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A CONFESSION OF FAITH Of ſeven Congregations or Chur­ches of Chriſt in LONDON, which are commonly (but uniuſtly) called Anabaptiſts. PUBLISHED For the vindication of the Truth, and informati­on of the ignorant; likewiſe for the taking off of thoſe aſperſions which are frequently both in Pulpit and Print unjuſtly caſt upon them.

But this I confeſſe unto thee, that after the way which they call hereſie, ſo worſhip I the God of my Fathers, beleeving all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets, and have hope towards God, which they them­ſelves alſo allow, that there ſhall be a reſurrection of dead both of the juſt and unjuſt. Acts 24. 14, 15.
For we cannot but ſpeak the things that we have ſeen and heard,Acts 4. 20.
If I have ſpoken evill, bear witneſſe of the evill; but if well, why ſmiteſt thou me? John 18. 23.
Bleſſed are yee when men revile you, and ſay all manner of evill againſt you falſly for my ſake. Rejoyce, &c. Matth. 11. 12. & 19. 29.

The ſecond Impreſſion corrected and enlarged.

Publiſhed according to Order.

London printed by Matth. Simmons, and are to be ſold by John Hancock in Popes-head Alley. 1646.

TO THE RIGHT HONO­rable the Lords, Knights, Citi­zens and Burgeſſes in Parliament aſſembled.

Right Honorable and moſt Noble Patriots,

IN as much as there hath been aDoctor Feat­leys Book de­dicated to the Parliament. Book lately preſented unto you, in whoſe Dedicatory Epiſtle there are many hainous accuſations un­juſtly and falſly laid againſt us, we conceived it neceſſary to make ſome declaration of our innocency, and (to the end) humbly to preſent unto your view this our Confeſſion of Faith: Here wee unfainedly de­clare, what in our hearts wee judge, and what wee teach, and according to this Rule wee deſire and endevour, through the grace of God, to lead our lives. This Confeſſion of our Faith we ſend forth to ſpeak the truth for us, and ſo to make our inno­cency to appeare; deſiring that the ſame light may guide others alſo to the ſame way of truth and of obedience both to God and to the Magiſtrate, who is the Miniſter of God to us for good. We hope your Honours will permit us to ſpeak with mo­deſty in our juſt defence. And when any ſhal pro­voke you to lift up a hand againſt us, wee deſire you may ſeriouſly conſider Gamaliels counſel in Acts 5. We take no thought for our ſelves, for the Lord our God is al-ſufficient; but wee deſire and pray that you may doe nothing againſt Chriſt, neither in his members, nor in his ordinances, that there may be no wrath upon you from the Lord, but that you knowing the innocent and protecting them according to the wil of God, may for the ſame be famous unto all generations, and the memoriall of your names may be pretious among the Saints till the coming of King Ieſus.

To the judicious and impartiall READER.

COURTEOVS READER;

IT is no wonder if it ſeeme ſtrange to thee, that wee ſhould publiſh a confeſſion of our faith, who are frequently termed to be Heretiques and Schiſmatiques, and what not, though unjuſtly; neither is it any diſcouragement unto us, though this ſect (as they call the Anabaptiſts) isActs 28. 22. every where ſpoken againſt, and in that we are charg­ed (for Chriſts Name ſake) with the ſame things our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and his Apoſtles were accuſed of; it's a mercy, an honour, and a comfort unto us, when we remember what our Lord hath ſaid unto us, Bleſſed are ye whenMat 5. 11, 12. men ſhall revile you, and perſecute you, and ſay all manner of evill falſly, for my ſake; Rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for ſo perſecuted they the Prophets that were be­fore you. The Diſciple is not above his Maſter, nor the ſervant above his Lord; it's enough for the Diſciple that he be as his Maſter, and the ſervant as his Lord. If they have called the Maſter of the houſeMat. 10. 24, 25 Belzebub, how much more ſhall they call them of his houſhold? If the world hate you, yee know that it hated me before it hated you: if yee were of the world, the world would love her owne, but becauſe ye are not of the world, but I have choſen you out of the world, therfore the world hateth you. The ſervant is not greater then the Lord; ifJoh. 15. 18, 19, 20, 21. See Acts 21. 28. 30, 31. & 14. 22. 2 Tim. 3. 12. 1 Pet. 4. 13. they have perſecuted me, they will alſo perſecute you, &c. All theſe things will they doe unto you for my Names ſake, becauſe they know not him that ſent me; Yea, and all that will live godly in Chriſt Je­ſus ſhall ſuffer perſecution; but rejoyce in as much as yee are parta­kers of Chriſts ſufferings, that when his glory ſhall be revealed, yee may be clad alſo with exceeding joy.

Our Lord Jeſus was accuſed to be a ſedtious and mutinous fellow:Luk. 23. 25. Paul was called a peſtilent fellow, and a mover of ſedition, and a ring-leaderActs 24. 1. 5. 6 of the ſect of the Nazarens; Saying, Away with ſuch a fellow,Acts 18. 13. for it is not fit he ſhould live; Saying, This fellow perſwadeth men to worſhip God contrary to the Law: and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt was ac­cuſed of perverting the people, and forbidding to give tribute to Cae­ſar;Luk. 23. 2. 14. Mat. 15. 1. to 9 and that he and his Diſciples did teach novelties, and brake the traditions of the Elders. Chriſt was accuſed to have a Devill, and toJoh. 10. 20. Act. 26. 24, 25 Act. 17. 18, 19. Mark. 14. 64. be mad, ſaying to the people, Why doe yee heare him? Paul was eſteemed to be mad: alſo they ſaid, What will this babler ſay? And that he taught new doctrine: and Chriſt was accuſed to ſpeake blaſphemy, and they all condemned him to be guilty of death. So ſome are offended at us for meeting in houſes to preach, and would have us puniſhed for it; not­withſtanding, it was Chriſt and his Apoſtles practice to doe ſo, whoſe exam­ple we are to follow. Chriſt taught upon a mountaine, and in a ſhip. Mat. 5. 1. 2. & 13. 2. Acts 20. 20. Act. 1. 13. 15, 16 & 2. 2. Act. 16. 13, 14. Act. 20. 7, 8, 9. Act. 28. 30, 31.Paul preached from houſe to houſe; alſo the Church met together in an upper roome, where Peter preached; and Paul preached, and conver­ted Lydia by the River ſide; the Diſciples met together in the night in an upper roome; Paul preached two yeares in an hired houſe, and received all that came unto him. If he had lived in theſe dayes and done ſo, it's to be feared ſome would have petitioned againſt him: So ſome accuſe us to be diſturbers of the peace of the Common-wealth; yet all that know us can teſtifie for us, that wee meet together and depart in a peaceable man­ner: And from Acts 17. 5, 6, 7. it will appeare, what perſons they were that diſturbed the publick peace, it's fit ſuch perſons ſhould be taken notice of and accordingly puniſhed.

So we are blamed, becauſe we frequent not their Temples; we dare notActs 7. 48. truſt in lying words, ſaying, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple ofAct. 17. 24, 25. 1 Cor. 3. 16. 1 Cor. 6. 3. 19. 1 Pet. 2. 4, 5. Joh. 4. 20. &c. the Lord are theſe; we know the moſt High dwelleth not in Temples made with hands; and that wee are the Temple of the living God; and that our bodies are the Temples of the holy Ghoſt; and that Chriſts Church is not built with dead ſtones. And becauſe there are but a few of us, ſome conceive we are in an error, and that the leaſt number ſhould yeeld to the greater; then it ſeemes, if the number of the Papiſts or AtheiſtsActs 14. 16. Exod. 23. 2. 1 King. 22. 6, 7, &c. exceed the number of the Proteſtants, they muſt forſake their Religion. God in times paſt ſuffered all Nations to walke in their own wayes; there was but one true Prophet to 400 falſe. After three yeares preaching and working miracles by Chriſt, there was but a ſmall number. Chriſt cals his,Acts 1. 14, 15. Luk. 12. 32. Mat. 7. 13, 14. Rev. 13. 7. 16. 17. a little flocke: the Scripture declares the greateſt number followed after the beaſt. Alſo thoſe that preach amongst us, are eſteemed as the Apoſtles were, to be unlearned and ignorant men. Apollo was inſtructed more perfectly in the way of God by Aquila, a tradeſman, and Priſcilla hisActs 4. 13. Acts 18. 1, 2, 3. 26 wife: but the Scripture ſaith; As every man hath received the gift,1 Pet. 4. 10, 11. See 1 Cor. 14. 3. 26. 31. even ſo miniſter the ſame one to another, as good Stewards of the ma­nifold grace of God. Alſo ſome ſay of us, that wee be of ſeverall ſects, andLuke 23. 12. Ioh. 9. 22. See 1 Cor. 1. 10, 11. that wee cannot agree among our ſelves. Pilate and Herod agreed together to crucifie Chriſt; wee dare not agree as the Jewes did that if any did confeſſe that Jeſus was the Chriſt, he ſhould be put out of the Syna­gogue. The union Chriſt prayed for, we deſire, and for ſuch an agreement asIohn 17. 21. agreeth not with the truth, we may not agree unto, therefore we deſire it not; yet the Paedobaptiſts differ more among themſelves then we doe, and if thisEph. 4. 3. to 17. their reaſon have any ſtrength in it, it is againſt themſelves: the ſeverall ſects of Paedobaptiſts, be Papiſts, Arrians, Neſtorians, Pelagians, Do­natiſts, Eutychians, Grecians, Lutherans, Arminians, Epiſcopans, Ni­colaties, Calviniſts, Zuinglians, Huſſites, and above twenty other ſeverall ſects, which are all baptizers of infants, and notwithſtanding, for other points, are all aſunder, and have all rent one from another, therefore we ſendMat. 7. 3, 4, 5. them to follow the counſell of Chriſt.

As the Watchmen dealth with the Spouſe of Chriſt, in her ſeeking her be­loved,Song 3. 2. 5. with 5, 6, 7. ſo they deale with us, they finding us out of that common and broad way themſelves walke in, they ſmite us, and take away our vaile, and vaile us with reproaches, and odious names; to incenſe all, both good and bad, a­gainſt us, that wee may appeare vile in the eyes and hearts of all that behold us, or ſhall heare of us, which they indeavour to doe, both in Pulpit and print,Acts 16. 19. not fearing to charge us, with holding free-will, falling from grace, denying election, originall ſin, childrens ſalvation, the old Teſtament, and mens pro­prietie in their eſtates, and cenſuring all to be damned that are not of our judgement and practice; all which wee diſclaime, becauſe they are untrue. And as for the other things, whereof wee are accuſed, wee referre thoſe who deſire further ſatisfaction to the anſwers of them**In a ſmall Treatiſe, in­tituled, Brieſt Conſiderations on Dr Featly his Book, inti­tuled, Tho dip­per dipt, by Samuel Ri­chardſon.: yet by reaſon of the ma­ny accuſations that are caſt upon us, although they cannot prove the things whereof we are accuſed, yet the generalitie of the people are incenſed againſt us, and are incouraged, and ſet on by ſuch, to ſeek out the place of our meet­ings, which are the more private, not becauſe they are private, but becauſe wee have not any more publicke places; but if any ſhall pleaſe to procure us more larger places to meet in, wee are willing to imbrace them with thank­fulneſſe and joy, although no man ſhould ſpeak for us to thoſe in an thoritie, from whom one word were enough to protect us, from the violence we ſhould be ſubject unto; but as it was then, Acts 17. 5, 6, 7. ſo it is now; yet mustAct 17. 5, 6, 7. wee beare all the blame; but our God will in his time cleare our innocency, al­though now many ſtand looking upon us as a people (holding ſuch things) not worthy to live, and are in danger by the rude multitude gathering together to ſtone us: and had it been againſt our perſons onely, we would have held our peace, and committed our cauſe to God; but conſidering it is the truth that we profeſſe that ſuffers, we may not, nor dare not be neuters in matters of ſo high a nature, but come in and ſpeak to the help of the Lord againſt the mighty.

Therefore to free our ſelves, and the truth we profeſs, from ſuch unjuſt aſper­ſions, that it may be at liberty, though we be in bonds, wee have publiſhed a briefe confeſſion of our Faith, (which we conceive moſt void of contention in theſe ſad and troubleſome times) the thoughts of our hearts as in the preſence of God wee here declare, that it may appeare to the conſciences of them that feare God, what wrong we ſuffer from ſome who have ability to caſt miſts,Jude 14. 15. and dark clouds, which overſhadow the glory of the truth, and them that profeſſe it. And although they acknowledge with us, that the truth is not fully diſcovered, yet they will tie all future diſcovery to a former light, and con­ceive they doe well in ſo doing. But God will by his truth ſhew their error, and exalt Jeſus Chriſt the chiefe corner-ſtone, which the builders ſo much re­ject. And leſt this ſhould be thought to be the judgement of ſome particular perſons, this is done by the conſent and appointment of ſeven Congregations or Churches in London, with the names of ſome of each of them ſubſcribed in the behalfe of the whole. And although wee bee diſtinct in our meetings, for conveniency; yet are we one in faith, fellowſhip, and communion, holding Jeſus Chriſt for our Head & Law-giver, under whoſe Rule and government we deſire to walke, and to follow the Lamb whereſoever he goeth, that when our Lord and King ſhall call us to account, we may be found ready and wor­thy to be received into our Maſters joy. Ʋntill which time we deſire to ſpend theſe few dayes we have here to remain, to the glory of God, the honour of the Goſpel, the Saints comfort, and our Countries good, to our own account at the great day when Chriſt ſhall come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on2 Theſſ. 1. 8. them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

Subſcribed by us in the behalfe of ſeven Congregations or Churches of Chriſt in London. As alſo by a French Congregation of the ſame judgement.
  • .
    • Thomas Gunne.
    • John Mabbit.
  • .
    • Thomas Munden.
    • George Tipping.
  • .
    • John Spilsbery,
    • Samuel Richardſon
  • .
    • William Kiffen.
    • Thomas Patient.
  • .
    • Paul Hobſon.
    • Thomas Goare.
  • .
    • Hanſerd Knolly.
    • Thomas Holms.
  • .
    • Benjamin Cockes.
    • Thomas Kilikop.
  • .
    • Denis le Barbier.
    • Chriſtophle Duret.

A CONFESSION OF FAITH of ſeven Congregations or Chur­ches of Chriſt in London, which are commonly (though unjuſtly) called ANABAPTISTS.

I.

THe Lord our God is butaa1 Cor. 8. 6. Eſay 44. 6. Chap. 46. 9. one God, whoſebbExod. 3. 14. ſubſiſtence is in himſelfe; whoſe eſſence cannot be comprehended by any but him­ſelfe; who only hath immortalitie,cc1 Tim. 6. 16. dwel­ling in the light which no man can ap­proach unto; who is in himſelfe moſtddEſay 43. 15. holy, every wayeePſal. 147. 5. infinite, inffDeut. 32. 3. greatneſſe,ggJob 36. 5. wiſdome,hhJer. 10. 12. power, love;iiExod. 34. 6, 7. mercifull and gracious, long-ſuffering and abundant in goodneſſe and truth, who givethkkActs 17. 28. Rom. 11. 36. being, moving, and preſervation to all creatures.

II.

In this divine and infinite being, there is theaa1 Cor. 1. 33 Father, thebbJohn 1. 1. Word, and theccChap. 15. 26 holy Spirit, each having the whole divineddExod. 3. 14. eſſence, yet the eſſence undivided; all infinite without any beginning, therefore butee1 Cor. 8. 6. one God, who is not to be divided in nature, and being, but diſtinguiſhed by ſeverall peculiar relative properties.

III.

God hathaaEſa. 46. 10. Epheſ. 1. 11. Rom. 11. 33. decreed in himſelfe before the world was concerning all things,bbPſal. 115. 3. & 135. 6. whether neceſſary,ccPſal. 33. 15. 1 Sam. 10. 9. 26. Pro. 21. 6. Exod. 21. 13. Pro. 16. 33. Pſal. 144. Eſa. 45. 7. Jer. 14. 22. Mat. 6. 28. 30. Col. 1. 16, 17. Nu. 23. 19, 20 Rom. 3. 4. Jer. 10. 10. Eph. 1. 4, 5. Jud. 4. 6. Pro. 16. 4. accidentall or voluntary, with all the circumſtances of them, to worke, diſpoſe, and bring about all things according to the counſell of his own will, to his glory: (yet without being the Author of ſin, or having fellowſhip with any therein) in which appeares his wiſdome in diſpoſing all things, unchangeableneſſe, power, and faithfulneſſe in accompliſhing his decree: and God hath before the foundation of the world, foreordained ſome men to eternall life, through Jeſus Chriſt, to the praiſe and glory of his grace; leaving the reſt in their ſin to their juſt condemnation, to the praiſe of his juſtice.

IV.

In theaaGen. 1. 1. Col. 1. 16. Eſa. 45. 12. beginning God made all things very good; created man after his ownbb1 Cor. 15. 45, 46. image, filled with all meet perfection of nature, and free from all ſin; butccEccleſ. 7. 29. long he abode not in this honour, Satan uſing the ſubtilty of theddGen. 3. 1. 4, 5. 2 Cor. 11. 3. Serpent to ſeduce firſt Eve, then by her ſeducing Adam; who without any compulſion, in eating the forbidden fruit,ee1 Tim. 2. 14. tranſgreſſed the command of God, and fell, where­byffGal. 3. 22. death came upon all his poſterity, who now are con­ceived in ſin, and by nature the children of wrath, the ſer­vants of ſin, the ſubjects ofggRom. 5. 12. 18, 19. Chap. 6. 22. Epheſ. 2. 3. death, and other miſeries in this world, and for ever, unleſſe the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſet them free.

V.

God in his infiniteaaJob 38. 11. power and wiſdome, dothbbEſa. 46. 10, 11. Eccleſ. 3. 14. diſ­poſe all things to the end for which they were created, that neither good nor evill befals any by chance, or with­out hisccMat. 10. 29, 30. Exod. 21. 13. Pro. 16. 33. providence; And that whatſoever befals the Elect, is by his appointment, for his glory, and theirddRom. 8. 28. good.

VI.

All the Elect beingaaJer. 31. 2. loved of God with an everlaſt­ing love, arebbEpheſ. 1. 3. 7. Chap. 2. 4. 9. 2. Theſ. 5. 9. redeemed, quickned, and ſaved, not by themſelves, nor their owne workes, leſt any man ſhould boaſt, but onely and wholly by God, of his freeccActs 13. 38. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Ier. 9. 23, 24. grace and mercy through Jeſus Chriſt, who is made unto us by God,dd1 Cor. 1. 30, 31 Ier. 23. 6. wiſdome, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, and redemption, and all in all, that he that rejoyceth, might rejoyce in the Lord.

VII.

AndaaIoh. 17. 3. Heb. 5. 9. this is life eternall, that we might know him the onely true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom hee hath ſent. Andbb1 Theſ. 1. 8. Ioh. 6. 36. on the contrary, the Lord will render vengeance in flaming fire, to them that know not God, and obey not the Goſpell of Jeſus Chriſt.

VIII.

The rule of this knowledge, faith, and obedience, concerning the worſhip of God, in which is contained the whole duty of man, is (notaaCol. 2. 23. Mat. 15. 9. 6. mens lawes, or unwrit­ten traditions, but) onely the word of God contained in the holybbIoh. 5. 39. 2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17. Scriptures, in which is plainly recorded whatſoever is needfull for us to know, beleeve, and pra­ctiſe, which are the onely rule of holineſſe and obedi­enceEſa. 8. 20. Gal. 1. 8, 9. Acts 3. 22, 23. for all Saints, at all times, in all places to bee ob­ſerved.

IX.

The Lord Jeſus Chriſt, of whomaaGen. 3. 15. Chap. 22. 18. & 49. 10. Dan. 7. 13. & 9. 24, 25, 26. Moſes and the Prophets wrote, the Apoſtles preached, hee is thebbPro. 8. 23. Iohn 1. 1, 2, 3. Heb. 1. 8 Son of God, the brightneſſe of his glory, &c. by whom hee made the world, who upholdeth and governeth all things that he hath made; who alſo when theccGal. 4. 4. d Heb. 7. 14. Rev. 5. 5. with Gen. 49. 9, 10. Rom. 1. 3. & 9. 10. Matth. 1. 16 with Luke 3. 23. 26. Heb. 2. 16. Iſa: 53. 3, 4, 5. Heb. 4. 15. fulneſſe of time was come, was made of a woman, of the Tribe of Judah, of the ſeed of Abraham and David; to wit, of the virgin Mary, the holy Spirit coming down upon her, the power of the moſt High over-ſhadowing her, and he was alſo tempted as we are, yet within ſin.

X.

aa1 Tim. 8. 5. Heb. 9. 15. Iohn 14. 6Jeſus Chriſt is made the Mediator of the new and everlaſting Covenant of grace between God and Man, ever to bebbIſa. 9. 6, 7. perfectly and fully the Prophet, Prieſt, and King of the Church of God for evermore.

XI.

Unto this office he was appointed byaaProv. 8. 23. Iſa. 42. 6. & 49. 15 God from ever­laſting, and in reſpect of his manhood, from the womb called, ſeparated, andbbIſa. 11. 2, 3, 4, 5. & 61. 1, 2. with Luke 4. 17, 22. Iohn 1. 14. 16. & 3. 34. anointed moſt fully and abundant­ly with all gifts neceſſary, God having without meaſure powred out his Spirit upon him.

XII.

Concerning his Mediatorſhip, the Scripture holds forth Chriſts call to his office: ForaaHeb. 5 4, 5, 6. none takes this honour upon him, but he that is called of God as was Aaron, it being an action of God, whereby a ſpeciall promiſe being made, he ordains his Son to this office; which promiſe is, that Chriſt ſhould be made a ſacrifice for ſinne, that he ſhould ſee hisbbIſa. 53. 10 11. ſeed, and prolong his dayes, and the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand,ccIohn 3. 16. Rom. 8. 32. all of meer free and abſolute grace towards Gods elect, and without any condition foreſeene in them to procure it.

XIII.

This office to bee Mediator, that is, to bee Prophet,1 Tim 2. 5. Heb. 7. 24. Dan 7, 14. Acts 4. 12. Luke 1. 33. Iohn 14. 6. Prieſt, and King of the Church of God, is ſo proper to Chriſt, that neither in whole, or any part thereof, it cannot be transferred from him to any other.

XIV.

This office to which Chriſt is called, is threefold, asaaDeut. 8. 15, with Acts 3. 22. 23. a Prophet,bbHeb. 3. 1. & 4. 12. 13. Prieſt, andccPſal. 2. 6. King: this number and order of offices is neceſſary; for in reſpect of ourdd2 Cor. 5. 20. Acts 26. 18. ignorance, we ſtand in need of his Propheticall office. And in re­ſpect of our greateeCol. 1. 22 alienation from God, wee need his Prieſtly office to reconcile us: and in reſpect of our a­verſneſſe and utter inability to return to God, wee need his Kingly office, toffIohn 16 8. convince,ggPſal. 110. 3 ſubdue,hhCant. 1. 3. Ioh. 6. 44. draw,iiPhil. 4. 13. up­hold andkk2 Tim. 4. 18. preſerve us to his heavenly Kingdome.

XV.

Concerning the propheſie of Chriſt, it is that where­by hee hathaaIohn 1. 18. & 12. 49, 50. & 15. & 17. 8. Deut. 18. 15. revealed the will of God, whatſoever is needfull for his ſervants to know andbbMat. 23. 10. obey; and there­fore he is called not onely a Prophet and Doctor, and theccHeb 3. 1. Apoſtle of our profeſſion, and theddMal. 3. 1. An­gel of the covenant, but alſo the veryee1 Cor. 1. 24. Col. 2. 3. wiſdome of God, in whom are hid all the treaſures of wiſdome and knowledge, who for ever continueth revealing the ſame truth of the Goſpel to his people.

XVI.

That hee might bee a Prophet every way compleat, it was neceſſary hee ſhould bee God, and alſo that heeJohn 1. 18. Acts 3. 22, with Deut. 18. 15. Heb. 1, 1 ſhould be man: for unleſſe he had been God, he could never have perfectly underſtood the will of God; and unleſſe he had been man, hee could not ſutably have un­foldedThat Jeſus Chriſt is God, is wonderfull clearly expreſſed in the Scriptures: he is called, The mighty God, Iſa. 9. 6. That Word was God, Joh. 1. 1. Chriſt who is God over all Rom. 9. 5. God manifeſted in the fleſh, 1 Tim. 3. 16. The ſame is very God, 1 John 5. 20. He is the firſt Rev. 1. 8. he gives being to all things, and without him was no­thing made, John 1. 2. he forgiveth ſins, Matth. 9. 6. he is before Abraham Ioh 8. 58. he was and is, and ever will be the ſame Heb. 13 8. he is alwayes with his to the end of the world, Mat. 28. 20. which could not be ſaid of Ieſus Chriſt, if he were not God. And to the Sonne he ſaith, Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever, Heb. 1. 8. Iohn 1. 18.Alſo, Chriſt is not onely perfectly God, but perfect Man made of a woman, Gal. 4. 4. made of the ſeed of David, Rom. 1. 3. Coming out of the loyns of David, Acts 2: 30. of Ieſſe and Iudah, Acts 13. 23. In that the children were partakers of fleſh and bloud, hee himſelfe likewiſe took part with them, Heb. 2. 14. he took not on him the nature of Angels, but the ſeed of Abraham, v. 16. So that we are bone of his bone, and fleſh of his fleſh. Eph. 5. 30 So that, he that ſanctifieth, and they that are ſanctified, are all of one, Heb. 2. 11. See Act. 3. 22. Deut. 18. 15. Heb. 1. 1. it in his own perſon to men.

XVII.

Concerning hisaaIohn 17. 19. Prieſthood, Chriſt having ſancti­fied himſelfe, hath appeared once to put away ſinne byHeb. 5. 7, 8, 9. & 10. 12. Rom. 5. 19 that one offering of himſelfe a ſacrifice for ſinne, by which he hath fully finiſhed and ſuffered all things GodEph. 5. 2. Col. 1. 20. Epheſ. 2. 14, 15, 16. Rom. 8. 34 required for the ſalvation of his elect, and removed all Rites and Shadowes, &c. And is now entred within the vaile into the Holy of Holies, which is the preſenceHeb. 9. 24. & 8. 1. 1 Pet. 2 5. Ioh. 4. 23, 24. of God. Alſo, he makes his people a ſpirituall Houſe, an holy Prieſthood, to offer up ſpirituall Sacrifice ac­ceptable to God through him. Neither doth the Fa­ther accept, or Chriſt offer to the Father any other worſhip or worſhippers.

XVIII.

This Prieſthood was not legall or temporary, but ac­cording to the order ofaaHeb 7. 17. Melchiſedec, and is ſtable and perfect, not for abbHeb. 7. 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25. time, but for ever, which is ſuteable to Jeſus Chriſt, as to him that ever liveth: Chriſt was the Prieſt, Sacrifice and Altar: hee was a Prieſt accor­ding to both natures; he was a Sacrifice according to his humane nature; whence inccHeb. 5. 6. Scripture it is attributed to his body, to hisddHeb. 10. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. Col. 1. 20. 22. bloud: yet the effectualneſſe of this Sa­crifice did depend upon his divine nature, therefore it is called the bloud of God. Hee was the Altar accor­ding to hiseeHeb. 9. 13. Acts 20. 28. divine nature, it belonging to theffHeb. 9. 14. & 13. 10, 12, 25. Mat. 23. 17. Iohn 27. 19. Altar to ſanctifie that which is offered upon it, and ſo it ought to be of greater dignity then the Sacrifice it ſelfe.

XIX.

Concerning his Kingly office,aa1 Cor. 15. 4. 1 Pet. 3, 21, 22. Mat. 28. 18, 19, 20. Luke 24. 51, Acts 1. 1. & 5. 30, 31. Iohn 19. 36. Rom. 14. 9. Iohn 5. 26, 27. Rom. 5. 6, 7, 8. & 14. 17. Gal. 5. 22, 23. Mark 1. 27. Heb. 1. 14. Iohn 16. 15. Iob. 1. 8. Rom. 1. 21, 27 18. Eph. 4 17, 18. 2 Pet. 8. Chriſt being riſen from the dead, and aſcended into heaven, and having all power in heaven and earth, he doth ſpiritually governe his Church, and doth exerciſe his power over all An­gels and men, good and bad, to the preſervation and ſal­vation of the elect, and to the over-ruling and deſtru­ction of his enemies. By this Kingly power he applieth the benefits, virtue, and fruits of his Propheſie and Prieſthood to his elect, ſubduing their ſinnes, pre­ſerving and ſtrengthening them in all their conflicts a­gainſt Satan, the World, and the Fleſh, keeping their hearts in faith and filiall feare by his ſpirit: by this his mighty power he ruleth the veſſels of wrath, uſing, limi­ting and reſtraining them as it ſeems good to his infi­nite wiſdome.

XX.

This his Kingly power ſhall be more fully manifeſted1 Cor. 15. 24, 28, Heb. 9. 28. 2 Theſſ. 1. 9, 10. 1 Theſſ. 4. 15, 16, 17. Iohn 17, 21, 26. when he ſhall come in glory to reign among his Saints, when he ſhall put down all rule and authority under his feet, that the glory of the Father may be perfectly mani­feſted in his Sonne, and the glory of the Father and the Son in all his members.

XXI.

Jeſus Chriſt by his death did purchaſe ſalvation forEpheſ. 1. 14. Heb. 5. 9. Mat. 1. 21. Iohn 17. 6. Heb. 7. 25. 1 Cor. 2. 1. Rom. 8. 29, 30. 1 Ioh. 5. 12. Ioh. 15. 13. Ioh. 3. 16. the Elect that God gave unto him: Theſe onely have in­tereſt in him, and fellowſhip with him, for whom he makes interceſſion to his Father in the behalfe of, and to them alone doth God by his Spirit apply this redemp­tion unto, as alſo the free gift of eternall life is given to them, and none elſe.

XXII.

Faith is theaaEpheſ. 2. 8, Iohn 6. 29. & 4. 10. Phil. 1. 29. Gal. 5. 22. gift of God, wrought in the hearts of the Elect by the Spirit of God; by which faith they come to know and believe the truth of thebbIoh. 17. 17. Heb. 4. 11, 12. Iohn 6. 63 Scriptures, and the excellency of them above all other writings, and all things in the world, as they hold forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Chriſt in his nature and offices, and of the power and fulneſſe of the Spirit in its workings and operations, and ſo are inabled to caſt their ſoules upon this truth thus believed.

XXIII.

All thoſe that have this precious faith wrought inMat. 7. 24, 25. Iohn 13. 10. Iohn 10. 28, 29. them by the Spirit, can never finally nor totally fall a­way, ſeeing the gifts of God are without repentance;1 Pet. 1. 4, 5, 6. Iſa. 49. 13, 14, 15, 16. ſo that he ſtill begets and nouriſheth in them faith, re­pentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spi­rit unto immortalitie; And though many ſtormes and flouds ariſe, and beat againſt them, yet they ſhall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock, which by faith they are faſtned upon; notwithſtanding, through unbelief, and the temptations of Satan, the ſenſible ſight of this light and love, be clouded and overwhelmed for a time; yet God is ſtill the ſame, and they ſhall be ſure to be kept by the power of God unto ſalvation, where they ſhall enjoy their purchaſed poſſeſſion, they being ingraven upon the palmes of his hands, and their names having been written in the booke of life from all eter­nitie.

XXIV.

Faith is ordinarilyaaRom. 10. 17. 1 Cor. 1. 28. begotten by the preaching of the Goſpel, or word of Chriſt, without reſpect tobbRom. 9. 16. any power or agency in the creature; but it being whollyccEzek. 16. 16. Rom. 3. 12. paſſive, and dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, doth believe and is converted by no leſſeddRom. 1. 16. Epheſ. 1. 19. Col. 2. 12. power then that which raiſed Chriſt from the dead.

XXV.

The preaching of the Goſpel to the converſion of ſinners, isaaIoh. 3. 14, 15. & 1. 12. Iſa. 55. 1. Ioh. 7. 37. abſolutely free; no way requiring as abſo­lutely neceſſary, any qualifications, preparations, or ter­rors of the Law, or preceding miniſtery of the Law; but onely and alone the naked ſoule, abb1 Tim. 1. 15. Rom. 4. 5. & 5. 8. Acts 5. 0, 31. & 2. 36. 1 Cor. 1. 22. 24. ſinner and ungodly to receive Chriſt crucified, dead, and buried, and riſen againe, who is made a Prince and a Saviour for ſuch ſinners as through the Goſpel ſhall be brought to be­leeve on him.

XXVI.

The ſame power that converts to faith in Chriſt, carrieth on theaa1 Pet. 1. 5. 2 Cor. 12. 9. ſoule through all duties, temptations, conflicts, ſufferings; and whatſoever a believer is, he isc Phil. 2. 12, 13. Ioh. 13. 5. Gal. 2. 19, 29. bybb1 Cor. 15. 10. grace, and is carried on in all obedience and temp­tations by the ſame.

XXVII.

All believers are by Chriſt, united to God, by whicha 1 Theſſ. 1. 1. Iohn 17. 21. & 20. 17. Heb. 2. 11. 1 Iohn 4. 16. union, God is one with them, and they are one with him; and that all believers are thebbGal. 2. 19, 20 Sons of God, and joynt heires with Chriſt, to whom belong all the promiſes of this life, and that which is to come.

XXVIII.

Thoſe that have union with Chriſt, are juſtified fromaa1 Iohn 1. 7. Heb. 10. 14. & 9. 26. 2 Cor. 5. 19. Rom. 3, 23. Acts 13. 38, 39. Rom. 5. 1. & 3. 25, 30. all their ſins by the bloud of Chriſt; which juſtifica­tion is a gracious and full acquitance of a guilty ſinner from all ſinne, by God, through the ſatisfact on that Chriſt hath made by his death for all their ſinnes. And this applied (in the manifeſtation of it) through faith.

XXIX.

All beleevers are a holy andaa1 Cor. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 9. ſanctified people, and that ſanctification is a ſpiritual grace of thebbEph. 1. 4. new cove­nant, and an effect of thecc1 John 4. 16 Mat. 28. 20. love of God manifeſted in the ſoul, whereby the beleever preſſeth after a heavenly and Evangelicall obedience to all the commands which Chriſt as Head and King in his new covenant hath pre­ſcribed to them.

XXX.

All beleevers through the knowledge ofaa2 Cor. 5. 19. Rom. 5. 9. 10. that juſti­fication of life given by the Father, and brought forth by the bloud of Chriſt, have as their great priviledge of that newbbIſa. 54. 10. & 26. 12. covenant, peace with God, and reconciliati­on, whereby they that were afarre off are made nigh byccEph. 2. 13. 14. that bloud, and haveddEph. 4. 7. peace paſſing all underſtanding; yea, joy in God through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, byeeRom. 5. 10, 11. whom we have received the atonement.

XXXI.

All beleevers in the time of this life, are in a continu­allaaRom. 7. 23, 2. Eph. 6, 10, 11, 12. 13. warfare and combate againſt ſin, ſelfe, the world, and the Devil; and are liable to all manner of afflicti­ons,bbHeb. 2. 9, 10. 2 Tim. 3. 12. tribulations, and perſecutions, beingccRom. 8. 29. 1 Theſſ. 3. 3. Gal. 2. 19. 20. 2 Cor. 5. 7. predeſti­nated and appointed thereunto, and whatſoever the Saints poſſeſſe or enjoy of God ſpiritually, is by faith, and outward and temporall things are lawfully enjoyed by a civill right by them who haveddDeut. 2. 5. no faith.

XXXII.

The onely ſtrength by which the Saints are enabled to encounter with all oppoſitions andaaIohn 16. 33. trials, isbbIohn 15. 5. Phil. 4. 11. onely by Jeſus Chriſt, who is the Captain of their ſalvation, being made perfect throughccHeb. 2. 9, 10. ſufferings, who hath en­gageddTim. 4. 18. his faithfulneſſe and ſtrength to aſſiſt them in all their afflictions, and to uphold them in all their temp­tations, and to preſerve them by his power to his ever­laſting Kingdome.

XXXIII.

Jeſus Chriſt hath here on earth a ſpiritual kingdom, which is his Church, whom he hath purchaſed and re­deemeda Matth. 11. 1, 2 Theſſ. 1. 15. & 1 Cor. 1. 2. Eph. 1. 1 to himſelfe as a peculiar inheritance; which Church is a company of viſible Saints,bbRom. 1. 7. Acts 19. 8, 9. & 26. 18. 2 Cor 6. 17. Rev. 18. 4. called and ſe­parated from the world by the Word andccActs 2. 37. with 10 37. Spirit of God, to the viſible profeſſion of the faith of the Goſ­pel,ddRom. 10. 10. Mat. 18. 19, 20. Acts 2, 42. being baptized into that faith, and joyned to the Lord, and each to other, by mutuall agreement in theeeActs 9. 26. 1 Pet. 2 5. practical enjoyment of the ordinances commanded by Chriſt their Head and King.

XXXIV.

To this Church heaaMa28. 18, 19, 20. hath made his promiſes, and gi­ven the ſignes of his covenant,bb1 Cor. 11. 24. & 3. 21. 2 Cor. 6. 18. Rom. 9. 4, 5. Pſal. 13 3. 3. preſence, acceptation, love, c bleſſing, andddRom. 3. 7. 10. protection. Here are the foun­tains and ſprings of his heavenly graceseeEzek. 47. 2. flowing forth to refreſh and ſtrengthen them,

XXXV.

And all his ſervants of all eſtates (are to acknowledgea Acts 2. 41. 47. Iſa. 4. 3. 1 Cor. 12. 6, 7, 12, 18. Ezek. 20. 40. 37. him to be their Prophet, Prieſt, and King;) and called thither to be enrolled among his houſhold ſervants, to preſent their bodies and ſoules, and to bring their gifts God hath given them, to bee under his heavenly conduct and government, to lead their lives in this wal­led Sheepfold, and wateredbbCant. 4. 12. Eph. 2. 19. Rom. 12. 4, 5, 6. Col. 1. 12. & 2. 5, 6, 19. Garden, to have commu­nion here with his Saints, that they may be aſſured that they are made meet to bee partakers of theirccActs 20. 32. inheri­tance in the Kingdome of God; and to ſupply each o­thers wants, inward and outward; (and although each perſon hath addActs 5. 4. propriety in his own eſtate, yet they are to ſupply each others wants, according as theireeActs 2. 44, 45. & 4. 34. 35. neceſ­ſities ſhall require, that the name of JeſusffLuke 14. 26. 1 Tim. 6. 1. Chriſt may not be blaſphemed through the neceſſity of any in the Church) and alſo being come, they are here by himſelfe to be beſtowed in their ſeverall order, due place, peculi­ar uſe, being fitly compact and knit togetherggEph. 4. 16. accor­ding to the effectuall working of every part, to the edi­fying of it ſelfe in love.

XXXVI.

Being thus Joyned, every ChurchaaAct. 1. 23. 26. 6. 3. with 15. 22, 25. hath power given them from Chriſt, for their wel-being to chuſe among themſelves meet perſons forbbRom. 12. 7. 8. Elders and Deacons, be­ing qualified according to the Word,cc1 Tim. 3. 2, 6, 7, 8. 1 Cor. 12. 8. 28. Heb. 13. 7, 17, 1 Pet. 5. 1, 2. 3. as thoſe which Chriſt hath appointed in his Teſtament, for the feeding, governing, ſerving, and building up of his Church, and that none have any power todd1 Pet. 4. 15. impoſe on them either theſe or any other.

XXXVII.

That the Miniſters lawfully called, as aforeſaid, oughtHeb. 5 4. Ioh. 10. 3, 4, Acts 20. 28, 29. Rom. 12. 7, 8. Heb. 13. 7, 17. 1 Pet. 5. 1, 2, 3. to continue in their calling and place, according to Gods ordinance, and carefully to feed the flock of God committed to them, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.

XXXVIII.

The Miniſters of Chriſt ought to have whatſoevera 1 Cor. 9. 7, 14. Gal. 6 8. Phil. 4. 15, 16. they ſhall need, ſupplied freely by the Church, that ac­cording to Chriſts ordinance they that preach the Go­ſpelb 2 Cor. 10. 4. 1 Tim. 1. 9. Pſal. 110. 3. ſhould live of the Goſpel by the law of Chriſt.

XXXIX.

Baptiſme is an ordinance of theaaMatth. 28. 18, 19 John 4. 1. Mark 16. 15, 16. Acts 2. 37, 38, & 8. 36, 37, 38, & 18. . new Teſtament, gi­ven by Chriſt, to be diſpenſed upon perſons profeſſing faith, or that are made Diſciples; who upon profeſſion of faith, ought to be baptized, and after to partake of the Lords ſupper.

XL.

That the way and manner of theaaMatth. 3. 6. 16. Mark 1 5. verſ. 9. reads [into Iordan] in Greek. Ioh. 3. 23. Acts 8. 38 diſpenſing this or­dinance, is dipping or plunging the body under water; it being a ſigne, muſt anſwer the things ſignified, which is, that intereſt the Saints have in theccRom. 6. 3, 4, 5, 6 1 Cor. 15. 28, 29. death, burial, and re­ſurrection of Chriſt: And that as certainly as the bodyb Rev. 1. 5. & 7. 14. with Heb. 10. 22. is buried under water, and riſen again, ſo certainly ſhall the bodies of the Saints bee raiſed by the power of Chriſt, in the day of the reſurrection, to reigne with Chriſt. The word Baptizo ſigni­fies to dip or plunge, (yet ſo as convenient garments be both upon the Adminiſtrator and ſubject with all modeſty.)

XLI.

The perſon deſigned by Chriſt to diſpence Baptiſme,Iſa 8. 16. Epheſ. 3 7. Mar 18. 19. Joh. 4. 2. Acts 20. 7. Chap. 11. 10. 1 Cor. 11. 24. with 1 Cor. 10 16, 17. the Scripture holds forth to bee a Diſciple; it be­ing no where tied to a particular Church-officer, or per­ſon extraordinarily ſent, the Commiſſion injoyning the adminiſtration, being given to them as conſidered Di­ſciples, being men able to preach the Goſpel.

XLII.

Chriſt hath likewiſe given power to his Church toRom. 16. 2. Mat. 18. 17. receive in, and caſt out, any member that deſerves it; and this power is given to every Congregation, and not1 Cor. 5. 4. 13. with 12. 6 2, to one particular perſon, either member or officer, but in relation to the whole body, in reference to their faith2 Cor. 2. 6, 7 and fellowſhip.

LXIII.

And every particular member of each Church, howMat. 18. 16, 17, 18 Acts 11. 2, 3 1 Tim. 5. 19, 20 21 excellent, great, or learned ſoever, is ſubject to this cen­ſure and judgement; & that the Church ought not with­out great care and tenderneſſe, and due advice, but by theCol. 4. 17. Acts 15. 1, 2, 3 rule of faith to proceed againſt her members.

XLIV.

Chriſt for the keeping of this Church in holy andAct. 20, 27, 2Heb. 13. 17. 2Mat. 24. 45. 1 Theſ. 5. 2. 1 Jude 3. 20. Heb. 10. 34, 35 & 12. 15. orderly communion, placeth ſome ſpeciall men over the Church, who by their office, are to governe, over­ſee, viſite, watch; So likewiſe for the better keeping thereof, in all places by the members, he hath given authoritie, and laid dutie upon all to watch over one another.

XLV.

Alſo ſuch to whom God hath given gifts in the1 Cor. 14. 3 &c. Church, may and ought to Prophecie, according to theRom. 12. 6. 1 Pet. 4. 10, 11 1 Cor. 12. 7. 1 Theſ. 10 19, 20, 21 proportion of faith, & ſo to teach publickly the Word of God, for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the Church.

XLVI.

Thus being rightly gathered, and continuing in theRev. 2. & 3. Chap. Acts 15. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 10 Heb. 10 25 Iude 19. Rev. 2. 20, 21. 22. Acts 15. 1, 2. Rom. 14, 1. & 15. 1, 2, 3 obedience of the Goſpel of Chriſt, none are to ſepa­rate for faults and corruptions (for as long as the Church conſiſts of men ſubject to failings, there will be difference in the true conſtituted Church) untill they have in due order, and tenderneſſe, ſought redreſſe thereof.

XLVII.

And although the particular Congregations be di­ſtinct and ſeverallaa1 Cor. 4. 17. & 14. 33. 36. & 16. 1. bodies, every one as a compact and knitbbPſal. 132. 3. Epheſ. 2. 12. 19 with Rev. 21. Citie within it ſelfe; yet are they all to walke bycc1 Tim. 3. 15. & 6. 13, 14. 1 Cor. 4. 17. one rule of truth; So alſo they (by all meanes conve­nient) are to have the counſell and helpeddAct. 15. 2, 3. Cant. 8. 8, 9. 2 Cor. 8. 1. 4. 13, 14. one of ano­ther, if neceſſitie require it, as members of one body, in the common faith, under Chriſt their head.

XLVIII.

A civillaaRom. 13. 1, 2, 3, 4. 1 Pet. 2. 13. 14 1 Tim 2. 1, 2, 3. The ſupreame Magiſtracy of this Kingdom wee acknow­ledge to be the King and Par­liament (now eſtabliſhed) freely choſen by the Kingdome, and that we are to maintaine and de­fend all civill Lawes and civill Officers made by them, which are for the good of the Common­wealth: and wee acknowledge with thankfulneſſe that God hath made this preſent King and Par­liament honorable in throwing down the Prelaticall Hierarchy, becauſe of their tyranny and op­preſſion over us, under which this Kingdom long groaned, for which we are ever ingaged to bleſſe God, and honour them for the ſame: and concerning the worſhip of God; there is but one Law-giver, which is able to ſave and deſtroy, James 4. 12. which is Jeſus Chriſt, who hath gi­ven Lawes and Rules ſufficient in his Word for his worſhip; and for any to make more, were to charge Chriſt with want of wiſdome, or faithfulneſſe, or both, in not making Lawes enough, or not good enough for his houſe: ſurely it is our wiſdome, dutie, and priviledge, to ob­ſerve Chriſts Lawes onely, Pſal. 2. 6. 9, 10, 12. ſo it is the Magiſtrates dutie to tender the libertie of mens conſciences, Eccl. 8. 8. (which is the tendereſt thing unto all conſcientious men & moſt dear unto them, and without which all other liberties will not be worth the naming, much leſſe injoy­ing) and to protect all under them from all wrong, injury, oppreſſion and moleſtation; ſo its our dutie not to be wanting in nothing which is for their honour and comfort and whatſoever is for the well-being of the Common-wealth wherein we live; it is our dutie to do, and we beleeve it to be our expreſſe dutie, eſpecially in matters of Religion, to be fully perſwaded in our minds of the Lawfulneſſe of what we doe, as knowing whatſoever is not of faith is ſin: and as wee cannot doe any thing contrary to our underſtandings and conſciences, ſo neither can we forbeare the doing of that which our underſtandings and conſciences bind us to doe: and if the Magiſtrate ſhould require us to doe otherwiſe, we are to yeeld our perſons in a paſſive way to their power, as the Saints of old have done, Jam. 5. 4. And thrice happy ſhall he be, that ſhall loſe his life for wit­neſſing (though but for the leaſt tittle) of the truth of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 5. Gal 5. Magiſtracy is an Ordinance of God, ſet up by him for the puniſhment of evill doers, and for the praiſe of them that doe well; and that in all lawfull things, commanded by them, ſubjection ought to be gi­ven by us in the Lord, not onely for wrath, but for conſcience ſake; and that we are to make ſupplications and prayers for Kings, and all that are in authoritie, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godlineſſe and honeſty.

XLIX.

But in caſe we finde not the Magiſtrate to favour us herein;aaAct. 2. 40, 41 & 4. 19. & 5. 28, 29. 41 & 20. 23. 1 Theſ. 3. 3. Phil. 1. 28, 29. Dan 3. 16, 17. & 6. 7. 10. 22, 23. yet wee dare not ſuſpend our practice, becauſe we believe we ought to goe on in obedience to Chriſt, in profeſſing the faith which was once deliver'd to the Saints, which faith is declared in the holy Scriptures, and this our confeſſion of faith a part of them, and that wee are to witneſſe to the truth of the old and new Te­ſtament unto the death, if neceſſitie require, in the midſt of all tryals and afflictions, as his Saints of old have done; not accounting our goods, lands, wives, children, fathers, mothers, brethren, ſiſters; yea, and our owne lives deare unto us, ſo wee may finiſh our courſe with joy, remembring alwayes, that we ought tobb1 Tim. 6. 13, 14, 15. Rom. 12. 1. 8. 1 Cor. 14. 37. obey God rather then men, who will when we have finiſhed our courſe, and kept the faith, give useeRev. 2. 20. the Crowne of righ­teouſneſſe; todd2 Tim. 4. 6, 7, 8. Rom. 14. 10. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Pſal. 49. 7. Pſal. 50. 22. whom wee muſt give an account of all our actions, and no man being able to diſcharge us of the ſame.

L.

It is lawfull for a Chriſtian to be a Magiſtrate or Ci­villActs 8. 38. & 10. 1, 2. 35. 44. Rom. 16. 23. Deut. 6. 13. Rom. 1. 9. 2 Cor. 10. 11. Jer. 4. 2. Heb. 6. 16. Officer; and alſo it is lawfull to take an Oath, ſo it be in truth, and in judgement, and in righteouſneſſe, for confirmation of truth, and ending of all ſtrife; and that by raſh and vaine Oaths the Lord is provoked, and this Land mournes.

LI.

Wee are to give unto all men, whatſoever is their1 Theſ. 4. 6. Rom. 13. 5, 6, 7 Mat. 22. 21. Tit. 3. 1 Pet. 2. 15. 17. & 5. 5. Eph. 5. 21. 23. & 6. 1. 9. Tit. 3. 1, 2, 3. due, as their place, age, eſtate requires; and that we de­fraud no man of any thing, but to doe unto all men, as we would they ſhould doe unto us.

LII.

There ſhall be a**Acts 24. 15. reſurrection of the dead, both of the juſt and unjuſt, and every one ſhall give an account of himſelfe to God, that every one may receive the things2 Cor. 5. 10. done in his body, according to that he hath done, whe­therRom. 14. 12. it be good or bad.

The Concluſion.

THus we deſire to give unto Chriſt that which is his, and unto all law­full Authority that which is their due, and to owe nothing to any man but love, to live quietly and peaceably, as it becommeth Saints, endea­vouring in all things to keep a good conſcience, and to doe unto every man (of what judgement ſoever) as we would they ſhould doe unto us, that as our practice is, ſo it may prove us to be a conſcionable, quiet, and barmleſſe peo­ple, (no wayes dangerous or troubleſome to humane Society) and to labour and work with our hands that we may not be chargeable to any, but to give to him that needeth both friends and enemies, accounting it more excellent to give then to receive. Alſo we confeſſe that we know but in part, and that we are ignorant of many things which we deſire and ſeek to know: and if a­ny ſhall doe us that friendly part to ſhew us from the word of God that wee ſee not, we ſhall have cauſe to be thankfull to God and them. But if any man ſhall impoſe upon us any thing that we ſee not to be commanded by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, we ſhould in his ſtrength rather embrace all reproaches and tortures of men, to be ſtript of all outward comforts, and if it were poſ­ſible, to die a thouſand deaths, rather then to doe any thing againſt the leaſt tittle of the truth of God, or againſt the light of our own conſciences. And if any ſhal call what we have ſaid Hereſie, then do we with the Apoſtle acknow­ledge, that after the way they call hereſie, worſhip we the God of our Fathers, diſclaiming all Hereſies (rightly ſo called) becauſe they are againſt Chriſt, & to be ſtedfaſt and immoveable, alwayes abounding in obedience to Chriſt, as knowing our labour ſhall not be in vain in the Lord.

PSAL. 74. 21, 22.

Ariſe, O God, plead thine own cauſe; Remember how the fooliſh man blaſphemeth thee daily.

O let not the oppreſſed returne aſhamed, but let the poore and needy praiſe thy Name.

Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly.

FINIS.

About this transcription

TextA confession of faith of seven congregations or churches of Christ in London, which are commonly (but uniustly) called Anabaptists. Published for the vindication of the truth, and information of the ignorant; likewise for the taking off of those aspersions which are frequently both in pulpit and print unjustly cast upon them. The second impression corrected and enlarged. Published according to order.
Author[unknown]
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Edition1646
SeriesEarly English books online.
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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A80328)

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Bibliographic informationA confession of faith of seven congregations or churches of Christ in London, which are commonly (but uniustly) called Anabaptists. Published for the vindication of the truth, and information of the ignorant; likewise for the taking off of those aspersions which are frequently both in pulpit and print unjustly cast upon them. The second impression corrected and enlarged. Published according to order. [24] p. printed by Math. Simmons, and are to be sold by John Hancock in Popes-head Alley.,London :1646.. (Annotation on Thomason copy: between 'of' and 'faith' in title: "the 16 Anabtists [sic]"; "Jan: 28th".) (Signatures: A-C⁴.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)
Languageeng
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  • Anabaptists -- England -- London -- Early works to 1800.
  • London (England) -- Church history -- 17th century.

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ImprintAnn Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2013-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2).
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  • STC Wing C5780
  • STC Thomason E319_13
  • STC ESTC R200559
  • EEBO-CITATION 99861276
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