[Page] Confession of FAITH Containing the Substance Of all the Fundamental ARTICLES IN THE Larger Confession, put fort [...] the Elders of the Bapti [...] Churches, Owning Personal Electio [...] Final Perseverance.

Acts 24. 14. After the way [...] Heresy, so worship we the Go [...] thers, believing all things wh [...] in the Law and the Prophets [...]

LONDON▪ Printed in the [...]

[Page] THE ARTICLES OF THE FAITH OF THE. CHURCH of CHRIST, OR Congregation meeting at Horsley-down, BENJAMIN KEACH, Pastor, As asserted this 10th of the 6th Month, 1697.

LONDON; Printed in the Year 1697.

To the Congregation with whom I am a Mem­ber (and the unworthy Overseer) who are in God the Father, and in our Lord Jesus Christ; Grace Mercy and Peace be mul­tiplied.

Most Dear and Beloved in Christ:

I Hope I can say (with the holy Apostle) that you are by me dearly beloved, my Joy, and my Crown; yea you are my Ho­nour, and in you I would rejoice, being the Ornament of my poor Ministry, by which the most of you have (through the Blessing of God) been converted to Jesus Christ: and if you stand fast in the Faith in one Spirit, striving together for the Faith of the Gospel, and do adorn [Page] your Profession, living in Love, and endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace, you will cause my latter days to be most sweet and comfortable to me, after all those Troubles, Sorrows, and Reproaches I have met with, both from within and from with­out. Evident it is God hath most eminently appeared to strengthen your hands: tho the Archers have sorely grieved you, and shot at you, yet your Bow abideth in strength; and that the Arms of your Hands may still abide strong by the Arm of the mighty God of Jacob, shall be my continual Prayers.

My Brethren, I here present you with that which you have so long waited for, and desired me to endeavour to do, viz. to state an account of the most concer­ning Articles of your Faith, which you have heard read, and have approved of, and which I thought [Page] good no longer to delay the doing of. (1.) Not knowing how soon I may put off this Tabernacle, and therefore would leave behind me an account of that holy Doc­trine and Order, in which through Grace you are established (for at your desire also I have drawn up the whole Rules of your holy Dis­cipline, which you may have ad­ded unto this, and bound up to­gether). (2.) And the rather I have done this, because the Ge­neral and more Large Confession of the Faith of our Churches, is now out of Print; but that is not all, for that being 12 d. price, some cannot well purchase it. (3.) And also that all Men may see what our Faith is, and that we differ not from our Brethren who bear other Names in any Fundamen­tal Point or Article of Faith; and that they may discern the diffe­rence between you and some that bear the same Name with you. [Page] (4.) Tho you agree in the ge­neral with all other Churches of the same Faith, in all those Ar­ticles there inserted, yet therein your whole Faith is not compre­hended, viz. that of Imposition of Hands upon baptized Be­lievers as such, and singing of God's Praise, &c. because some of our Churches dissent from us therein: yet my desire is you would nevertheless shew all Ten­derness, Charity and Moderation to such as differ from you in those Cases, and not refuse Commu­nion with them; and indeed your late sweet Temper appears to be such, that I need not press you to this. All that I shall say more, is to entreat you to labour after Holiness, and to awake out of sleep, that you may adorn your sacred Profession, and prepare to meet the Lord; that as you have a good Doctrine, you may also have a holy and good Conversa­tion; [Page] and then we need not fear who can harm us, whilst we are followers of that which is good, O let us bear one with another. and if in any thing we differ, let us avoid all Animosities. Brethren, great things are near, watch and pray, look out and be ready. But at present I shall con­clude with the words of the Apo­stle, Finally, Brethren, fare­wel; be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one Mind, live in peace, and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you.

So prays your unworthy Brother, Pastor, Overseer, and Servant, who earnestly desires your Pray­ers also,
B. Keach.

That the following Articles contain what the foresaid Church believes concerning those Truths asserted there­in, we whose Names are hereunto subscribed, do tes­tify in the Name and by the Appointment of the whole Congregation, the 10th day of the 6th Month, commonly called August, 1697.

  • BEnjamin Keach, Pastor.
  • Benjamin Stinton, Teacher.
    • John Roberts,
    • Edward Foley,
    • Joshua Farrow,
    • Tho. Stinton,
    • John Valley,
    • Isaac Ballard,
    Deacons.
  • John Hoar, sen.
  • Edward Newbury,
  • Tho. Turner,
  • John Seamor,
  • [Page] Ephraim Wilcocks,
  • James Wilmott,
  • Daniel Dines,
  • Richard Thoubals,
  • John Weston,
  • John Clark,
  • Tho. Ayers,
  • John York,
  • George Starkey, sen.
  • Benj. Harris,
  • George Starkey, jun.
  • John Beavis,
  • Tho. Hill,
  • Joseph Berry,
  • William Farmworth,
  • Joseph Jennings,
  • John Fowle, sen.
  • Tho. Fowle,
  • John Fowle, jun.
  • Henry Skeer,
  • John Greensmith,
  • Jeremiah Lions,
  • William Putman,
  • Nath. Holden,
  • William Cattrel,
  • Tho. Harvey,
  • [Page] Tho. Richford,
  • Joseph Worley,
  • Peter Carter,
  • William Forister,
  • Sam. Cox.
  • John Sparke,
  • James King,
  • William Deale,
  • Simon Agars,
  • John Hoar, jun.
  • Tho. Gunning,
  • William Mais.

The Articles of Faith of the Church of Christ meeting at Horsley-Down.

Of God, and of the Holy Trinity.

I. WE do believe, de­clare and testify, Joh. 4. 24. Job 11. 7, 8, 9. Psal. 90. 2. Jam. 1. 17. Exod. 3. 4. Rev. 4. 8. Deut. 6. 4. Exod. 34. 6, 7. that there is but One Only Living and True God, who is a Spirit In­finite, Eternal, Immense and Un­changeable in his Being, Wisdom, Power, Holiness, Justice, Good­ness, Truth and Faithfulness.

II. That there are three Persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit; and that these Mat. 28. 19. three are One God, the same in Es­sence, equal in Power and Glory. 1 Joh. 5. 5.

Of the Decrees of God.

III. THat the Decrees of God are his Eternal Purpose Eph. 1. 4, 11. according to the Counsel of his Will, whereby for his own Glory he hath foreordained whatsoever Rom. 9. 22, 23. comes to pass, even those Evils that his Wisdom and Justice permits for the manifestation of the Glory of those his Attributes: And that God executes his Decrees in the Works of Creation and Provi­dence.

Of Creation.

IV. THat the Works of Crea­tion are God's creating Gen. 1. Heb. 11. 3. all things of nothing by his Word of Power, in six days, and all very good. That God created Man Male and Female, after his own Gen. 1. 26, 27, 28. Col. 3. 10. Eph. 4. 24. Image, in Knowledg, Righteous­ness, and Holiness, with Power and Dominion over the Creatures.

Of God's Providence.

V. WE believe that God's Works of Providence are his most holy, wise, and pow­erful preserving, and governing all his Creatures, and their Actions.

Of the holy Scriptures.

VI. WE believe the holy Scrip­tures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God, and are the only Rule of Faith, and Practice; all things be­ing contained therein that are ne­cessary 2 Tim. 3. 16. Eph. 2. 20. Joh. 5. 39. Deut. 17. 18. Rev. 1. 3. Acts 8. 30. for us to know concerning God, and our Duty unto him, and also unto all Men. That all Per­sons ought to read, hear, and un­derstand the holy Scriptures. That the Light of Nature, and Works of Providence, tho they declare plainly there is a God, yet not so effectually as the holy Scriptures; nor can we know without them Gen. 1. & 3. 15, 16. how, and in what space of time God created all things. Neither came we any other ways but by [Page 6] the holy Scriptures to the Know­ledg Joh. 20. 30, 31. & 21. 24. of Christ the blessed Media­tor; which indeed none can saving­ly know but by the Word and Spi­rit of God.

Of Original Sin.

VII. WE do believe, that God Gen. 3. [...], 6. Eccl. 7. 29. Rom. 3. 23. 1 Joh. 3. 4. Tit. 1. 13. Rom. 5. 17. Gen. 6. 5. Jer. 17. 9. Rom. 3. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, &c. Jam. 1. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 14. Rom. 5. 6. Rom. 8. 7. Col. 1. 22. Mat. 15. 19. Rom. 7. 7, 14, 17, 18, 23, 24. Lam. 3. 39. Rom. 6. 23. Gal. 3. 10. having created Man, he entered into a Covenant of Life with him, upon the condition of perfect Obedience; making the first Adam a common Head to all his Seed: and that our first Parents being left to the freedom of their own Will, fell from the Estate wherein they were created, by eating of the forbidden Fruit: and that Adam being set up as a pub­lick Person, we all sinned in him, and fell with him into a state of Sin, of Wrath and Misery; the Sinfulness of which state consists in the guilt of Adam's first Sin, the want of Original Righteousness, and the Corruption of our whole Nature: from whence all actual Sins proceed, as Water out of a filthy and an unclean Fountain. [Page 7] So that not only by Imputation all Men became Sinners in the first Adam, but also as the same cor­rupt Nature is conveyed to all his Job 11. 12. & 15. 14. & 25. 4. Posterity, who descend from him in ordinary Generation.

By this Sin all Mankind lost the Image of God, and Communion Col. 3. 10. Tit. 1. 13. Psal. 51. 5. with him, being liable to all the Miseries of this Life, and to Death it self; and also are dead in Sins and Trespasses, and obnoxious to the Wrath of God, and the eternal Pains of Hell for ever. Hence we say that all are conceiv'd and born Eph. 2. 2, 3. in Sin, and are the Children of Wrath, even the Elect as well as others, being wholly defiled in all the Faculties and Parts of Soul and Body, and utterly indisposed Gen. 6. 3. Rom. 7. 5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24. and disabled to do any thing that is spiritually good, and wholly in­clined with a strong propensity to all things that are evil.

Of Man's Free-will.

VIII. WE believe Man in his state of Innocency had freedom of Will to do good; [Page 8] but by the Fall he hath utterly lost all that Power and Ability, being Ephes. 2. 2, 3. wofully depraved in all the Facul­ties of his Soul; there being in the Will and Mind of all naturally much Enmity against God, and a Rom. 8. 7. total aversion to him, and to eve­ry thing that is spiritually good; Job 24. 13. loving Darkness, and rebelling a­gainst the Light.

But when a Man is renewed by Ephes. 4. 28. Divine Grace, tho there is no force put upon the Will, yet it is made Col. 1. 21. Psal. 110. 3. Rom. 7. 11, 17, 18, 23, 24. willing, and acts freely, in the day of God's Power: tho the Work is not perfect in any Faculty in the Regenerate, nor will be in this Life.

Of Christ the Mediator.

IX. WE believe that God ha­ving, out of his own meer good Pleasure, and infinite▪ Ephes. 1. 4. Rom. 3. 20, 21, 22. Gal. 3. 21, 22. 1 Tim. 2. 5, 6. Joh. 1. 14. Galat. 4. 4. Love, elected some Persons of the lost Seed of the first Adam unto everlasting Life, from all Eternity, did enter into a Cove­nant of Grace with the second Per­son of the Trinity, (who was set up as the common Head of all the [Page 9] Elect) to deliver them out of the Rom. 9. 5. Luke 1. 35. Col. 2. 9. Heb. 7. 24, 25. state of Sin and Misery, and to bring them into a state of Salva­tion and eternal Happiness.

That the second Person in the Godhead, (being the eternal Son Phil. 2. 6. Zech. 6. 13. of God, Coessential, and Coequal with the Father) according to that holy Covenant and Compact that was between them both, became Man, or assumed our Nature, and Joh. 1. 14. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Heb. 2. 14. so was, and continueth to be God and Man in two distinct Natures, in one Person for ever. And that he the Son of God by his becoming Mat. 2. 26, 38. Luke 1. 27, 31, 34, 35. Gal. [...] Heb. 4. [...] Man, did take unto him a True Body, and Reasonable Soul, being conceived by the holy Spirit in the Womb of the Virgin, and was born of her, yet without Sin.

Of the Offices of Christ.

X. WE believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Redeemer, and the one blessed Me­diator between God and Man, ex­ecuteth 1 Tim. 2. 5. a threefold Office, both the Office of a Priest, the Office of a King, and the Office of a Prophet.

[Page 10] First, That he executeth the Office of a Priest, (1.) In his Heb. 2. 17. Heb. 7. 24. Act. 15. 14, 15, 16. once offering up himself a Sacri­fice, to satisfy Divine Justice, and to reconcile God to us, and us to God. (2.) And in making conti­nual Intercession for us, that the 1 Joh. 2. 2. Heb. 7. 25. & 10. 21. & 9. 24. Merits of his Blood may be made effectual unto us.

Secondly, That he executeth the Office of a King in subduing us Isa. 33. 22. & 32. 1, 2. 1 Cor. 15. 25. Psal. 100. unto himself, and in giving us Laws and holy Precepts, by which we ought to walk; and also in his re­straining and conquering all his, and our Enemies.

Thirdly, That he executeth the Office of a Prophet, in revealing Acts 3. 22. Job. 1. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 10, 11, 12, Joh. 15. 15. & 20. 31. to us by his Word and Spirit, the whole Will of God concerning all things that appertain to Faith and Practice.

Of Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation.

XI. WE believe that Christ's Humiliation consisted Gal. 4. 4. Heb. 12. 23. Isa. 53. 2, 3. Luk. 22. 44 in that great Condescension of his in assuming our Nature, and being [Page 11] born in a low condition, made un­der Mat. 27▪ 46 Phil. 2. 8. 1 Cor. 15. 4. Acts 2. 24, 25, 26, 27, 31. the Law, undergoing the ma­ny Miseries of this Life, the Wrath of God, the Curse of the Law, and the ignominious Death of the Cross, continuing under Death for a time.

And that his Exaltation con­sisteth in his rising again from the 1 Cor. 1 [...]. 4. Mark 16. 19. Eph. 1. 20. Acts 1. 11. & 17. 31▪ 1 Pet. 3. 22. dead the third day, and in his ascending up into Heaven, in sit­ting at the Right-hand of ▪God; Angels, Powers, and Principali­ties being made subject unto him; and in his being made Judg of the quick and dead.

Of effectual Calling.

XII. WE do believe that we are made Partakers Joh. 1. 11. Tit. 3. 5, 6. Eph. 1. 13, 14. 1 Cor. 1. 9. Eph. 2. 8. of the Redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual Applica­tion of his Merits, &c. unto us by the Holy Spirit, thereby uni­ting us to Christ in effectual Cal­ling: And that effectual Calling is the Work of God's Free Grace, who by his Spirit works Faith in Eph. 3. 17. us, who are altogether passive [Page 12] therein; and convincing us of Sin 1 Cor. 1. 9. 2 Tim. 1. 9. 2 Thess. 2. 13, 14. Acts 2. 37. & 20. 18. Ezek. 36. 27. John 6. 44, 45. and Misery, enlightning our Minds in the Knowledg of Christ, and renewing our Wills, and changing our whole Hearts, he doth per­swade and enable us to imbrace Jesus Christ freely, as he is offered in the Gospel.

Of Justification.

XIII. WE do believe Justifica­tion is a free Act of God's Grace, through that Re­demption Rom. 3. 23, 24, 25, 26. which is in Christ, (who, as our Head, was acquitted, justi­fied, and discharged, and we in Eph. 1. 6, 7. Tit. 3. 7. him, when he rose from the Dead) and when applied to us, we in our own Persons are actually justified, Rom. 5. 15, 16, 17, 18. 1 Cor. 1. 30 2 Cor. 5. 21 in being made and pronounced righteous, through the Righteous­ness of Christ imputed to us; and all our Sins, past, present, and to come, for ever pardon'd; which is receiv'd by Faith alone. And that our Sanctification, nor Faith it self, is any part of our Justifica­tion before God; it not being ei­ther the Habit, or Act of Believing, [Page 13] or any Act of Evangelical Obedi­ence imputed to us, but Christ, and his active and passive Obedi­ence Act. 13. 39. only, apprehended by Faith: and that Faith in no sense tends to make Christ's Merits more satisfac­tory unto God; but that he was as fully reconciled and satisfied for his Elect in Christ by his Death 2 Cor. 5. 21. before Faith as after; otherwise it would render God only recon­cileable, Phil. 3. 7, 8, 9. (not reconciled) and make Faith part of the Payment or Sa­tisfaction unto God, and so lessen Rom. 10. 5. the Merits of Christ, as if they were defective or insufficient. Yet we say, it is by Faith that we re­ceive the Atonement, or by which means (as an Instrument) we come to apprehend and receive him, and to have personal Interest in him, and to have our free Justification evidenced to our own Consciences.

Of Adoption.

XIV. WE believe Adoption is an Act of God's Free 1 John 3. 1. Grace, whereby such who were the Children of Wrath by Nature, [Page 14] are received into the Number, and John 1. 10. Rom. 8. 14. Gal. 2. 16. 1 John 3. 1, 2. & 4. 7. & 5. 1. have Right to all the Privileges of the Sons of God; and that such who are adopted, are also by the Spirit regenerated, and hence said to be born of God.

Of Sanctification.

XV. THAT Sanctification is the 2 Thess. 2. 13. Eph. 4. 13. Rom. 6. 5, [...]. 7. Rom. 8. 29, 30. Rom. 5. 1, 2, 5. & 14. 17. Prov. 4 18. 1 Joh. 51. 3. 1 Pet. 1. [...]. Work of God's Free Grace also, whereby we are re­newed in the whole Man after the Image of God, and are inabled more and more to die unto Sin, and live unto Righteousness. And that the Benefits we receive, and which flow from or accompany Justification, are Adoption, San­ctification, Peace of Conscience, Manifestations of God's Love, Joy in the Holy Ghost, an Increase of Grace, an Assurance of eternal Life, and final Perseverance unto the end.

Of the Souls of Men at Death.

XVI. WE believe, that at 1 Cor. 15. 43. Mat. 25. 23 Mat. 10. 32 1 Joh. 3. 2. 1 Cor. 13. 12. 1 Thess. 4. 17, 18. 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2 Phil. 1. 21. 22. Death the Souls of Believers are made perfect in Ho­liness, and do immediately pass in­to Glory; and their Bodies dying in Union with Christ, or dying in the Lord, do rest in their Graves till the Resurrection, when they shall be raised up in Glory. And that their Souls being reunited to their Bodies, they shall be openly acknowledged, and acquitted, and made compleatly blessed, both in Soul and Body, and shall have the full Injoyment of God to all Eter­nity. And that the Souls of the Luk 16▪ 5 1 Pet. 3. 19, 20. Wicked at their Death are cast into Hell, or are in Torment: and that their Bodies lie in the Grave under Wrath, and shall by virtue of the Power of Christ be raised from Luke 16. 23, 24. Acts 1. 25. 1 Pet. 3. 19 Ps. 49. 11. John 9. 28, 29. 2 Thess. 1. 8, 9. the Dead; and their Souls being re-united to their Bodies, shall be judged and condemned, and cast into a Furnace of Fire, or into un­speakable Torment, with the Devil and his Angels, for ever and ever.

Of the Law.

XVII. WE believe God re­quires Obedience of Man, and that the Rule of that Obedience is the moral Law as it is in the Hands of Christ; which Mich. 6. 8. 1 Sam. 15. 22. Rev. 2. 14. Mat. 19. 17 Mat. 22. 37, 38, 39, 40. teacheth all Persons their Duty to God, and to Man; the Sum of all being this, to love the Lord our God with all our Hearts, with all our Souls, and with all our Strength, and our Neighbours as our selves. And that tho the Law is abolished as a Covenant of Works, and as so considered, we are dead to it, and that dead to us; 1 Joh. 3. 4. Rom. 7. 3, 4 yet it remains as a Rule of Life and Righteousness for ever.

XVIII. We believe no mere Gen. 6. 5. Rom. 3. 9, 10, 11, 12, &c. Ezek. 8. 6. 1 Joh. 5. 16 Ps 78. 17, 32, 56. Man, since the Fall, is able in this Life perfectly to keep the Holy Law of God; and that every Of­fence against the Law deserves eternal Death, tho some Sins are more heinous in God's Sight than others.

[Page 17] And that God, as a simple Act of Mercy, will not, doth not, pardon any Man; neither doth it seem consistent with his Holiness Exod. 34. 6▪ and Justice so to do, without a full Satisfaction: wherefore he sub­stituted Rom. 3. 25, 26. Christ in our room and stead, perfectly to keep the whole Law, and to die, or bear that Gal. 4. 4. Wrath which we deserved for our breaking of it; he being pleased Isa. 53. 4, 5, 6, 10, 11. 1 Pet. 2. 24. in his infinite Love and Grace to transfer our Sins, Guilt and Pu­nishment, upon his own Son, (who took our Nature upon him, as our blessed Head and Representative) that his active Obedience and Righteousness might be our just Title unto eternal Life; and his Death (who bore our Hell-Tor­ments) be our full Discharge from the Wrath of God, and eternal Rom. 8. 1. Condemnation.

And that all who would receive John 5. 24. John 3. 15. 16. this Title, and have this Discharge so as to escape God's Wrath, and the Curse of the Law, must fly to Heb. 6. 18, 19, 20. Col. 2. 12. Acts 15, 9. Christ, and lay hold on him by Faith; which Faith is known by its Fruits, having lively, Sin-kil­ling, [Page 18] Soul-humbling, Self-abasing, Acts 2. 36. Job 42. 5. 1 Pet. 2. 7. John 3. 3. Christ-exalting, and Heart-purify­ing Operations, always attending it.

Of Faith and Repentance.

XIX. WE believe that Faith is a saving Grace, or John 1. 12. Isa. 26. 3, 4. Phil. 3. 9. Ephes. 2. 8. the most precious Gift of God; and that it is an Instrument where­by we receive, take hold of, and wholly rest upon Jesus Christ, as offered to us in the Gospel. That Repentance unto Life is also a sa­ving Acts 2. 37. Joel 2. 12. Jer. 3. 22. & 31. 18, 19. Ezek. 36. 31. 2 Cor. 7. 10 Isa. 1. 16, 17 Heb. 6. 1, 2. Grace, whereby a Sinner, out of a true Sense of Sin, and Apprehension of God's Mercy in Christ, doth with Grief and Ha­tred of his Sins, turn from them. And that tho Repentance is in or­der of Nature called the first Prin­ciple of the Doctrine of Christ, yet we believe no Man can saving­ly repent, unless he believes in Je­sus Zec. 12. 10. Christ, and apprehends the Free Pardon and Forgiveness of all his Sins through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant, and the Sight and Sense of God's Love in [Page 19] a bleeding Saviour; being that on­ly thing that melts and breaks the Acts 2. 36. stony Heart of a poor Sinner, as the Sight of a free Pardon from a Prince humbles the stout Heart of a rebellious Malefactor.

Of the Means of Grace.

XX. WE believe that the out­ward and more ordi­nary Mat. 28. 19, 20. Acts 2. 42, 46, 47. Neh. 8. 8. 1 Cor. 14. 24, 25. means, whereby Christ com­municates to us the Benefits of Re­demption, are his Holy Ordi­nances, as Prayer, the Word of God, and Preaching, with Bap­tism, and the Lord's Supper, &c. and yet notwithstanding it is the Spirit of God that maketh Prayer, Acts 26. 32 Psal. 19. 8. Rom. 1. 15, 16. Reading, &c. and specially the Preaching of the Word, effectual to the convincing, converting, building up, and comforting, through Faith, all the Elect of God unto Salvation.

And that it is the Duty of all, Acts 20. 32 Rom. 10. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Prov. 8. 34. that the Word may become effec­tual to their Salvation, to attend upon it with all Diligence, Prepa­ration, and Prayer, that they may [Page 20] receive it with Faith and Love, and 1 Pet. 2. 1, 2. Ps. 119. 18 Heb. 4. 2. 2 Thess. 2. 10. Jam. 1. 25. lay it up in their Hearts, and prac­tise it in their Lives.

Of Baptism.

XXI. WE believe that Bap­tism is a Holy Ordi­nance of Christ, or a pure Gospel-Institution; 1 Pet. 3. 21 1 Cor. 12. 13. Mat. 28. 19, 20. Rom. 6. 3, 4, 5. Col. 2. 12, 13. Gal. 3. 27. Acts 2. 38. & 22. 16. and to be unto the Party baptized, a sign of his Fel­lowship with Christ in his Death, Burial, and Resurrection, and of his being grafted into him, and of Remission of Sins, and of his gi­ving himself up to God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in Newness of Life.

We also believe that Baptism ought not to be administred to any but to those who actually profess Repentance towards God, and Acts 8. 37. Col. 2. 21, 22. Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.

That the Infants of Believers ought not to be baptized, because there is neither Precept, or Exam­ple, or any certain Consequence in the Holy Scripture for any such Rev. 22. 18 Prov. 30. 6. Practice: And we ought not to [Page 21] be wise above what is written. And that a human Tradition or Custom ought not to be regard­ed, but that it is sinful, and abo­minable.

We believe also that Baptism is only rightly administred by Im­mersion, or dipping the whole Bo­dy in Water, into the Name of the Mat. 28. 19, 20. Mat. 3. 16. Joh. 3. 23. Acts 8. 38. Rom. 6. 3. Col. 2. 13. Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; according to Christ's Institution, and the Practice of the Apostles; and not by sprink­ling, or pouring of Water, or dip­ping some part of the Body in Water, after the Tradition of Men.

And that it is the indispensible Duty of such who are baptized, to give up themselves to some par­ticular Acts 2. 41, 42. & 5. 13, 14. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Luke 1. 6. orderly Church of Jesus Christ, and to walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless: Baptism being an initiating Ordinance.

Of a true Church.

XXII. WE believe a true Church of Christ is not National, nor Parochial, but doth consist of a number of Acts 2. 40, 41, 42. godly Persons, who upon the Pro­fession of their Faith and Repen­tance have been baptized, and in a solemn manner have in a Holy Covenant given themselves up to the Lord, and to one another, to live in Love, and to endeavour to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace: Among whom the Eph. 4. 3. Word of God is duly and truly preach'd; and Holy Baptism, the Acts 2. 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, &c. 1 Cor. 16. 1, 2. Lord's Supper, and all other Or­dinances are duly administred, ac­cording to the Word of God, and the Institution of Christ in the Primitive Church: watching over one another, and communicating to each other's Necessities, as be­cometh Saints; living Holy Lives, as becomes their sacred Profession; and not to forsake the assembling themselves, as the manner of some Heb. 10. 25. [Page 23] is; or to take leave to hear where they please in other Places when the Church is assembled, but to worship God, and feed in that Pasture, or with that Church, with whom they have covenanted, and given up themselves as parti­cular Members thereof.

Of Laying on of Hands.

XXIII. WE believe that lay­ing Heb. 5. 12. & 6. 1, 2. Acts 8. & 19. 6. on of Hands (with Prayer) upon baptized Be­lievers, as such, is an Ordinance of Christ, and ought to be sub­mitted unto by all such Per­sons that are admitted to par­take of the Lord's Supper; and that the end of this Ordinance is not for the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit, but for a farther Re­ception Eph. 1. 13, 14. of the Holy Spirit of Pro­mise, or for the Addition of the Graces of the Spirit, and the In­fluences thereof; to confirm, strengthen, and comfort them in Christ Jesus; it being ratified and Acts 8. & 19. [...] established by the extraordinary [Page 24] Gifts of the Spirit in the Primitive Times, to abide in the Church, as meeting together on the first Day of the Week was, Act. 2. 1. that be­ing the Day of Worship, or Chris­tian Sabbath, under the Gospel; and as Preaching the Word was, Acts 10. 44. and as Baptism was, Mat. 3. 16. and Prayer was, Acts 4. 31. and singing Psalms, &c. was, Acts 16. 25, 26. so this of laying on of Hands was, Acts 8. & ch. 19. For as the whole Gospel was confirmed by Signs and Won­ders, Heb. 2. 3, 4. and divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost in general, so was every Ordinance in like manner confirmed in particular.

Of the Lord's Supper. A 4▪ 4▪ [...]at. 26. 26, 27, 28. Mark 14. 21, 22, 23. Luke 22. 19, 20. 1 Cor. 11. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. Acts 20. 17.

XXIV. WE believe that the Holy Ordinance of the Lord's Supper, which he insti­tuted the Night before he was be­trayed, ought to be observed to the end of the World; and that it consisteth only in breaking of Bread, and drinking of Wine, in remembrance of Christ's Death; [Page 25] it being appointed for our spiri­tual Nourishment, and Growth in Grace, and as a farther Engage­ment in, and to all Duties we owe to Jesus Christ, and as a Pledg of his eternal Love to us, and as a Token of our Communion with him, and one with another. And that due Preparation and Exami­nation is required of all that ought to partake thereof; and that it cannot be neglected by any ap­proved and orderly Member with­out Sin.

Of Church-Officers.

XXV. WE do believe that eve­ry particular Church 1 Tim. 3. 1, 2, &c. Tit. 1. 5. of Christ is Independent; and that no one Church hath any Prio­rity or Super-intendency above or over another: and that every Church ought to be Organical: that an Elder, or Elders, a Dea­con, or Deacons, ought to be elect­ed in every Congregation, accord­ing to those holy Qualifications 1 Tim. 3. 2—12. laid down in the Word of God: and that the said Elders and Dea­cons [Page 26] so chosen, ought solemnly to be ordained with Prayer, and lay­ing on of Hands of the Eldership. Tit. 1. 5, 6, 7, 8. Acts 13. 3. 1 Tim. 5. 22. & 4. 14. That such Churches as have not Officers so ordained, are disorder­ly, there being something still wanting.

Of Prayer.

XXVI. WE believe Prayer is Phil. 4. 6. Psal. 65. 2. John 4. 23. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Rom. 8. 26. John 5. 14. Psal. 47. 7. Eccl. 5. 1, 2. Jam. 5. 16. Eph. 6. 18. 1 Cor. 14. 14. Col. 4. 2. Josh. 24. 15. Gen. 18. 19. a holy Ordinance of God, and that it ought to be performed by the Help and Assist­ance of the Holy Spirit; and that not only the Prayer Christ taught his Disciples, but the whole Word of God is to be our Rule how to pray, and pour forth our Souls unto God: and that it is the indispensible Duty of all godly Fa­milies (and others also) as well as private Christians, daily to pray for all things they need, and to give Thanks every Day for all good things they receive: and that the Omission of this Duty is a great Scandal to Religion, and a Jer. 10. 25. great Evil when it is carelesly or negligently performed.

Of singing of Psalms, &c.

XXVII. WE believe that sing­ing Eph. 5. 19. Col. 3. 16. the Praises of God, is a holy Ordinance of Christ, and not a part of Natural Religi­on, or a moral Duty only; but that it is brought under Divine In­stitution, it being injoined on the Churches of Christ to sing Psalms, Hymns, and spiritual Songs; and Acts 16. 25 Heb. 2. 12. Jam. 5. 13. that the whole Church in their Pub­lick Assemblies (as well as private Christians) ought to sing God's Praises, according to the best Light they have received. Moreover, it was practised in the great Repre­sentative Church, by our Lord Jesus Christ with his Disciples, after he Mat. 26. 30 Mar. 14. 26 had instituted and celebrated the Sacred Ordinance of his Holy Supper, as a commemorative Token of Redeeming Love.

Of the Christian Sabbath.

XXVIII. WE believe that one Day in seven, ought to be solemnly observed in Exod. 20. [Page 28] the Worship of God; and that by Moses's Law the Jews and prose­lyted Strangers were to keep the seventh Day: but from the Resur­rection of Christ the first Day of the Week ought by all Christians to be observed Holy to the Lord, that being called the Lord's Day; Rev. 1. 10. and the first time the Church met together after Christ's Ascension Act. 2. 1, 2. Acts 20. 7. was on the Day of Pentecost, which was the first Day of the Week, as Tradition hath handed it down: and on that Day the Church also met together to break Bread, and 1 Cor. 16. 2 make Collections for the poor Saints: and no mention is made that any one Gospel-Church kept the Jewish Sabbath in all the New Testament. And we believe that an Apostolical Precedent is equiva­lent to an Apostolical Precept in this case.

Of Ministers, and their Maintenance.

XXIX. WE do believe that every Brother that hath received a Gift to preach, ha­ving first pass'd the Probation of the Church, and being regularly called by the same, ought to ex­ercise 1 Tim. 3. 2. Eph. 4. 11. the said Gift to the Edifica­tion of the Church when desired; and that no Brother ought to take 1 Pet. 4. 10 Rom. 12. 6, 7. upon him to preach, until he has a lawful Call so to do.

Moreover, we believe that it is the indispensible Duty of every Church, according to their Abili­ty, to provide their Pastor, or 1 Cor. 9. 9—14. Rom. 15. 2 [...]. Gal. 6. 6. 1 Tim. 5. 15. Elders, a comfortable Mainte­nance; as God hath ordained, that he that preaches the Gospel, should live of the Gospel, and not of his own Labour; but that he should wholly give himself up to the Work of the Ministry, and to watch over the Flock, being to be freed from all secular Business, and Encumbrances of the World: and [Page 30] yet that it is abominable Evil for any Man to preach the Gospel for filthy lucre sake, but he must do 2 Pet. 5. 2. it of a ready mind.

Of the First Covenant.

XXX. WE believe that the first Covenant, or Cove­nant Gen. 2. 17. of Works, was primarily made with Adam, and with all Mankind in him, by virtue of Rom. 3. 12. which he stood in a justified state before the Fall, upon the condition of his own perfect and personal Rom. 10. 5. & 5. 10 to 20. Obedience. But by the Fall he made himself uncapable of Life by that Covenant.

That the Law God gave by Mo­ses to Israel, was of the same nature of that given to Adam, being a se­cond Rom. 3. 19, 20. 2 Cor. 3. 9, 11. Ministration of it; but not given for Life, but to make Sin ex­ceeding sinful, and to shew how un­able Man was in his fallen state to Rom. 7. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. fulfil the Righteousness of God; and so (with the Ceremonial Law) it was given in subserviency to the Gospel, as a Schoolmaster to bring Gal. 3. 10. Sinners to Christ.

Of the New and Second Covenant.

XXXI. WE believe the Cove­nant of Grace was primarily made with the second Zech. 6. 13. Adam, and in him with all the Elect, who as God-man, or Me­diator, was set up from everlasting as a Common Person, or as their Rom. 3. 23, 24, 25, 26. Isa. 57. 5, 6, 10, 11. Head and Representative; who freely obliged or ingaged himself to the Father for them, perfectly to keep the whole Law in their Nature that had sinned, and to Rom. 8. 3. Heb. 9. 15, 16, 17. satisfy Divine Justice by bearing their Sins upon his own Body, i. e. the Guilt of all their Sins, which were laid upon him: and that he Heb. 7. 22. sustain'd that Wrath and Curse in his Body and Soul, that was due Luk. 22. 2 [...] to them for all their Transgresti­ons: and having received their dis­charge 1 Cor. 11. 2 [...] from Wrath and Condem­nation, he gives it out to all that believe in him, and obtain Union Rom. 6. 2 [...] & 8. 16, 17, 18. with him, who are thereby brought actually into the said New Cove­nant, [Page 32] and have a personal Right to all the Blessings thereof.

Of Election.

XXXII. WE do believe that God from all E­ternity, according unto the most wise and holy Counsel of his own Will, freely and unchangeably de­creed Rom. 8. 29, 30, 31. and ordained, for the ma­nifestation of his own Glory, some Angels, and some of the lost Sons and Daughters of Adam, unto Acts 13. 48. eternal Life; and that their num­ber is so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or di­minished: and that others are left or passed by under a Decree of Preterition. And that those of Manking that are predestinated Rom. 9. 11. and fore-ordained, are particular­ly and personally design'd unto e­ternal [...]. Thess. 4. 4, 5. Life: and these God, ac­cording to his eternal and immu­table Purpose, and good pleasure of his Will, did chuse in Christ [...]ph. 1. 3, 4, 11. (the Head of this Election) unto everlasting Glory, of his meer free Grace, without any foreseen Faith 2 Thess. 2. 13. [Page 33] or Obedience and Perseverance therein, or any thing in the Crea­ture as a Condition or Cause mo­ving him thereunto; and all this only to the Praise of his own glo­rious Grace.

Of final Perseverance.

XXXIII. WE believe all those whom God hath chosen, and who are effectually called, justified, and sanctified in Jesus Christ, can neither totally, Rom. 8. 28, 29, 30, 31. nor finally fall away from a state of Grace; but shall certainly per­severe therein unto the end, and eternally be saved; and this by Joh. 10. 28, 29. Rom. 8. 38, 39 Rom. 8. 3 [...] 33, 3 [...] virtue of their Election, or the immutable Decree of God, and the unchangeable Love of God the Father; and by virtue of their Union with Christ, together with his Death, Resurrection, and In­tercession; as also from the nature of the Covenant of Grace, and 2 Tim. 2. Suretyship of Christ; and through the indwelling of the holy Spirit, who abideth in them for ever. 2 Cor. 6. 17.

Of the Resurrection.

XXXIV. WE believe that the Bodies of all Men, both the Just and Unjust, shall rise again at the last day, even the same numerical Bodies that die; tho the Bodies of the Saints shall be raised immortal and incorruptible, and be made like Christ's glorious Bo­dy: and that the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Of Eternal Judgment.

XXXV. WE believe that God hath appointed a Day in which he will judg the Acts 17. 31. World in Righteousness by Jesus Christ, or that there shall be a general Day of Judgment, when all shall stand before the Judgment­seat of Christ, and give an account 2 Cor. 5. 10. to him for all things done in this Body: and that he will pass an eternal Sentence upon all, accor­ding as their Works shall be. Eccles. 12.

Of Marriages.

XXXVI. WE believe Marri­age Gen. 3. 24. is God's holy Ordinance, that is to say between one Man and one Woman: and Mat. 19. 5. that no Man ought to have more than one Wife at once: and that 1 Cor. 6. 16. Believers that marry, should mar­ry in the Lord, or such that are Eph. 5. 31. Believers, or Godly Persons; and that those who do otherwise, sin Rom. 7. 4. greatly, in violating God's holy Precept: and that Ministers as well as others may marry; for Marri­age Heb. 13. 4. is honourable in all.

Of Civil Magistrates.

XXXVII. WE do believe the Rom. 13. 1, 2, 3. supream Lord of Heaven and Earth hath ordain­ed Magistrates for the good of Mankind: and that it is our Duty Tit. 3. 1. in all civil and lawful things to obey them for Conscience sake; nay, and to pray for all that are 1 Pet. 2. 13: in Authority, that under them we may live a godly and peaceable [Page 36] Life: and that we ought to render unto Cesar the things that are Ce­sar's, Mat. 22. 21. and to God the things that are God's.

Of lawful Oaths.

XXXVIII. WE do believe it is lawful to take some Oaths before the Civil Ma­gistrate; Exod. 20. 7. Jer. 4. 2. Gen. 24. 2. Neh. 5. 12. Heb. 6. 16, 17. an Oath of Confirmation being to put an end to all Strife: nay, and that it is our Duty so to do when lawfully called there­unto: and that those that swear, ought to swear in Truth, in Righ­teousness, and in Judgment.

Of Personal Propriety.

XXXIX. WE do believe that every Man hath a Exod. 20. 17. Acts 5. 4. & 20. 33. just and peculiar Right and Pro­priety in his own Goods, and that they are not common to others; yet we believe that every Man is obliged to administer to the poor Saints, and to the publick Interest of God, according to his Ability, or as God hath blessed him.

FINIS.

POSTSCRIPT.

THere is something contained in the 13th Article that may seem to want some Explication, in these words (speaking of a Man actu­ally and personally justified) that his Sins past, present, and to come, are all forgiven: We believing that if any Sins of a justified Person were after­wards charged upon him, it must of necessity make a breach in his unal­terable and everlasting Justification, which is but one Act in God; hence there is no Condemnation to them which Rom. 8. 1. are in Christ Jesus: yet I find an able and worthy Writer distinguisheth Par­don Mr. Tho. Gilbert. of Sin thus, viz.

1. Fundamentally in Christ, as a common Person of all the Elect before Faith, which lieth in Christ making full Satisfaction for all their Sins, me­riting Faith for them, &c.

2. Actual, of all the Elect in Christ on believing; this actual Pardon being nothing else but the actual Possession in their own Persons of their funda­mental Pardon in the Person of Christ: And Dr. Tho. Goodwin speaks to the same purpose, to which I agree. And that [Page 38] this actual Pardon of the legal Guilt is twofold.

1. Formal, of all their Sins past, re­moving their legal Guilt.

2. Virtual, of all their Sins to come, preventing their legal Guilt. Dr. Ames speaks to the same purpose, and many others. I cannot see how a Believer should be for ever formally justified from all Sins past, present, and to come, and yet not formally pardoned.

This Author which I have lately met with, distinguisheth well between Legal Guilt and Gospel Guilt; the first obliging to Divine Wrath, or eternal Punishment; the latter, i. e. Gospel Guilt, obliging to Gospel, or Fatherly Chastisement for Gospel-Sins. Now I see not but Dr. Ames saith, that not only the Sins of a justified Person that are past are remitted, but also in some sort those to come, Num. 23. 25. Joh. 5. 24. yet he distinguishes between a formal and virtual Pardon: Sins past, says he, are remitted in themselves, Sins to come, in the Subject o [...] Person sinning. that as soon as a Believer is personally justified, all his Sins, tho not yet commit­ted, as to legal Guilt, or vindictive Wrath, i. e. that Guilt that obliges to eter­nal Condemnation, are par­doned, for the reason be­fore.

Saith he, Virtual Pardon keeps off Legal Guilt where it would be. To which I reply, if it be kept off, so [Page 39] that it never comes upon Believers, then it follows they were actually par­don'd before in that respect: yet he says, Sins cannot be said to be formally pardon'd before formally committed; but says, no Guilt can come upon them to Condemnation, tho new Guilt; yet no new legal Guilt, because always justi­fied. We see no hurt if his Terms be admitted.

Object. What do Believers then pray for, when they pray for the Pardon of Sin?

Answ. 1. That God would not chas­tise them sorely, or afflict them as a Father, according to the greatness of their Offences.

2. That if his chastning Hand is upon us, he would be pleased graci­ously to remove it.

3. That he would be pleased to clear up to our Consciences, or give us the evidence of our Pardon through Christ's Merits, and that we may know we are compleat in Christ, or without spot before the Throne in our free Justification.

4. Nay, Believers are to pray to God to remove that Sin from them (saith this worthy Author) whose de­sert of Punishment cannot be removed from it; and to spread their Sins before the Lord in the highest sense of the [Page 40] deepest demerit of all legal Punish­ment, so that they may put the higher accent upon the free Grace of God, and estimate upon the full Satisfaction of Christ, whereby their Persons are so fully freed from all actual Obliga­tion to any Legal Punishment, the whole and utmost whereof their Sins deserve.

5. Moreover, that God would con­tinue, and never revoke his most gracious Pardon, till he pronounceth the final Sentence of it at the day of Judgment, (as well this Author notes) for a renewed sense and assu­rance of its grant and continuance: and thus to pray, saith he, there are both Precepts and Promises.

FINIS.

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