Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

are not to be made the rule of faith or practice, but to be used as an help in both e.

V. Synods and councils are to handle or conclude nothing but that which is ecclesiastical; and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs, which concern the commonwealth, unless by way of humble petition, in cases extraordinary; or by way of advice for satisfaction of conscience, if they be thereunto required by the civil magistrate'.

CHAP. XXXII. Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resur rection of the Dead.

HE bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption a; Tbut their souls, (which neither die nor sleep,) having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day. Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies, the scripture acknowledgeth none.

the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Ver. 18. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Ver. 19. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Ver. 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

IV. e Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. Acts xvii. 11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 1 Cor. ii. 5. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 2 Cor. i. 24. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy for by faith ye stand.

V. f Luke xii. 13. And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. Ver. 14. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? John xviii. 36. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

I. a Gen iii. 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken:

for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Acts xiii. 36. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption.

b Luke xxiii. 43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Eccl. xii. 7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

c Heb. xii. 23. To the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. 2 Cor. v. 1. For we know, that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Ver. 6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: Ver. 8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Phil. i. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better. With Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. And Eph. iv. 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.

d Luke xvi. 23. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Ver. 24. And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of

:

II. At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed and all the dead shall be raised up with the self-same bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls for ever.

III. The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious body 8.

G

CHAP. XXXIII. Of the Last Judgment.

OD hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christa, to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father. In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil d.

his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. Acts i. 25. That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. Jude, Ver. 6. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. Ver. 7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them, in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 1 Pet. iii. 19. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.

II. e 1 Thess. iv. 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Cor. xv. 51. Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, Ver. 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, (for the trumpet shall sound;) and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

f Job. xix. 26. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Ver. 27. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. 1 Cor. xv. 42. So also is the resurrection of the dead; it is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption: Ver. 43. It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power: Ver. 44. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

III. g Acts xxiv. 15. And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. John. v. 28. Marvel not at this: for the

hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, Ver. 29. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 1 Cor. xv. 43. [See in letter f] Philip. iii. 21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

I. a Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

b John v. 22. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. Ver. 27. And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

c 1 Cor. vi. 3. Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? Jude, Ver. 6. [See letter Chapter foregoing.] 2 Pet. ii. 4. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.

d 2 Cor. v. 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. Eccl. xii. 14. For God shall bring every work into judg ment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Rom. ii. 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Rom. xiv. 10. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. Ver. 12. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Mat. xii. 36. But I say unto you, That every

II. The end of God's appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy in the eternal salvation of the elect, and of his justice in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and refreshing which shall come from the presence of the Lord; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

III. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity; so will he have that day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen 8.

[blocks in formation]

II. e [Mat. xxv. 31. to the end.] Rom. ii. 5. But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Ver. 6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds. Rom. ix. 22. What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction; Ver. 23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory? Mat. xxv. 21. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Acts iii. 19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. 2 Thess. i. 7-10. [See in the Bible.]

III. f 2 Pet. iii. 11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? Ver. 14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 2 Cor. v. 10. [See letter d.] Ver. 11. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men: but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 2 Thess. i. 5. Which 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: Ver. 6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; Ver. 7. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. Luke xxi. 27. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory. Ver. 28. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Rom. viii, 23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Ver. 24. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? Ver. 25. But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

g Mat. xxiv. 36, 42, 43, 44. [See in the Bible.] Mark xiii. 35. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning; Ver. 36. Lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. Ver. 37. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch. Luke xii. 35. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; Ver. 36. And ye yourselves like unto inen that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may opea unto him immediately. Rev. xxii. 20. which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

le

FINIS.

CHAP. XXVIII. Of Baptism.

BAPTISM is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace , of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life; which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world h.

II. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel, lawfully called thereunto .

III. Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person .

IV. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents are to be baptized m.

that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; Ver. 2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; Ver. 3. And did all eat the same spiritual meat; Ver. 4. And did all drink the same spiritual drink; (for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ.)

I. a Mat. xxviii. 19. [See letterk of the foregoing Chapter.]

b 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

c Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. With Col. ii. 11. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; Ver. 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

d Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Rom. vi. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

e Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

f Mark i. 4. John did baptize in the wil

derness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

g Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Ver. 4. 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 newness of life.

h Mat. xxviii. 19. [See in letter foregoing Chapter.] Ver. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

II. i Mat. iii. 11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. John i. 33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. Mat. xxviii. 19. [See in letter foregoing Chapter.] Ver. 20. [See in letter hj

III. Heb. ix. 10, 19, 20, 21, 22. Acts ii. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts xvi. 33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. Mark vii. 4. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

IV. 1 Mark xvi. 15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach

V. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance", yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated or saved without it, or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated P.

VI. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in his appointed time".

VII. The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered to any person.

the gospel to every creature. Ver. 16. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Acts viii. 37. And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Ver. 38. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

m Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Ver. 9. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee, in their generations. With Gal. iii. 9. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Ver. 14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. And Col. ii. 11. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; Ver. 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And Acts ii. 38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: Ver. 12. And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. 1 Cor. vii. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by

the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 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 Ghost. Mark x. 13. And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. Ver. 14. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Ver. 15. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Ver. 16. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Luke xviii. 15. And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

V. n Luke vii. 30. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. With Exod. iv. 24. And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him. Ver. 25. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. Ver. 26. So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

o Rom. iv. 11.
2, 4, 22, 31, 45, 47.

[See in letter m.] Acts x.

P Acts viii. 13. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Ver. 23. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

VI. q John iii. 5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Ver. 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righte

E

« AnteriorContinuar »