1 (commonly called tranfubftantiation) by confecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant, not to fcripture alone, but even to common fenfe and reafon; overthroweth the nature of the facrament, and hath been and is the caufe of manifold fuperftitions, yea, of grofs idolatries mi. VII. Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the vifible elements in this facrament n, do then alfo inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but fpiritually, receive and feed upon Chrift crucified, and all benefits of his death: the body and blood of Chrift being then, not corporally or carnally, in, with or under the bread and wine; yet as really, but fpiritually, prefent to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward fenfes o. VIII. Altho' ignorant and wicked men receive the outward elements in this facrament, yet they receive not the thing fignified thereby; but, by their unworthy coming thereunto, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, to their own damnation. Wherefore all ignorant and ungodly perfons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with him, fo are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot without great fin against Christ, while they remain fuch, partake of thefe holy myfteries p, or be admitted VI. Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven must receive, until the times of reftitution of all things, which God hath Spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, fince the world began. With 1 Cor. xi. 24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and faid, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. v. 25. After the fame manner alfo be took the cup, when he had fupped, faying, This cup is the new teftament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. v. 26. (See letter 1.) Luke xxiv. 6. He is not here, but is rifen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee. v. 39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I my felf: handle me, and fee, for a fpirit hath Bot flesh and bones, as ye fee me have. VII. n 1 Cor. xi. 28. (See in letter /.) 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of bleffing which we blefs, is it not the communion of the blood of Chrift? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? VIII. p 1 Cor. xi. 27, 28. (See in letter /.) v. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himfelf, not difcerning the Lord's body. 2 Cor. vi. 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteoufnefs with unrighteoufnefs? and what communion hath light with darkness? v. 15. And what concord hath Chrift with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? v. 16. What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath faid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they fhall be my people. q I Cor. K 2 mitted thereunto q. CHAP. XXX. Of Church Confures. THE therein appointed a government in the hand of churchofficers, diftinct from the civil magiftrate a. q 1 Cor. v. 6. Your glorying is not good: Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? v. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened. For even Chrift our paffover is facrificed for us. v. 13. But them that are without, God judgeth, Therefore put away from among yourfelves that wicked perfon. 2 Theff. iii. 6. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye withdraw your felves from every brother that walketh diforderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. v. 14. And if any man obey not our word by this epiftle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. v. 15. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Mat. vii. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither caft ye your pearls before fwine, left they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you. I. a Ifa. ix. 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a fon is given, and the government fhall be upon his fhoulder: and his name fhall be called, Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlafting Father, The Prince of peace. v. 7. Of the increase of his government and peace, there fhall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to eftablish it with judgment and with juftice, from henceforth even for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hofts will perform this. 1 Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that rule well, be counted wor 1 II. To thy of double honour, efpecially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 1 Theff. v. 12. And we befeech you, brethren, to know them who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonifh you. Acts xx. 17. And from Miletus he fent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. v. 18. And when they were come to him, he faid unto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into Afia, after what manner I have been with you at all feafons. Heb. xiii. 7. Remember them who have the rule over you, who have fpoken unto you the word of God: whofe faith follow, confidering the end of their converfation. v. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and fubmit yourselves: for they watch for your fouls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unpro- . fitable for you. v. 24. Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the faints. They of Italy falute you. I Cor. xii. 28. And God hath fet fome in the church, firft apoftles, fecondarily prophets, thirdly, teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diverfities of tongues. Mat. xxviii. 18. And Jefus came, and fpake unto them, faying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. v. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost: v. 20. Teaching them. to obferve all things whatfoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you II. To thefe officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are. committed, by virtue whereof they have power refpectively to retain and remit fins; to fhut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the word and cenfures; and to open it unto penitent finners, by the miniftry of the gofpel, and by abfolution from cenfures, as occafion fhall require b. III. Church cenfures are neceffary for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren, for deterring of others from the like offences, for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump, for vindicating the honour of Christ and the holy profeffion of the gofpel, and for preventing the wrath of God, which might juftly fall upon the church, if they fhould fuffer his covenant, and the feals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obftinate offenders c. IV. For the better attaining of thefe ends, the officers of the church are to proceed by admonition, fufpenfion from the facrament of the Lord's fupper for a feafon, and by excommunication from the church, according to the nature of the crime, and demerit of the perfon d. CHAP. you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. II. 6 Mat xvi. 19. And will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of hea ven: and whatfoever thou shalt bind on earth, fhall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou fhalt loofe on earth, fhall be loofed in heaven. Mat. xviii. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. v. 18. Verily, I fay unto you, Whatfoever ye fhall bind on earth, fhall be bound in heaven: and whatfoever ye fhall loofe on earth, fhall be loofed in heaven. John xx, 21. Then faid Jefus to them again, Peace be unto you; as my Father hath fent me, even fo fend I you. v. 22. And when he had faid this, he breathed on them, and faith unto them, Receive ye the holy Ghost. v, 23. Whofe foever fins ye remit, they are remitted unto them: and whofe foever fins ye retain, they are retained, 2 Cor. ii, 6. Sufficient to fuch a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. V. 7. So that contrariwife, ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, left perhaps fuch a one fhould be fwallowed up with overmuch forrow. v. 8. Wherefore I befeech you, that you would confirm your love towards him. III. c (1 Cor. v. ch. throughout.) I Tim, v, 20, Them that fin, rebuke before all, that others alfo may fear. Mat. vii. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither caft ye your pearls before fwine, left they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you. I Tim. i. 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blafpheme. (I Cor. xi. 27. to the end.) With Jude 23. And others fave with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garments spotted by the flem, IV. d I Theff. v. 12. And we befecch you, brethren, to know them K 3 which FOR CHAP. XXXI, Of Synods and Councils. OR the better government and further edification of the church, there ought to be fuch affemblies as are commonly called fynods or councils a. II. As magiftrates may lawfully call a fynod of minifters and other fit perfons, to confult and advise with about matters of religion b; fo, if magiftrates be open enemies to the church, the minifters of Chrift, of themfelves, by virtue of their office; or they, with other fit perfons upon delegation from their churches, may meet together in fuch affemblies c. which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. 2 Theff. iii. 6. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh diforderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. v. 14. And if any man obey not our word by this epiftle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be afhamed. v. 15. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 1 Cor. v. 4. In the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, when ye are gathered together, and my fpirit, with the power of our Lord Jefus Chrift, v. 5. To deliver fuch an one unto Satan for the deftruction of the flefh, that the fpirit may be faved in the day of the Lord Jefus. v. 13. But them that are without, God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourfelves that wicked perfon. Mat. xviii. 17. And if he fhall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Tit. iii. 10. A man that is an heretick, after the first and fecond admonition, reject. I. a Acts xv. 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no fmall diffention and difputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, fhould up to Jerufalem unto the apoftles and go III. It elders about this queftion. v. 4, And when they were come to Jerufalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders; and they declared all things that God had done with them. v. 6. And the apoles and elders came together for to confider of this matter. II. b Ifa. xlix. 23. And kings fhall be thy nurfing fathers, and their queens thy nurfing mothers: they fhall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the duft of their feet, and thou fhalt know that I am the Lord: for they fhall not be afhamed that wait for me. 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that firft of all, fupplications, prayers, interceffions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: v. 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinefs and honefty. (2 Chron. xix. 8. to the end.) (2 Chron. xxix. and xxx. chapters throughout.) Mat. ii. 4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and fcribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Chrift should be born. v. 5. And they faid unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet. Prov. xi. 14. Where no counfel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counfellers there is fafety. e Acts xv. 2, 4. (See in letter a.) v. 22. Then III. It belongeth to fynods and councils, minifterially to determine controverfies of faith, and cafes of confcience; to fet down rules and directions for the better ordering of the publick worship of God, and government of his church; to receive complaints in cafes of mal-adminiftration, and authoritatively to determine the fame: which decrees and determinations, if confonant to the word of God, are to be received with reverence and fubmiffion, not only for their agreement with the word, but alfo for the power whereby they are made, as being an ordinance of God, appointed thereunto in his word d. IV. All fynods or councils fince the apoftles times, whether general or particular, may err, and many have erred: therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith or practice, but to be ufed as an help in both e. V. Synods and councils are to handle or conclude nothing but that which is ecclefiaftical: and are not to intermeddle with civil affairs, which concern the commonwealth, unlefs by way of humble petition, in cafes extraordinary; or by way of advice 22. Then pleafed it the apoftles and elders, with the whole church, to fend chofen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas firnamed Barfabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren. v. 23. And wrote letters by them after this manner, The apoftles, and elders, and brethren fend greeting unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia. v. 25. It feemed good unto us, being allembled with one accord, to fend chofen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul. III. d Acts xv. 15, 19, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. (See in the Bible.) Acts xvi. 4. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders who were at Jerufalem. Mat. xviii. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an hea for then man and a publican. v. 18. Verily I fay unto you, Whatsoever ye fhall bind on earth, fhall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye fhall loose on earth, fhall be loofed in heaven. v. 19. Again I fay unto you, that if two of you fhall agrée on earth as touching any thing that they fhall afk, it fhall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. v. 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. IV. e Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the chief corner-ftone. Acts xvii. II. These were more noble than those in Theffalonica, in that they received the word with all readinefs of mind, and fearched the fcriptures daily, whether thofe things were fo. 1 Cor. ii. 5. That your faith fhould not ftand in the wifdom of men, but in the power of God. 2 Cor. i. 24. Not for that we have dominion over your K 4 faith, |