9.4 Esay 49.20 21. 2 Cor. 1.20 Ezek. 48.35 2 Cor. 6.18 b Esa 8.16 c Mat. 18.20 Exod. 20.24 d Zach. 2.5 e 1 Pet. 4.11 Acts 7.38 f 1 Tim. 4.16 and 6.5 Tit. 1.9 Deut. 31.26 Rev. 11.19 g Psal 87.7 h Psal 46.4 Rev. 22.1 Isa 55.1 i Isa 49.22 John 3.14 k Mat. 20.1 2 3. l Gal. 3.28 m 1 Pet. 4.10 n 1 Thes 2.13 o Acts 3.22 p Heb. 3.1 q Rev. 15.3 r Isa 4.3 s John 10. t Acts 26.18 XIII And as all his servants and subjects are called hither a to present their bodies b and souls in his service and there to exercise their gifts c God hath given them in their several orders and peculiar places as in the performance of Christs Ordinances is after laid down being fitly d compact and knit together by every joynt for help according to the effectual working in the measure of every part unto the edifying e of it self in love whereunto when he ascended on high he gave gifts f unto men that by the improvement of the same in the Ordinance of Prophecy in the Church men may be fitted for Offices g in the Church having ratified instituted and confirmed to the worlds end only that publick ordinary Ministry of Pastors h Teachers Elders Deacons Helpers to them in instructing governing and service of his Church a Acts 2.47 and 13.48 Jer. 50.5 Mat. 11.28 b Rom. 12.1 4 5. c 1 Pet. 4.10 Rom. 12.6 7 8. 1 Cor. 12.8 9. 1 Cor. 14.26 29 30. d Eph. 4.16 e 1 Cor. 14.12 Jude 20. f Eph. 4.8 10 11 12 13. Acts 20.28 g 1 Tim. 3.1 Tit. 1.5 6. h Eph. 4.8 11. Acts 6.2 3. and 14.23 Phil. 1.1 1 Tim. 5.17 3.4 5. XIV None may usurp a or execute a Ministry but such as are rightly called by the Church b or particular Congregation whereof they stand Members and being there called and ordained they ought there to attend c and seed the flock of Christ and not like Micab's wandering d Priest rove from one Congregation to another for a greater maintenance but to give all diligence to fulfill their Ministry in the flock of Christ that by the order and authority of Christ given them in his Church who ordained them into office they be found faithful e and unblameable in all things till the chief Shepherd shall appear unto whom they must give an accompt of their charge a Heb. 5.4 Numb 16.5 40. 2 Chron. 26.18 John 10.1 2. John 3.17 b Acts 6.3 5 6. and 14.23 Tit. 1.5 Jer 23.21 Numb 8.9 10. c Acts 20.28 Col. 4.17 1 Tim. 1.18 19. and 5.21 Rom. 12.7 8. d Judg. 18. John 10.12 13. e Heb. 13.17 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3 4. XV. This Ministry is alike given to every Congregation who have power from the Lord Jesus to ordain them by the common or free consent a of the whole by what instrument the Church thinks fit not in that way and order as the Church may imagine but saith the Apostle Paul to Titus as I have appointed b thee and whilst they shall faithfully execute their Office to have them in superabundant love for their c works sake because they watch over their souls to provide for them sufficient maintenance if the Church be able that they as little as may be entangle d themselves with the affairs of this life that they may please him that hath called them to be souldiers in Christs spiritual warfare that so they have time to provide food e
for their souls and if the flock be poor then their Ministers with all cheerfulness to labour f with their hands to help to supply their own wants and as a good Shepherd willing to lay down his life for the Flock by the example of the great Shepherd the Lord Jesus a Acts 14.23 Acts 6.3 5 6. Rev. 1.20 and 2 3 chap. Numb 8.9 10. b Tit. 1.5 c 1 Tim. 5.17 Heb. 13.17 d 2 Tim. 2.4 1 Tim. 4.15 e Prov. 27.23 Acts 20.28 1 Cor. 19.14 Gal. 6.6 f Acts 20.34 1 Cor. 4.12 1 Thes 2.9 2 Thes 3.8 XVI Christ hath given a power to his Churh not onely to elect and ordain Ministers to serve therein but if they be found to teach evil Doctrine or make default in administration or an evil conversation first being in meekness and love admonished if they will not hear by due order to depose them from the Ministry and if they persist obstinate and remain impenitent to cut them off from the Body by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ in the time of Government by Excommunication and likewise if any other member be found guilty of sin and remain obstinate b after due admonition like as aforesaid to be cast out of the Church that the Camp of the Lord be not defiled where the Lord dwelleth a Mat. 18.17 1 Tim. 5.19 20 21. Rom. 16.17 Ezek. 44.12 13. b 1 Cor. 5.4 Numb 5.2 3. Mat. 18.17 Psal 101.8 XVII As Christ hath for the keeping of his Church in holy orderly Communion placed some Men by Office in the Church who by their Office are to govern oversee visit a watch So likewise for the better keeping thereof in all parts and places by all the Members he hath not only commanded the Officers to watch but laid it as a duty upon them all to watch b one over another And whilst the Ministers and People thus remain together in this holy Order and Christian Communion each one in their places as Members c of the Body endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace doing the will of God so shall they walk in their callings e in the obedience of the faith f once given to the Saints to the g glory of God Christ's presence h promised to them to bless i and defend k them against all fraud and force of their enemies so as the l gates of Hell shall not prevail against them a Esay 62.6 Acts 20.31 Luke 12.37 b Mark 13.37 1 Cor. 16.13 1 Thes 5.6 c 1 Cor. 12.14 21. d Eph. 4.3 e 1 Cor. 7.34 f Acts 6.7 Rom. 4.12 Jude 3. g 1 Cor. 10.31 h Mat. 18.20 i Exod. 20.24 k Psal 5.11 Isa 4.5 Psal 89.18 l Mat. 16.18 XVIII And finally When and where in any Church this holy Order and diligent Watch is or was neglected a or violated Errors and Heresies crept in and the holy orderly performance of Christ's Ordinances turned into a Babel of c Confusion as before to the Reader is observed Whereby the Man of sin did d corrupt all faith and erect a e strange Ministry and Administration in the Church which began by degrees that at length a new sorged Ministry Worship and Government was set up that the whole World wondred f after the Beast yea the Nations Kingdoms and Inhabitants of the Earth were made drunk g with the wine of the Whores fornication and all people at length enforced h to receive the Beast's Mark and worship his Image and so brought into Babylonish Bondage a 2 Cor. 18.19 b Rev. 2.20 c 1 Cor. 14.33 d Rev. 19.24 Jud. v. 10. Mal. 2.8 Hos 9.9 e Rev. 9.3 f Rev. 17.8 g Rev. 17.2 h Rev. 13.16 XIX Therefore all that expect salvation or to be saved by the Lord Jesus hear the call of God saying Come out of Babylon a my people Such is the state in one degree or other of all that worship the Lord and not in his own order by his own Ordinances and being come forth by the call of the Lord unto the true Profession of Christ besides the instructing and well guiding of their families b they are to joyn c themselves to the Church of Christ that walketh in holy order or if otherwise to joyn together in a Christian Communion b and orderly Covenant the form of Christs spiritual e building and by a free confession of faith and obedience to Christ so to unite themselves into particular and visible Congregations wherein as members of one Body Christ the only Head f are they according to the measure of Grace g received to edifie h one another and build i up one another in their most holy faith till the Lord fitteth some among them to be elected and chosen for Overseers k and Guides among them and herein to abide l with God till persecution or death m or other such just cause part them unto which work if we forsake not so assembling while two remain together they have the promise of his Presence that he will never leave them nor forsake o them and in the end their reward shall be sure even p Life everlasting a Rev. 18.4 b Gen. 18.19 Eph. 6.4 c Jer. 50.5 Acts 2.47 d Mat. 18.20 e 1 Pet. 2.5 f Col. 1.18 g 1 Pet. 4.10 11. h 1 Cor. 14.12 i Jud. 20. k 1 Tim. 3.1 l Psal 27.4 m Rom. 8.35 John 6.68 n Eccles 4.9 10 11 12. Mat. 18.20 o Heb. 13.5 6. p Rev. 3.11 John 10.28 XX. Moreover all Christians are bound to fear God a and honour the King whose Magistratical Office is to support the good and punish b the evil in the breach of the second Table of God's Law and as they are the Lords Lieutenants here on Earth so an excellent c Majesty is given unto them who ought to be nursing-Fathers d to the Church of God in defending them from all persecution e and injuries while they peaceably practise Christ's Ordinances in his Worship and to abolish all Reliques of f Idolatry imposed by the Man of sin or his Favourites upon the Church of Christ or any member of the same for which cause all Christians that dwell in their Dominions ought to pay them Tribute g and to pray b for them and to use their uttermost endeavour to prevent all injuries intended against them and though by the protection of the Magistrate it makes the Church enjoy more peace and outward comfort in the service of God yet no whit at all more lawful to walk in the Ways and Ordinances of Christ Jesus which he hath commanded his Church to keep without spot and unrebukable until his appearing in the end of the World a 1 Pet. 2.17 b Rom. 13.1 2 3 4. c Dan. 4.36 and 5.18 19. d Isa 49.23 e Rev. 12.16 Psal 32.6 f Rev. 17.16 17. 2 Kings 23 5 2 Chro. 19.3 4. Rev. 13.15 16. g Mat. 22.19 21. Rom. 13.7 h 1 Tim. 2.1 2. i Esther 6.2 3. k Acts 4.19 1 Tim. 6.13 14. XXI And lastly If God with-hold the Magistrates
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
the Ordinance of n Singing but as it was an Ordinance given to the Church and never repeal'd but to be practised by them as a means whereby the Word of Christ may dwell in them richly in all Wisdom singing with grace in their hearts to the Lord. a Psal 103.1 b Psal 65.1 c Psal 105 106 107. Psal 77.15 to 20. Exod. 14.19 d Psal 74.13 14. Exek 29.3 Esay 51.9 10 11. e Exod. 14.21 22. f Exod. 15.1 to 21. g Rev. 15.2 3. h Isa 51.3 1 Chron. 16.29 Eph. 5.19 i Rev. 12.3 Ezek. 32.2 k Psal 66.6 l Isa 1.9 m Mat. 26.26 n Col. 3.16 Eph. 5.19 III. After the Ordinance of Singing the Pastor a readeth some part of the Scripture when he hath b sanctified this Ordinance by Prayer he giveth the sense and meaning of the same bringing one Scripture to e expound another d comparing spiritual things with spiritual as it is written to the e Law to the f Testimony if they speak not according to it there is no true g Light in them for no Scripture is of any h private Interpretation but by the Scripture of the Prophets is shewed what is i Gospel that so the Church may with the k Bereans search the Scripture for the proof of the same seeing our Faith in all things must be built upon the l foundation or doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets Christ Jesus himself being the chief Corner-stone and not as some say on the Light within but as the Apostle witnessed both to small and great none other things concerning Christ and our Faith in him than what the m Prophets and Moses did say should come that so the Church may be edified in the fear n of the Lord according to these Scriptures a 1 Tim. 4.13 Neh. 8.8 Acts 13.15 b Phil. 4.16 c 2 Pet. 1.20 d 1 Cor. 2.13 e Isa 8.20 Luk. 16.29 31. f 1 Cor. 2.1 John 5.46 Deut. 18.18 Luk. 13.36 37. 2 Thes 1.10 Rev. 19.10 and 15.5 g Jer. 8.9 h 2 Pet. 1.20 i Rom. 16.25 26. Gal. 3.8 Rom. 15.16 Isa 52.7 and 53 chap. k Acts 17.11 l Eph. 2.20 m Acts 26.22 n Acts 11.31 IV. After the Ordinance of Reading is performed with what the Pastor by Doctrine laid as the food or bread a of Life before the Flock the Teacher according to the b Wisdom given him taketh some place of Scripture after he hath opened the same raiseth Doctrine from it and applieth it to the c consciences of the hearers that the Church may discern d Sin and e Righteousness working upon the f Will and Affections that a g reasonable Creature not without faith may be given up unto God and their Bodies as a living h sacrifice in his service so i growing in Grace and in all spiritual k understanding as l Plants in the Lords Vineyard and bringing forth the m fruits of his own Grace every good work to the praise and glory of the Lord Jesus a John 6.48 Mat. 4.4 Deut. 8.3 b 1 Cor. 128. 1 Tim 2.17 Luk. 4.18 21 22. 2 Tim. 3.16 c 2 Cor. 4.2 5.11 d Rom. 7.7 e Rom. 10.4 Phil. 3.9 Mat. 5.20 f Phil. 2.13 1 Cor. 3.7 Luk. 17.5 g 1 Thes 3.2 h Rom. 12.1 Mark 9.49 Psal 51.17 i 2 Pet 3.18 Psal 92.12 k Col. 1.9 2 Tim. 2.7 l Isa 5.7 m Cant. 4.16 Col. 1.10 Phil. 1.11 n 1 Cor. 10.31 Eph. 1.13 V. Now followeth the Ordinance of Prophecy being sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer by that Member which beginneth that Exercise who invocateth the Lord for a blessing thereon that so the Gifts and Graces the Lord bestoweth on his Church may not be a hid in the Earth or b covered under a Bushel but manifested as was prophesied The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-Tree he shall grow as the Cedar in Lebanon to shew forth the praises of the Lord in his c Temple observing time and order speaking to his glory For this cause therefore hath God ordained this Ordinance that Members not yet in office may exercise their Gifts as it is written Ye that are zealous of spiritual Gifts seek that ye may excell to the d edifying of the Church by which holy order of training up Youth or young Men in the Church by exercising their Gifts after two years time were some found fit in the Church of God at Ephesus to be chosen by the Church to the office of Bishop or Pastor and other offices when as they had no office before for two years time And thus when Gods way is taken for the fitting of Men in Gods own time and order for the work of the Ministry they need not as many do take a contrary way to make Ministers of the Gospel by human art in the knowledge onely of the Tongues as though the Gifts and Graces of God could be as f Simon Magus thought bought or purchased with Money neither is it obtained by any natural Art or human Industry for great is the difference beeween the attaining of the knowledge of the Tongues and the knowledge of the Mysteries of Faith as is evident for the Jews were as learned Men as any in the g World in the knowledge of those Languages the Scriptures were first spoken and wrote in yet they knew not the h voices of the Prophets when read every Sabbath concerning Christ in the Promises contained in the Prophets Writings but when he was preached unto them out of the Writings of the Prophets that Christ must dye for our sins according to the i Scriptures it was unto the Jews a k stumbling-block and unto the Greeks foolishness Also the Cardinals and Jesuits at Rome want not the knowledg of the Tongues yet how ignorant are they of the Mysteries of Faith in Gods Word and holy Order of Worship under the Gospel see Henry Ainsworths Arrow against Idolatry So that tongues are no essential mark of a true Minister as some men imagine for God sometimes called unlearned men to the Work of the Ministry as l Peter and Andrew and Amos a m Herdsman to be a Prophet as well as he doth Men that are learned in the Tongues so that Learning is but natural though an excellent Ornament in Nature And when God is pleased to call Men of such parts in Nature being sanctified by the gracious work of his Spirit to his Ministry it may bring much glory to God in its place but not that it makes Men fit for Ministers Now that which makes a Man a true Minister of Christ is First being a n Member of the true Church of Christ and by that Church called or o elected when duly tried and found p fit both for Gifts Grace and Qualifications then in the time of the Ordinance of Government in the Church by the meetest Members the Church thinks fit is ordained by the consent of the Church and this is Christ's spiritual School that traineth up Men for the Work of this Ministry in the exercising of the Graces the Lord bestoweth on them for
Members of Christ's Church as many Heathen Magistrates in the Apostles days were h then are they said to have their portion in the Holy Land and they do bring their honour and glory as the Gentiles their i riches in becoming Nursing-fathers k preserving the Church from outward Injuries while they in Spirit and in Truth l worshipthe Lord in keeping his Commandments and so the m Earth is said to help the Woman As these Scriptures shew a 2 Chron. 26.16 18. b Jer. 27.6 8 12. c Jer. 40.5 d Jer. 29.22 23. e Jer. 29.7 f Mat. 17.24 25 26 27. g Rom. 13.6 h Ezek. 48.21 i Isa 60.3 6. Rev. 21.24 k Numb 11.12 Isa 49.23 l John 4.24 Phil. 3.3 Rev. 22.14 m Rev. 12.16 Again there are three Kingdoms here on Earth first the Kingdom of Magistratical a Government in Nations secondly the Kingdom or spiritual b Government of Christ in his Church thirdly the Kingdom of c Darkness where Satan the d Prince of this World ruleth in the hearts of the children of e disobedience The two first Kingdoms or Governments are ordained of God the third was usurped of the Devil The time when his Kingdom began was so soon as Man fell by his means into f Sin and thus Satan as a strong Man armed took g possession in our first Parents until a stronger than he came upon him and dispossest him to wit Christ by God promised to them that the Seed of the h Woman to wit Christ should bruise the Serpents Head and God gave them faith to believe the same and thus Christ threw out i and took possession in his Elect Children whom the Father had given k him to dwell in their hearts l by faith Thus the War began betwixt Christ and Satan in Paradise a figure of the m Church and n Heaven it self so that in a Mystery it is written There was War in Heaven o Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels and prevailed not neither was place found any more in Heaven for them Thus Christ in the purpose of God and in the fulness of time by his death spoiled p Principalities and Powers as it is written For this purpose the Son of God was manifest that he might q destroy the Works of the Devil Thus Christ by the Ministry of his Word as a r Prophet worketh upon the knowledge of his Elect Children that they may discern Sin and Righteousness as a Priest to work upon the Will and Affections s killing them a t sacrifice Which Work of Christ Abel by faith saw by killing the sacrifice he was worthy to die and by offering it up on the Altar he u confessed that Christ must die for his Sins but Cain who was not of the number of the Elect yet shewed he a form of Godliness offered his m Sacrifice as Hypocrites do without faith therefore it was not accepted as Abel's was for which cause he x slew his Brother so he is said to be of that wicked One in whose posterity Satan had his Kingdom called the World of y ungodly which perished in the Flood and their Spirits remain in prison in expectation of endless woe to have their portion with him they served a Rom. 13.2 b Psal 149.6 7 8 9. Mat. 18.18 c Rev. 16.10 Eph. 6.12 d John 14.30 e Eph. 2.2 f Gen. 3.1 John 3.8 g Luke 11.21 h Gen. 3.15 i Heb. 2.14 15. k John 6.37 39. l Eph. 3.17 m Cant. 4.12 n Luke 23.43 o Rev. 12.7 Dan. 12.1 p Col. 2.15 q 1 John 3.8 r Acts 3.22 s Phil. 2.13 t Rom. 12.1 u Heb. 10.4 Psal 40.6 7. Gal. 3.24 w Prov. 15.8 Isa 66.3 x 1 John 3.12 y 2 Pet. 2.5 1 Pet. 3.19 Mat. 25.41 Moreover after the Flood Satan began his Kingdom again in Noah's Son Canaan the Son of Ham whom Noah a cursed for his sin of tale-bearing who ought to have b concealed and not to have reproached his Father nevertheless in the Field of the c World God hath his Elect in whom as aforesaid Satan ruleth for a while until Christ by the Word of his Grace worketh Repentance in them to the acknowledgment of the Truth that they may be recovered out of the d snare of the Devil captivated by him at his will Thus we see the Work of Christ is to dispossess Satans Government or Kingdom out of the hearts of his Elect as is opened to us in Rev. 11. When Gods time was come that he would restore his Church by raising up of his Elect out of the e grave of sin wherein they lay f dead under the Antichristian Errors and Doctrines of Devils whom the Lord g awakened by the h Lightnings and thundering Power of his Law as was signified by the Temple of God being opened in Heaven and the voices of his servants signified under the seventh Angel sounding his true Doctrine out of the same which caused such an Earthquake or trembling that some like i Felix trembled yet not bettered but were angry to have the Doctrine of eternal k Judgment preached against the Romish Hirlot their Mother who had made all Nations drunk with the Wine or salfe Doctrine of her Fornication in this Earthquake Others like as the m Jaylor were converted insomuch that the tenth part of the City n fell from the belief of the Antichristian Errors to believe the Doctrine of Christ's Temple and Altar See the Preface to the Reader Thus the o Arrows of Gods Truth pricking the hearts of the Elect wrought so effectually that there was slain of Men or Names of Men p seven thousand now no more to be q named of the number of the Beast but of the number of the r Names that do follow the Lord Jesus on such is written a new s Name even the Name of the City of the Heavenly Jerusalem the Mother of all God's Children So that now in whom Satan had his Kingdom by ruling in them Christ by faith now dwelleth and ruleth which causeth the Angels who are round about the Throne of Christ in his Church to rejoyce at the conversion of poor sinners and so likewise do the Saints as it is written There were great voices in Heaven to wit in the Church saying The Kingdoms of this World are become the u Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever And again Now is come salvation and strength and the w Kingdom of our God for the Accuser of our Brethren is east down And thus the Kingdom of the World that Abraham was Heir of to wit the World of the Elect which in the dispensation of times are brought into subjection to Christ by the faith of Abraham as it is written If ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed and Heirs according to promise a Gen. 9.25 29. b Prov. 11.12 13. 17.19 c Mat. 13.28 d 2 Tim. 2.25 26. e Ezek. 37.13 John 5.25 f Rev. 20.5 Eph. 2.1 g Eph. 5.14 h Hos 6.5
Rev. 11.19 i Acts 24.25 k Rev. 11.18 Heb. 6.2 l Rev. 17.1 2. m Acts 16.29 30. n Rev. 11.13 o Psal 45.5 Acts 2.37 Heb. 4.12 p Rev. 11.13 Rom. 11.4 5. q Rev. 13.18 r Acts 1.15 Phil. 4.3 Isa 4.3 s Rev. 3.12 t Luk. 15.16 u Rev. 11.15 w Rev. 12.10 x Rom. 4.13 y Gal. 3.29 Lastly as the a World knoweth not the Subjects of Christs Kingdom so likewise do they not know the Kingdom it self to wit of b Grace according to the Covenant of Grace which none but the new born Children of God can see because it is not carnal neither cometh with outward observations therefore the unbelieving Jews rejected Christ to reign over them in his spiritual Kingdom in his Church as David in the Spirit foresaw being a Prophet and a Figure of Christ in his Kingdom which had it been of this World terrestrial as David's was then David in his Kingdom could be no figure of Christ contrary to David's Confession Mat. 22. who knowing Christ's Kingdom to be spiritual and greater in glory than his therefore though Christ was his Son yet in spirit he called him his Lord which the Jews perceived not but withstood it therefore Christ told them the Kingdom of God should be taken from them which Kingdom was not the civil Government which the Romans had taken from them already but it was that Kingdom the Primitive Churches had received which could not be f shaken to wit the Government of Christ in his Church where the Laws of the King of Saints can only be g kept in the performance of all his holy Ordinances whose Throne is among them and his Saints round about him serving the Lord acceptably by Jesus Christ with reverence and godly fear unto which Kingdom the Lord is a i Wall of fire for our God saith the Apostle is a consuming fire So then seeing the Saints have already received the Kingdom which is promised them on Earth a Kingdom of Priests a holy Nation therefore vain will be the hopes of such Christians that expect they shall be made temporal Princes on the Earth to ride on white Horses with golden Crowns on their Heads they must be told they are mistaken for where Christ rideth on a white m Horse is meant on the purity and powerful administration n of Righteousness in his Church in which work his Saints or Armies in Heaven follow him upon white Horses cloathed in fine Linnen which is the Righteousness of Saints imputed from Christ to them These Mysteries of Christ's Kingdom cannot these personal Reigners see to wit believe any more than the unbelieving Jews as H. Ainsworth on Levit. 26.11 sheweth from the Jews own confession who say the days of Christ are of this World and the World goes after the wonted manner save the Kingdom shall be restored to Israel Of this Opinion was Cerinthus a Jew who dreamed that the Kingdom of Christ should become earthly and that after the Resurrection Christ should reign on Earth Euseb lib. 3. cap. 25. lib. 4. cap. 14. lib. 6 7. cap. 24. See Mr. Meredith Hamner in his Book of Ecclesiastical Histories pag. 565. where he further saith out of the same Author that John the Apostle abhorred the presence of Cerinthus in the Year of Christ 75. a 1 John 3.1 b Luke 17.21 c John 3.3 Acts 1.3 7. d Mat. 22.46 e Mat. 21.53 f Heb. 12.28 g Rev. 12.17 and 14.12 and 22.14 h Rev. 4.2 Jer. 3.17 Heb. 12.22 i Zach. 2.5 k Luke 12.32 l Rev. 1.9 m Rev. 19.11 n Psal 45.4 o Mat. 18.1 2. p Col. 1.13 q Rom. 5.17 r Mica 4.7 These things we thought good to lay down in the explaining the Ordinance of Christ's Government in his Church to help the weak that are deluded in this Point by such as seek whether out of ignorance or not to demean the glory of Christ's Reign in his Church or Kingdom who do as good as say Christ hath no a Kingdom yet when we are told by John that he was in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ Rev. 1.9 and the Primitive Christians are said all of them to be delivered from the Power of Darkness to wit Satan's Kingdom afore proved and translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.13 That as Sin once reigned in them in Satan's Kingdom now being in Christ's Kingdom b Grace might reign in them through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ and thus Christ reigns over his Saints in Mount Sion for ever and ever Moreover as Christ is God c equal with the Father so all Civil Magistratical Government in Nations is ordained by him so that by him d Kings reign and Princes decree Justice And though Christ by demeaning himself for the work of Mans Redemption and Mediation for them in which work he did take our e Nature on him and became a servant to his own Ordinance in paying the Magistrates Tribute yet as he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords unto whom all Judgment is commited all Kings Princes must bow their Scepters to f him in believing in him and submitting to him in obeying his Commands in his Church or Kingdom in the practice of all his holy Ordinances And thus are all the Kings and Judges of the Earth to g serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling so to kiss the Son lest he be angry and they perish bringing their glory and honour to preserve his Church from outward Injuries as Nursing-fathers And thus the Lord in his mercy directs both high and low rich and poor to make an end of their salvation with fear and trembling that so every one may fight the good fight of faith and finishing their course in keeping the faith shall surely have the Crown of h Righteousness and Glory at the day of his appearing a Rev. 1.9 b Rom. 5.17 c Phil. 2.6 d Prov. 18.15 e Heb. 4.15 f Rev. 21.24 Isa 60.12 g Psal 2.10 11 12. h 2 Tim. 4.8 1 Pet. 5.4 VIII The next Ordinance in order to be performed in the Church of Christ is Baptism of Water which peculiarly belongeth to the Pastor or Teacher to perform and no other Since extraordinary Offices of Apostles and Evangelists are ceased therefore in order for the performance thereof there must be a true Administrator for these Reasons first because the visible Seals of the Covenant Baptism and the Lord's Supper may not be administred by any other than the Ministers of the Word according to the Command of Christ Mat. 28.19 saying Go teach all Nations and baptize c. In which place our Lord commandeth Apostolick Authority unto his Disciples for teaching the Covenant of the Gospel contained in the Prophets and sealing the same to all those the Promise did belong unto Act. 2.39 and hath no-where admitted any to baptize whom he sent not in Office to a preach these things therefore what God hath joyned together let no man put asunder The applying of the Seals is a greater work
one of those extraordinary Officers given for a time for the work of the Ministry this Office he had when he baptized Moreover he was authorized expresly and furnished with gifts of working Miracles Act. 8.13 That Ananias was a private Man as some suppose cannot be proved for he was by the Lord call'd and sent and enabled to work Miracles as Acts 9.17 18. Timothy also a Disciple when he was chosen and taken of Paul to assist him is not to be accounted a private man but an Evangelist 2 Tim. 4.5 sent and authorized by the Lord. Moreover if it were granted that he was a private man yet his action done by express command from God might not be followed by other private men any more than the action of Gideon in offering Sacrifice which belonged only to the Tribe of Levi might be followed by others of his Brethren of the Tribe of Manasses Judg. 6.15 25 26. That any private Man of Cyprus or Cyrene administred Baptism or the Lords Supper cannot be proved As for Apollos he cannot be accounted a private Man whom Paul joyned with himself nor Cephas a Planter and Minister whom the Corinthians followed as one of their chief Teachers 1 Cor. 1.12 2.6 4.6 To conclude the end of all As it appeareth by the Scriptures that God hath in all Ages permitted the Dispensation of the Sacraments or visible Seals of God's Covenant to the Ministers of the Word chosen and set apart for that purpose and not to all or any other They therefore that shall teach or preach or practise any otherwise shall walk in the sin of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat who sinned and made Israel to sin in whose days whosoever would consecrate himself might execute the Priests Office in the high places which thing turned to sin to root out Jeroboam's House from the face of the Earth 1 Kings 13.33 34. These things being written for all Christians learning Rom. 15.4 that none may presume out of a good intent as Vzza did to break God's Order lest God's Wrath break out against them in this life as it did upon Vzza they may hear the Sentence of Christ notwithstanding their preaching and boasting what Works they have done in his Name saying unto them I never knew you Depart from me ye workers of Iniquity Isa 1.12 13. Mat. 7.23 Forasmuch then as in these latter days we are taught by Christ that there shall be many saying Loe here and loe there is Christ but he commandeth us not to go after them because they follow not the Lamb on Mount Sion in his holy Order in the practice of his holy Ordinances Therefore for our better understanding in order to the performance of this Ordinance in the Church to wit Water-Baptism we may observe three things 1. The End wherefore it was ordained 2. What giveth persons right unto it 3. The Manner how it ought to be performed To the First Baptism of Water was ordained of God to manifest Christ to Israel John 1.31 And also it was a Sign of the Remission of Sins by the Blood of Christ to all those the Promises in the Gospel belong unto Acts 2.39 Secondly That which giveth any right to partake of the Sign or visible Seal of the Covenant of the Gospel is not by any Act of Man but by the free Grace and Love of God in Christ without any desert of ours to all those he pleased to accept into the Covenant of the Gospel to all such it is written that he will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities will he remember no more Heb. 8.12 Therefore as the Lord did ever accept into his Covenant the Fathers with their Children so have both equally the Promises belonging to them of the Pardon of their sins therefore have they by virtue of the Covenant a right to the Sign or visible Seal of the pardon of their sins even Baptism of Water and hereupon as the believing Parents with their Infants were accepted into God's Covenant therefore did the Apostles baptize Believers with their houshold which were their Children as anon shall be proved Moreover there is no Act of Man that can give him right to any Ordinance of God but only God's Mercy in Christ manifested in the Covenant of the Gospel from the days of Adam But if it be the pleasure of God as it was in all Ages to accept the Children with the Parents into the Covenant of Grace and therefore the Benefit of the Covenant ever belonged to them to wit the Seal of Faith with them and never forbidden the same only the outward Sign or Seal changed from Circumcision to Water-Baptism How dare any Man then deny the Infants of the Covenant the Sign of the Remission of their Sins which right they enjoy by the Covenant seeing they were with their Parents of old a holy even so they are b now a chosen Generation and holy Nation with them so c now d Olive Plants Buds or young e Branches in the Vice CHRIST So are Believers the Blessed of the Lord and their f Off-spring or Buds with them the Lord's g Heritage and of the Kingdom of God though vessels of small h quantity yet with their Parents are they a part of the Glory of Christ's House or Kingdom having faith in the bud else could they not i hope in God on their Mothers breasts which in due time was made manifest in their Childhood crying in the Temple k Hosanna to the Son of David that is O Lord save to the amazement of the carnal Professors then and also now who are offended at them so as they account the Children of Believers in the same estate with the Children of Turks and Pagans contrary to the Scriptures that ever accounted the Children of the Church of God holy sanctified from the Womb when as the Children of Unbelievers are unclean estranged from the Womb accounted l Liars from the birth Children of m Wrath in one estate with the World of n ungodly that perished in the Flood and their Spirits with their Parents are said to be in Prison as the Children of the Sodomites being accounted o unrighteous with their Parents suffered likewise with them the vengeance of eternal Fire But the Children of the Members of the Church of God Christ p blessed with his spiritual blessing towit the q Remission of their Sins as all in God's Covenant have the equal and alike benefit of being born in Covenant are said to be the Lords Children r baptized by one Spirit with their Parents in to Christ's Mystical Body so have they his Spirit else could they not be s Christ's or holy with their Parents a holy Nation So that we may conclude with the Apostle seeing these have received the t Spirit as well as we who shall forbid water that they should not be baptized a Ezra 9.2 b 1 Cor. 7.14 c 1 Pet. 2.9 Exod. 19.6 d Psal 128.3 e John 15.4 Luke 18.16 f Esay 65.23 g Psal