Vindication of the Government of New England Churches 2, Chapter 20 – Chapter 32
CHAP. XX. Of the Goſpel, and of the extent of the Grace thereof.
THE covenant of works being broken by ſin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleaſed to give unto the elect the promiſe of Chriſt, the ſeed of the woman, as the means of calling them, and begetting in them faith and repentance: In this promiſe, the goſpel, as to the ſubſtance of it, was revealed, and was therein effectual for the converſion and ſalvation of ſinners.
2. This promiſe of Chriſt, and ſalvation by him, is revealed only in and by the word of God; neither do the works of creation or providence, with the light of nature, make diſcovery of Chriſt, or of grace by him, ſo much as in a general or obſcure way; much leſs that men deſtitute of the revelation of him by the promiſe or goſpel, ſhould be enabled thereby to attain ſaving faith or repentance.
3. The revelation of the goſpel unto ſinners made in divers times, and by ſundry parts, with the addition of promiſes and precepts for the obedience required therein, as to the nations and perſons to whom it is granted, is meerly of the ſovereign will and good pleaſure of God, not being annexed by virtue of any promiſe to the due improvement of men's natural abilities, by virtue of common light received without it, which none ever did make, or can ſo do: And therefore in all ages the preaching of the goſpel hath been granted unto perſons and nations, as to the extent or ſtraitning of it, in great variety, according to the counſel of the will of God.
4. Although the goſpel be the only outward means of revealing Chriſt and ſaving grace, and is, as ſuch, abundantly ſuffi…ient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in treſpaſſes, may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover neceſſary an effectual, irreſiſtible work of the holy Ghoſt upon the whole ſoul, for the producing in them a new ſpiritual life, wi…hout which no other means are ſufficient for their converſion unto God.
CHAP. XXI. Of Chriſtian Liberty, and Liberty of Conſcience.
THE liberty which Chriſt hath purchaſed for believers under the goſpel, conſiſts in their freedom from the gilt of ſin, the condemning wrath of God, the rigor and cu…e of the law, and in their being delivered from this preſent evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of ſin, from the evil of afflictions, the fear and ſting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlaſting damnation, as alſo in their free ac…eſs to God, and their yielding od…dience unto him, not o…t of ſ…aviſh fear, but a child-like love and willing mind: All which were common alſo to believers under the law, for the ſubſtance of them, but under the new teſtament, the liberty of chriſtians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, the whole legal adminiſtration of the covenant of grace to which the Jewiſh church was ſubjected, and in greater boldneſs of acceſs to the throne of grace, and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.
2. God alone is Lord of the conſcience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in any thing contrary to his word, or not contained in it; ſo that to believe ſuch doctrines, or to obey ſuch commands out of conſci…nce, is to betray true liberty of conſcience, and the requiring of an implicit faith, and an abſolute and blind obedience, is to deſtroy liberty of conſcience, and reaſon alſo.
3. They who upon pretence of chriſtian liberty do practiſe any ſin, or cheriſh any luſt, as they do thereby pervert the main deſign of the grace of the goſpel to their own deſtruction, ſo they wholly deſtroy the end of chriſtian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might ſerve the Lord without fear, in holineſs and righteouſneſs before him all the days of our life.
CHAP. XXII. Of Religious Worſhip, and of the Sabbath-Day.
THE light of nature ſheweth that there is a God, who hath a lordſhip and ſovereignty over all, is juſt, good, and doth good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praiſed, called upon, truſted in, and ſerved with all the heart, and all the ſoul, and with all the might: But the acceptable way of worſhipping the true God, i… inſtituted by himſelf, and ſo limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worſhipped according to the imaginations and devices of … or the ſuggeſtions of ſatan, under any viſible repreſentation…, or any other way not ….
2. Religious worſhip is to God the Father, Son, and holy Ghoſt, and to him alone; not to angels, ſaints, or any other creatures; and ſince the fall, not without a mediator, nor in the mediation of any other but of Chriſt alone.
3. Prayer with thankſgiving, being one ſpecial part of natural worſhip, is by God required of all men; but that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son, by the help of his Spirit, according to his will, with underſtanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, & perſeverence: And when with others in a known tongue.
4. Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all ſorts of men living, or that ſhall live hereafter, but not for the dead, nor for thoſe of whom it may be known that they have ſinned the ſin unto death.
5. The reading of the ſcriptures, preaching & hearing of the word of God, ſinging of pſalms, as alſo the adminſtration of baptiſm and the Lords ſupper, are all parts of religious worſhip of God, to be performed in obedience unto God, with underſtanding, faith, reverence and godly fear. Solemn humilations with faſtings, and thankſgiving upon ſpecial occaſions, are in their ſeveral times and ſeaſons to be uſed in an holy and religious manner.
6. Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worſhip, is now under the goſpel either tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is preformed, or towards which it is directed: But God is to be worſhipped every where in ſpirit and in truth, as in private families daily, and in ſecret each one by himſelf, ſo more ſolemnly in the public aſſemblies, which are not careleſly nor willfully to be neglected, or forſaken, when God by word or providence calleth thereunto.
7. As it is of the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time by Gods appointment be ſet apart for the worſhip of God; ſo by his word in a poſitive, moral and perpetual commandment, binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in ſeven for a ſabbath to be kept holy unto him, which from the beginning of the world to the reſurrection of Chriſt, was the laſt day of the week, and from the reſurrection of Chriſt, was changed into the firſt day of the week, which in ſcripture is called the Lord's day, and is to be continued to the end of the world as the chriſtian ſabbath, the obſervation of the laſt day of the week being aboliſhed.
8. This ſabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs beforehand, do not only obſerve an holy reſt all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldy employments and recreations, but alſo are taken up the whole time in the publick and private exerciſes of his worſhip, and in the duties of neceſſity and mercy.
CHAP. XXIII. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows.
A Lawful oath is a part of religious worſhip, wherein the perſon ſwearing in truth, righteouſneſs and judgment, ſolemnly calleth God to witneſs what he aſſerteth or promiſeth, and to judge him according to the truth and falſhood of what he ſweareth.
2. The name of God only is that by which men ought to ſwear, and therein it is to be uſed with all holy fear and reverence: Therefore to ſwear vainly or raſhly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to ſwear at all by any other thing, is ſinful, and to be abhorred: Yet as in matters of weight and moment an oath is warranted by the word of God, under the new teſtament, as well as under the old; ſo a lawful oath, being impoſed by lawful authority in ſuch matters, ought to be taken.
3. Whoſoever taketh an oath warranted by the word of God, ought duly to conſider the weightineſs of ſo ſolemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he is fully perſwaded is the truth: Neither may any man bind himſelf by oath to any thing, but what is good & juſt, and what he believeth ſo to be, and what he is able and reſolved to perform. Yet it is a ſin to refuſe an oath touching any thing that is good and juſt, being lawfully impoſed by authority.
4. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common ſenſe of the words, without equivocation, or mental reſervation: It cannot oblige to ſin, but in any thing not ſinful being taken, it binds to performance, although to a mans own hurt; nor is it to be violated, although made to Hereticks or Infidels.
5. A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but God alone, is of the like nature with a promiſſory oath, and ought to be made with the like religious care, and to performed with the like faithfulneſs.
6. Popiſh monaſtical vows of perpetual ſingle life, profeſſed poverty, and regular obedience, are ſo far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are ſuperſtitious and ſinful ſnares, in which no chriſtian may intangle himſelf.
CHAP. XXIV. Of the Civil Magiſtrate.
GOD the ſupream Lord and king of all the world, hath ordained civil magiſtrates to be under him, over the people for his own glory & the public good; and to this end hath armed them with the power of his ſword, for the defence and encouragement of them that do good, and for the puniſhment of evil doers.
2. It is lawful for chriſtians to accept and execute the office of a magiſtrate, when called thereunto: In the management whereof, as they ought eſpecially to maintain piety, juſtice and peace, according to the wholſome laws of each commonwealth, ſo for that end they may lawfully now under the new teſtament wage war upon juſt and neceſſary occaſions.
3. They who upon pretence of chriſtian liberty ſhall oppoſe any lawful power, or the lawful exerciſes of it, reſiſt the ordinance of God, and for their publiſhing of ſuch opinions, or maintaining of ſuch practices as are contrary to the light of nature, or to the known principles of chriſtianity, whether concerning faith, worſhip or converſation, or to the power of godlineſs, or ſuch erroneous opinions or practices, as either in their own nature, or in the manner of publiſhing or maintaining them, are deſtructive to the external peace and order which Chriſt hath eſtabliſhed in the church, they may lawfully be called to account, and proceeded againſt by the cenſures of the church, and by the power of the civil magiſtrate; yet in ſuch differ…nces about the doctrines of the goſpel, or ways of the worſhip of God as may befal men exerciſing a good conſcience, manifeſting it in their converſation, and holding the foundation, and duly obſerving the rules of peace and order, there is no warrant for the magiſtrate to abrige them of their liberty.
4. It is the duty of people to pray for magiſtrates, to honor their perſons, to pay them tribute and other dues, to obey their lawful commands, and to be ſubject to their authority for conſcience ſake. Infidelity, or difference in religion doth not make void the magiſtrates juſt and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to him: From which eccleſiaſtical perſons are not exempted, much leſs hath the Pope any power or juriſdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people, and leaſt of all to deprive them of their dominions or lives, if he ſhall judge them to be hereticks, or upon any orher pretence whatſoever.
CHAP. XXV. Of Marriage.
MARRIAGE is to be between one man and one woman; neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one huſband at the ſame time.
2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of huſband and wife, for the increaſe of mankind with a legitimate iſſue, and of the church with an holy ſeed, and for preventing of uncleanneſs.
3. It is lawful for all ſorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their conſent. Yet it is the duty of chriſtians to marry in the Lord, and therefore ſuch as profeſs the true reformed religion, ſhould not marry with infidels, papiſts, or other idolaters: Neither ſhould ſuch as are godly be unequally yoked by marrying ſuch as are wicked in their life, or maintain damnable hereſey.
4. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of conſanguinity or affinity forbidden in the word, nor can ſuch inceſtuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man, or conſent of parties, ſo as thoſe perſons may live together as man and wife.
CHAP. XXVI. Of the Church.
THE catholick or univerſal church, which is inviſible, conſiſts of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or ſhall be gathered into one under Chriſt the head thereof, and is the ſpouſe, the body, the fulneſs of him that filleth all in all.
2. The whole body of men throughout the world, profeſſing the faith of the goſpel, and obedience unto God by Chriſt according unto it, not deſtroying their own profeſſion by any errors everting the foundation, or unholineſs of converſation, they and their children with them are, & may be called the viſible catholick church of Chriſt, although as ſuch it is not intruſted with any officers to rule or govern over the whole body.
3. The pureſt churches under heaven are ſubject both to mixture and error, and ſome have ſo degenerated as to become no churches of Chriſt, but ſynagogues of Satan; nevertheleſs Chriſt always hath had, and ever ſhall have a viſible kingdom in this world, to the end thereof, of ſuch as believe in him, and make profeſſion of his name.
4. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, nor can the Pope of Rome in any ſenſe be head thereof, but is that anti-chriſt, that man of ſin, and ſon of perdition, that exalteth himſelf in the church againſt Chriſt, and all that is called God, whom the Lord ſhall deſtroy with the brightneſs of his coming.
5. As the Lord in his care and love towards his church hath in his infinite wiſe providence, exerciſed it with great variety in all ages for the good of them that love him, and his own glory; ſo according to his promiſe, we expect that in the latter days, anti-chriſt being deſtroyed, the Jews called, and the adverſaries of the kingdom of his dear Son broken, the churches of Chriſt being enlarged and edified, through a free and plentiful communication of light and grace, all enjoy in this world a more quiet, peaceable and glorious condition than they have enjoyed.
CHAP. XXVII. Of the Communion of Saints.
ALL ſaints that are united to Jeſus Chriſt their head by his Spirit and faith, although they are not made thereby one perſon with him, have fellowſhip in his graces, ſufferings, death, reſurrection and glory: And being united to one another in love, they have communion in each others gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of ſuch duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.
2. All ſaints are bound to maintain an holy fellowſhip and communion in the worſhip of God, and in performing ſuch other ſpiritual ſervices as tend to their mutual edification, as alſo in relieving each other in outward things, according to their ſeveral abilities and neceſſities: which communion, though eſpecially to be exerciſed by them in the relations wherein they ſtand, whether in families or in churches, yet as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all thoſe who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jeſus.
CHAP. XXVIII. Of the Sacraments.
SACRAMENTS are holy ſigns and ſeals of the covenant of grace, immediately inſtituted by Chriſt, to repreſent him and his benefits, and to confirm our intereſt in him, and ſolemnly to engage us to the ſervice of God in Chriſt, according to his word.
2. There is in every ſacrament a ſpiritual relation, or ſacramental union between the ſign and the thing ſignified; whence it comes to paſs, that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other.
3. The grace which is exhibited in or by the ſacraments rightly uſed, is not conferred by any power in them, neither doth the efficacy of a ſacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth adminiſter it; but upon the work of the Spirit, and the word of inſtitution, which contains together with a precept authorizing the uſe thereof, a promiſe of benefit to worthy receivers.
4. There be only two ſacraments ordained by Chriſt our Lord in the goſpel, that is to ſay, baptiſm and the Lord's ſupper; neither of which may be diſpenſed by any but a miniſter of the word lawfully called.
5. The ſacraments of the old teſtament, in regard of the ſpiritual things thereby ſignified and exhibited, were for ſubſtance the ſame with thoſe of the new.
CHAP. XXIX. Of Baptiſm.
BAPTISM is a ſacrament of the new teſtament, ordained by Jeſus Chriſt, to be unto the party baptized a ſign and ſeal of the covenant of grace, of his ingraffing into Chriſt, of regeneration, of remiſſion of ſins, and of his giving up unto God through Jeſus Chriſt, to walk in newneſs of life; which ordinance is by Chriſt's own appointment to be continued in his church, until the end of the world.
2. The outward element to be uſed in this ordinance is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghoſt, by a miniſter of the goſpel lawfully called thereunto.
3. Dipping of the perſon into the water is not neceſſary, but baptiſm is rightly adminiſtered by pouring or ſprinkling water upon the perſon.
4. Not only thoſe that do actually profeſs faith in & obedience unto Chriſt, but alſo the infants of one or both believing parents are to be baptiſed, and thoſe only.
5. Although it be a great ſin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and ſalvation are not ſo inſeparably annexed to it, as that no perſon can be regenerated or ſaved without it; or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.
6. The efficacy of baptiſm is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is adminiſtered, yet not withſtanding, by the right uſe of this ordinance, the grace promiſed is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the holy Ghoſt to ſuch (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counſel of God's own will in his appointed time.
7. Baptiſm is but once to be adminiſtered to any perſon.
CHAP.XXX. Of the Lord's Supper.
OUR Lord Jeſus in the night wherein he was betrayed, inſtituted the ſacrament of his body and blood, called the Lord's ſupper, to be obſerved in his churches to the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance, and ſhewing forth of the ſacrifice of himſelf in his death, the ſealing of all benefits thereof unto true believers, their ſpiritual nouriſhment and growth in him, their further engagement in and to all duties which they owe unto him, and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other.
2. In this ſacrament Chriſt is not offered up to his Father, nor any real ſacrifice made at all for remiſſion of ſin of the quick or dead, but only a memorial of that one offering up of himſelf upon the croſs once for all, and a ſpiritual oblation of all poſſible praiſe unto God for the ſame; ſo that the popiſh ſacrifice of the maſs (as they call it) is moſt abominable injurious to Chriſt's own only ſacrifice, the alone propitiation for all the ſins of the elect.
3. The Lord Jeſus hath in this ordinance appointed his miniſters to declare his word of inſtitution to the people, to pray and bleſs the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to ſet them apart from a common to an holy uſe, and to take and brake the bread, to take the cup, and (they communicating alſo themſelves) to give both to the communicants, but to none who are not then preſent in the congregation.
4. Private maſſes, or receiving the ſacrament by a prieſt, or any other alone, as likewiſe the denial of the cup to the people, worſhipping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and the reſerving them for any pretended religious uſe, are all contrary to the nature of this ſacrament, and to the inſtitution of Chriſt.
5. The outward elements in this ſacrament duly ſet apart for the uſes ordained by Chriſt, have ſuch relation to him crucified, as that truly, yet ſacramentally only, they are ſometimes called by the name of the things they repreſent, to wit, the body and blood of Chriſt; albeit in ſubſtance and nature they ſtill remain truly and only bread and wine as they were before.
6. That doctrine which maintains a change of the ſubſtance of bread and wine, into the ſubſtance of Chriſt's body and blood (commonly called tranſubſtantiation) by conſecration of a prieſt, or any other way, is repugnant not to the ſcripture alone, but even to common ſenſe and reaſon, overthroweth the nature of the ſacrament, and hath been, and is the cauſe of manifold ſuperſtitions, yea, of groſs idolatries.
7. Worthy receivers outwardly partaking of the viſible elements in this ſacrament, do then alſo inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but ſpiritully, receive and feed upon Chriſt crucified, and all benefits of his death; the body & blood of Chriſt being then not corporally or …nally in with, or under the bread and wine, yet as really, but ſpiritually preſent to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themſelves are to their outward ſenſes.
8. All ignorant and ungodly perſons as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Chriſt, ſo are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot without great ſin againſt him, whilſt they remain ſuch, partake of theſe holy myſteries, or be admitted thereunto; yea, whoſoever ſhall receive unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and drinking judgment to themſelves.
CHAP.XXXI. Of the State of Man after Death, and of the Reſurrection of the Dead.
THE bodies of men after death return to duſt, and ſee …orruption, but their ſouls (which neither die nor ſleep) having an immortal ſubſtance immediately return to God▪ who gave them, the ſouls of the righteous being then made perfect in holineſs, are received into the higheſt heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies: And the ſouls of the wicked are caſt into hell, where they remain in torment, and utter darkneſs, reſerved to the judgment of the great day: Beſides theſe two places of ſouls ſeparated from their bodies, the ſcripture acknowledgeth none.
2. At the laſt day … as are found alive ſhall not die, but be changed, and all the dead ſhall be raiſed up with the ſelf-ſame bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which ſhall be united again to their ſouls for ever.
3. The bodies of the unjuſt ſhall by the power of Chriſt be raiſed to diſhonour; the bodies of the juſt by his Spirit unto honor, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.
CHAP. XXXII. Of the laſt Judgment.
GOD hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteouſneſs by JESUS CHRIST, to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only the apoſtate angels ſhall be judge…, but likewiſe all perſons that have lived upon earth, ſhall appear before the tribunal of Chriſt, to give an account of their thoughts, words and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.
2. The end of God'… appointing this day, is for the manifeſtation of the glory of his mercy in the eternal ſalvation of the elect, and of his juſtice in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and diſobedient: For then ſhall the righteous go into everlaſting life, and receive that fullneſs of joy and glory, with everlaſting reward in the preſence of the LORD, but the wicked who know not GOD, and obey not the goſpel of JESUS CHRIST, ſhall be caſt into eternal torments, and be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the LORD, and from the glory of his power.
3. As Chirſt would have us to be certainly perſuaded that there ſhall be a judgment, both to deter all men fromſin, and for the greater conſolation of the godly in their adverſity; ſo will he have that day unknown to men, that they may ſhake off all carnal ſecurity, and be always watchful, becauſe they know not at what hour the LORD will come, and may be ever prepared to ſay, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly. AMEN
THE END.