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A Confession of Faith, In the most Necessary Things of Christian Doctrine, Faith and PRACTICE.

According to the Testimony of Holy SCRIPTURES.

Given forth from the Yearly Meeting at Burlington the 7th of 7th Moneth, 1692. by the despised Christian People, called Quakers.

Printed and Sold by William Bradford in Philadelphia, 1693.

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SECTION I. Of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

WE believe in Ephes. 4. [...]5 6. 1 C [...]r 12.4.5.6. Col. 1 16.one God, and in one Lord Jesus Christ, and in one holy Spirit, and that these three are one true God, the Maker & Great [...]r of all things, visible and invisible.

That God is no Body, but a pure Joh. 4.24 1 Joh. 1.5. Deut. [...]0.2 [...] ▪ Ps 117.4 5. Act. 15 18. P [...]. 130.1 [...] 6 7. Joh. 21.17. Acts 1.24. Spirit, Light & Life, eternal and uncha [...]geable, of infinite Perfection in Wisdom, Goodness, Power, Justice & Holiness, knowing all things past, present and to come, present in all thing [...], and able to do all things whatsoever he pleaseth.

That God hath fore-known Rom. 8.29 3 [...]. Eph 1.4.5. 1 Pet. 1.2. all who are or shall be saved, from the be­ginning of the World to the end of it, having chosen them in Christ J [...]sus be [...]ore the Found [...]t [...] of the World, to be Holy, and [...] H [...]liness & Sanctification of the Spirit [...]nto Eternal Li [...]e & Glory.

That as Gods Love and Grace is [Page 2] freely extended unto [...] all, whereby th [...] may be saved, and none are ex­cluded f [...]om the possibility of Salvation by any De [...]e of absol [...] Reprobationpunc; so who [...]ve [...] [...] shall be saved, from the [...] of the World to the end of [...], they a [...]e saved by Ephes. 2. [...] Grace▪ [...] Faith, and not o [...] themselves, [...] is the [...] God.

And that not only Christ Isa. 42.1 1 Pet. 2.6. is Gods E [...]ct, but a [...]l 2 Tim. [...] Rom. 9.23 [...]ap. 11.7. and [...]8.29 3 [...].3 [...].32 1 Thes. 1.4. that shall be saved, from [...]he beginning of the world to the end of it, are Gods Ele [...]t, chosen in Christ, [...] Elect Head and Root, as his E [...]ect [...]ody and Members, accor­ding to [...] re-knowledge & Counsel of God, not only before they believe and repen [...], but before the Foundation of the World; yet as with respect to mens knowledge, they are said to be Gods Elect who are Sanctified and Renewed, or [...]rn again, and such are Gods Elect who cry day & [...]ight unto him, whom he will aveng [...], L [...]ke 1 [...]. [...]. & who pu [...] o [...], being the Elect of God, and holy [...]nd [...]oved, [...]owels of M [...]ry, [...]indness H [...]mbleness o [...] Mind, Meekn [...]ss, Lo [...]g-Suffering, &c Col. 3.12.

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SECT. II. Of Man, before and after the Fall.

WE believe That Man consist­eth of a [...]sa. [...]5 [...] 16. created Soul and body, and that the Soul of man is neither God nor the Devil, nor any part or m [...]asu [...]e either of God or the Devil, but an invisible Spirit, endued with Reason and Understandi [...]g▪ Will, Affections, Memory, and Power of Motion, capable to serve and obey God, by the help of his Grace, and to receive the Rom. 6.21.22. Luke 16.22, 23. Fruit of his Obedience, which is Life; or capable to disobey and transg [...]ess, & to receive the frui [...] of his Disobedience, which is Death. And that [...]he Rom. 6.21.22. Luke 16.22, 23. So [...]l dyeth not with the Body, but surviveth after it.

That God made man upright, after his Gen. 1▪ 2 [...]. cap. 3.22. 1 Cor. 1 [...].21. Image, Male and Female, and gave him dominion over th [...] works of his hands, and g [...]ve him a Law, wh [...]ch if he had obeyed, he had lived forever.

That both the Gen. 2.17. cap. 3.1 [...] 17. [...]8.19. R [...]m 5.12. Death of the s [...]ul [Page 4] unto Righteousness, and Bodily Sick­ [...]ss and Death came by the Fall of Man, with many other Calamities, and that by one man sin [...]ntred into the World, and Death by sin, &c. and a seed of sin and defilement is sown by the Enemy in the hearts of Adams Posterity, but yet [...]h [...]t is not imputed to Damnation, but to such only as obey it.

SECT. III. Of Restoration by Jesus Christ, and Faith in him.

WE believe, That Jesus Christ is the Prov. 8 23 24. c [...]p. 3.4. Mich. [...].2. Jo [...] [...].25. Ne [...]. 9. [...]. Jo [...]. 1 [...].26. Son of God, and the only begotten of God from Ever­lasting, and one God with the Father; and t [...]at he was the Redeemer and Sa­viour of [...] [...]hat be [...]ie [...]ed in him from the begi [...]ni [...]g of the Wo [...]ld, and gave them the ho [...]y Spi [...]t to r [...]new & san­ctifi [...] them, and [...]hat this holy Spirit did [...]roceed f [...]om th [...] Father & from the Son.

[...]nd that in the fulness of time Christ took on him the Heb. 2.1 [...]. Gal. 4.4▪ Gen 3 15. Mat 8.20 21 25. Seed [...]f [Page 5] Abraham, and was made of a Woman made under the Law, the promised Seed of the Woman, that should be [...] of the Serpent, and was conceived of the holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary.

That Christ, as Man, had and now hath the true and entire Nature of Man, both of Mat 26 38. Joh 2 [...]9, 2 [...], 21. Col 2.9. Soul and Body, and that neither his Soul nor Body is the Godhead, but the Temple of it.

That he Rom 4 25 1 Cor 15 3.4.5. Col. 1.2 [...]. Rom. 5.11 1 John 2.2. dyed for our sins, and rose again for our Justification, & by the Blood of his Cross made Peace for us, and was a Sacrifice of Attonement unto God, and a Proputation, not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole World.

That he rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven without us, in the same Body for Rom 6 9. Phil 3 21. Acts 1 11▪ cap 3 20 21 Acts 10.42 cap. 17.31▪ [...] T [...]m 4.1 [...] 1 Pet. 4.5. being, which was crucified, and buried, but most wonder­fully and most gloriously changed in Manner and Condition. And that in the same Body (i. e. a heavenly glorious and immo [...]tal body he will come and appear without us to judge the quick and the dead.

[...] John 2.12, 14, 16▪ 17. John 8 24. cap 14 1.2. Gal 3 [...]6 & 4 5 3 [...] 31 1 Joh 4 2 cap 5 1 4 5 6 Faith in Ch [...]ist Jesus as he came without us in the fl [...]sh, and [Page 6] dyed for our sins, and rose again, and is gone into Heaven, and there remain­eth our Advocate and Mediator with the Father, in whom all [...]ullness of Grace and [...]ruth dwell [...]th, as well as he doth inwardly [...] in [...]o ou [...] hearts to enlighten & quicken us, is necessary to make a true Christian, and to bege [...] us unto God, so as to be his Children, born of the free-Woman, Jerusalem from above; and th [...]t without this Faith none can be so bo [...]n no [...] h [...]ve the Spirit of Adoption, wi [...]nessing to them that they are the Children of God.

That the true James 2 14, 17, [...] Fai [...]h in Ch [...]ist J [...]sus, [...]s he dyed for us and r [...]se ag [...]in, i [...] not a b [...]re hi [...]torical and litteral Fai [...]h, such as Hypocrites and false Christians have, but is a l [...]ing and frui [...]f [...] Faith, conforming them who have it to Ch [...]i [...]t [...]esus, to [...]ve & walk as he did, & tha [...] this Faith is wrought in all who have it by the [...] Rom 10 8 9 2 Cor. 4 13 Co. 2 [...]2 Faith in the H [...]art, and by the Spi [...]t of Faith, & by [...] mighty [...] God that rai [...]ed [...] dead; a [...]d that in Gods o [...]dinar [...] way of worki [...], Rom 10 17 1 Cor 1 2. [...] this Faith i [...] w [...]ought and beg [...] in men [...] of Ch [...]ist [...] [Page 7] that be wanting, by the Testimony of the holy Scriptu [...]es, in reading or hear­ing them read.

That Gal 32 14 22 [...]3. Col 1 6 27 Ephes 3 17 18. Acts 10 44 45 1 Cor 12 4 5 6 2 Cor 3 7▪ 8, 9. Rom. 1, 2.21▪ 22 Psal. 147 19▪ 20. all who are true and sincere Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, as he dyed for us & rose again, are under a peculiar and special Ministration of the Spirit, and have peculiar Illumi­nations and Revelations of God, and many peculiar and special Operations, Influences, Gifts, and Fruits of the Spirit, that none others have, how­ever just and conscientious they may be in their meer Gentile state under th [...] Law, and Ministration thereof, such as Co [...]lius was before he received the Faith of Christ, by Peter's Prea­ching.

ThatJohn 1▪ 9. Rom. 1.18, 19, 20. cap 2, [...] Christ the true Light doth lighten every man that cometh into the World, and that by his general Illumination, common to all Mankind he doth convince, teach and instruct all who give attendance unto the same, the things concerning God, and their Duty to him, as Creator, and doth reprove for Sin & Disobedience, and bringeth them under the Law, & Mi­nistration thereof, which is of a saving nature & tendency in a general way; [Page 8] and this Law is as a Gal. 3.24· School-master to bring men (who give [...]eed to it) [...] Christ, that they might be Justified by Faith.

That none who are sincere, accor­ding to the Mark 4 25. John 3.19.20. James 4 6. Rom 5.18. cap 1.8 9. Phil. 1.6. Acts 10 34 35. l [...]ast measure of Light given to them, if they continue to fol­low the Lord, can fall short of eternal Life and Salvation; for he will lead them from one degree of Light and Grace to another (as he led Israel of old out of Egypt, through the red Sea, and the Wilderness, & th [...]ough Jordan to the promised Land) until he who hath begun his good Wo [...]k of Sal­vation in them, bring it to Per­fection.

That Christ Rom. 10.8, 9. Deutr. 30.14.15. Heb. 7.25 26. Mat. 1.21. 1 Tim. 2.5. the Word and the Light is in every man (though not revealed or known as such) and is suf­ficient to save every man, but Christ whole & undivided is our All-sufficient Saviour, able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him; and as Christ without us, as he dyed and rose again, and is ascended, and is our Mediator with God in Heaven, doth not save us without [...]hrist in us, so nor doth Christ in us save us without Christ without us, the which Christ is one, the Full­ness [Page 9] John 1 15, 16. without us in the Man Christ Jesus, and the measure of him in u [...]; and the measure Ephes. 4 7 13 16. Cant 5 4 Mat 3 12 of the heavenly Gift of Christ worketh savingly in us, by the Power and Strength of the Full­ness; and none witness Christ perfect­ly to save them, but who have Rom. 10.8 9.10. John 3 14 15.36. cap 12 32▪ 33 36▪ Faith in him as he dyed & rose again, and is gone into Heaven, and there remaineth our Advocate & M [...]diator, as well as that they believe in him as he is spiritually present in them, to enlighten, quicken & sanctifie them.

That as the Sufficiency of Christ's Light and Grace within every man is not to be set up in Opposition to Christ without us, who hath all fullness of Light, Grace and Truth dwelling in him, and of whole John 1 15 6 Mark [...] 25 1 Cor 9 8. James 4 6 1 Pet 1 2. Fullness we all receive Grace for Grace; so nor is the present measure of Light and Grace received, to be set in Opposition to f [...]rther measures of Light and Grace yet to be received.

And the Sufficiency that any hath of Grace, is for the present time, and not for all time to come; and there­fore every one is to wait Isa 42▪ 29▪ 31 in the present measure already received, and by the help of the fame to pray to [Page 10] God in Joh 14 13. cap 16 [...]3 [...]4 Mat 7 7.8, Col 2 3 the Name of Christ Jesus, to receive a daily and hourly supply from God, out of Christs Fullness (as out of a most rich Treasury or Store­house) of mo [...]e Grace, that so he who hath begun his good Work in them, having given them a small measure of Grace, may carry it on in them to Perfection, by his giving them a daily supply and encrease of more Grace, which they shall all receive, as they wait and pray for it, being found in all diligent Obedience unto his present Requiring [...].

SECT. IV. Concerning Justification and Sanctification.

WE believe, that Acts 13 3 [...] [...]9 cap [...]6 18 [...] 5 9 Ro [...] 5 1 [...] Faith, Repentance, Love, Hope, &c▪ and sincere Obe [...]i [...]n [...]e to Gods Command [...], although the [...] are necessary Conditions and Qualifications required, in order to our Justification and Remission of sins, yet the [...]ate not the Foundation of it, but CHRIST alone is the Foun­dation [Page 11] thereof, in whose Name, (as he dyed for us and rose again.) Acts 4 12 1 Cor 3 11, Re­pentance and Remission o [...] sin is to [...] preached and through Faith in his Name, his Luke 24 46 47 Obedience and Righteo [...]sness, as he dyed for us, and became Obedient unto the Death of the Cross, is Rom 3 24. cap 4, 5, 6▪ 7▪ 1 [...]. Rom 5 16, 18▪ 10 Phil 3 8 9, 10. Rom. 8.34. im­puted or a [...]counted to us for R [...]missi [...]n [...] sin and Justification; 1 Cor: 6▪9 10 11. And none are justified but who are sanctified.

That though there is a Luke 8. [...]3. Faith that may be lost and fallen from, yet there is a degree in 1 Pet. 1 7 Faith and S [...]ctification, which the Soul having attained, doth not lose nor fa [...]l from it, and that is the Faith that is [...]ore preci [...]us t [...]an Gold that perishet [...], whic [...] being [...]ryed with the Fire, endureth to the end o [...] all Temptations.

That a Mat 12 20 Rom 6 18 22. cap 8 2 3 Victory over sin, and a Freedom f [...]om it, i [...] possible to be obtained by the Grace o [...] God, here in this mortal [...]od, the which Victo [...]y a [...]d Freedom is not received nor wit­ness [...]d Phil 2 12 & 15 [...] at once, [...]ut g [...]aduall [...]; and the sooner it i [...] witnessed t [...]at m [...]n are the more d [...]l [...]ge [...]t in the imp [...]ve­ment of God [...] Gr [...]ce, and all [...]el [...]s and Means that God hath [...] for the same; and it is most sa [...]e for [...] to [Page 12] have a Holy Jealo [...]ie over themselves▪ that they ex [...]eed not in thinking of thems [...]lves above wh [...]t is convenient, but to fo [...]low the Example of Paul, who said, 1 Cor 4 4 I know nothing by my sel [...], yet I am not hereby justified, but he that judgeth me is the Lord; and of Job, who said,Job 9 21 T [...]ough I were Perfect, yet would I not know my Soul.

SECT. V. Concerning the True Worship of God, and True Ministry.

WE believe, that Mat 4 [...]0 1 Cor 1 2 [...] 1 Tim 1 12 Rev 1 4 5 Acts 7 [...]9 Ephes 6 18 God and Christ, and the holy Spirit are only to be worshipped & prayed unto, as one intire Object of Worship, Prayer and Thanks-giving; and that a [...]l true Worship, Prayer and Thanks-giving is to be performed by the Rom 8 26 John 4 4 1 Cor 12 3 cap 14 15 help of Gods Spirit, as it is inwardly felt to move and enable unto the same, and that [...]his h [...]lp is to be waited for in true silence and sti [...]lness, from all our own Thoughts, and all S [...]lf-movings, and Self-strivings and [Page 13] Workings in the mee [...] Will and Power of Man.

That none are true Ministers of Christ, but who are 1 Tim 3.2, 3, 4. Tit 1 7.8.9 2 Pet. 1 21 Mat 10 8 2 Cor 11 7 holy Men, who speak as they are moved by the h [...]ly Spirit, and are qualified and endued with sound Kn [...]wledge, Power and Virtue; and that the Gospel is to be preached freely, without requiring or exacting any thing for the same.

SECT. VI. Concerning the Commandments of God and Christ, and the holy Scriptures.

WE believe, that besides the general Commandments of God, of Piety, Justice and Temperance, given under the Law, briefly contained (for matter and substance) in the Ten Command­ments, the Rom 2 15 Work or Effect of which is writ on the hearts of all men, There are some special Precepts and Commandments of God and Christ given to us under the New-Testament, as Mat. 5 34 38.39. cap 19 9.8. 2 Cor 10 4 James 4.1 2 Heb 1 [...].9. 1 John 3 23 Jer 31.3 [...]. Heb 8.1 [...]. Ephe. [...]2.7. Not to Swear at all, Not to fight with Carnal Weapons, Not to pay Tythes, [Page 14] nor to practise a [...]y pa [...] o [...] the Ceremonial [...], nor to have more Wives than one at one time; and also to believe the Do [...]rine of Ch [...]ist, as delivered by Christ and his holy Prophets and A­postles, in all the parts of it, and re­corded in the holy Scriptures. And the whole Law of God, teaching all Duties of Love and Obedience, is after a more excellent & powerful manner, writ in the hearts of true Christians and si [...]cere Believers in Christ Jesus,Jer [...]1 33 Heb 8 1 [...] Ephes 2 7 than as it is generally writ in th [...] hearts of all Mankind, because the Gospel Dispensation in the clear Ministration of it, through Faith in Christ Jesus, hath more plenty of Grace, Power and [...] attendin [...] it.

That the holy 2 Tim [...].16. 1 Tim 4.13, 1 [...] ▪ 1 [...]. 2 Cor 3 6 [...] ▪ 24 4 1 Cor 2 2 [...] Ephes. 1.17 18. Psal. 119.18. 1 Joh 5 9.10. Scriptures are given form by di [...]ine Inspiration, and are pro­fitable and worthy to be read and me­ditated upon by the help of the holy Sp [...]t tha [...] gave them forth, and that frequently, for our Instruction, [...]a [...]fi­cation and Com [...]ort, and Encrease of Fait [...].

That the true Sense of Scripture is the W [...]d o [...] God; that they can only be [...]avingly understood by the Ill [...]mina­tion and Revelation of that Spirit that [Page 15] gave them forth; Rom▪ 15.4. That they are useful to Believers, for their growth & encrease in Faith and Holiness, &John 20.31. to Unbelievers, that they may believe, as God shall be pleased to make them Instrumental to the same; and that they contain a full and sufficient Te­stimony to all Christian Doctrine and Practice; & that the 1 Cor. 2.4, 5. 1 Thess. 1▪ 5. 1 John 5:9, 10. Truth of them is believed principally for and [...]ecause of the inward Testimony, Evidence and Word of God, and of t [...]e holy Spirit, sealing to the Truth of them in our hearts; and that they are the only outward Test, Touch-stone and Ru [...]e, whereby to try all Doctrines o [...] men, Acts 17.11 cap. 26.22. so that whatever Doct [...]ine is not accor­ding to the holy Scripture, in matters of Faith and Life, is to be rejected and denyed.

SECT. VII. Concerning the Future States of Men after Death, the Day of Judgment, and Resurrection of the Dead.

WE believe, That after Heb 9, 27 Luk 16, 22, Phi 1, 23. Rev 6, 1 [...], 11▪ & 14.13. Death cometh Judgment, and that the [Page 16] Souls of all true [...]elievers in Christ Jesus, both Males and Females, im­mediately after Death go to God, and to Christ, in Heaven; and that the Souls of them who dye in final Impeni­ [...]ency are ca [...] into Psal 9.17, Rev 2▪1 [...] Hell.

That there is a General Day Jude 6. 2 Pet 2.4▪ Mat 7.22▪ cap 25, 31, 2 Thes 1.7▪ 8, 9, [...]0▪ Acts 17.31 Rom 14 10 2 Cor 10 of Judgment yet to come, wherein all Nations shall stand before the Son of Man, even the Man [...]hrist Jesus, at his Appearance and Coming wi [...]hout us, as well as at his Appearance and [...]udg­ment Seat within us, to receive accor­ding to the Deeds done in the [...]ody, good or evil.

That Christ is the Saviour of the whole Man, both Soul and Body ▪ and that there shall be a Resurrection o [...] the Phil 3 21 mat 1▪ 28, 1 Co [...] 6 13, 14 cap 15 2 [...], 21, 22, 42, 43, 44, Body, both o [...] the Just and Vnjust, the just unto Everlasting Life, and the Unjust unto Shame and Torment for­ever; And that the Mat 22▪ 30, Acts 26▪ 23, 1 Cor 15▪ 2 [...], 50. Resurrection of the Body is not received in this mo [...]tal Life, nor immediately after Death, but the deceased Saints gene­rally wait for it, until the Coming of Christ; and that the dead in Christ shall rise fi [...]st, when the Body that is sown natural shall be raised spiritual; for Flesh and Blood doth not inherit the King­dom of God, no [...] Corruption [...].

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SECT. VIII. Concerning Christs Baptism & Supper.

WE believe, That Christs Mat. [...] ▪ 11. Bap­tism is with the holy Ghost [...]nd Fi [...]e, whereof the outward Baptism with Water was a Figure, the which Fire burneth up the Dross and Com­bustible matter of the Sins and Lusts that war against the Soul, and is that Isa 4.4.Spirit of Judgment and of Burning, by which the Filth of the Daughters of Zion is to be purged away.

That Christ [...] John 6▪ 53▪ 54, 55, 56. 1 Cor. 10▪ 16.17. Rev 3.20. 1 Cor 11.24, 25, 26. Supper is his feeding all the faithful, with giving them his flesh to eat, and his Blood to drink, and such have eternal Life in them, & they daily remember and meditate on the Lords Death, by the help of his Spirit in them, until his Last Coming in the Clouds of Heaven, without them, as well as until his more abundant Reve­lation in them, and that it is their Duty, as well as great spiritual advan­tage, to remember him most frequent­ly, wi [...]h Prayer & Thanks-giving, both when they eat not, and when they eat, wh [...]her more p [...]ivately or more so­lemnly, as occasion offers.

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SECT. IX. Concerning Places and Times of Worship.

WE believe, That all John 4 21 22 23. 1 Tim 2 8. Col [...].16. Places and Times of Worship, in them­selves considered, are alike under the Gospel for the Worship of God, and no Place or Time is more Holy than ano [...]her, yet convenient Places and Times of Worship, with other necessa­ry Circumstances, are to be regarded; and the First Day of the Week is wor­thily set apart from Bodily Labour, fo [...] (b) Religious Duties and Exercises, both in publick and private, as well as other convenient Times on Week Dayes, and for meeting together to wait upon God both in Silence, and in the performance of any outwa [...]d Exercise of Religion, that this Spirit moveth unto.

SECT X. Concerning some other Necessary Things.

WE believe, that Plai [...] Col 4.6. 1 Pet 3 3.4, 5. Language and Plain Habit, with all man­ner [Page 19] of Temperance and Abstinence from all va [...]n Custom o [...] the World, after the manner of the primitiv [...] Christians, Tit 2.2, [...] Rom 12 2▪ and according to the Testimony of our Antient brethren, is to be preserved among us, and whatever is of good Report.

That all due care is to be taken con­cerning Marriages, that Persons con­cerned may proceed orderly, are that none marry within these Exod. 20. [...]9▪ 1 Cor. 5▪1. degrees of Kindred, forbidden under the Law, which are also forbidden under the Gospel.

SECT. XI. Concerning the Church, and the Qualifi­cations of the true Members thereof.

WE believe, That the Acts 2 17 Rom 1 [...].8▪ 9▪ 1 [...]. James 2.18▪ 1 John 4 2▪ 3. mat 10, 32 33. Church of Christ is the multitude of sincere Believers in Chri [...]t, who ought to man [...]fest their Faith to one another by the living Confession of the Month▪ flowing from the living Faith in the Heart, accompanied with the Seal and Confirmation of a Holy and Christian, Li [...]e and Conversation, which will be sensibly Gal 2, 9▪ Prov 14 7 Phil 1 5 2 1 Act [...] 8 37 John [...] [...] 1.2.3. Isa 4.5 mat 3 6 Acts [...]9 18 John 9 22 ca [...] 12 42 2 Cor 9 13 1 [...] [...] [...]0 cap 12 [...] 3 1 cap 1 [...] & [...] 23 discerned through a sp [...] ­ritual [Page 20] inward Gift o [...] Discerning in them as the Tree i [...] known by the Fruits, and such have a spiritual Fellowship and Communion together in the Spirit o [...] Christ, and in the Gi [...]ts, and Graces and Comforts, and Re [...]reshments thereof that flow from Christ the Head [...] Fountain, through Member to Member▪ And as [...]h [...]ist b [...]lieved in, is the Doo [...] into the Church, in the light of God [...] Chri [...]t, both believed and confess [...] unto, is the Door into the Chu [...]ch i [...] the [...]ight of m [...]n. And that [...] Chur [...] of Christ, the holy G [...]ost mak [...] [...] Acts 20 28 Over seer, Elders and Ruler [...], [...] are known, rec [...]ived and owned to [...] such by th [...] 2 Cor. 4.2. cap. 5.11. Mani [...]estation [...] same Spirit in all the true Member thereof.

SECT. XII. Concerning Magistracy, and Obedien [...] there-unto.

WE believe, That it is the Du [...] of a [...]l Christians, to give a ready Obedience to Magistrates in a lawful things, and to be subject [...] their Commands, not only for Wra [...] [Page 21] b [...]t for Rom 13▪ 2 3. [...] 5. 1 Pet. 2.1 [...] 14, 15. Conscience sake; and if they command things unlawful, to make no Resistance by outward Force, but patiently to suffer under them; for Magistracy and Government in the World is the Ordinance of God, and when duely performed, accordi [...]g to Truth and Righteousness am [...]g men, belongeth to that universal Ministra­tion of the Spirit, given in general to Mankind, by Virtue of which, what­ever is lawfully commanded by M [...]gi­strates, will be answered by the [...]ight of God, and that just Principle of God in every mans Conscience, that will lead and instruct him to obey the same.

Given forth by the despised Christian People, called Quakers, from our Yearly Meeting at Burlington, falsly called the seperate Meeting, the 7th o [...] t [...]e 7th Mon. 1692. and earnestly Recommend­ed to be read & perused by all Masters of Families, and by their Children.

Note. That this 2d Edition hath the Scrip­ture places more truly printed, with the ad­dition of divers others not in the former.

THE END.

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