The Spiritual Mans Directory, Treatise · Part 2 · Question 141 – Question 156
Q 141. For the firſt Petition, Hallowed bee thy Name; what is the meaning of name here?
A. Firſt, the Lord himſelfe, his very Perſon and nature, Deut. 28. 58. for Name is often put for ones perſon, Acts 1. 15. ſo alſo, Rev. 3. 4. Secondly, Gods attributes, Exod. 34. 5. Thirdly, Gods eſteeme that hee ſhould have in all the world, Pſal. 8. 1. Fourthly, Gods worſhip, Gen. 4. 26. Piftly, any of Gods works, or word, or any thing whereby hee is knowne, Exod. 20. 7. His name is Iehovah the Lord, Iſa. 42. 8. or I am that I am, Ioh. 3. 13, 14. As Chriſt ſaid of himſelfe before Abraham was, I am, Iohn 8. 58. …he moſt High, Pſalm. 9. 2. El-ſhaddai, or …e Almighty, or the All-ſufficient, Gen. 17. … Hee hath ſweet names in the new Teſtament, the GOD of Peace, Rom. 15. 33. …he GOD of Patience and Conſolation, verſ. 5. the Father of Mercies and the God of all Comfort, 2 Cor. 1. 3. &c. Indeed Gods …ame is unutterable, no word is able to ex…reſſe who hee is, Prov. 30. 4. It is tranſcen…ent above all names, Phil. 2. 9. and wonderfull Iſa. 9. 2. and ſecret, Iudg. 13. 18. and hence … is; firſt, that no name is able ſufficiently t… …t him forth, Gen. 32. 29. Secondly his name … expreſſed by negatives, to ſhew that wee …an rather tell what is not his name, then what is, Immortall, Inviſible, 1 Tim. 1. 17. Unſearchable, Pſal. 147. …. Infinite, Pſal. 147. …. Thirdly, his name is borrowed from his effects, God that made the world, Acts 17. 24. and from his back-parts, Exod. 33. 23. Fourthly, figurative, and not proper, Exod. 15. 3. Prov. 18. 10. O then GOD being ſo great, what a condiſcending goodneſſe is it in him to take upon him ſuch a poore name as this, Our God, the God of Abraham, Exod. 3. 15.
142. Why Hallowed or Sanctified, rather … Glorified; why is that word uſed rather the… this?
A. Becauſe Gods holineſſe is the cauſe why wee ſhould glorifie him, Rom. 15. 4. Secondly, becauſe Gods greatneſſe moſt appeareth in his holyneſſe, Iſa. 12. 6. and ſo doth his might, Luke. 1. 49. and therefore we call Kings ſacred, and the greater a perſon is the more ſacred; and therefore of all creatures the Lord made his Angels moſt holy, Luke. 9. 26. Thirdly, Gods holyneſſe is the beauty and luſtre of all his attributes, Pſal. 96. 9. nay it is the beauties, Pſal. 110. 3. Fourthly, when the Angels would picke out an attribute to glorifie God moſt in, they choſe his holineſſe, Holy, holy, holy, not glorious, glorious, glorious, Iſa. 6. 3. Fiftly, we cannot glorifie God, except we be holy, 1 Pet. 2. 9. nay it is rather an obſcuring of Gods glory, when a prophane ſoule praiſeth him; and therefore o… hearts, and our tongues, and converſations muſt be holy, Pet. 1. 15, 16. we muſt ſanctifie him in righteouſneſſe, Iſa. 5. 16. not as though we can put holineſſe upon God, that he had not before; in this caſe we had need that he ſhould ſanctifie us, 1 Theſſ. 5. 23. but we muſt make his name to appeare to be holy by our doings, Iſa. 39. 23.
Q. 143. For the ſecond Petition, thy Kingdome …ome, what ſay you of that?
A. God hath a foure-fold Kingdome. Firſt, the kingdome of his power: whereby he is over all, 1 Chron. 29. 11. and ruleth over all, Pſal. 103. 19. and reigneth in the Kingdoms of men, Dan. 4. 32. and hath the Keyes of hell and death, Rev. 4. 18. Divels and reprobates and all ſhall bow to this kingdome paſſively, as well as the good Angels and elect actively, Rom. 14. 11. though they yet ſay, he ſhall not reigne over them, Luke. 19. 14. Secondly, the Kingdome of his Goſpell, whereby he reignes over the Chriſtian world, both good and bad, Math. 13. 47. which God threatnes to take away, when people are unworthy, Matth. 21. 43. which is called a Kingdome, becauſe it offers men a kingdome, Matth. 4. 17. and becauſe by it Chriſt reignes in his Saints, Rev. 15. 2. and in his enemies too, but in a different manner, Rev. 19. 15. Thirdly, the Kingdome of his grace, whereby he rules only i… his elect; for this kingdome is within them, Luke. 17. 21. conſiſting in righteouſneſſe, and peace, and joy, Rom. 14. 17. bringing every thought into obedience, 2 Cor. 10. 5. and making them Kings too, Rev. 1. 6. and to rule as it were with God, over ſinne and the world, and the Divell, Hoſ. 11. 12. and this Kingdome is not of this world, Ioh. 18. 36. Fourthly, the Kingdome of glory, that fleſh and blood cannot enter into, 1 Cor. 15. 50.
Q. 244. For the third Petition. Thy will be done, what ſay you of that, why is Gods will ſe… next to his Kingdome?
A. Firſt, Becauſe the greater his Kingdome is the more he ſtands upon his will, we ſee this in earthly Kings, Dan. 11. 3. Secondly, becauſe the doing of Gods will, is the giving the glory of his Kingdome unto him Heb. 13. 21. Thirdly, becauſe by doing of his will, we ſhew that he is our God and King, Pſal. 143. 10. becauſe by doing of his will, we ſhew that we are worſhippers of him, Ioh. 19. 31. Fourthly, hereby we ſhew that as God is a great God, ſo he is great with us▪ …s Moſes was great with the Aegyptians, becauſe he could borrow of them whatſoever he would, Exod. 11. 3. why did David greatly praiſe God; and give him whatſoever obedience he would, becauſe God was great with him, Pſal. 145. 3. Fiftly, becauſe by doing of Gods will, we may enter into Gods Kingdome, Math. 7. 21. La…ly, this is to be men after Gods owne heart, when we fulfill the Lords will, Act. 13. 22.
Q. 145. Hath God ſuch a will in him, as he calls a conditionall will? as for example, to will all mens ſalvation if they repent?
A. Properly there cannot be a conditionall will in God. Firſt, becauſe ſuch a will ſuppoſeth a ſuperiour that may hinder, Act. 18. 21. Secondly, it ſuppoſeth ignorance how things may fall out, as Abraham willed his ſervant to fetch a wife for Iſaack out of the land of his kindred, Gen. 24. 4. if ſhe were willing, verſe. 8. nevertheleſſe improperly it may be given to God, not as though his will can have a condition, for thats the property of a created will, to have a condition of it, Iam. 4. …5. but becauſe the thing willed of God may have a condition, Iſa. 7. 9. now, that the Lord may be ſaid to have a conditionall will in ſome ſenſe is plaine. Firſt, becauſe he is ſaid to will the connexion of things, when he doth not will the things a ſunder and therefore he wills them onelyonly upon the condition of a connexion God would have all men to repent, and come to the knowledge of the truth, 1 Tim. 2. 4. Secondly becauſe he is ſaid to will the ſalvation of all believers, and true penitent perſons, and therefore if a reprobate doe believe, he willeth his ſalvation, 1 King. 11. 38. this is true of God towards a reprobate, if thou wilt obey me, I will bleſſe thee, Deut. 7. 12, 13.
Q. 146. What ſay you of Gods ſimple an… poſitive will?
A. God willeth a thing ſimply two wayes. Firſt, by purpoſing and dec…e…ing, Rom. 9. 11. either to be wrought by himſelfe, which is his working will, Eph. 1. 11. and ſo he willeth his Elect to believe, and to be ſaved, Act. 13. 48. or to be done by another, Act. 4. 28. and ſo he willeth the hardening of the reprobate, Rom: 9. 17, 18. Secondly, by likeing and approving, which is the will of his worde, Pſal: 40. 8. which telleth us what is acceptable unto God, Rom. 12. 2. and thus he willeth every man to repent, 2 Pet. 3. 9. and all men to come to the knowledge of the truth, and to be ſaved, 1 Tim. 2. 4. even thoſe that finally will not. Math. 23. 37. hither is referred that diſtinction of Gods will either ſecret or revealed, Deut. 29. 29. not as though God hath two wills, for it is an imperfection to have two wills▪ as it is an imperfection to be of two minds, Iam 4. 8. it argueth a change, Act. 28. 6: but it is one and the ſame will, whereof one part is ſecret and unknowen, the other revealed, Heb. 11. 8. the revealed part and all, was once kept ſecret and unrevealed, Rom. 16. 25. and God revealeth it two wayes. Firſt, in his word▪ whereby Chriſt revealeth the will of his father to his people, Math. 11. 27. Secondly, in the event of things, as for example, I doe not knowe whether it be Gods will that I ſhall be perſecuted for the truth to morrow, yet it is ſecret, but when I ſee that it is ſo come to paſſe, the event doth reveale it to be the Lords will, 1 Pet. 3. 17.
Q. 147. What ſay you of Gods ſecret wilt?
A. It is not for us to know it, Act. 1. 7. no… aske after it, Iudge. 13. 18. nor pry into it, to ſearch it, Iſa. 40. 28. A man is very chary of his ſecrets; ſuppoſe one ſhould know them, yet he taketh ill that he ſhould reveale them, Prov. 11. 13. wouldeſt thou know when it is Gods will thou ſhalt dye or be ſicke, nay ſ…ay till himſelfe is pleaſed to reveale it, who made thee of his counſell, Rom. 11. 34. when Gods will of command is revealed, it is nothing but unbeleife to be inquiſitive what his iſſue and event ſhall be, Math. 6. 20. nay to be doubting about it, it is unbeliefe, Math. 14. 31. the prying into Gods ſecret will abate iſſues, and the ſuffering of thy heart to be queſtioning it, is the cauſe of moſt of thy ſinnes; the Lord had revealed his will unto Ionas, that he ſhould goe and preach to Niniveh, …on. 1. 2, now Ionas queſtioning what Gods will was, the iſſue ſhould be may be, they will put me to death, may be, the Lord will ſpare them, and then I ſhall be counted a falſe Prophet, this made him fly away to Tarſhiſh, Ion. 4. 2. nay it is the cauſe of moſt errours to ſome, when a part of Gods truth is revealed, enough for faith and ſalvation, Iohn: 20. 31. but when people will be tampering beyond, no wonder if they erre, for Gods judgement is unſearchable, Rom. 11. 33.
Q. 148. What uſe doe you make of Gods ſecret will?
A. Firſt, in all our intention, we muſt be carefull to inſert this, If it be Gods will, Iam. 4. 13, 14, 15. either implicitely, 1 Cor. 11. 34. or expreſſely. Act. 18. 21. for there may be a thouſand counſels in our hearts, but none of them all can ſtand, … that which is appointed in heaven, Prov. 19. 21. Secondly, we muſt never be over earneſt in our undertakings, leaſt Gods will comming forth to the contrary, puts us to diſcontent and vexation, 1 King. 21. 4. Thirdly, we muſt labour to be provided, for whatſoever may break our purpoſes of, Iohn. 11. 11. if it be Gods will our purpoſes ſhall never take effect, he hath many wayes to doe it, Iſa. 59. 10. he ſuffering us to be inconſiderate, Prov. 15. 22. by taking us away before we effect that we purpoſed, Pſal. 146. 4. what a pitifull caſe had Ionathan been in if he had not been provided for all, may be he aimed to be next David, when he came to the crown, 1 Sam. 13. 2. Fourthly, we muſt beware that we run not againſt Gods revealed will, rather then ſuffer our purpoſes to be fruſtrate, the old Prophet of Bethel, when he had a purpoſe to get the Prophet of Iudah home to his houſe, rather then he would be hindred of his purpoſe he told a wretched▪ lye, 1 King. 13. 18. the unjuſt Steward having a purpoſe to live & make himſelfe friends rather then he would be hindred of his purpoſe, he would couzen his Lord, Luke. 16. 4. Fiftly, we muſt be ready to ſubmit to Gods will againſt it comes to be revealed what it is, Act. 21. 4. Sixtly, we muſt remember that even our owne hearts cannot will as we liſt, but as God liſt, Prov. 21. 1. nor our tongues anſwer as we liſt, though we have what to anſwer▪ but as God liſts. Proverb. 16. 1.
Q. 149. What pray we for in this Petition, thy will be done?
A. Firſt, That we may renounce our owne will, Math. 26. 39. whether it be our …rnall will, called the will of our fleſh, Eph. 2. 3. which muſt be abſolutely renounced, for it is contrary to the will of the ſpirit, Gal. 5. 17. or our naturall will, whereby we will life and maintenance, and freedome, from torment, and this we muſt renounce reſpectively, namely when Gods will ſtands in competition, Iohn. 5. 30. Secondly, we pray that God would make us content with his will, whether it be diſpoſing of our allowance, Heb. 13. 5. or correcting us for our ſinnes, 1 Sam. 3. 18. Thirdly, we pray that God would enable us, to doe his commanding will, Pſal. 143. 10. Fourthly, we pray that we may doe it, as Gods Angels doe, Pſal. 143. 20. that is, firſt, readily, without delay, Pſal. 119. 60. Secondly, willingly, Pſal. 40. 8. that it may be our meate to doe it, Iohn. 4. 34. Thirdly, conſtantly, 1 Chron. 28. 7. Fourthly, faithfully, not picking and choſing, but all the Lords will, Act. 13. 22.
Q. 150. What ſay you of the will of Gods word or command, is it the Lords will that men ſhall do it or elſe woe is unto them?
A. Yea, for that is his will by force of a law, Rom. 2. 18. and the buſineſſe that he bids men to do, Luke. 2. 49. and what ever prophane wretches thinke he will for a certaine require it. Pſal. 10. 13. and if men will not doe it, he himſelf will ſee it done one way or other, Ezek. 21. 28. Gods word muſt needs be his peremptory will, firſt, becauſe it is his pleaſure, Ezra. 10. 11. Secondly, becauſe he engages his glory upon it, & therefore he wills it above heaven and earth, Pſal. 148. 13. he will ſooner let heaven & earth come to naught, then any title of his word not be done, Math. 5. 18. his wiſdome is engaged upon it too, and therefore it is called his wiſdome, Prov. 2. 2. his holyneſſe is engaged upon it too, and therefore it is called the word of the holy one, Iob. 6. 10. and his power too, and therefore none that neglect it, ſhall eſcape; except they be ſtronger then he, … Cor. 10. 22. and his greatneſſe too, his greatneſſe is ſtamped upon every jot of his word, Hoſ. 8. 12. Thirdly, its a ſigne now ſtrongly the Lord willeth his word, by the greatneſſe of the reward that he propounds to them that keep it, Pſal. 19. 11. and by the greatneſſe of the plagues that he threatens to them that will break it, Deut. 28. 59. Fourthly, it appears by the Lords importunity, whereby he wooeth us to do it, Math. 27. 37. Fiftly by the coſt he was at to purchaſe his word, he delivered his own ſon up unto death to procure us this will and teſtament, Heb. 9. 16. and therefore how ſhall they eſcape that are ſtubborne againſt it and ſlight it, Heb. 2. 2, 3.
Q. 151. What motives are there to perſwade us to doe the Lords will?
A. Firſt, if we do the Lords will, the Lord will heare our prayers, Ioh. 9. 31. Secondly, if we do the Lords wil we ſhal abide for ever, 1 Ioh. 2. Thirdly, 27. The doing of Gods will, puts a great Nobility upon us, Mark 3. 35. Fourthly, hereby we ſhew our ſelves to be the ſervants of God, Eph. 6. 6. Fiftly, to do the Lords will, is a ſigne of one that ſhall enter into heaven, Math. 7. 21. Sixthly, by ſo doing, we pleaſe God, Heb. 13. 21. when we do our owne will and not Gods, we exalt our ſelves above God, Dan. 11. 36. we ſaid in out Baptiſme that we ſhould do the Lords will and therefore if we will not, we are lying children, Iſa. 30. 9.
Q. 152. Tho fourth Petition is, Give us this day our daily bread, what is meant by bread here?
A. Firſt. Bread it ſelfe in particular, 2 King. 4. 32. which ſtrengthens mans heart, Pſal. 104. 15. Secondly, that, and alſo any other food, Gen. 3. 19. any meales meat, 2. Kings. 6. 22. even fleſh too, Gen. 18. 5, 7. and rayment too, and whatſoever our naturall life needs, Eccl. 11. 1. even all outward things, Gen. 49, 20. for not only food, but rayment, and warmth and other outward comforts do feed us; a man may be ſtarved with cold: and therefore whatſoever helps to ſatisfie the deſire of nature may be called bread, Prov. 20. 13. Fourthly, it ſignifies ſpiritually Chriſt too, Iohn. 6. 51. and his word, Amo. 8. 11. and his grace, 1 Cor. 5. 8. and his promiſe, Math. 15. 26. But this ſpirituall bread is not here meant, we pray for ſpirituall bread in the other petitions, here only for our daily ſuſtenance, Luke. 11. 3. indeed it is good to raiſe up our meditations from hence, unto ſupernaturall meate, Iohn. 6. 27. Firſt, becauſe man liveth not by bread only, but by every word of God. Math. 44. Secondly, becauſe a wiſe man looketh higher then the food of his carkaſe, Prov. 30. 8. neither is the Sacramentall bread heere meant, for that we pray for in the firſt Petition, it being the fealing of the forgiveneſſe of our ſinnes, Math. 26. 28.
Q. 153. What doth this teach us, that our Saviour bids us pray for Bread, and not for daynties and abundance?
A. To teach us, that having food and rayment therewith to be content, 1 Tim. 6. 8. Firſt, becauſe our life does not conſiſt in abundance, Luke. 12. 15. Secondly, becauſe there is danger in abundance, ſpecially when we are eager to have it, Prov. 30. 8. An eſtate may be great, as a ſhoe may be too bigge, or armout may be too great, and then it hindereth one in the uſing of it, 1 Sam. 17. 39. riches accidentally make it harder for one to goe to heaven, Math. 19. 24. Thirdly, if we be not content with ſuch things as we have, be they never ſo little, we will never be contented, but covet more and more, Heb. 13. 5. Fourthly, we are citizens of heaven and ſtrangers here below; and therefore it does not become us to be having and having. Heb. 11. 9. 10. if we can ſay, The Lord is our portion, we have a goodly heritage, Pſal. 16. 6. and therefore we ſhould pray only for the things that are neceſſary, Mat. 6. 32. now thoſe things are neceſſary that are neceſſary; firſt unto nature, nature requires ſome food and rayment, or elſe it will pine, Lam. 4. 4. Secondly, unto our vocation, as Bookes to a Scholler▪ inſtruments to a Carpenter, meaner meanes to people that are of a mean calling, greater to Lords and to Kings, give me not poverty ſays the King, becauſe his calling called for more meanes then ſo, Prov. 30. 8. Thirdly, neceſſary to out charge, whether it be a great charge or ſmall, 1 Tim. 5. 8. Fourthly, that which is apparently neceſſary for time to come too, 2 Cor. 12. 14. when Ioſeph foreſaw a great famine, he laid up aforehand, Gen. 41. 48.
Q. 154. Why muſt we pray for temporall things, or for the creatures of God?
A. Firſt, becauſe raiment is good and foode is good, and every creature of God is good, 1 Tim. 4. 4. Secondly, they are uſefull to many duties, and to the duty of hoſpitality, Rom. 12. 13. of owing nothing one to another, Rom. 13. 8. of honouring God, Prov. 3. 9. Thirdly, they are neceſſary with neceſſity of need, Math. 6. 32. and with the neceſſity of convenience, Prov. 30. 8. Fourthly, the want of them is great temptation to many ſinnes, Prov. 30. 9. and the very Lyons, Pſal. 104. 25. and the ravens teach us to call upon God for them, Pſal. 147. 9. for though we love them too well, 1 Ioh. 2. 15. and are too apt to labour for them, Iohn. 6. 27. and to pray carnall prayers for them, Hoſ. 7. 14. yet we had rather get them any way then by prayers, as by cares, Luk. 21. 34. by taking thought, Math. 6. 25. by unlawfull, and unrighteous courſes, Luk. 16. 9. Firſt, becauſe as long as we thinke we can help our ſelves, we love not to be beholding to another, and therefore is fain to exhort us to pray to him, Phil. 4. 6. Secondly, becauſe we cannot abide to ſtand to Gods allowance, as we muſt, if we would get him by prayer, & therfore we are prone to reſtraine prayer, Iob. 15. 4. Thirdly, becauſe prayer is too holy a courſe for our corrupt nature to come by them, 1 Tim. 2. 8. Fourthly, becauſe God …ndents with us to glorifie him, if he give us any …hing by prayer, Pſa. 50. 15. but we ſhould pray for them, Gen. 28. 20. Firſt, becauſe that is the way to have ſanctifiedly, 1 Tim. 4. 5. and ſecondly, without falling into temptation about them, Math. 26. …. and thirdly, moſt honorably, for it is the honour of our maintenance, as it was of Chriſts, if they come down from heaven, Iohn. 6. 33.
Q. 155. The text ſaith our Br…ad, it ſpeaketh if a title we have to the creatures, what ſay you of that?
A. There is a two fould title to the creatures. Firſt, a ſpirituall title, whereby they are ours, if they be ours by being in Chriſt, 1 Cor. 3. 22. Secondly, a civill title, as by deſcent of inheritance, as Naboths vineyard was his, 1 King. 21. 3. or by purchaſe, as the field of Ephron, was Abrahams, Gen… 23. 16, 17. or by honeſt labour, and covenant, between man and man, as the party coloured Sheep were Iacobs ſheep, Gen. 30. 40. the wicked have not a filiall title unto them, becauſe he whome they are without, is heire of all things, Heb. 1. 2. they onelyonly have title to them, which have faith to overcome; which the wicked have not, Rev. 21. 7. title unto the creature is not founded upon nature, Gene. 1. 29. but upon the image of God in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe, which the wicked have not, ver. 26. and yet Firſt, they have a gift of providence, though they have forfited Gods creatures, yet God dos not preſently ſeize upon the forfeiture, but continueth the old gift in Adam, Pſal. 115. 6. Secondly, a cogift as it were by reaſon of cohabitation with the godly, Deut. 32. 14. Thirdly, a ſufferance, rather then a guift, to be as roddes for the righteous, Ier. 27. 6. Fourthly, a conditionall guift, upon condition, that they will repent and believe in Chriſt, otherwiſe the creatures will turne to a curſe to them, Iob. 20. 14. if they do eate, they ſinne becauſe they cannot eate with faith, Rom. 14. 23. if they do not eate, they ſinne too, becauſe then they ſhould murder themſelves, which they muſt not, Ast. 16. 34. As Simon Magus, if he ſhould pray he ſhould ſinne, by praying without the ſpirit, if he ſhould not pray, he ſhould breake the commandement of prayer; and yet Peter bid him pray though, Act. 8. 22.
Q. 156. It ſeems then that the Anabaptiſt… call conceipt is moſt falſe, that all things are common; and yet we cannot ſay this is ours, and that is yours, Give us this day our dayly bread?
A. Yea, for firſt, the Law ſays thou ſhalt not ſteale, Exod. 20. 15. Secondly, the Lord ſays we muſt worke, and earne and eate our owne bread, 2 Theſſ. 3. 12. Thirdly, the ſcripture ſpeaks of ten proprieties, a good Biſhop rules wel his own houſe, 1 Tim. 3. 4. Iohn tooke Mary into his own houſe, John. 19. 27. Fourthly, the action of buying and ſelling does alſo prove it, Chriſt bid his Diſciples to buy meat, Iohn. 4. 8. Fiftly, the Goſpell relates divers rich men, if there were a community, no one ſhould be richer then another, Ioſeph of Arimathea was rich, Math. 27. 57. the Eunuch was rich, Act. 8. 27. Paul does not adviſe rich men to make all away they have, but not to truſt in their riches, 1 Tim. 6. 17. Sixthly, the duty of being liberall ſuppoſes a proprieity; for then is a man liberall, when he gives bountifully of his owne, 2 Cor. 9. 6. when one beggeth of us, and we let him have, we are ſaid to give. Math. 5. 42. Firſt, becauſe ſo is Gods inſtitution at the, firſt. Act. 16. 27. & a diviſion of goods and inheritance, is Gods Ordinance, Deut. 32. 8. Secondly, ſo is Gods providence, he maketh rich as poore, Prover. 22. 2. Thirdly, it is not mans ſinne, when he counts his goods his owne, or his houſe his owne, Symon had a houſe of his owne, Act. 10. 6. Mary a houſe of her owne, Act. 12. 12. Philip had a houſe of his owne, Act. 21. 8. It is true, firſt, we are all one in Chriſt, in regard of ſpirituall life but not in civill life, Gal. 3. 28. for ſome are Maſters and ſome ſervants, Eph. 6. 5. ſome rich ſome poore, Math. 26. 11. Secondly, there muſt be a communion of charity, but not ſuch a communion, as is contrary to all propriety, Heb. 13. 16. nay this kind of communion ſuppoſeth a propriety, Prov. 5. 16, 17. Thirdly, the Goſpell commands a readineſſe to forſake all that we have, when we are called, but not always an actuall forſaking of all, Luke. 14. 33. Fourthly, the Church may ſtand in need of a community of goods, Act. 2. 44. and that all goods ſhould be common, Act. 4. 32. and yet that doth ſuppoſe, firſt, that our goods are our own, and in our owne power to make common, Act. 5. 4. Secondly, nor a neceſſity, but a freeneſſe of giving, 2 Cor. 9. 7. Thirdly, it was only by accident, in regard of the multitudes of poore Believers, Luke 12. 33.