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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 o Rome in any fenfe be head thereof, but is that antichrift, that man of fin, and fon of perdition, that exalteth himfelf in the church against Chrift, and all that is called God ..

en, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul fpirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Rom. xi. 18. Boaft not against the branches: but if thou boalt, thou beareft not the root, but the root thee, v. 19. Thou wilt fay then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. v. 20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standeft by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear. v. 21. For if God fpared not the natural branches, take head left he alfo fpare not thee. v. 22. Behold therefore the goodness, and feverity of God: on them which fell, feverity; but towards thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness otherwife thou alfo fhalt be cut off

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m Matth. xvi. 18. And I fay alfo 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 fhall endure for ever: his name fhall be continued as long as the fun and men fhall be bleffed in him, all nations fhall call him bleffed. Pfal. cii. 28. The children of thy fervants fhall continue, and their feed fhall be established before thee. Matth. xxviii. 19, 20. (See in letter g.)

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VI. n Col. i. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who

CHAP.

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.

o Matth. 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, which is in heaven. V. 10. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Mafter, even Christ. 2 Theff. ii. 3. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day fhall 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 himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; fo that he as God fitteth in the temple of God, fhewing himself that he is God. v. 8. And then fhall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord fhall confume with the fpirit of his mouth, and fhall deftroy with the brightness 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.

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CHAP. XXVI. Of Communion of Saints.

LL faints that are united to Jefus Chrift their head, by his Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with him in his graces, fufferings, death, refurrection, and glory a. And, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other's gifts and graces b, and are obliged to the performance of fuch duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man c.

V. 19

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 fellowship 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 Chrift 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; And to know the love of Chrift, which paffeth knowledge, that he 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) v. 6. And hath raifed 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 shall be alfo

II. Saints,

in the likeness of his refurrection: v. 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of fin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not ferve fin. 2 Tim. ii. 12. If we fuffer, we fhall alfo reign with him: if we deny him, he alfo will deny us.

b 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 itfelf in love. 1 Cor. xii. 7. But the manifeftation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit with all. I 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, ministered, and knit together, increafeth with the increase of God.

c 1 Theff. v. II. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify

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II. Saints, by profeffion, are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing fuch other fpiritual fervices 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 thofe who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jefus e.

prayer.

III. This communion which the faints have with Chrift, doth not make them in any wife partakers of the subftance and fo much the more, as ye fee the day approaching. Acts ii. 42. And they continued ftedfastly in the apoftles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in 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 glad-, nefs and fingleness of heart. If. ii. 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. Cor. xi. 20. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not, to eat the Lord's fupper.

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 fome fpiritual gift, to the end you may be established; 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, because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. v. 17. But whofo hath this worlds good, and feeth his brother have need, and fhutteth up his bowels of compaffion 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 in deed, and in truth. Gal. vi. 10. As we have therefore opportunity. let us do good unto all men, efpecially unto them who are of the household 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 ourfelves together, as the manner of fome is; but exhorting one another:

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e Acs 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 which dwelt in Judea. v. 30. Which also they did, and fent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Col.

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Chap XXVII. ftance of his God head, or to be equal with Chrift in any refpect either of which to affirm, is impious and blafphemous f. Nor 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.

CHAP. XXVII. of the Sacraments.

Acraments are holy figns and feals of the covenant of grace a, immediately inftituted by God b, to repre

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 pleafed 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 Chrift, by whom are all things; and we by him. If. xlii. 8. I am the Lord, that is my name, and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 1 Tim. vi. 15. Which in his times he fhall fhow, who is the bleffed and 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 everlafting. Amen. Pfal. xiv. 7. Thou loveft 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 righteoufnefs is the fceptre of thy kingdom: v. 9. Thou haft loved righteoufnefs, and hated iniquity: therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with

fent

the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

g Exod. xx. 15. Thou shalt not fteal. Eph. iv. 28. Let him that stole, fteal 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 hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

I a Rom. iv. II. And he received the fign of circumcifion, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which 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 Matth. 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 Ghost. I Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jefus, the fame night in

fent Chrift and his benefits; and to confirm our interest in him c; as alfo to put a vifible difference between thofe that belong unto the church, and the reft of the world d; and folemnly to engage them to the fervice of God in Christ, 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 facra

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 Christ? 1 Cor. xi. 25. After the fame manner also he took the cup, when he had fupped, faying, This cup is the New Testament 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 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, canpot difannul, that it fhould make the promise of none effect.

d Rom. xv. 8. Now I fay, that Jefus Chrift was a minifter of the circumcifion for the truth of God, to confirm the promises 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 there

ments, of. 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.

v. 4.

e Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that fo many of us as were baptized into Jefus Chrift, were baptized into. his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into death; that like as Chrift was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also fhould walk in newness of life. 1 Cor. x. 16. (See in letter c) v. 21. Ye cannnt drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

II.f Gen. xvii. 10. This is my covenant, which ye fhall keep between me, and you, and thy feed after thee: Every man-child among you fhall be circumcifed. Matth. xxvi. 27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, faying, Drink ye all of it: v. 28. For this is my blood of the New Teftament, which is fhed for many for the remiffion of fins. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteoufnefs, which we have done, but according to his mercy he faved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

Rom.

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