A Confession of My Faith and a Reason of My Practice, Errata
ERRATA.
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A Confession of my Faith; and a reason of my practice in worship, &c.
1 I believe, that there is but one, onelyonly true God, and there is none other but he. To us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things. And this is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God, &c. Mar. 12.32. 1 Cor, 8.8. Joh. 17.3. Acts. 17.24.
2. I believe, that this God is Almighty, Eternal, Invisible, Incomprehensible, &c. I am the Almighty God, walk before me and be thou perfect. The eternall God is thy refuge. Now unto the king eternall, Immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Gen. 17.1. Deut. 33.26, 27. 1 Tim. 1.17. Job. 11.7. Rom. 11.33.
3. I believe, that this God is unspeakably perfect in all his attributes of power, wisdom, justice, truth, holyness, mercy, love, &c. his power is said to be eternall, his understanding and wisdom, infinite; he is called the just Lord in opposition to all things; he is said to be truth it self and the God thereof: There is none holy as the Lord. God is love. Canst thou by searching find out God; canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? Rom. 1.20. Psa. 147.5. Zeph. 3.5. 2 Thes. 2.10. Deut. 32. 4 Job. 11.7.
4. I believe that in the Godhead, there are three persons or subsistances. There are three that bare record in heaven. The Father, the Word, and the holy Ghost. 1 Joh. 5.7. see also, Gen. 1.26. chap. 3.22. chap. 11.7. and Esa. 6.8.
5. I believe, that these three are in Nature, Essence, and Eternity, equally one. These three are one. 1 Joh. 5.7.
6. I believe, there is a World to come. Heb. 2.5. chap. 6.5.
7. I believe, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just, and unjust. Many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame and contempt. Marvail not at this. For the hour is coming, in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good, to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evill, to the resurrection of Damnation. Act. 24.15. Dan. 12.2. Joh. 5.28.
8. I believe, that they that shall be counted worthy of that world, and of the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage, neither can they dye any more, for they are equall to the Angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Luk. 10.34.35, 36. Joh. 10.27, 28, 29. Rev. 7.16. chap. 20.6.
9. I believe, that those that dye impenitent, shall be tormented with the Divel and his Angels, and shall be cast with them into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone, where their worm dyeth not, and the fire is not quenched. Rev. 21.8. Mar. 9.43.48. Mat. 25 41.46. Joh. 5.29.
10. I believe, that because God is naturally holy and just, even as he is Good and Mercifull; therefore (all having sinned) none can be saved, without the means of a redeemer. Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransome. We have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of our sins. For which out shedding of blood, is no remission. Job. 33.24. Col. 1.14. Hebr. 9.22,
11. I believe, that Jesus Christ our Lord himself is the redeemer. They remembred that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Forasmuch as ye know, that ye were not redeemed, with corruptible things, as silver and Gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your Fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish; and without spot. Psa. 78.35. 1 Pet. 1.18, 19.
12. I believe, that the great reason why the Lord, the second person in the God-head, did cloth himself with our flesh and blood, was that he might be capable of obtaining the redemption, that before the world, was intended for us. Forasmuch then as the children were made partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; (mark) that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Divel, and deliver them who through fear of death, were all their life time subject to bondage. When the fulness of the time was Come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law. Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren; that he might be a mercifull, and faithfull high priest in things pertaining to God; To make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able also to succour them that are tempted. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us. As it is written cursed is every one that is hanged on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, through faith in Jesus Christ. Heb. 2.14, 15. Gal. 4, 4. Heb. 2. 17, 18. Gal. 3.13, 14.
13. I believe, that the time when he clothed himself with our flesh, was in the dayes of the reign of Caesar Augustus; then, I say, and not till then, was the word made flesh, or clothed with our nature. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed; And Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the City of Nazareth unto Judah, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and linage of David, to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child; And so it was, that while they were there, the dayes were accomplished, that she should be delivered. This child was he of whom godly Simeon was told by the holy Ghost, when he said, That he should not see death untill he had seen the Lord Christ. Joh 1.14. 1 Tim. 3.16. Luk. 2.1, 2, 3, 6.25, 26, 27.
14. I believe, therefore that this very child, as afore is testified, is both God and man; the Christ of the living God. And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapt him in swadling clothes, and laid him in a manger; Because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same Countrey shepheards keeping watch over their flock by night, And Lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the Glory of the Lord shined round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the Angel said unto them fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swadling clothes lying in a manger. Again. But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him; saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fullfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying; Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is God with us. Luk. 2.7 12. Mat. 1.21, 22.
15. I believe, therefore that the righteousness, and redemption, by which we, that believe, stand just before God, as saved from the curse of the Law, is the righteousness, and redemption, that consists in the personal acts, & performancas of this child Jesus; this God man the Lords Christ: it consisteth, I say, in his personal fulfilling the law for us, to the utmost requirement of the justice of God. Do not think (said he) that I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophet; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. By which means he became the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh; God sending his own son in the likeness of sinfull flesh, and and for sin, oondemned sin in the flesh. So finishing transgressions and making an end of sins, and making reconciliation for iniquity, he brought in everlasting righteousness. Math. 5.17. Rom. 10.3. chap. 8, 3. 1 Joh. 3.8. 2 Tim. 1 9. Hebr. 10.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, …0, Dan. 9.24.
16. I believe, that for the compleating of this work, he was alwayes sinless; did alwayes the things that pleased God's Justice, that every one of his acts, both of doing and suffering, and rising again from the dead, was really and infinitely perfect, being done by him as God-man: Wherefore his acts before he dyed, are called, the righteousness of God, his blood, the blood of God; and herein perceive we the love of God in that he laid down his life for us. The Godhead which gave vertue to all the acts of the humane nature, was then in perfect union with it, when he hanged upon the cross for our sins. Heb. 4.15. chap. 7.26, 27, 28. Joh. 8.29. Acts. 10 30. Rom. 3.21, 22. Act. 20.28. 1 Joh. 3.16. Joh. 20, 28. Rom. 1.4.
17. I believe, then that the righteousness that saveth the sinner from the wrath to come, is properly and personally Christs, and ours but as we have union with him; God by grace imputing it to us. Yea doubtless, and I count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ' and be found in him, not haveing my own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. For of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Phil. 3, 8, 9. 1 Cor. 1.30. 2 Cor. 5.20, 21.
18. I believe, that God, as the reward of Christs undertakings for us, hath exalted him to his own right hand, as our mediatour, and given him a name above every name; and hath made him Lord of all, and judge of quick and dead: and all this that we who believe might take courage to believe, and hope in God. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself unto death, even the death of the cross, (where he dyed for our sins) wherefore God hath highly alted him; and given him a name above every name; That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, both of things in heaven, and things in earth, & things that are under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify, that it was he that was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead. Who verily was foreordained, before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God, Ph. 2.5.—10. Eph. 1.18, —22. Act. 10.42. ch. 17.31. 1 Pet. 1.19, 20, 21.
19. I believe, that being on the right hand of God in heaven, he doth there effectually exercise the office of his excellent priesthood, and mediatorship, presenting himself continually before God, in the righteousness which is accomplished for us, when he was in the world. For by the efficacy of his blood, he nor onelyonly went into the holy place, but being there, and having by it obtained eternal redemption for us; now, as receiving the worth and merit thereof from the Father; doth bestow upon us grace, repentance, faith, and the remission of sins: Yea he also received for us, the holy Ghost to be sent unto us, to ascertain us of our adoption and Glory: For if he were on earth he should not be a Priest; seeing then we have a great high priest, that is entred into the heavens, Jesus the son of God. Let us hold fast our profession. For there is one God, and one mediatour between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. For by his own blood he entred into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands, which are the figure of the true; but into heaven it self, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted; and having received of the Father, the promise of the holy Ghost; he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear. Hebr. 8.4. 1 Tim. 2 5. Hebr. 9.12.24. Act. 5.31. chap. 2 33.
20. I believe, that being there, he shall so continue till the restitution of all things, and then he shall come again in Glory, and sh…ll sit in judgment upon all flesh. And I believe; that according to his sentence, so shall their judgment be. Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come, from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you whom the heaven must receive, untill the restitution of all things, spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets, since the world began. For this same Jesus which ye have seen go up into heaven, shall so come, in like manner, as ye have seen him go into heaven. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voyce of the Arch-angel, and the trumphet of God, &c. When the son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy Angels with him, then he shall sit upon the throne of his Glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepheard divideth his sheep from the Goats. And he shall set his sheep on his right hand, but the Goats on the left. Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then shall he say to them on the left hand, Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Divel and his Angels; And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal. For the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things must be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation, and godlinels; looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God. Wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Act. 3.19, 20, 21. 1 Thes. 4, 16. Act. 1.11. Mat. 25.31, 32, 33, 41, 46. 2 Pet. 3.10, 11, 12.
21. I believe that when he comes, his saints shall have a reward of grace, for all their work and labour of Love which they shewed to his name in the world. And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour. And then shall every man have praise of God. And behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be. Wherefore my beloved brethren, be stedfast, unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord; for asmuch as ye know your labour is not in vain in the Lord, Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ, 1 Cor. 3.8. chap. 4.5. Rev. 22.12. 1 Cor. 15, 58. Col 3, 24.