The
First London
Confession of Faith,
Of those CHURCHES which are
commonly (though falsly) called
ANABAPTISTS.
Presented to the view of all that
feare God, to examine by the touchstone of the Word of Truth: As likewise for
the taking off those aspersions which are frequently both in Pulpit and Print,
(although unjustly) cast upon them.
- Acts
4:20 Wee cannot but speake the things which we have seene and heard.
- Isaiah
8:20 To the Law and to the testimony, if they speake not according to this
Rule, it is because there is no light in them.
- 2
Corinthians 1:9, 10 But wee had the sentence of death in ourselves, that wee
should not trust in ourselves, but in the living God, which raiseth the
dead; who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver, in whom wee
trust that he will yet deliver.
LONDON
:
Printed by Matthew Simmon
in Aldersgate-street.
1644
To All That Desire
The lifting up
of the Name of the LORD JESUS in
sinceritie, the poore despised Churches of God in
London
send greeting, with prayers for their farther increase in the knowledge
of CHRIST JESUS.
Wee
question not but that it will seeme strange to many men,
that such as wee are frequently termed to be, lying under that calumny
and black brand of Heretickes, and sowers of division as wee doo, should
presume to appear so publickly as now wee have done: But yet
notwithstanding wee may well ( say, to give answer to such, what
David said to his brother, when the Lords battell was a
fighting, (1 Samuel 29:30). Is there not a cause? Surely, if
ever people had cause to speake for the vindication of the truth of Christ in
their hands, wee have, that being indeed the maine wheele at this
time that sets us aworke; for had any thing by men been transacted
againt our persons onely, wee could quietly have sitters still, and
committed our Cause to him who is a righteous Judge, who will in
the great day judge the secrets of all mens hearts by Jesus Christ: But
being it is not only us, but the truth professed by us, wee cannot,
wee dare not but speake; it is no strange thing to any observing
man, what sad charges are laid, not onely by the world, that
know not God, but also by those that thinke themselves much
wronged, if they be not looked upon as the chiefe Worthies of the
Church of God, and Watchmen of the Citie: But it hath fared
with us from them, as from the poor Spouse seeking her Beloved,
(Song of Solomon 5:6, 7). They finding us out of that common road-way
themselves walke, have smote us and taken away our vaile, that
so wee may by them be recommended odious in the eyes of all that behold
us, and in the hearts of all that thinke upon us, which
they have done both in Pulpit and Print, charging us with holding
Free-will, Falling away from grace, denying Originall sinne,
disclaiming of Magistracy, denying to assist them either in persons
or purse in any of their lawfull Commands, doing acts unseemly in the
dispensing the Ordinance of Baptism, not to be named amongst Christians:
All which Charges wee disclaime as notoriously untrue, though
by reason of these calumnies cast upon us, many that feare God are
discouraged and fore-stalled in harbouring a good thought, either
of us or what wee professe; and many that know not God incouraged,
if they can finde the place of our meeting, to get together in
Clusters to stone us, as looking upon us as a people holding such things,
as that wee are not worthy to live: Wee have therefore for the
clearing of the truth we professe, that it may be at libertie,
though wee be in bonds, briefly published a Confession of our Faith,
as desiring all that feare God, seriously to consider whether (if
they compare what wee here say and confesse in the presence of the Lord
Jesus and his Saints) men have not with their tongues in Pulpit,
and pens in Print, both spoken and written things that are contrary to
truth; but wee know our God in his owne time will cleere our Cause,
and lift up his Sonne to make him the chiefe cornerstone, though
he has been (or now should be) rejected of MasterBuilders.
And be-cause it may be conceived, that what is here published,
may be but the Judgement of some one particular Congregation, more
refined then the rest; We doe therefore here subscribe it, some
of each body in the name, and by the appointment of seven
Congregations, who though wee be distinct in respect of our particular
bodies, for conveniency sake, being as many as can well
meete together in one place, yet are all one in Communion, holding
Jesus Christ to be our head and Lord; under whose government wee desire
alone to walke, in following the Lambe wheresoever he goeth; and
wee beleeve the Lord will daily cause truth more to appeare in the hearts
of his Saints, and make them ashamed of their folly in the Land of their
Nativitie, that so they may with one shoulder, more studie to lift
up the Name of the Lord Jesus, and stand for his appointments and
Lawes; which is the desires and prayers of the contemned Churches
of Christ in London for all Saints.
Subscribed in the Names of seven
Churches in
London
.
William Kiffin, Thomas Patience
John Spilsbury, George Tipping, Samuel Richardson
Thomas
Skippard, Thomas Munday
Thomas Gunne,
John Mabbatt
John Webb, Thomas Killcop
Paul Hobson, Thomas Goare
Joseph
Phelpes, Edward Heath
The
Confession of Faith,
of Those Churches
Which are Commonly (Though Falsly)
Called
AnaBaptists.
I.
That God as He is in Himself, cannot be comprehended of any
but himself, 1 dwelling in that inaccessible light, that no eye can
attain unto, whom never man saw, nor can see; that there is but 2 one
God, one Christ, one Spirit, one Faith, one Baptism; 3 one rule of
holiness and obedience for all Saints, at all times, in all places to be
observed.
1) 1 Tim. 6:16
2) 1 Tim. 2:5; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Cor. 12:4-6,13; John 14
3) 1 Tim. 6:3, 13, 14; Gal. 1:8, 9; 2 Tim. 3:15
II.
That God is 1 of Himself, that is, neither from
another, nor of another, nor by another, nor for another: 2 But is a
Spirit, who as his being is of Himself, so He gives 3 being, moving,
and preservation to all other things, being in Himself eternal, most holy, every
way infinite in 4 greatness, wisdom, power, justice, goodness, truth,
etc. In this Godhead, there is the Father, the Son, and the Spirit; being every
on of them one and the same God; and therefore not divided, but distinguished
one from another by their several properties; the 5 Father being from
Himself, the 6 Son of the Father from everlasting, the 7
Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son.
1) Isa. 43:11; 46:9
2) John 4:24
3) Exod. 3:14
4) Rom. 11:36; Acts 17:28
5) 1 Cor. 8:6
6) Prov. 8:22-23
7) John 15:16; Gal. 4:6
III.
That God has 1 decreed in Himself from everlasting
touching all things, effectually to work and dispose them 2 according
to the counsel of His own will, to the glory of His name; in which decree
appears His wisdom, constancy, truth, and faithfulness; 3 Wisdom is
that whereby He contrives all things; 4 Constancy is that whereby the
decree of God remains always immutable; 5 Truth is that whereby He
declares that alone which He has decreed, and though His sayings may seem to
sound sometimes another thing, yet the sense of them does always agree with the
decree; 6 Faithfulness is that whereby He effects that He has
decreed, as He has decreed. And touching His creature man, 7 God had
in Christ before the foundation of the world, according to the good pleasure of
His will, foreordained some men to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the
praise and glory of His grace, 8 leaving the rest in their sin to
their just condemnation, to the praise of His justice.
1) Isa. 46:10
2) Eph. 1:11
3) Col. 2:3
4) Num. 23:19-20
5) Jer. 10:10; Rom. 3:4
6) Isa. 44:10
7) Eph. 1:3-7; 2 Tim. 1:9; Acts 13:48; Rom. 8:29-30
8) Jude 4,6;
Rom.
9:11-13; Prov. 16:4
IV.
1 In the beginning God made all things very good,
created man after His own 2 image and likeness, filling him with all
perfection of all natural excellency and uprightness, free from all sin. 3
But long he abode not in this honor, but by the 4 subtlety of the
Serpent, which Satan used as his instrument, himself with his angels having
sinned before and not 5 kept their first estate, but left their own
habitation; first 6 Eve, then Adam being seduced did wittingly and
willingly fall into disobedience and transgression of the Commandment of their
great Creator, for the which death came upon all, and reigned over all, so that
all since the Fall are conceived in sin, and brought forth in iniquity, and so
by nature children of wrath, and servants of sin, subjects of 7
death, and all other calamities due to sin in this world and for ever, being
considered in the state of nature, without relation to Christ.
1) Gen. 1; Col. 1:16; Heb. 11:3; Isa. 45:12
2) Gen. 1:26; 1 Cor. 15:45-46; Ecc. 7:29
3) Psa. 49:20
4) Gen. 3:1, 4, 5; 2 Cor. 11:3
5) 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; John 8:44
6) Gen. 3:1, 2, 6; 1 Tim. 2:14; Ecc. 7:29; Gal. 3:22
7) Rom. 5:12, 18, 19; 6:23; Eph. 2:3
V.
All mankind being thus fallen, and become altogether dead in
sins and trespasses, and subject to the eternal wrath of the great God by
transgression; yet the elect, which God has 1 loved with an
everlasting love, are 2 redeemed, quickened, and saved, not by
themselves, neither by their own works, lest any man should boast himself, but
wholly and only by God of 3 His free grace and mercy through Jesus
Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and
redemption, that as it is written he that rejoices, let him rejoice in the Lord.
1) Jer. 31:2
2) Gen 3:15; Eph. 1:3, 7; 2:4, 9; 1 Thes. 5:9; Acts 13:38
3) 1 Cor. 1:30, 31; 2 Cor. 5:21; Jer. 9:23, 24
VI.
1 This therefore is life eternal, to know the only
true God, and whom He has sent Jesus Christ. 2 And on the contrary,
the Lord will render vengeance in flaming fire to them that know not God, and
obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1) John 17:3; Heb. 5:9; Jer. 23:5, 6
2) 2 Thes. 1:8; John 3:36
VII.
The rule of this knowledge, faith, and obedience, concerning the worship and
service of God, and all other Christian duties, is not mans inventions,
opinions, devices, laws, constitutions, or traditions unwritten whatsoever, but
only the word of God contained in the Canonical Scriptures.
John 5:39; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Col. 21:18, 23; Mat. 15:9
VIII.
In this written Word God has plainly revealed whatsoever He
has thought needful for us to know, believe, and acknowledge, touching the
nature and office of Christ, in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen to the
praise of God.
Acts 3:22, 23; Heb. 1:1, 2; 2 Tim 3:15-17; 2 Cor. 1:20
IX.
Touching the Lord Jesus, of whom 1 Moses and the
Prophets wrote, and whom the Apostles preached, is the 2 Son of God
the Father, the brightness of His glory, the ingrave form of His being, God with
Him and with His Holy Spirit, by whom He made the world, by whom He upholds and
governs all the works He has made, who also 3 when the fullness of
time was come was, was made man of a 4 woman, of the Tribe of 5
Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David, to wit, of Mary that blessed Virgin, by
the Holy Spirit coming upon her, and the power of the most High overshadowing
her, and was also in 6 all things like unto us, sin only excepted.
1) Gen. 3:15; 22:18; 49:10; Dan. 7:13; 9:24-26
2) Prov. 8:23; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:1, 15-17
3) Gal. 4:4
4) Heb. 7:14; Rev. 5:5 with Gen. 49:9-10
5) Rom. 1:3; 9:5; Mat. 1:16; Luke 3:23, 26; Heb. 2:16
6) Isa.53:3-5; Phil. 2:8
X.
Touching His office, 1 Jesus Christ only is made
the Mediator of the New Covenant, even the everlasting covenant of grace between
God and man, to 2 be perfectly and fully the Prophet, Priest and King
of the Church of God for evermore.
1) 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 9:15; John 14:6
2) Heb. 1:2; 3:1, 2; 7:24; Acts 5:31
XI.
Unto this office He was fore-ordained from everlasting, by
the 1 authority of the Father, and in respect of His manhood, from
the womb called and separated, and 2 anointed also most fully and
abundantly with all gifts necessary, God having without measure poured the
Spirit upon Him.
1) Prov. 8:23; Isa. 42:6; 49:1,5
2) Isa. 11:2-5; 61:1-3 with Luke 4:17, 22; John1:14,16; 3:34
XII.
In this call the Scripture hold forth two special things
considerable; first, the call to the office; secondly the office its self.
First, that 1 none takes this honor but he that is called of God, as
was Aaron, so also Christ, it being an action especially of God the Father,
whereby a special covenant being made, He ordains His Son to this office: which
Covenant is, that 2 Christ should be made a sacrifice for sin, that
He shall see His seed, and prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall
prosper in His hand; which calling therefore contains in it self 3 choosing,
4 for-ordaining, 5 sending. choosing respects the end,
foreordaining the means, sending the execution it self, 6 all of mere
grace, without any condition fore-seen wither in men, on in Christ Himself.
1) Heb. 5:4-6
2) Isa. 53:10
3) Isa. 42:13
4)1 Peter 1:20
5) John 3:17; 9:27; 10:36
6) John 8:32
XIII.
So that this office to be Mediator, that is, to be Prophet,
Priest, and King of the Church of God, is so proper to Christ, as neither in the
whole, not in any part thereof, it can be transferred from Him to any other.
1) Tim. 2:15; Heb. 7:24; Dan. 5:14; Acts 4:12; Luke 1:23; John 14:6
XIV.
This office it self to which Christ was called, is three
fold, of 1 a Prophet, of 2 Priest, and of 3
King: this number and order of offices is showed; first by mens necessities
grievously laboring 4 under ignorance, by reason whereof they stand
in infinite necessity of the Prophetical office of Christ to relieve them.
Secondly, 5 alienation from God, wherein they stand in need of the
Priestly office to reconcile them. Thirdly, our 6 utter disability to
return to Him, by which they stand in need of the power of Christ in His Kingly
office to assist and govern them.
1) Deut. 18:15 with Acts 3:22-23
2) Psal. 110:3; Heb. 3:1; 4:14-15; 5:6
3) Psal. 2:6
4) Acts 26:18; Col. 1:3
5) Col. 1:21; Eph. 2:12
6) Song of Sol. 1:3; John 6:44
XV.
Touching the Prophesy of Christ, it is that whereby He has 1
perfectly revealed the whole will of God out of the bosom of the Father, that is
needful for His servants to know, believe, and obey; and therefore is called not
only a Prophet and a 2 Doctor, and the 3 Apostle of our
profession, and the 4 Angel of the Covenant; but also the very 5
wisdom of God, and the 6 treasures of wisdom and understanding.
1) John 1:18; 12:49-50; 15; 17:8; Deut. 18:15
2) Mat. 23:10
3) Heb. 3:1
4) Mal. 3:1
5) 1 Cor. 1:24
6) Col. 2:3
XVI.
That He might be such a Prophet as thereby to every way
complete, it was necessary that He should be 1 God, and withall also
that He should be man; for unless He had been God, He could have never perfectly
understood the will of God, 1 neither had He have been able to reveal
it throughout all ages; and unless He had been man, He could not fitly have
unfolded it in His 3 own person to man.
1) John 1:18; 3:13
2) 1 Cor. 2:11, 16
3) Acts 3:22 with Deut. 18:15; Heb. 1:1
XVII.
Touching His Priesthood, Christ 1 being
consecrated, has appeared once to put away sin by the offering and sacrifice of
Himself, and to this end has fully performed and suffered all those things by
which God, through the blood of that His Cross in an acceptable sacrifice, might
reconcile His elect only; 2 and having broken down the partition
wall, and therewith finished and removed all the rites, shadows, and ceremonies,
is now entered within the vail, into the Holy of Holiest, that is, to the very
Heavens, and presence of God, where He for ever lives and sits at the right hand
of Majesty, appearing before the face of His Father to make intercession for
such as come to the Throne of Grace by that new and living way; and not that
only, but 3 makes His people a spiritual House, an holy Priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God through Him; neither does the
Father accept, or Christ offer to the Father any other worship or worshipers.
1) John 17:19; Heb. 5:7-9; 9:26; Rom. 5:19; Eph. 5:12; Col. 1:20
2) Eph. 2:14-16; Rom. 8:34
3) 1 Peter 2:5; John 4:23, 24
XVIII.
This Priesthood was not legal, or temporary, but according to
the order 1 of Melchisecdec; 2 not by a carnal
commandment, but by the power of endless life; 3 not by an order that
is weak and lame, but stable and perfect, not for a 4 time, but for
ever, admitting no successor, but perpetual and proper to Christ, and of Him
that ever lives. Christ Himself was the Priest, Sacrifice and Alter: He was 5
Priest, according to both natures, He was a sacrifice most properly according to
His human nature: 6 where in Scripture it is wont to be attributed to
His body, to His blood; yet the chief force whereby this sacrifice was made
effectual, did depend upon His 7 divine nature, namely, that the Son
of God did offer Himself for us: He was the alter properly according to His
divine nature, it belonging to the 8 Alter to sacrifice that which is
offered upon it, and so it ought to be of greater dignity then the Sacrifice
itself.
1) Heb. 7:17
2) Heb. 7:16
3) Heb. 7:18-21
4) Heb. 7:24-25
5) Heb. 5:6
6) Heb. 10:10; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Col. 1:20-21; Isa. 53: 10; Mat. 20:28
7) Acts 20:28; Rom. 8:3
8) Heb. 9:14; 13:10, 12, 15; Mat. 23:17; John 17:19
XIX.
Touching His Kingdom, 1 Christ being risen from
the dead, ascended into Heaven, sat on the right hand of God the Father, having
all power in Heaven and earth, given unto Him, He does spiritually govern His
Church, exercising His power 2 over all angels and men, good and bad,
to the preservation and salvation of the elect, to the over-ruling and
destruction of His enemies, which are reprobates, 3 communicating and
applying the benefits, virtue, and fruit of His Prophecy and Priesthood to His
elect, namely, to the subduing and taking away of their sins, to their
justification and adoption of Sons, regeneration, sanctification, preservation
and strengthening in all their conflicts against Satan, the World, the Flesh,
and the temptations of them, continually dwelling in, governing and keeping
their hearts in faith and filial fear by His Spirit, which having 4
given it, He never takes it away from them, but by it still begets and nourishes
in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all heavenly light in the soul
unto immortality, notwithstanding through our own unbelief, and the temptations
of Satan, the sensible sight of this light and love be clouded and overwhelmed
for the time. 5 And on the contrary, ruling in the world over His
enemies, Satan, and all the vessels of wrath, limiting, using, restraining them
by His mighty power, as seems good in His divine wisdom and justice to the
execution of His determinate counsel, delivering them up to a reprobate mind, to
be kept through their own deserts, in darkness and sensuality unto judgment.
1) 1 Cor. 15:4; 1 Peter 3:21-22; Mat. 28:18-20; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:11;
5:30-31; John 19:36; Rom. 14:17
2) Mark 1:27; Heb. 1:14; John 16:7,15
3) John 5:26-27; Rom. 5:5-7; 14:17; Gal. 5:22,23; John 1:4,13
4) John 13:1; 10:28-29; 14:16-17; Rom. 11:29; Psal. 51:10-11; Job 33:29-30; 2
Cor. 12:7, 9
5) Job 1, 2; Rom. 1:21; 2:4-6; 9:17-18; 2 Peter 2
XX.
This Kingdom shall be then fully perfected when He shall the
second time come in glory to reign among His saints, and to be admired of all
them which do believe, when He shall put down all rule and authority under His
feet, that the glory of the Father my be full and perfectly manifested in His
Son, and the glory of the Father and the Son in all His members.
1 Cor. 15:24,28; Heb. 9:28; 2 Thes. 1:9, 10; 1 Thes. 4:15-17; John 17:21,26
XXI.
That Christ Jesus by His death did bring fourth salvation and
reconciliation only for the 1 elect, which were those which 2
God the Father gave Him; and that the Gospel which is to be preached to all men
as the ground of faith, is, that 3 Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
the ever blessed God, filled with the perfection of all heavenly and spiritual
excellencies, and that salvation is only and alone to be had through the
believing in His name.
1) John 15:13; Rom. 8:32-34; 5:11; 3:25
2) Job 17:2 with 6:37
3) Mat. 16:16; Luke 2:26; John 6:9; 7:3; 20:31; 1 John 5:11
XXII.
That faith is the 1 gift of God wrought in the
hearts of the elect by the Spirit of God, whereby they come to see, know, and
believe the truth of the 2 Scriptures, and not only so, but the
excellency of them above all other writing and 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 the power of the fullness of the Spirit in His workings and
operations; and thereupon are enabled to cast the weight of their souls upon
this truth thus believed.
1) Eph. 2:8; John 6:29; 4:10; Phil. 1:29; Gal. 5:22
2) John 17:17; Heb. 4:11-12; John 6:63
XXIII.
Those that have this precious faith wrought in them by the
Spirit, can never finally nor totally fall away; and though many storms and
floods do arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them
off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon, but shall be
kept by the power of God to salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased
possession, they being formerly engraven upon the palms of God's hands.
Mat. 7:24, 25; John 13:1; 1 Peter 1:4-6; Isa. 49:13-16
XXIV.
That faith is ordinarily 1 begot by the preaching
of the Gospel, or word of Christ, without respect to 2 any power or
capacity in the creature, but it is wholly 3 passive, being dead in
sins and trespasses, does believe, and is converted by no less power, 4 then
that which raised Christ from the dead.
1) Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:21
2) Rom. 9:16
3) Rom. 2:1, 2; Ezek. 16:6; Rom 3:12
4) Rom. 1:16; Eph. 1:19; Col 2:12
XXV.
That the tenders of the Gospel to the conversion of sinners, 1
is absolutely free, no way requiring, as absolutely necessary, any
qualifications, preparations, terrors of the Law, or preceding ministry of the
Law, but only and alone the naked soul, as a 2 sinner and ungodly to
receive Christ, as Christ, as crucified, dead, and buried, and risen again,
being made 3 a Prince and a Savior for such sinners.
1) John 3:14, 15; 1:12; Isa. 55:1; John 7:37
2) 1 Tim. 1:15; Rom. 4:5; 5:8
3) Acts 5:30-31; 2:36; 1 Cor. 1:22-24
XXVI.
That the same power that converts to faith in Christ, the
same power carries on the 1 soul still through all duties,
temptations, conflicts, sufferings, and continually what ever a Christian is, he
is by 2 grace, and by a constant renewed 3 operation from
God, without which he cannot perform any duty to God, or undergo any temptations
from Satan, the world, or men.
1) 1 Peter 1:5; 2 Cor. 12:9
2) 1 Cor. 15:10
3) Phil. 2:12, 13; John 15:5; Gal. 2:19-20
XXVII.
That God the Father, and Son, and Spirit, is one with 1
all believers, in their 2 fullness, in 3 relations, 4
as head and members, 5 as house and inhabitants, as 6
husband and wife, one with Him, as 7 light and love, and one with
Him in His inheritance, and in all His 8 glory; and that all
believers by virtue of this union and oneness with God, are the adopted sons of
God, and heirs of Christ, co-heirs and joint heirs with Him of the inheritance
of all the promises of this life, and that which is to come.
1) 1 Thes. 1:1; John 14:10, 20; 17:21
2) Col. 2:9, 10; 1:19; John 1:17
3) John 20:17; Heb. 2:11
4) Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:30
5) Eph. 2:22; 1Cor. 3:16-17
6) Isa. 16:5; 2 Cor. 11:3
7) Gal. 3:26
8) John 17:24
XXVIII.
That those which have union with Christ, are justified from
all their sins, past, 1 present, and to come, by the blood of Christ;
which justification we conceive to be a gracious and free 2
acquittance of a guilty, sinful creature, from all sin by God, through the
satisfaction that Christ has made by His death; and this applied in the
manifestation of it through faith.
1) John 1:7; Heb 10:14; 9:26; 2 Cor. 5:19; Rom. 3:23
2) Acts 13:38, 39; Rom. 5:1; 3:25, 30
XXIX.
That all believers are a holy and 1 sanctified people, and
that sanctification is a spiritual grace of the 2 New Covenant, and
effect of the 3 love of God, manifested to the soul, whereby the
believer is in 4 truth and reality separated, both in soul and body,
from all sin and dead works, through the 5 blood of the everlasting
Covenant, whereby he also presents after a heavenly and evangelical perfection,
in obedience to all the commands, 6 which Christ as Head and
King in this New Covenant has prescribed to him.
1) 1 Cor. 1:1; 1 Peter 2:9
2) Eph. 1:4
3) 1 John 4:16
4) Eph. 4:24
5) Phil. 3:15
6) Mat. 28:20
XXX.
All believers through the knowledge of 1 that
justification of life given by the Father, and brought forth by the blood of
Christ, have this as their great privilege of that New 2 Covenant,
peace with God, and reconciliation, whereby they that were afar off, were
brought nigh by 3 that blood, and have (as the Scripture speaks)
peace 4 passing all understanding, yes, joy in God, through our Lord
Jesus Christ, by 5 whom we have received the Atonement.
1) 2 Cor. 5:19
2) Isa. 54:10; 26:12
3) Eph. 2:13-14
4) Phil. 4:7
5) Rom. 5:10-11
XXXI.
That all believers in the time of this life, are in a
continual warfare, combat, and opposition against sin, self, the world, and the
Devil, and liable to all manner of afflictions, tribulations, and persecutions,
and so shall continue until Christ comes in His Kingdom, being predestined and
appointed there unto; and whatsoever the saints, any of them do possess or enjoy
of God in this life, is only by faith.
Eph. 6:10-13; 2 Cor. 10:3; Rev. 2:9, 10
XXXII.
That the only strength by which the saints are enabled to
encounter with all opposition, and to overcome all afflictions, temptations,
persecutions, and trails, is only by Jesus Christ, who is the Captain of their
salvation, being made perfect through sufferings, who has engaged His strength
to assist them in all their afflictions, and to uphold them under all their
temptations, and to preserve them by His power to His everlasting Kingdom.
John 16:33; Heb. 2:9, 10; John 15:5
XXXIII.
That Christ has here on earth a spiritual Kingdom, which is
the Church, which He has purchased and redeemed to Himself, as a particular
inheritance: which Church, as it is visible to us, is a company of visible 1
saints, 2 called and separated from the world, by the Word and the 3
Spirit of God, to the visible profession of the faith of the Gospel, being
baptized into the faith, and joined to the Lord, and each other, by mutual
agreement, in the practical enjoyment of the 4 ordinances, commanded
by Christ their head and King.
1) 1 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1
2) Rom. 1:1; Acts 26:18; 1 Thes. 1:9; 2 Cor. 6:17; Rev. 18:18
3) Acts 2:37 with Acts 10:37
4) Rom. 10:10; Acts 2:42; 20:21; Mat. 18:19, 20; 1 Peter 2:5
XXXIV.
To this Church He has 1 made His promises, and
given the signs of His Covenant, presence, love, blessing, and protection: here
are the fountains and springs of His heavenly grace continually flowing forth; 2
thither ought all men to come, of all estates, that acknowledge Him to be their
Prophet, Priest, and King, to be enrolled amongst His household servants, to
under His heavenly conduct and government, to lead their lives in His walled
sheepfold, and watered garden, to have communion here with the saints, that they
may be made to be partakers of their inheritance in the Kingdom of God.
1) Mat. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. 6:18
2) Isa. 8:16; 1 Tim. 3:15; 4:16; 6:3, 5; Acts 2:41,47; Song of Sol. 4:12; Gal.
6:10; Eph. 2:19
XXXV.
And all His servants are called thither, to present their
bodies and souls, and to bring their gifts God has given them; so being come,
they are here by Himself bestowed in their several order, peculiar place, due
use, being fitly compact and knit together, according to the effectual working
of every part, to the edification of itself in love.
1 Cor. 12:6, 7, 12, 18; Rom. 12:4-6; 1 Peter 4:10; Eph. 4:16; Col. 2:5, 6,
19; 1 Cor. 12:12
XXXVI.
That being thus joined, every Church has 1 power
given them from Christ for their better well-being, to choose to themselves
fitting persons into the office of 2 Pastors, Teachers, Elders,
Deacons, being qualified according to the Word, as those which Christ has
appointed in His Testament, for the feeding, governing, serving, and building up
of His Church, and that none other have to power to impose them, either these or
any other.
1) Acts 1:2; 6:3; 15:22, 25; 1 Cor. 16:3
2) Rom. 12:7, 8; 16:1; 1 Cor. 12:8, 28; 1 Tim. 3 chapt.; Heb. 13:7; 1 Peter
5:1-3
XXXVII.
That the Ministers aforesaid, lawfully called by the Church,
where they are to administer, ought to continue is their calling, according to
God's ordinance, and carefully to feed the flock of Christ committed to them,
nor for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.
Heb. 5:4; Acts 4:23; 1 Tim. 4:14; John 10:3, 4; Acts 20:28; Rom. 12:7, 8;
Heb. 13:7, 17
XXXVIII.
That the due maintenance of the officers aforesaid, should be
the free and voluntary communication of the Church, that according to Christ's
ordinance, they that preach the Gospel, should live on the Gospel and not by
constraint to be compelled from the people by a forced law.
1 Cor. 9:7,14; Gal. 6:6; 1 Thes. 5:13; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; Phil. 4:15-16
XXXIX.
That Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, given by
Christ, to be dispensed only upon persons professing faith, or that are
Disciples, or taught, who upon a profession of faith, ought to be baptized
(Added later: "...and after to partake of the Lord's Supper.")
Acts 2:37, 38; 8:36-38; 18:8
XL.
The way and manner of the 1 dispensing of this
ordinance the Scripture holds out to be dipping or plunging the whole body under
water: it being a sign, must answer the thing signified, which are these: first,
the 2 washing the whole soul in the blood of Christ; secondly, that
interest the saints have in 3 death, burial, and resurrection (of
Christ) ; thirdly, together with a 4 confirmation of out faith,
that as certainly as the body is buried under water, and rises again, so
certainly shall the bodies of the saints by raised by the power of Christ, in
the day of the resurrection, to reign with Christ.
1) Mat. 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:38
2) Rev. 1:5; 7:14; Heb. 10:22
3) Rom. 6:3-5
4) 1 Cor. 15:28, 29
XLI.
The persons designed by Christ, to dispense this ordinance,
the Scriptures hold forth to a preaching Disciple, it being no where tied to a
particular church, officer, or person extraordinarily sent, the commission
enjoining the administration, being given to them under no other consideration,
but as considered Disciples.
Isa. 8:16; Mat. 28:16-19; John 4:1-2; Acts 20:7; Mat. 26:26
XLII.
Christ has likewise given power to His whole church to
receive in and cast out, by way of Excommunication, any member; and this power
is given to every particular congregation, and not one particular person, either
member or officer, but the whole.
Acts 2:47; Rom. 16:2; Mat. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:4; 2 Cor. 2:6-8
XLIII.
And every particular member of each Church how excellent,
great, or learned soever, ought to be subject to this censor and judgment of
Christ; and the church ought with great care and tenderness, with due advise to
proceed against her members.
Mat. 18:16-18; Acts 11:2. 3; 1 Tim. 5:19-21
XLIV.
And as Christ for the 1 keeping of this church in
holy and orderly communion, places some special men over the church, who by
their office are to govern, oversee, visit, watch; so likewise for the better
keeping thereof in all places, by the members, He has given 2
authority, and laid duty upon all, to watch over one another.
1) Acts. 20:27, 28; Heb. 13:17, 24; Mat. 24:25; 1 Thes. 5:14
2) Mark 13:34, 37; Gal. 6:1; 1 Thes. 5:11; Jude 3, 20; Heb. 10:34-35; 12:15.
XLV.
That also such to whom God has given gifts, being tried in
the church, may and ought by the appointment of the congregation, to prophesy,
according to the proportion of faith, and so teach publicly the Word of God, for
the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the Church.
1 Cor. 14 chapter; Rom. 12:6; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Thes. 5:17-19
XLVI.
Thus being rightly gathered, established, and still
proceeding in Christian communion, and obedience of the Gospel of Christ, none
ought to separate for faults and corruptions, which may, and as long as the
church consists of men subject to failings, will fall out and arise amongst
them, even in true constituted churches, until they have in due order sought
redress thereof.
Rev. 2, 3 chapters; Acts 15:12; 1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 2:16; 3:15-16; Heb.
10:25; Jude 15; Mat. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:4, 5
XLVII.
And although the particular congregation be distinct and
several bodies, every one a compact and knit city in itself; yet are they all to
walk by one and the same Rule, and by all means convenient to have the counsel
and help one of another in all needful affairs of the church, as members of one
body in the common faith under Christ their only Head.
1 Cor. 4:17; 14:33, 36; 16:1; Mat. 28:20; 1 Tim.3:15; 6:13-14; Rev.
22:18-19; Col. 2:6, 19; 4:16
XLVIII.
That a civil magistrate is an ordinance of God set up by God
for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well; and
that all lawful things commanded by them, subjection ought to be given by us in
the Lord: and that we are to make supplication and prayer for Kings, and all
that are in authority, that under them we may live a peaceable and quiet life in
all godliness and honesty.
Rom. 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13, 14; 1 Tim. 2:2
XLIX.
The supreme Magistrate of this Kingdom we believe to be the
King and Parliament freely chosen by the Kingdom, and that in all those civil
laws which have been acted by them, or for the present is or shall by ordained,
we are bound to yield subjection and obedience unto in the Lord, as conceiving
our selves bound to defend both the persons of those chosen, and all civil laws
made by them, with our persons, liberties, and estates, with all that is called
ours, although we should suffer never so much from them in not actively
submitting to some ecclesiastical laws, which might be conceived by them to be
their duties to establish which we for the present could not see, nor our
consciences could submit unto; yet are we bound to yield our persons to their
pleasures.
L.
And if God should provide such a mercy for us, as to incline
the magistrates hearts so far to tender our consciences, as that we might be
protected by them from wrong, injury, oppression and molestation, which long we
formerly have groaned under by the tyranny and oppression of the Prelatical
Hierarchy, which God through mercy has made this present King and Parliament
wonderful honorable; as an instrument is His hand, to throw down; and we thereby
have had some breathing time, we shall, we hope, look at it as a mercy beyond
our expectation, and conceive ourselves further engaged for ever to bless God
for it.
1 Tim. 1:2-4; Psal. 126:1; Acts 9:31
LI.
But if God with hold the magistrates allowance and
furtherance herein; 1 yet we must not withstanding proceed together
in Christian communion, not daring to give place to suspend our practice, but to
walk in obedience to Christ in the profession and holding forth this faith
before mentioned, even in the midst of all trails and afflictions, not
accounting out goods, lands, wives, husbands, children, fathers, mothers,
brethren, sisters, yea, and our own lives dear unto us, so we may finish our
course with joy: remembering always we ought to 2 obey God rather
then men, and grounding upon the commandment, commission, and promise of our
Lord and Master Jesus Christ, who as He has power in heaven and earth, so also
has promised, if we keep His commandments which He has given us, to be with us
to the end of the world: and when we have finished our course, and kept the
faith, to give us the crown of righteousness, which is laid up for all that love
His appearing, and to whom we must give an account of all our actions, no man
being able to discharge us of the same.
1) Acts 2:40,41; 4:19; 5:28,29,41; 20:23; 1 Thes. 3:3; Phil. 1:27-29; Dan.
3:16,17; 6:7, 10, 22, 23.
2) Matth. 28:18-20; 1 Tim. 6:13-15; Rom. 12:1.8; 1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Tim. 4:7,8;
Rev. 2:10; Gal 2:4,5
LII.
And likewise unto all men is to be given whatsoever is their
due; tributes, customs, and all such lawful duties, ought willingly to be by us
paid and performed, our lands, goods, and bodies, to submit to the magistrate in
the Lord, and the magistrate every way to be acknowledged, reverenced, and
obeyed, according to godliness; not because of wrath only but for conscience
sake. And finally, all men so to be esteemed and regarded, as is due and
appropriate for their place, age, estate, and condition.
Rom. 13:5-7; Mat. 22:21; Titus 3; 1 Peter 3:13; 5:5; Eph. 5:21, 22; 6:1, 9
LII [sic].
And thus we desire to give God that which is God's, and unto
Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto all men that which belongs unto them,
endeavoring ourselves to have always a clear conscience void of offense towards
God, and towards man. And if they take this that we have said, to be heresy,
then do we with the Apostle freely confess, that after the way which they call
heresy, worship we the God of our Fathers, believing all things which are
written in the Law and in the Prophets and Apostles, desiring from our souls to
disclaim all heresies and opinions which are not after Christ, and to be
steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, as knowing our
labor shall not be in vain in the Lord.
Mat. 22:21; Acts 24:14-16; John 5:28; 2 Cor. 4:17; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; 1 Cor.
15:58, 59
Conclusion
Thus we desire to give unto Christ that which is His, and
unto all lawful Authority that which is their due, and to owe nothing to any
many but love, to live quietly and peaceably, at is becometh saints, endeavoring
in all things to keep a good conscience, and to do unto every man (of what
judgment soever) as we would they should do unto us, that as our practice is, so
it may prove us to a conscionable, quiet, and harmless people, (no ways
dangerous or troublesome to human Society) and to labor 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 than to receive. Also
we confess that we know but in part, and that we are ignorant of many things
which we desire and seek to know: and if any do show us that friendly part to
show us from the Word of God that we see not, we shall have cause to be thankful
to God and them. But if any man shall impose upon us anything that we see not to
be commanded by out 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 than to do anything against
the least tittle of the truth of God, or against the light of our own
consciences. And if any shall call what we have said heresy, then do we with the
Apostle acknowledge, that after the way they call heresy, worship we the God of
our Fathers, disclaiming all heresy (rightly so called) because they are against
Christ, and to be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in obedience to
Christ, as knowing our labor shall not be in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:24
Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of
your joy: for by faith we stand.
Psalm 74:21, 22
Arise, O God, plead mine own cause. Remember how the foolish
man blasphemeth Thee daily. O let not the oppressed return ashamed, but let the
poor and needy praise Thy name. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.
FINIS
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