Nevertheless, there shall 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 Jesus Christ n. Nor can the pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that antichrist, that man of fin, and fon of perdition that exalteth himself in the church against Chrit, and all that is called God o. A 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 m Mat. xvi. 18. And I say also tunto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Pfal. lxxii. 17. His name thall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the fun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations thall call him bleffed, Pfal, cii. 28. The children of thy fervants shall continue, and their feed shall 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 Master, even Christ, 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 Christ. 2 Theff. ii. 3. Let no man deceive you by any united means: for that day shall not come except there come a faling away first, and that man of fin be revealed, the son of perdition: v. 4. who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped: fo that he as God fitteth in the temple of God, thewing himfelf that he is God. v. 8. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall confume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. v. 9. Even him whose 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 seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. Eph. iii. 16. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might, by his Spirit in the inner-man; v.17. that 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 passeth 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 Christ, (by grace ye are faved.) v. 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us fit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, | 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 likeness of his death: we shall be also 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 servefin. 2 Tim, i. 12. If we fuffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us. united to one another in love, they have communion in each others gifts and gracesb; 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. Eph. iv. 15. But speaking 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 supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, art, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in II. Saints, love. 1 Cor. xii. 7. But the manifestation 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 present, or things to come, all are yours; v. 23. And ye are Christ's and Christ is God's. Col. ii. 19. And not holding the head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministred, and knit together, increa feth with the increase of God. CI Theff. V. 11. Wherefore com fort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. v. 14. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, com fort the feeble-minded, fupport the weak, be patient toward all men. Rom. i. 11. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you fome spiritual gift, to the end ye 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. I Johniii. 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 whoso hath this world's good, and feeth his brother have need, and shutteth 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 K 2 i 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 also in relieving each other in outward things, according to their several abilities and necessities. 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 Christ, doth not make them in any wife partakers of the substance of his Godhead, or to be equal with Christ in any respect: either of which to affirm, is impious and blafphemousf. Nor doth in deed and in truth. Gal. vi. io. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the houshold of faith. II. d Heb. x. 24. And let us confider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works. v. 25. Not forsaking the affembling of ourselves 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 stedfastly 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 house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and fingleness of heart. Ifa. ii. 3. And many people shall 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 shall 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. 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 disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to fend relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea. v. 30. Which alfo they did, and fent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. III. f 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 pleaseth the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. I 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 Jesus 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 praise to graven images. 1 Tim. vi. 15. Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed 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 poffeffionsg. SAC CHAP. XXVII, Of the Sacraments. ACRAMENTS are holy signs and feals of the covenant of grace a, immediately instituted by Godb, to reprefent Christ and his benefits; and to confirm our interest in hime; as also to put a visible difference between those 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 lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness 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 righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom: v. 9. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated-iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. g Exod. xx. 15. Thou shalt not fteal. Eph. iv. 28. Let him that stole, 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. Ats 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. 11. And he received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteousness 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 circumcised; 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 teachallnations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost. 1 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 which he was betrayed, took bread, c 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of bleffing which we bless, 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 same manner alfo he took the cup, when he had fupped, saying, This cup is the new teftament in my blood: this doye, as oftas 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 4 1 unto the church, and the rest of the worldd; and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his word e. II. There is in every facrament a spiritual relation, or facramental union, between the sign and the thing signified; whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other f. III. The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments 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 administer itg, but upon the work : of you as have been baptized into Chrift, have put on Christ Gal. iii, 17. And this I say, 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 promise of none effect. d Rom. xv. 8. Now I say, That Jefus Christ 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 stranger fhall fojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcifed, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. Gen. xxxiv. 14. And they faid unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our fister to one that is uncir cumcifed: 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 Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, of ness of life. I Cor. x. 16. (See in leteven so we also should 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 shall keep beII. f Gen. xvii. 10. This is my ter thee; Every man child among tween me and you, and thy feed af27. And he took the cup, and gave you shall be circumcised. Mat. xxvi. thanks, and gave it unto them, faying, 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 righteousness, 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 ther is that circumcifion, which is a Jew, who is one outwardly; neioutward in the flesh: v. 29. But he is a Jew, who is one inwardly; and circumcifion is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God. 1 Pet. iii. 21. The like figure where |