Nevertheless, there fhall be always a church on earth, to worship God according to his will m. VI. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jefus Chrift n. Nor can the pope of Rome in any fenfe be head thereof; but is that antichrift, that man of fin, and fon of perdition that exalteth himself in the church against Chriit, and all that is called God o. CHAP. XXVI. Of the Communion of Saints. LL faints that are united to Jesus Christ their head, by his Spirit and by faith, have fellowship with him in his graces, fufferings, death, refurrection and glory a: and, being united m Mat. xvi. 18. And I fay also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell fhall not prevail against it. Pfal. Ixxii. 17. His name thall endure for ever: his name fhall be continued as long as the fun and men thall be bleffed in him: all nations fhall call him blefed, Pfal, cii. 28. The children of thy fervants fhall continue, and their feed fhall be established before thee. Mat. xxviii. 19, 20. (See in letter g.) VI. Col. i. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the first born from the dead: that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. Eph. i. 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. • Mat. xxiii. 8. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Mafter, even Chrift, and all ye are brethren. v. 9. And call no man your father upon earth: for one is your Father, who is in heaven. v. 10. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Chrift. 2 Theff. ii. 3. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away firft, and that man of fin be revealed, the fon of perdition: v. 4. who oppofeth and exalteth him elf above all that is called God, or that is worfhipped: fo that he as God fitteth in the temple of God, thewing himfelf that he is God. v. 8. And then fhall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord fhall confume with the spirit of his mouth, and fhall destroy with the brightnefs of his coming. v. 9. Even him whofe coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and figns, and lying wonders. Rev. xiii. 6. And he opened his mouth, in blafphemy against God, to blafpheme his name and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. I. a 1 John i. 3. That which we have feen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye alfo may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowfhip is with the Father, and with his Son Jefus Chrift. Eph. iii. 16. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be ftrengthened with might, by his Spirit in the inner-man; v. 17. that united to one another in love, they have communion in each others gifts and graces b; and are obliged to the performance of fuch duties, publick and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man c. Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, v. 18. may be able to comprehend with all faints, what is the breadth and length, and depth, and height; v. 19. and to know the love of Chrift, which paffeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. John i, 16. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. Eph. ii. 5. Even when we were dead in fins, hath quickened us together with Chrift, (by grace ye are faved.) . 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us fit together in heavenly places in Chrift Jefus, Phil. iii. 10. That I may know him and the power of his refurrection, and the fellowship of his fufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Rom. vi. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likenefs of his death: we fhall be alfo in the likeness of his refurrection. v. 6. Knowing this, that our old man is trucified with him, that the body of fin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not ferve fin. 2 Tim. ü. 12. If we fuffer, we fhall alforeign with him: if we deny him, he alfo will deny us. Eph. iv. 15. But fpeaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Chrift. v. 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint fupplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in II. Saints, love. 1 Cor. xii. 7. But the manifeftation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 1 Cor. iii. 21. Therefore let no man glory in men, for all things are yours: V. 22. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things prefent, or things to come, all are yours; v. 23. And ye are Chrift's and Chrift is God's. Col. ii. 19. And not holding the head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment miniftred, and knit together, increafeth with the increate of God. c1 Theff. v. 11. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as alfo ye do. v. 14. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, fupport the weak, be patient toward all men. Rom. i. 11. For I long to fee you, that I may impart unto you some fpiritual gift, to the end ye may be eftablifhed: v, 12. That is, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me. v. 14. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians, both to the wife, and to the unwife. 1 John iii. 16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, becaufe he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. v. 17. But whofo hath this world's good, and feeth his brother have need, and fhutteth up his bowels of compaflion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? v. 18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but Chap. XXVI. II. Saints, by profeffion, are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing fuch other fpiritual services as tend to their mutual edification d, as alfo in relieving each other in outward things, according to their feveral abilities and neceffities. Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jefuse. III. This communion which the faints have with Chrift, doth not make them in any wife partakers of the substance of his Godhead, or to be equal with Chrift in any refpect: either of which to affirm, is impious and blafphemousf. Nor in deed and in truth. Gal. vi. io. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, efpecially unto them who are of the houthold of faith. II. d Heb. x. 24. And let us confider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works. v. 25. Not forfaking the affembling of outfelves together, as the manner of fome is; but exhorting one another: and fo much the more, as you fee the day approaching. Acts ii. 42. And they continued ftedfaftly in the apoitles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer. v. 46. And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking of bread from houfe to houfe, did eat their meat with gladness and fingleness of heart. Ifa. ii. 3. And many people fhall go and fay, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion fhall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerufalem. 1 Cor. xi. 20. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's fupper. doth e Acts ii. 44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common, v. 45. and fold their poffeffions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 1 John iii. 17. (See in letter c.) (2 Cor. viii. and ix. chapters.) Acts xi. 29. Then the difciples, every man according to his ability, determined to fend relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea. v. 30. Which also they did, and fent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. III. ƒ Col. i. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. v. 19. For it pleafeth the Father that in him fhould all fulness dwell. 1 Cor. viii. 6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jefus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Ifa. xlii. 8. I am the Lord, that is my name, and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praife to graven images. 1 Tim. vi. 15. Which in his times he fhall fhew, who is the bleffed and only doth their communion one with another, as faints, take away or infringe the title or property which each man hath in his goods and poffeffions g. SACRA CHAP. XXVII. Of the Sacraments. ACRAMENTS are holy figns and feals of the covenant of grace a, immediately inftituted by Godb, to reprefent Chrift and his benefits; and to confirm our intereft in him c; as alfo to put a vifible difference between thofe that belong only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. v. 16. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath feen, nor can fee: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. Pfal. xlv. 7. Thou loveit righteoufnefs, and hateft wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladnefs above thy fellows. With Heb. i. 8. But unto the Son he faith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a fceptre of righteoufness is the fceptre of thy kingdom: v. 9. Thou haft loved righteoufnefs, and hated-iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladnefs above thy fellows. g Exod. xx. 15. Thou shalt not fteal. Eph. iv. 28. Let him that ftole, steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Acts v. 4. Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was fold, was it not in thine own power? why haft thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou haft not lied unto men, but unto God. I. Rom. iv. i1. And he received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteoufnefs of the faith, which unto he had yet being uncircumcifed: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcifed; that righteoufnefs might be imputed unto them alfo, Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy feed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant; to be a God unto thee, and to thy feed after thee. v. 10. (See below in letter f.) b Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghoft. Cor, xi. 23. For I have received of the Lord, that which alfo I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jefus, the fame night in which he was betrayed, took bread, c 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of bleffing which we blefs, is it not the communion of the blood of Chrift? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Chrift? 1 Cor. xi. 25. After the fame manner alfo he took the cup, v hen he had fupped, faying, This cup is the new teltament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. v. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do fhew the Lord's death till he come. * Gal. iii. 27, For as many unto the church, and the rest of the world d; and folemnly Chap. XXVII. to engage them to the fervice of God in Chrift, according to. his word e. II. There is in every facrament a spiritual relation, or facramental union, between the fign and the thing fignified; whence it comes to pafs, that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other f. III. The grace which is exhibited in or by the facraments rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither doth the efficacy of a facrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth adminifter itg, but upon the work of you as have been baptized into Chrift, have put on Chrift Gal. iii. 17. And this I fay, That the covenant that was confirmed before of God in Chrift, the law which was four hundred and thirty years after cannot difannul, that it should make the promife of none effect. d Rom. xv. 8. Now I fay, That Jefus Chrift was a minister of the circumcifion for the truth of God, to confirm the promifes made unto the fathers. Exod. xii. 48. And when a ftranger fhall fojourn with thee, and will keep the paffover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcifed, and then let him come near and keep it; and he fhall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcifed perfon fhall eat thereof. Gen. xxxiv. 14. And they faid unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our fifter to one that is uncircumcifed: for that were a reproach unto us. . Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that fo many of us as were baptized into Jefus Chrift, were baptized into his death? v. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into death: that like as Chrift was raifed up from the dead by the glory of the Father, of nefs of life. 1 Cor. x. 16. (See in leteven fo we alfo fhould walk in newcup of the Lord, and the cup of deter c.) v. 21. Ye cannot drink the Lord's table, and of the table of vils: ye cannot be partakers of the devils. covenant, which ye fhall keep beII. ƒ Gen. xvii. 10. This is my ter thee; Every man child among tween me and you, and thy feed af27. And he took the you fhall be circumcised. Mat. xxvi. thanks, and gave it unto them, faycup, and gave ing, Drink ye all of it. v. 28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is thed for many for the remiffion of fins. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousnefs, which we have done, but according to his of regeneration, and renewing of the mercy he faved us by the washing holy Ghost. III. g Rom. ii. 28. For he is not a Jew, who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcifion, which is outward in the flesh: v. 29. But he is a Jew, who is one inwardly; and circumcifion is that of the heart, in the fpirit, and not in the letter, whofe praife is not of men, but of God. Pet. iii. 21. The like figure I where |