without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life o. VI. And because the powers which God hath ordained,and the liberty which Christ hath purchased, are not intended by God to destroy,but mutually to uphold and preserve one another; they who upon pretence of Chriftian liberty, fhall oppofe any lawful power, or the lawful exercise of it, whether it be civil or ecclefiaftical, refift the ordinance of God p. And for their publishing of fuch opinions, or maintaining of fuch practices, as are contrary to the light of nature, or to the known principles of christianity, whether concerningfaith, worship or converfation; or to the power of Godlincfs; or fuch erroneous opinions or practices as either in their own nature or in the manner of publishing or maintaing them, are deftructive to the external peace and order which Chrift hath established in the church; they may lawfully be called to account,and proceeded against by the cenfures of the church q, III.0 Gal. 5.13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty, only ufe not libertyforan occafion to the flesh,but by love, ferve one another. Pet. 2.16.As free,and not using your liberty for a cloke of malicioufnefs, but as the tervants of God. 2 Pet, 2. 19. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the fervants of corruption for of whom a man is overcome, of the fame is he brought in bondage. John 8. 34. Jefus anfwered them, Verily, verily, I fay unto you, Whofoever committeth fin,is the fervant of fin. Luke 1. 74. That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies,might ferve him without fear, . 75. In holiness and righoufnefs before him all the days of our life. IV. p Matth, 12.25. And Jefus knew their thoughts, & faid unto them, Every kingdom divided againft itfelf, is brought to defolation: and every city or houfedivided against itself, fhall not (tand.. 1 Pet. 2. 13.Submit your felves to and every ordinance of man for the Lords fake: whether it be to the king as fupreme; v 14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are fent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praife of them that do well. v. 16. As free, and not ufing your liberty for a cloke of malicioufnefs, but as the fervantsof God. (Rom.13.1.to the 8.verfe. Heb. 13. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and fubmit your selves: for they watch for your fouls, as they that mult give account; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. q Rom.1.32, Who knowing the judgment of God,(thatthey which commit fuch things are worthy of death) not only do the fame, but havepleature inthem that do them. With 1 Cor. 5.1.Itis reported commonly that there is fornication among you;and fuch fornication as is not lo much as named amongst the Gentiles, that one should have his fathers wife. v. 5. To deliver fuch an one unto Satan,for the deftruction of the flesh, that the fpi and by the power of the civil magiftate r. rit may be faved in the day of the Lord Jefus, v. 11. But now I have written unto you, not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer,or a drunkard,or an extortioner, with fuch an one, no not to eat. v. 13. But them that are without, God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked perfon.2 John 10. If there come any unto you,and bring not this doctrine,receive him notinto your houfe, neither bid him God fpeed. v. 11. For he that biddeth him Godfpeed, is partaker of his evil deeds.And Theff. 3.14.And if any man obey not our word by this epiftle, note that man, and have nocompany with him, that he may be afhamed Andı Tim. 6.3. If any man teach otherwife, and confent nottowholfomwords,even the words of our Lord JefusChrift, and to thedoctrine which is according togodlinefs;.4.Heis proud, knowingnothing but doting about queftions and trifes of words, whereof cometh envy, ftrife, rail ings,evil furmifings, v.5. Perverfe difputingsof menof corruptminds, & deftitute of the truth, fuppofing that gain is godlinefs: from fuch withdraw thy felf.And Tit. 1. 10. Forthere are many unruly & vain talkers and deceivers efpecially they of the circumcifion, v. 11. Whofe mouth must be ftopped, who fubvert whole houfes, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucres fake. v. 13. This witness is true: wherefore rebuke them fharply, that they may be found in the faith. And Tit.3.10. A man that is an heretick, after the first and fecond admonition, reject. With Mat. 18. 15. More over, if thy brother fhall trefpafs against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: CHAP if he fhall hear thee, thou haft gained thy brother. v. 16. But if hewill not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witneffes,every word may be established. v. 17. And if he fhall neglect to hear them,tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, lethim be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 1 Tim. I 19. Holding faith and a good confcience: which fome having put away, concerning faith have made fhipwreck. v. 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander: whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blafpheme. Rev. 2.2.1 know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil;and thou haft tried them, which fay they are apoftles, and are not; and haft found them liars. 7.14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou halt there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to caft a ftumbling-block before the children of Ifrael, to eat things facrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. v. 15.So halt thou alfo them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolatians, which thing I hate. v. 20. Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, becaufe thou fuffereft that woman Jezebel, which calleth her felf a prophetefs, to teach, and feduce myfervants to commit fornication, and to eat things facrificed unto idols. Rev. 3. 9. Behold, I will make them of the fynagogue of Satan, (which fay they are Jews, and are not, but do lie, behold, I will make themtocome and worfhip before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. r(Deut. 13. 6. to the 12.)Rom. 13.3.For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good,andthou Ihalt have praife of the fame.. 4. For he is the minifter of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the fword in vain; for he is the minifter of God,a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. With 2 John 10. 11.(See in the letter q.) Ezra7. 23. Whatfoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done, for the house of the God of heaven: for why fhould there be wrath against the realm of the king and his fons? v.25. Andthou Ezra,after thewifdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, fet magi. ftrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river,all fuchas knowthe laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them hot v. 26. And whofoever willnot do the law of thy God; and the law of the king, let judgment be executed fpeedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confifcation of goods, or to imprifonment. v. 27. Bleffed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put fuch a thing as this in the kings heart, to beautify the houfe of the Lord,which is in Jerufalemn: v. 28. And hath extended mercy unto me: before the king, and his counfellers, & before all the kings mighty princes: & Iwas ftrength. ned, as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Ifrael, chief men to go up with me. Rev. 17. 12. And the ten horns whichthoufaweft, are ten kings, which have receivedno kingdom as yet; but receive power askings one hour with the beaft. v.16.And the ten horns which thou faweft upon the beaft, thefefhall hate the whore,and fhall make her defolate,and naked, and fhall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.v. 17. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, & to agree, and to give their kingdom unto the beaft,until the words of God fhall be fulfilled. Neh. 13. 15. In thofe days faw I in Judah fome treading wine-preffes on the fabbath, and bringing in fheaves, and lading affes; as alfo wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerufalem on the fabbath-day: and Iteftified against them in the day wherein they fold victuals. v.17. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, & faid unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the fabbath-day? v. 21. Then I teftified against them, and faid unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do fo again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the fabbath.. 22,And I commanded the Levites, that they should cleanfe themselves, and that they thould come and keep the gates, to fanctify the fabbath-day. Remember me Omyod, concerning this alfo,and fpare me accordingto the greatnefs of thy mercy. v.25. And I contended with them, and curfed them, and fmote certain of them,and pluckt of their hair, and made them fwear by God, saying. Ye fhall not give your daughters unto their fons, nor take their daughters unto your fons, or for your felves. v. 30. Thus cleanfed I them for all ftrangers, and appointed the words of the priests & the Levites, every one in his bufinefs Kings 22.5.Andhe put down the idolatrous prielts, whom the kingsof Judah,hadordainedto burn incenfe in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerufalem, them alfo that burnt incenfe to Baal, to the fun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the hosts of heaven. v. 6. And he brought out the grove from the houfe of the Lord, without Jerufalem, untothe brook 2 Kidron; CHAP. XXI. Of religious worship, and the iabbath-day. HE light of nature fheweth that there is a God, who hath Lordship and fovereignty over all; is good, and doth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praifed called upon, trufted in, and ferved, with all the heart, and with all the foul, and with all the might a. But the ac ceptable Kidron, and burn it at the brook Kidron, andftamptit fmall to powder; and caft the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people.v.9. Nevertheless, the priefts of the high places came not up to the altar of the Lord in Jerufalem,but they did eat of the unleavenedbread among their brethren. v.20. And he flew all the priests of the high places that were there, upon the altars, and burnt mens bones upon them, and returned to Jerufalem. v. 21. And the king commanded all the people,saying, Keep the paffover unto the Lord your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant. 2 Chr. 34. 33.And Jofiah took away all the abominationsoutofall the countries that pertained to the children of Ifrael,and made all that were prefent in Ifrael to ferve,even to ferve the Lord their God. And all his daysthey departednot fromfollow ing the Lord, the God of their fathers. 2 Chron. 15. 12. And they entred into a covenant to feek the Lord God of their fathers, with all their heart,and with all their foul; v. 13. That whofnever would not feek the Lord God of Ifrael,fhould be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. v. 16. And alfo concerning Maachah the mother of Afa the King,heremoved her from being queen, becaufe she had made an idol in a grove: and Afacut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. Dan.3. 29. Therefore I make a decree, That every people,nation,& language, which fpeak any thing amil's against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houfes hall be made a dunghill, because there is no other god that can deliver after thisfort. Tim.2.2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a queit and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty. Ifa.49. 23.And kings fhall be thy nurfing fathers, and their queens thy nurfing mothers:they shall bow down to thee, with their face toward the earth, and lick up the duft of thy feet,and thou fhalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be afhamed that wait for me. Zech.13.2. And it shall come to pafs in that day, faith the Lord of holts,that I will cut of the names of the idols out of the land, and they fhall no more be remembred and also I will caufe the prophets,and theunclean fpirit to pass out of the land.v. 2. Andit fhall come to pafs, that when any fhall yet prophety,thenhis Father and his mother, that begat him,fhall fay unto him, thou shalt notlive; for thou fpeakelt lies in the name of the ord; and his Father and mother, that begat him, fhall thurt him through when he prophefieth. 1. a Rom.1.20. Forthe invifible things of him from the creation of H the ceptable way of worshipping the true God is inftituted by himfelf,and fo limitated by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men or the fuggeftions of Satan, under any visible reprefentation,or any other way not prescribed in the holy Scriptures II. Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and holy Ghoft; and to him alone c: not to angels, faints, the world are clearly feen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; fo that they are without excufe. Acts 17.24.Godthat made the world, and all things therein, feeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Pfal. 119.68. -Thouart good,and doftgood; teach me thy ftatutes. Jer. 10. 7. Who would not fear thee, O king of nations? for to thee doth it appertain; forafmuch as among all the wife men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. Pfal. 31.23. O love the Lord,all yehis faints; for the Lord preferveth the faithful, and plentifuly rewardeth the proud doer. Pfal. 18. 3. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised; fo fhall I be faved from mine ene mies. Rom. 10. 12. For there isno difference betweenthe Jew and the Greek: for the fame Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him Pfalm 62 8. Truft in him at all times: ye pcople, pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Jofhua 24. 14. Now therefore, fear the Lord, and ferve him in fincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers ferved on the other fide of the flood, and in Egypt and ferve ye the Lord. Mark 12. 33. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the foul, and with all the ftrength, and to lovehis neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and facrifices. b Deut 12 32 What thingsoever I command you, obferve to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminifh from it, Mat, 15. 9. But in vain do they worship me,teaching fordoctrinesthe commandments of men. Acts 17.25. Neither is worfhipped withmens hands,as though he needed any thing, feeing he gi veth to all life,and breath, and all things. Mat. 4. 9. And faith unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. v. 10. Then faith Jefus unto him, get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thyGod, and him only fhalt thou ferve. (Deut.15.to the 20. verfe) Exod. 20. 4. Thou fhalt not make untothee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. v.5. Thou shalt not bow down thy felf to them, nor ferve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, vifiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. v. 6. And fhewing mercy unto thoufands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Col. 2.23. Which things have indeed a fhew of wifdominwill-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body,not in any honour to the fatisfying ofthe flesh. II. c Mat. 4. 10. (See before in letter b.) With John 5.23. Thatall men fhould honour the Son, even as they honour the father.Hethat ho |