After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood this do ye as oft as ye drink it in Remembrance of me 1 Cor. 11. 23 24 25. Q How long was this to continue A. For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lord's Death till he come 1 Cor. 11. 26. Q. Did Christ promise to come again to his Desciples A. I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you Jesus answered and said unto him if a Man love me he will keep my Words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our Abode with him Joh. 14. 18 23. Q. Was this an Inward Coming A. At that Day ye shall know that I am in my Father and ye in me and I in you Joh. 14. 20. Q. But it would seem this was even practised by the Church of Corinth after Christ was come in wardly Was it so that there were certain Appointments positivelycommanded yea and Zealously and Conscientiously practised by the Saints of Old which were not of perpetual Continuance nor yet now needful to be practised in the Church A. If then your Lord and Master have washed your Feet ye also ought to wash one another's Feet For I have given you an Example that ye should do as I have done to you Joh. 13. 14 15. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater Bâ—rden then these necessary Things that ye abstain from Meats offered to Idols and from Blood and from Things strangled and from Fornication from which if ye keep your selves ye shall do well farewell Acts 15. 28 29. Is any man sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with Oyl in the Name of the Lord Jam. 5. 14. Q. These Commands are no less positive then the other yea some of them are asserted as the very Sense of the Holy Ghost as no less necessary then abstaining from Fornication and yet the Generality of Protestants have laid them aside as not of perpetual Continuance But what other Scriptures are there to shew that it is not necessary that of Bread and Wine to Continue A. For the Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. Let no Man therefore judge you in Meat or in Drink or in respect of an Holy Day or of the New Moon or of the Sabbath Dayes Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World why as though living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances touch no taste not handle not which all are to perish with the Using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men Col. 2. 16 20 21 22. Q. These Scriptures are very plain and say as much for the abolishing of this as to any Necessity as ought can be alledged for the former But what is the Bread then wherewith the Saints are to be nourished A. Then Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you Moses gave you not that Bread from Heaven but my Father giveth you the True Bread from Heaven for the Bread of God is he which comes down from Heaven and giveth Life unto the World Then said they unto him Lord evermore give us this Bread And Jesus said unto them I am the Bread of Life he that cometh to me shall never Hâ—â—ger and he that believeth on me shall never Thirst. I am that Bread of Life Your Fathers did eat Manna in the Wilderness and are Dead This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not dye I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven If any man eat of this Bread he shall live forever and the Bread that I will give him is my Flesh which I will give for the Life of the World The Jews therefore strove amongst themselves saying How can this man give us his Flesh to eat Then Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you Whoso eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath Eternal Life and I will raise him up at the Last Day For my Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him As the Living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me even he shall live by me This is that Bread which came down from Heaven not as your Fathers did eat Manna are dead He that eateth of this Bread shall live forever John 6. 32 33 34 35 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58. CHAP. XII Concerning the Life of a Christian in general what and how it ought to be in this World Question VVHat is True RELIGION A. Pure Religion and Undefiled is this To visit the Fatherless and the Widdow in their Affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the World Jam. 1. 27. Q. What is required of man A. He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love Mercy and to walk humbly with thy God Michah 6. 8. But to this man will I look even to him that is pure and of a contrite Spirit and trembles at my Word Isa. 66. 2. Q. Doth God then require People to be Quakers to tremble at his Word was there any such among the Saints of old A. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the Words of the God of Israeal Ezra 9. 4. Now therefore let us make a Covenant with our God to put away all the Wives and such as are born of them according to the Counsel of my Lord and of those that tremble at the Commandment of our God Ezra 10. 3. Q. It seems Ezra loved well and had a high Esteem of Quakers since he would have their Counsel followed Do any other of the Prophets point out Quakers or Tremblers as God's People A Hear the Word of the Lord ye that tremble at his Word Your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my Names sake said Let the Lord be glorified but he shall appear to your Joy and they shall be ashamed Isa. 66. 5. And it shall be to me a Name of Joy a Praise and an Honour before all the Nations of the Earth which shall hear all the Good that I do unto them and they shall fear and tremble for all the Goodness and for all the Prosperity that I procure unto it Jer. 33. 9. Q. The Prophets promise good Things there to Quakers what becometh of these that tremble not and are not such A. Hear now this O foolish People and without Understanding which have Eyes and see not which
Judgments to Deal Truly he is just 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 surely Live saith the Lord God Ezek. 18. 5 6 7 8 9. For the Son of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall Reward every Man according to his Works Mat. 16. 27. Then Peter opened his Mouth and said Of a Truth I perceive that God is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him Acts 10. 34 35. The Righteous Judgment of God who will render to every man according to his Deeds To them who by Patient Continuance in Well-doing seek for Glory and Honour and Immortality Eternal Life But Glory Honour and Peace to every man that worketh Good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile Rom. 2. 6 7 10. For we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. VVhich is a manifest Token of the Righteous Judgment of God that ye may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which ye also suffer 3 Thes. 1. 5. But who so looketh into the Perfect Law of Liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful Hearer but a Doer of the Work this man shall be blessed in his Deed James 1. 25. Cast not away therefore your Confidence which hath great Recompence of Reward Hebr. 10. 35. And if ye call on the Father who without Respect of Persons judgeth according to every man's Work pass the time of your sojourning here in Fear 1 Pâ—t 1. 17. And behold I come quickly and behold my Reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have a Right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City Rev. 22. 12 14. Q. It should seem that the Purpose of God in sending his Son the Lord Jesus Christ was not simply to save Man by an Imputative Righteousness altogether without them but also by the Washing of Regeneration or any inward Righteousness What saith the Scripture further of this A. And thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his People from their Sins Mat. 1. 21. Looking for that Blessed Hope and the Glorious Appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of Good Works Tit. 2. 13 14. CHAP. VII Concerning Perfection or Freedom from SIN Question I Perceive then by all these Scriptures afore-mentioned that Christ as well as he hath purchased Pardon for our Sins hath also obtained Power by which we may even here be cleansed from the Filth of them may we expect then in this Life to be freed from the Dominion of Sin A. For Sin shall not have Dominion over you Rom. 6. 14. Q. For what Reason A. For ye are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. Q. How cometh the Apostle then to cry out and complain of Sin saying Who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death Doth he speak that as a Condition always permanent to him and other Saints or only that which he had passed through What saith he afterwards A. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ Shall Tribulation or Distress or Persecution or Famin or Nakedness or Peril or Sword as it is written For thy sake we are killed all the Day long we are accounted as Sheep for the Slaughter Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor Height nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 1 2 35 36 37 38 39. Q. What saith that Apostle then unto such who taking Occasion from his words should plead for Continuance in Sin for term of Life and think to be saved by the Imputative Righteousness of Christ as being under Grace A. What shall we say then shall we continue in Sin that Grace may abound God forbid Rom. 6. 1 2. VVhat then shall we Sin because we are not under the Law but under Grace God forbid Q. Is not the Apostle then so far from supposing that Condition of being alwayes under Sin to be his own constant Condition or that of all the Saints that he even supposes many of the then Church of Rome to whom he wrote to be free of it How bespeaketh he them as in relation to this Matter A. How shall we that are dead to Sin live any longer therein Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his Death Therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into Death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in Newnes of Life For if we have been planted together in the Likeness of his Death we shall be also in the Likeness of his Resurrection knowing this that our Old Man is crucified with him that the Body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve Sin for he that is dead is freed from Sin Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto Sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not Sin therefore reign in your mortal Body that ye should obey it in the Lusts thereof Neither yield ye your Members as Instruments of Unrighteousness unto Sin but yield your selves unto God as those that are alive from the Dead and your Members as Instruments of Righteousness unto God Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves Servants to obey his Servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness But God be thanked that ye were the Servants of Sin but ye have Obeyed from the Heart that Form of Doctrine which was delivered unto you being then made free from Sin ye became the Servants of Righteousness I speak after the manner of men because of the Infirmity of your Flesh For as ye have yielded your Members Servants to Uncleanness to Iniquity unto Iniquity even so now yield your Members Servants to Righteousness unto Holiness For when ye were the Servants of Sin ye were free from Righteousness What Fruit had ye then in these things whereof ye are now ashamed for the End of these things is Death But now being
made free from Sin and become Servants to God ye have your Fruit unto Holiness and the End Everlasting Life For the Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lord Rom. 6. 3 4 5 6 7 11 12 13 â—6 17 18 19 20 21 â—2 23. Q. It would appear then that God requires of us to be perfect A. Be ye therefore Perfect even as your Father which is in Heaven is Perfect Mat. 5. 48. Q. Is it then possible to keep the Commandments A. My Yoak is easie and my Burden is light Mat. 11. 30. For this is the Law of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. Q. Is it necessary then for Salvation to keep the Commandments A. Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have Right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City Rev. 22. 14. Q. Do you understand by this Perfection that any have so kept the Commandments as never to have sinned A. If we say that we have not sinned we make him a Lyar and his Word is not in us 1 Joh. 1. 10. Q. Do you understand that those who are perfect may say they have no Sin or only that having sinned and so having Sin in respect they once sinned as the Apostle in the Passage cited mentions May they not withstanding thereof come to know Forgiveness for the Guilt but also Cleansing from the Filth A. If we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1. 8. Q. That Scripture seems to be very plain being compared with the other before-mentioned But because some are apt to mistake and wrest the Words of that Apostle what saith he elsewhere Did he judge any could know God or be True Christians who keeped not the Commandments A. My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not and if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous And hereby do we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar and the Truth is not in him But whoso keepeth his Word in him verely is the Love of God perfected Hereby know we that we are in him He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked Beloved now are we the Sons of God it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is And every man that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure Whosoever committeth Sin transgresseth also the Law for Sin is the Transgression of the Law And ye know that he was manifested to take away our Sins and in him is no Sin Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him Little Children let not man deceive you he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous He that committeth Sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother 1 John 2. 1 3 4 5 6. and 3. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Q. It is very plain by these Passages that the Apostles were far of another Mind then those that plead for Sin during term of Life and much against the Deceit of those who will esteem themselves Good Christians while they live in their Sins A. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him unto the Wise Man which built his House upon a Rock Mat. 7. 21 24. If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Joh. 13. 17. Q. What saith the Apostle Paul further concerning the Needfulness of this thing A. Circumcision is nothing and Uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the Commandments of God 1 Cor. 7. 19. Q. Was not this according to the Apostle Paul's Judgment the very Intention of Christ to have his Church and Children to be pure and without Spot A. According as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be Holy and without Blame before him in Love Eph. 1. 4. Even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it that he might present it to himself a Glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blemish Eph. 5. 25 26 27. Q. Doth not Paul press the same thing further besides the other Passages above-mentioned A. Having therefore these Promises Dearly Beloved Let us cleanse our selves from all Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. Finally Brethren farewell be perfect 2 Cor. 13 11. Christ in you the Hope of Glory whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all Wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 28. Labouring fervently for you in Prayers that ye may stand perfect and compleat in all the Will of God Col. 4. 12. To the End he may establish your Hearts unblamable in Holiness before God 1 Thess. 3. 13. And the very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and Body be presented blameless unto the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thess. 5. 23. Q. Is not this then the very End for which God appointed Teachers in his Church A. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the Perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the Edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the Unity of the Faith and of the Knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. Q. Seeing this is so much pressed by the Holy Men doth not the Scripture which cannot lye give none of the Saints this Testimony as being free from Sin at sometimes and so not alwayes and daily sinning as is supposed A. Noah was a Just Man and Perfect in his Generations
a real Member of his Body and afterwards be cut off A. If any man abide not in me he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered Joh. 15. 6. Q. May a Righteous Man then depart from his Righteousness A. But when the Righteous Man turneth away from his Righteousness and commits Iniquity and dyeth in them for his Iniquity that he hath done shall he dye Ezek. 18. 26. 33. 13. Q. May a Believer come to such a Condition in this Life from which he cannot fall away A. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the Name of my God and the Name of the City of my God which is New Jerusalem who cometh down out of Heaven from my God and will write upon him my New Name Rev. 3. 12. Q. May such an 〈◊〉 ome to be assured that he is in this Condition A. For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor Height nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 38 39. CHAP. IX Concerning the Church and Ministry Question WHat is the Church A. But if I tarry long that thou mayst know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the House of God which is the Church of the Living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3. 15. Q. Who is the Head of the Church A. VVho hath deliver'd us from the Power of Darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son and he is the Head of the Body the Church from which all the Body by Joynts and Bands having Nourishment ministred and knit together encreaseth with the Excrease of God 1 Coloss. 1. 3. and 2. 10. Q. What kind of Persons make the Church A. Them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1. 2. And the Lord added to the Church daily such as shou'd be saved Acts 2. 47. Q. Hath not Christ appointed any Officers in the Church for the Work of the Ministry A. Wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high he led Captivity captive and gave Gifts unto Men and he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the Edification of the Body of Christ Eph. 4. 8 11 12. Q. What kind of Men should such as are Teachers and Overseers of the Church be A. A Bishop then must be Blameless the Husband of one Wife Vigilant Sober of good Behaviour given to Hospitality apt to teach not given to Wiâ—e no Striker not greedy of filthy Lucre but Patient Not a Brawlâ—â— not Covetous one that ruleth well his own House having his Children in Subjection with all Gravity for if a man know not how to rule his own House how shall he take Care of the Church of God not a Novice lest being lifted up with Pride he fall into the Condemnation of the Devil Moreover he must have a good Report of them which are without lest he fall into Reproach and the Snare of the Devil 1 Tim. 3. 2 3 4 5 6 7. For a Bishop must be Blameless as the Steward of God not Self-Will'd not soon Angry not given to Wine no Striker not given to Filthy Lucre but a Lover of Hospitality a Lover of good Men sober just holy temperate holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and to convince the Gain-sayers Tit. 1. 7 8 9. Q. What is incumbent upon such to do A. Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the Flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God Acts 20. 28. The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder and a Witness of the Sufferings of Christ and also a Partaker of the Glory that shall be reveal'd Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the Oversight thereof not by Constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready Mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being Ensamples to the Flock 1 Pet. 5. 1 2 3. Q. Though they be not to Lord over the Flock yet is there not a Respect due to thâ—m in their Place A. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double Honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 5. 17. Q. Albeit then among true Christians every one that believeth is to have the Witness in himself being perswaded in himself by the Spirit yet is there not also a real Subjection to be to one another in the Lord A. The Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets 1 Cor. 14. 32. Obey them that have the Rule over you submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give Account that they may do it with Joy and not with Grief for that is unprofitable for you Heb. 13. 17. And we beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in Love for their VVorks sake 1 Thes. 5. 12 13. Likewise ye younger submit your selves unto the Elder yea all of you be subject one to another and be cloathed with Humility for God resisteth the Proud and giveth Grace unto the Humble 1 Pet. 5. 5. Q. How ought true Teachers to minister in the Church A. As every Man hath received the Gift even so Minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God If any speak let him speak as the Oracles of God If any Man minister let him do it as of the Ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 4. 10 11. Q. I perceive then that every true Minister of the Church of Christ is to minister of the Gift and Grace of God which he hath received But some are of the Judgment that Natural Wisdom or Parts and human Learning are the Qualifications which are of absolute Necessity for a Minister but Grace they judge not to be so absolutely necessary but that one may be à Minister without it What saith the Scripture in this Case A. A Bishop must be Sober Just Holy Temperate Tit. 1. 7 8. Q. Methinks it is impossible for a Man to be Blameless Just Holy Sober and Temperate without the Grace of God So that if these Qualifications be absolutely necessary then surely that without which a man cannot be so qualified must be necessary also But what saith the Scripture as to the Necessity of Natural Wisdom and Human Learning A. Where is the Wise Where is the Scribe Where is the Disputer of this World Hath not God made foolish
that callupon him to all that call upon him in Truth He is far from the VVicked but he heareth the Prayers of the Righteous And this is the Confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his VVill he heareth us VVhat is it then We must pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding also we must sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our Infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit itself maketh Intercession for us with Greanings which cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the Heart knoweth what is the Mind of the Spirit because he maketh Intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God ARTICLE XVIII Concerning Baptism AS there is One Lord One Faith so there is One Baptism Which doth also now save us not the putting away of the Filth of the Flesh but the Answer of a Good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ For John indeed baptized with Water but Christ with the Holy Ghost and with Fire Therefore as many as are baptized into Jesus Christ are baptized into his Death and are buried with him by Baptism into Death that like as Christ was raised up from the Dead by the Glory of the Father even so they also should walk in Newness of Life Having put on Christ ARTICLE XIX Concerning Eating of Bread and Wine Washing of one anothers's Feet Abstaining from things Strangled and from Blood and Anointing of the Sick with Oyl THe Lord Jesus the same Night in which he was betrayed took Bread and when he had given Thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you this do in Remembrance of me After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood this do ye as oft as ye drink it in Remembrance of me for as oft as ye do eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew forth the Lord's Death till he come Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his Hands and that he was come from God and went to God he ariseth from Supper and laid aside his Garments and took a Towel and girded himself after that he poureth VVater into a Bason and began to wash the Disciples Feet and to wipe them with the Towel where with he was girded So after he had washed their Feet and had taken his Garments and was sate down again he said unto them Know ye what I have done unto you Ye call me Master Lord and ye say well for so I am If then I your Lord and Master have washed your Feet ye also ought to wash one another's Feet for I have given you Example that ye should do as I have done unto you For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater Burden then these Necessary Things That ye abstain from Meats offered to Idols from Blood and from things strangled and from Fornication from which if ye keep your selves ye do well Is any man sick amâ—ng you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with Oyl ARTICLE XX. Concerning the Liberty of such Christians as are come to know the Substance as to the Using or not Using of these Rites and of the Observation of Dayes THe Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Let no man therefore judge us in Meat or Drink or in Respect of an Holy Day or of the New Moon or of the Sabbath Days For if we be dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World why as though living in the World are we subject to Ordinances Let us not touch or taste or handle which all are to perish with the Using after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men For now after we have known God or rather are known of him why should we turn again unto the Weak and Beggarly Elements or desire again to be in Bondage to observe Dayes and Months and Times and Years lest Labour have been bestowed on us in vain If one man esteem a Day above another another esteems every Day alike let every man be fully perswaded in his own Mind He that regardeth a Day regardeth it unto the Lord and he that regardeth not the Day to the Lord he doth not regard it ARTICLE XXI Concerning Swearing Fighting and Persecution IT hath bin said by them of old Thou shalt not Forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oathes But Christ says unto us Swear not at all neither by Heaven for it is God's Throne nor by the Earth for it is his Footstool neither by Jerusalem for it is the City of the great King neither shalt thou swear by thy Head because thou canst not make one Hair white or black but let your Communication be Yea Yea Nay Nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of Evil And James chargeth us Above all things not to Swear neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by any other Oath but let your Yea be Yea and your Nay Nay lesâ— ye fall into Condemnation Though we walk in the Flesh we are not to war after the Flesh for the Weapons of our Warfare are not to be carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong Holds casting down Imaginations and every High Thing that exalts it self against the Knowledge of God and bringing into Captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Christ For Wars and Fightings come of the Lusts that war in the Members Therefore Christ commands Not to resist Evil but whosoever will smite on the Right Cheek to turn the other also Because Christians are Lambs among Wolves Therefore are they hated of all men for Christ's sake And all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution Such are Blessed for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven For though they have lost their Lives yet shall they save them And because they have confessed Christ before men he will also confess them before the Angels of God We ought not then to 〈◊〉 them which kill the Body but are not able â—o the kill the Soul but rather him which is able to destroy both Soul and Body into Hell ARTICLE XXII Concerning Magistracy LET every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers for there is no Power but of God the Powers that be are ordained of God VVhosoever therefore resists the Power resists the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves Damnation For Rulers are not a Terror to Good Works but to the Evil Wilt thou then not be afraid of the Power do that which is Good and
in me that I might preach him among the Heathen Gal. 1. 15 10. Q. Is it needful then to know Christ within A. Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. Q. Was the Apostle earnest that this Inward Birth of Christ should be brought forth in any A. My little Children of whom I travel in Birth again until Christ be formed in you Gal. 4. 19. Q. What saith the same Apostle of the Necessity of this Inward Knowledge of Christ and of the New Creature beyond the Outward A. Wherefore hence-forth know we no man after the Flesh yea though we have known Christ after the Flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a New Creature Old things are passed away behold all things are become New 2 Cor. 5. 16 17. But ye have not so learned Christ if so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him as the Truth is in Jesus That ye put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man which is corrupt according to the Deceitful Lusts and to be renewed in the Spirit of your Mind and that ye put on the New Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Ephes. 4. 21 22 23 24. Q. Is this Christ Within the Mystery of God and Hope of Glory which the Apostle preached A. To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery among the Câ—ntiles which is Christ in you the Hope of Glory whom we preach Col. 1. 27 28. Q. Doth the Apostle any where else press the putting on of this New Birth A. Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Rom. 13. 14. Q. Doth he write to any of the Saints as having put off the Old and on the New Man A. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3. 27. Seeing that ye have put off the Old Man with his Deeds and have put on the New Man which is renew'd in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him Col. 3. 9 10. Q. What speaketh Christ himself of the Necessity of this New Birth A. Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of 〈◊〉 Joâ— 3. 3. Q. Of 〈◊〉 Seed 〈…〉 Birth A. Being born again not of Corruptible Seed but of Incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever 1 Pet. 1. 23. Q. What doth the Apestle Paul witness of himself concerning this Nâ—w Life A. I am crucified with Christ nevertheelss I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Gal. 2. 20. Q. What is the Preaching of the Cross of Christ A. For the Preaching of the Cross is to them that perish Foolishness but unto us that are saved it is the Power of God 1 Cor. 1. 18. Q. What Effect had this Cross in the Apostle and how much preferreth he the New Creature to all outward and visible Ordinances and Observances A. But God forbid that I should Glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the World is crucified unto me and I unto the World For in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Uncircumcision but a New Creature Galat. 6. 14 15. Q. What speaketh Christ of the Vnity of the Saints with him A. At that Day ye shall know that I am in my Father and ye in me and I in you John 14. 20. Abide in me and I in you As the Branch cannot bear Fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the Vine ye are the Branches He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much Fruit for without me ye can do nothing John 15. 4 5. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe in me through their Word That they all may be One as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be One in us that the World may believe it that thou hast sent me And the Glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be One even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in One and that the World may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me John 17. 20 21 22 23. Q. What saith the Apostle Paul to this Purpose A. For both he that sanctifies and they that are sanctified are all of one for which Cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren Heb. 2. 11. Q. What saith the Apostle Peter A. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promiâ—es that by these you might be Partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the Corruption that is in the World through Lust 2 Pet. 1. 4. CHAP. V. Concerning the Light wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightned every man The Universality and Sufficiency of God's Grace to all the World made manifest therein Question WHerein consists the Love of God towards Fallen and Lost Man A. For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life John 3. 16. In this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live through him 1 John 4. 9. Q. What is intended here by the World all and every man or only a few A. But we see Jesus who was made a little lower then the Angels for the suffering of Death crowned with Glory and Honour that he by the Grace of God should taste Death for every man Hebr. 2. 9. And if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. Q. Methinks the Apostle John is very plain there in mentioning the whole World which must be not only the Saints but all others seeing he distinguisheth the World from himself and all the Saints to whom he then wrote What saith Paul else-where in this Matter A. Christ in you the Hope of Glory whom we preach warning every man and â—eaching every man in all Wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 27 28. I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and Giving of Thanks be made for all men For this is good and acceptable in the Sight of God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth who gave himself a Ransom for all to
of one For by the exceding great and precious Promises that are given them they are made Partakers of the divine Nature Because for this Endprayed Christ that they all might be one as the Father is in him and he in the Father that they also might be one in them the Glory which he had gotten from the Father he gave them that they might be one even as the Father and he is one Christ in the Saints and the Father in Christ that they might be made perfect in one ARTICLE X. Concerning the Universal Love and Grace of God to all GOd so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life And in this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son that we might live through him So that if any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World For by the Grace of God he hath tasted Death for every Man And gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due Time Willing all Men to be saved and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through him might be saved And Christ came a Light into the World that whosoever believeth in him should not abide in Darkness Therefore as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all Men to Justification of Life ARTICLE XI Concerning the Light that enlighteneth every Man THe Gospel was preached to every Creature under Heaven Which Gospel is the Power of God unto Salvation to them that believe And if it be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine into them And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather then Light because their Deeds are Evil And this was the true Light which lightneth every Man that cometh into the World By which all things that are reproveable are made manifest for whatsoever maketh manifest is Light Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God And they that walk in the Light as Christ is in the Light have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth them from all Sin Therefore ought we to believe in the Light while we have the Light that we may be the Children of the Light Therefore to Day if we will hear his Voice let us not harden our Hearts For Christ wept over Jerusalem saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the Things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes And he would often have gathered her Children as a Hen gathereth her Chickens but they would not for the stiff-necked and uncircumcised in Heart and Ears do alwayes resist the Holy Ghost And are of those that rebel against the Light Therefore God's Spirit will not alwayes strive with Man For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness Because what is to be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them And a Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withall For the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men teaching us that denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World And this Word of his Grace is able to build up and give an Inheritance among all those that are sanctified For the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper then any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the Soul and Spirit and of the Joints and Marrow and is a Discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart This is that more sure Word of Prophecie whereunto we do well that we take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark Place until the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in the Heart And this is the Word of Faith which the Apostles preached which is nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart For God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ But we have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us for the Kingdom of God cometh not by Observation but is within us ARTICLE XII Concerning Faith and Justification FAith is the Substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen VVithout which is is impossible to please God Therefore we are justified by Faith which worketh by Love For Faith without Works being dead is by Works made perfect By the Deeds of the Law there shall no Flesh be justified Nor yet by the Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy we are saved by the VVashing of Regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost For we are both washed sanctified and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God ARTICLE XIII Concerning Good Works IF we live after the Flesh we shall dye but if we through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Body we shall live For they which believe in God must be careful to maintain Good Works For God will render to every Man according to his Deeds according to his righteous Judgment to them who by patient Continuance in well-doing seek for Glory Honour and Immortality Eternal Life For such are counted worthy of the Kingdom of God And cast not away their Confidence which hath great Recompence of Reward Blessed then are they that do his Commandments that they may have Right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City ARTICLE XIV Concerning Perfection SIn shall not have Dominion over such as are not under the Law but under Grace For there is no Condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after