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London Baptist Confession of 1644
A CONFESSION OF FAITH of seven congregations or churches of Christ in London, which are commonly, but unjustly, called Anabaptists; published for the vindication of the truth and information of the ignorant; likewise for the taking off those aspersions which are frequently, both in pulpit and print, unjustly cast upon them.
Printed in London, Anno 1646.
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy so worship I the God of my Fathers, believing all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets, and have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust. - Acts xxiv. 14, 15.
For we cannot but speak the things that we have seen and heard. - Acts iv. 20.If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?
- John xviii. 23.Blessed are ye when men revile you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice, etc. - Matt. v.11, 12. & xix. 29.
I.
That God as He is in Himself, cannot be comprehended of any but
himself, 1 dwelling in that inaccessible light, that no eye can attain
unto, whom never man saw, nor can see; that there is but 2 one God,
one Christ, one Spirit, one Faith, one Baptism; 3 one rule of holiness
and obedience for all Saints, at all times, in all places to be observed.
1) 1 Tim. 6:16
2) 1 Tim. 2:5; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Cor. 12: 4-6,13; John 14
3) 1 Tim. 6:3,13,14; Gal. 1:8-9; 2 Tim. 3:15
II.
That God is 1 of Himself, that is, neither from another, nor of
another, nor by another, nor for another: 2 But is a Spirit, who as his
being is of Himself, so He gives 3 being, moving, and preservation to
all other things, being in Himself eternal, most holy, every way infinite
in 4 greatness, wisdom, power, justice, goodness, truth, etc. In this
Godhead, there is the Father, the Son, and the Spirit; being every on
of them one and the same God; and therefore not divided, but
distinguished one from another by their several properties; the 5
Father being from Himself, the 6 Son of the Father from everlasting,
the 7 Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son.1) Isa. 43:11; 46:9
2) John 4:24
3) Exod. 3:14
4) Rom. 11:36; Acts 17:28
5) 1 Cor. 8:6
6) Prov. 8:22-23
7) John 15:16; Gal. 4:6
III.That God has 1 decreed in Himself from everlasting touching all
things, effectual to work and dispose them 2 according to the
counsel of His own will, to the glory of His name; in which decree
appears His wisdom, constancy, truth, and faithfulness; 3 Wisdom is
that whereby He contrives all things; 4 Constancy is that whereby the
decree of God remains always immutable; 5 Truth is that whereby He
declares that alone which He has decreed, and though His sayings
may seem to sound sometimes another thing, yet the sense of them
does always agree with the decree; 6 Faithfulness is that whereby He
effects that He has decreed, as He has decreed. And touching His
creature man, 7 God had in Christ before the foundation of the world,
according to the good pleasure of His will, foreordained some men to
eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of His grace, 8
leaving the rest in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of
His justice.1) Isa. 46:10
2) Eph. 1:11
3) Col. 2:3
4) Num. 23:19-20
5) Jer. 10:10; Rom. 3:4
6) Isa. 44:10
7) Eph. 1:3-7; 2 Tim. 1:9; Acts 13:48; Rom. 8:29-30
8) Jude 4,6; Rom. 9:11-13; Prov. 16:4
IV.1 In the beginning God made all things very good, created man after
His own 2 image and likeness, filling him with all perfection of all
natural excellency and uprightness, free from all sin. 3 But long he
abode not in this honor, but by the 4 subtlety of the Serpent, which
Satan used as his instrument, himself with his angels having sinned
before and not 5 kept their first estate, but left their own habitation;
first 6 Eve, then Adam being seduced did wittingly and willingly fall
into disobedience and transgression of the Commandment of their
great Creator, for the which death came upon all, and reigned over all,
so that all since the Fall are conceived in sin, and brought forth in
iniquity, and so by nature children of wrath, and servants of sin,
subjects of 7 death, and all other calamities due to sin in this world
and for ever, being considered in the state of nature, without relation
to Christ.1) Gen. 1; Col. 1:16; Heb. 11:3; Isa. 45:12
2) Gen. 1:26; 1 Cor. 15:45-46; Ecc. 7:31
3) Psa. 49:20
4) Gen. 3:1, 4, 5; 2 Cor. 11:3
5) 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; John 8:44
6) Gen. 3:1, 2, 6; 1 Tim. 2:14; Ecc. 7:31; Gal. 3:32
7) Rom. 5:12, 18, 19; 6:23; Eph. 2:3
V.All mankind being thus fallen, and become altogether dead in sins and
trespasses, and subject to the eternal wrath of the great God by
transgression; yet the elect, which God has 1 loved with an everlasting
love, are 2 redeemed, quickened, and saved, not by themselves,
neither by their own works, lest any man should boast himself, but
wholly and only by God of 3 His free grace and mercy through Jesus
Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification and redemption, that as it is written he that rejoices, let
him rejoice in the Lord.1) Jer. 31:2
2) Gen 3:15; Eph. 1:3, 7; 2:4, 9; 1 Thes. 5:9; Acts 13:38
3) 1 Cor.5:21; Jer. 9:23, 24
VI.
1 This therefore is life eternal, to know the only true God, and whom
He has sent Jesus Christ. 2 And on the contrary, the Lord will render
vengeance in flaming fire to them that know not God, and obey not
the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.1) John 17:3; Heb. 5:9; Jer. 23:5, 6
2) 2 Thes. 1:8; John 3:36
VII.The rule of this knowledge, faith, and obedience, concerning the
worship and service of God, and all other Christian duties, is not mans
inventions, opinions, devices, laws, constitutions, or traditions
unwritten whatsoever, but only the word of God contained in the
Canonical Scriptures.John 5:39; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Col. 21:18, 23; Mat. 15:9
VIII.In this written Word God has plainly revealed whatsoever He has
thought needful for us to know, believe, and acknowledge, touching
the nature and office of Christ, in whom all the promises are Yea and
Amen to the praise of God.Acts 3:22, 23; Heb. 1:1, 2; 2 Tim 3:15-17; 2 Cor. 1:20
IX.Touching the Lord Jesus, of whom 1 Moses and the Prophets wrote,
and whom the Apostles preached, is the 2 Son of God the Father, the
brightness of His glory, the ingrave form of His being, God with Him
and with His Holy Spirit, by whom He made the world, by whom He
upholds and governs all the works He has made, who also 3 when the
fullness of time was come was, was made man of a 4 woman, of the
Tribe of 5 Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David, to wit, of Mary
that blessed Virgin, by the Holy Spirit coming upon her, and the
power of the most High overshadowing her, and was also in 6 all
things like unto us, sin only excepted.1) Gen. 3:15; 22:18; 49:10; Dan. 7:13; 9:24-26
2) Prov. 8:23; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:1, 15-17
3) Gal. 4:4
4) Heb. 7:14; Rev. 5:5 with Gen. 49:9-10
5) Rom. 1:3; 9:5; Mat. 1:16; Luke 3:23, 26; Heb. 2:16
6) Isa.53:3-5; Phil. 2:8
XTouching His office, 1 Jesus Christ only is made the Mediator of the
New Covenant, even the everlasting covenant of grace between God
and man, to 2 be perfectly and fully the Prophet, Priest and King of
the Church of God for evermore.1) 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 9:15; John 14:6
2) Heb. 1:2; 3:1, 2; 7:24; Acts 5:31
XI.Unto this office He was fore-ordained from everlasting, by the 1
authority of the Father, and in respect of His manhood, from the
womb called and separated, and 2 anointed also most fully and
abundantly with all gifts necessary, God having without measure
poured the Spirit upon Him.1) Prov. 8:23; Isa. 42:6; 49:1,5
2) Isa. 11:2-5; 61:1-3 with Luke 4:17, 22; John1:14,16; 3:34
XII.In this call the Scripture hold forth two special things considerable;
first, the call to the office; secondly the office its self. First, that 1
none takes this honor but he that is called of God, as was Aaron, so
also Christ, it being an action especially of God the Father, whereby a
special covenant being made, He ordains His Son to this office: which
Covenant is, that 2 Christ should be made a sacrifice for sin, that He
shall see His seed, and prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord
shall prosper in His hand; which calling therefore contains in it self 3
choosing, 4 for-ordaining, 5 sending. choosing respects the end,
foreordaining the means, sending the execution it self, 6 all of mere
grace, without any condition fore-seen wither in men, on in Christ
Himself.1) Heb. 5:4-6
2) Isa. 53:10
3) Isa. 42:13
4)1 Peter 1:20
5) John 3:17; 9:27; 10:36
6) John 8:32
XIII.So that this office to be Mediator, that is, to be Prophet, Priest, and
King of the Church of God, is so proper to Christ, as neither in the
whole, not in any part thereof, it can be transferred from Him to any
other.1 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 7:24; Dan. 5:14; Acts 4:12; Luke 1:23; John 14:6
XIV.This office it self to which Christ was called, is three fold, of 1 a
Prophet, of 2 Priest, and of 3 King: this number and order of offices is
showed; first by men’s necessities grievously laboring 4 under
ignorance, by reason whereof they stand in infinite necessity of the
Prophetical office of Christ to relieve them. Secondly, 5 alienation
from God, wherein they stand in need of the Priestly office to
reconcile them. Thirdly, our 6 utter disability to return to Him, by
which they stand in need of the power of Christ in His Kingly office
to assist and govern them.1) Deut. 18:15 with Acts 3:22-23
2) Psal. 110:3; Heb. 3:1; 4:14-15; 5:6
3) Psal. 2:6
4) Acts 26:18; Col. 1:3
5) Col. 1:21; Eph. 2:12
6) Song of Sol. 1:3; John 6:44
XVTouching the Prophesy of Christ, it is that whereby He has 1 perfectly
revealed the whole will of God out of the bosom of the Father, that is
needful for His servants to know, believe, and obey; and therefore is
called not only a Prophet and a 2 Doctor, and the 3 Apostle of our
profession, and the 4 Angel of the Covenant; but also the very 5
wisdom of God, and the 6 treasures of wisdom and understanding.1) John 1:18; 12:49-50; 15; 17:8; Deut. 18:15
2) Mat. 23:10
3) Heb. 3:1
4) Mal. 3:1
5) 1 Cor. 1:24
6) Col. 2:3
XVIThat He might be such a Prophet as thereby to every way complete, it
was necessary that He should be 1 God, and withal also that He
should be man; for unless He had been God, He could have never
perfectly understood the will of God, 2 neither had He have been able
to reveal it throughout all ages; and unless He had been man, He
could not fitly have unfolded it in His 3 own person to man.1) John 1:18; 3:13
2) 1 Cor. 2:11, 16
3) Acts 3:22 with Deut. 18:15; Heb. 1:1
XVIITouching His Priesthood, Christ 1 being consecrated, has appeared
once to put away sin by the offering and sacrifice of Himself, and to
this end has fully performed and suffered all those things by which
God, through the blood of that His Cross in an acceptable sacrifice,
might reconcile His elect only; 2 and having broken down the partition
wall, and therewith finished and removed all the rites, shadows, and
ceremonies, is now entered within the vale, into the Holy of Holiest,
that is, to the very Heavens, and presence of God, where He for ever
lives and sits at the right hand of Majesty, appearing before the face
of His Father to make intercession for such as come to the Throne of
Grace by that new and living way; and not that only, but 3 makes His
people a spiritual House, an holy Priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifice acceptable to God through Him; neither does the Father
accept, or Christ offer to the Father any other worship or worshipers.1) John 17:19; Heb. 5:7-9; 9:26; Rom. 5:19; Eph. 5:12; Col. 1:20
2) Eph. 2:14-16; Rom. 8:34
3) 1 Peter 2:5; John 4:23, 24
XVIIIThis Priesthood was not legal, or temporary, but according to the
order 1 of Melchisecdec; 2 not by a carnal commandment, but by the
power of endless life; 3 not by an order that is weak and lame, but
stable and perfect, not for a 4 time, but for ever, admitting no
successor, but perpetual and proper to Christ, and of Him that ever
lives. Christ Himself was the Priest, Sacrifice and Alter: He was 5
Priest, according to both natures, He was a sacrifice most properly
according to His human nature: 6 where in Scripture it is wont to be
attributed to His body, to His blood; yet the chief force whereby this
sacrifice was made effectual, did depend upon His 7 divine nature,
namely, that the Son of God did offer Himself for us: He was the alter
properly according to His divine nature, it belonging to the 8 Alter to
sacrifice that which is offered upon it, and so it ought to be of greater
dignity then the Sacrifice itself.1) Heb. 7:17
2) Heb. 7:16
3) Heb. 7:18-21
4) Heb. 7:24-25
5) Heb. 5:6
6) Heb. 10:10; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Col. 1:20-21; Isa. 53: 10; Mat. 20:28
7) Acts 20:28; Rom. 8:3
8) Heb. 9:14; 13:10, 12, 15; Mat. 23:17; John 17:19
XIXTouching His Kingdom, 1 Christ being risen from the dead, ascended
into Heaven, sat on the right hand of God the Father, having all power
in Heaven and earth, given unto Him, He does spiritually govern His
Church, exercising His power 2 over all angels and men, good and
bad, to the preservation and salvation of the elect, to the over-ruling
and destruction of His enemies, which are reprobates, 3
communicating and applying the benefits, virtue, and fruit of His
Prophecy and Priesthood to His elect, namely, to the subduing and
taking away of their sins, to their justification and adoption of Sons,
regeneration, sanctification, preservation and strengthening in all their
conflicts against Satan, the World, the Flesh, and the temptations of
them, continually dwelling in, governing and keeping their hearts in
faith and filial fear by His Spirit, which having 4 given it, He never
takes it away from them, but by it still begets and nourishes in them
faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all heavenly light in the soul
unto immortality, notwithstanding through our own unbelief, and the
temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of this light and love be
clouded and overwhelmed for the time. 5 And on the contrary, ruling
in the world over His enemies, Satan, and all the vessels of wrath,
limiting, using, restraining them by His mighty power, as seems good
in His divine wisdom and justice to the execution of His determinate
counsel, delivering them up to a reprobate mind, to be kept through
their own deserts, in darkness and sensuality unto judgment.1) 1 Cor. 15:4; 1 Peter 3:21-22; Mat. 28:18-20; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:11; 5:30-31;
John 19:36; Rom. 14:17
2) Mark 1:27; Heb. 1:14; John 16:7,15
3) John 5:26-27; Rom. 5:5-7; 14:17; Gal. 5:22,23; John 1:4,13
4) John 13:1; 10:28-29; 14:16-17; Rom. 11:29; Psal. 51:10-11; Job 33:29-30;
2 Cor. 12:7,9
5) Job 1, 2; Rom. 1:21; 2:4-6; 9:17-18; 2 Peter 2
XX.This Kingdom shall be then fully perfected when He shall the second
time come in glory to reign among His saints, and to be admired of all
them which do believe, when He shall put down all rule and authority
under His feet, that the glory of the Father my be full and perfectly
manifested in His Son, and the glory of the Father and the Son in all
His members.1 Cor. 15:24,28; Heb. 9:28; 2 Thes. 1:9, 10; 1 Thes. 4:15-17; John 17:21,26
XXIThat Christ Jesus by His death did bring fourth salvation and
reconciliation only for the 1 elect, which were those which 2 God the
Father gave Him; and that the Gospel which is to be preached to all
men as the ground of faith, is, that 3 Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the
ever blessed God, filled with the perfection of all heavenly and
spiritual excellencies, and that salvation is only and alone to be had
through the believing in His name.1) John 15:13; Rom. 8:32-34; 5:11; 3:25
2) Job 17:2 with 6:37
3) Mat. 16:16; Luke 2:26; John 6:9; 7:3; 20:31; 1 John 5:11
XXII
That faith is the 1 gift of God wrought in the hearts of the elect by the
Spirit of God, whereby they come to see, know, and believe the truth
of the 2 Scriptures, and not only so, but the excellency of them above
all other writing and things in the world, as they hold forth the glory of
God in His attributes, the excellency of Christ in His nature and
offices, and the power of the fullness of the Spirit in His workings and
operations; and thereupon are enabled to cast the weight of their souls
upon this truth thus believed.1) Eph. 2:8; John 6:29; 4:10; Phil. 1:29; Gal. 5:22
2) John 17:17; Heb. 4:11-12; John 6:63
XXIIIThose that have this precious faith wrought in them by the Spirit, can
never finally nor totally fall away; and though many storms and floods
do arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take
them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened
upon, but shall be kept by the power of God to salvation, where they
shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being formerly engraven
upon the palms of God's hands.Mat. 7:24, 25; John 13:1; 1 Peter 1:4-6; Isa. 49:13-16
XXIVThat faith is ordinarily 1 begot by the preaching of the Gospel, or
word of Christ, without respect to 2 any power or capacity in the
creature, but it is wholly 3 passive, being dead in sins and trespasses,
does believe, and is converted by no less power, 4 then that which
raised Christ from the dead.1) Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:21
2) Rom. 9:16
3) Rom. 2:1, 2; Ezek. 16:6; Rom 3:12
4) Rom. 1:16; Eph. 1:19; Col 2:12
XXVThat the tenders of the Gospel to the conversion of sinners, 1 is
absolutely free, no way requiring, as absolutely necessary, any
qualifications, preparations, terrors of the Law, or preceding ministry
of the Law, but only and alone the naked soul, as a 2 sinner and
ungodly to receive Christ, as Christ, as crucified, dead, and buried,
and risen again, being made 3 a Prince and a Savior for such sinners.1) John 3:14, 15; 1:12; Isa. 55:1; John 7:37
2) 1 Tim. 1:15; Rom. 4:5; 5:8
3) Acts 5:30-31; 2:36; 1 Cor. 1:22-24
XXVIThat the same power that converts to faith in Christ, the same power
carries on the 1 soul still through all duties, temptations, conflicts,
sufferings, and continually what ever a Christian is, he is by 2 grace,
and by a constant renewed 3 operation from God, without which he
cannot perform any duty to God, or undergo any temptations from
Satan, the world, or men.1) 1 Peter 1:5; 2 Cor. 12:9
2) 1 Cor. 15:10
3) Phil. 2:12, 13; John 15:5; Gal. 2:19-20
XXVIIThat God the Father, and Son, and Spirit, is one with 1 all believers,
in their 2 fullness, in 3 relations, 4 as head and members, 5 as house
and inhabitants, as 6 husband and wife, one with Him, as 7 light and
love, and one with Him in His inheritance, and in all His 8 glory; and
that all believers by virtue of this union and oneness with God, are the
adopted sons of God, and heirs of Christ, co-heirs and joint heirs with
Him of the inheritance of all the promises of this life, and that which is
to come.1) 1 Thes. 1:1; John 14:10, 20; 17:21
2) Col. 2:9, 10; 1:19; John 1:17
3) John 20:17; Heb. 2:11
4) Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:30
5) Eph. 2:22; 1Cor. 3:16-17
6) Isa. 16:5; 2 Cor. 11:3
7) Gal. 3:26
8) John 17:24
XXVIIIThat those which have union with Christ, are justified from all their
sins, past, 1 present, and to come, by the blood of Christ; which
justification we conceive to be a gracious and free 2 acquaintance of a
guilty, sinful creature, from all sin by God, through the satisfaction
that Christ has made by His death; and this applied in the
manifestation of it through faith.1) John 1:7; Heb 10:14; 9:26; 2 Cor. 5:19; Rom. 3:23
2) Acts 13:38, 39; Rom. 5:1; 3:25, 30
XXIXThat all believers are a holy and 1 sanctified people, and that
sanctification is a spiritual grace of the 2 New Covenant, and effect of
the 3 love of God, manifested to the soul, whereby the believer is in 4
truth and reality separated, both in soul and body, from all sin and
dead works, through the 5 blood of the everlasting Covenant, whereby
he also presents after a heavenly and evangelical perfection, in
obedience to all the commands, 6 which Christ as Head and King in
this New Covenant has prescribed to him.1) 1 Cor. 1:1; 1 Peter 2:9
2) Eph. 1:4
3) 1 John 4:16
4) Eph. 4:24
5) Phil. 3:15
6) Mat. 28:20
XXXAll believers through the knowledge of 1 that justification of life given
by the Father, and brought forth by the blood of Christ, have this as
their great privilege of that New 2 Covenant, peace with God, and
reconciliation, whereby they that were afar off, were brought nigh by
3 that blood, and have (as the Scripture speaks) peace 4 passing all
understanding, yes, joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by 5
whom we have received the Atonement.1) 2 Cor. 5:19
2) Isa. 54:10; 26:12
3) Eph. 2:13-14
4) Phil. 4:7
5) Rom. 5:10-11
XXXIThat all believers in the time of this life, are in a continual warfare,
combat, and opposition against sin, self, the world, and the Devil, and
liable to all manner of afflictions, tribulations, and persecutions, and so
shall continue until Christ comes in His Kingdom, being predestined
and appointed there unto; and whatsoever the saints, any of them do
possess or enjoy of God in this life, is only by faith.Eph. 6:10-13; 2 Cor. 10:3; Rev. 2:9, 10
XXXIIThat the only strength by which the saints are enabled to encounter
with all opposition, and to overcome all afflictions, temptations,
persecutions, and trails, is only by Jesus Christ, who is the Captain of
their salvation, being made perfect through sufferings, who has
engaged His strength to assist them in all their afflictions, and to
uphold them under all their temptations, and to preserve them by His
power to His everlasting Kingdom.John 16:33; Heb. 2:9, 10; John 15:5
XXXIIIThat Christ has here on earth a spiritual Kingdom, which is the
Church, which He has purchased and redeemed to Himself, as a
particular inheritance: which Church, as it is visible to us, is a
company of visible 1 saints, 2 called and separated from the world, by
the Word and the 3 Spirit of God, to the visible profession of the faith
of the Gospel, being baptized into the faith, and joined to the Lord,
and each other, by mutual agreement, in the practical enjoyment of
the 4 ordinances, commanded by Christ their head and King.1) 1 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1
2) Rom. 1:1; Acts 26:18; 1 Thes. 1:9; 2 Cor. 6:17; Rev. 18:18
3) Acts 2:37 with Acts 10:37
4) Rom. 10:10; Acts 2:42; 20:21; Mat. 18:19, 20; 1 Peter 2:5
XXXIV
To this Church He has 1 made His promises, and given the signs of
His Covenant, presence, love, blessing, and protection: here are the
fountains and springs of His heavenly grace continually flowing forth;
2 thither ought all men to come, of all estates, that acknowledge Him
to be their Prophet, Priest, and King, to be enrolled amongst His
household servants, to under His heavenly conduct and government,
to lead their lives in His walled sheepfold, and watered garden, to
have communion here with the saints, that they may be made to be
partakers of their inheritance in the Kingdom of God.1) Mat. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. 6:18
2) Isa. 8:16; 1 Tim. 3:15; 4:16; 6:3, 5; Acts 2:41,47; Song of Sol. 4:12;
Gal. 6:10; Eph. 2:19
XXXVAnd all His servants are called thither, to present their bodies and
souls, and to bring their gifts God has given them; so being come, they
are here by Himself bestowed in their several order, peculiar place,
due use, being fitly compact and knit together, according to the
effectual working of every part, to the edification of itself in love.1 Cor. 12:6, 7, 12, 18; Rom. 12:4-6; 1 Peter 4:10;Eph. 4:16; Col. 2:5, 6, 19; 1 Cor. 12:12ff
XXXVIThat being thus joined, every Church has 1 power given them from
Christ for their better well-being, to choose to themselves fitting
persons into the office of 2 Pastors, Teachers, Elders, Deacons, being
qualified according to the Word, as those which Christ has appointed
in His Testament, for the feeding, governing, serving, and building up
of His Church, and that none other have to power to impose them,
either these or any other.1) Acts 1:2; 6:3; 15:22, 25; 1 Cor. 16:3
2) Rom. 12:7, 8; 16:1; 1 Cor. 12:8, 28; 1 Tim.3; Heb. 13:7; 1 Peter 5:1-3
XXXVIIThat the Ministers aforesaid, lawfully called by the Church, where
they are to administer, ought to continue is their calling, according to
God's ordinance, and carefully to feed the flock of Christ committed
to them, nor for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.Heb. 5:4; Acts 4:23; 1 Tim. 4:14; John 10:3, 4; Acts 20:28; Rom. 12:7, 8; Heb. 13:7, 17
XXXVIIIThat the due maintenance of the officers aforesaid, should be the free
and voluntary communication of the Church, that according to
Christ's ordinance, they that preach the Gospel, should live on the
Gospel and not by constraint to be compelled from the people by a
forced law.1 Cor. 9:7,14; Gal. 6:6; 1 Thes. 5:13; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; Phil. 4:15-16
XXXIXThat Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, given by Christ,
to be dispensed only upon persons professing faith, or that are
Disciples, or taught, who upon a profession of faith, ought to be
baptized (Added later: "...and after to partake of the Lord's Supper.")Acts 2:37, 38; 8:36-38; 18:8
XLThe way and manner of the 1 dispensing of this ordinance the
Scripture holds out to be dipping or plunging the whole body under
water: it being a sign, must answer the thing signified, which are these:
first, the 2 washing the whole soul in the blood of Christ; secondly,
that interest the saints have in 3 death, burial, and resurrection (of
Christ) ; thirdly, together with a 4 confirmation of out faith, that as
certainly as the body is buried under water, and rises again, so
certainly shall the bodies of the saints by raised by the power of
Christ, in the day of the resurrection, to reign with Christ.1) Mat. 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:38
2) Rev. 1:5; 7:14; Heb. 10:22
3) Rom. 6:3-5
4) 1 Cor. 15:28, 29
XLIThe persons designed by Christ, to dispense this ordinance, the
Scriptures hold forth to a preaching Disciple, it being no where tied to
a particular church, officer, or person extraordinarily sent, the
commission enjoining the administration, being given to them under
no other consideration, but as considered Disciples.Isa. 8:16; Mat. 28:16-19; John 4:1-2; Acts 20:7; Mat. 26:26
XLIIChrist has likewise given power to His whole church to receive in and
cast out, by way of Excommunication, any member; and this power is
given to every particular congregation, and not one particular person,
either member or officer, but the whole.Acts 2:47; Rom. 16:2; Mat. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:4; 2 Cor. 2:6-8
XLIIIAnd every particular member of each Church how excellent, great, or
learned soever, ought to be subject to this censor and judgment of
Christ; and the church ought with great care and tenderness, with due
advise to proceed against her members.Mat. 18:16-18; Acts 11:2. 3; 1 Tim. 5:19-21
XLIVAnd as Christ for the 1 keeping of this church in holy and orderly
communion, places some special men over the church, who by their
office are to govern, oversee, visit, watch; so likewise for the better
keeping thereof in all places, by the members, He has given 2
authority, and laid duty upon all, to watch over one another.1) Acts. 20:27, 28; Heb. 13:17, 24; Mat. 24:25; 1 Thes. 5:14
2) Mark 13:34, 37; Gal. 6:1; 1 Thes. 5:11; Jude 3, 20; Heb. 10:34-35; 12:15.
XLVThat also such to whom God has given gifts, being tried in the church,
may and ought by the appointment of the congregation, to prophesy,
according to the proportion of faith, and so teach publicly the Word of
God, for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the Church.1 Cor. 14 chapter; Rom. 12:6; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Thes. 5:17-19
XLVIThus being rightly gathered, established, and still proceeding inXLVII
Christian communion, and obedience of the Gospel of Christ, none
ought to separate for faults and corruption’s, which may, and as long
as the church consists of men subject to failings, will fall out and arise
amongst them, even in true constituted churches, until they have in
due order sought redress thereof.Rev. 2, 3 chapters; Acts 15:12; 1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 2:16; 3:15-16; Heb. 10:25;
Jude 15; Mat. 18:17; 1Cor. 5:4, 5
And although the particular congregation be distinct and several1 Cor. 4:17; 14:33, 36; 16:1; Mat. 28:20; 1 Tim.3:15; 6:13-14;
bodies, every one a compact and knit city in itself; yet are they all to
walk by one and the same Rule, and by all means convenient to have
the counsel and help one of another in all needful affairs of the
church, as members of one body in the common faith under Christ
their only Head.
Rev. 22:18-19; Col. 2:6, 19; 4:16
XLVIII
That a civil magistrate is an ordinance of God set up by God for the
punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well; and
that all lawful things commanded by them, subjection ought to be
given by us in the Lord: and that we are to make supplication and
prayer for Kings, and all that are in authority, that under them we may
live a peaceable and quiet life in all godliness and honesty.Rom. 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13, 14; 1 Tim. 2:2
XLIXThe supreme Magistrate of this Kingdom we believe to be the KingL.
and Parliament freely chosen by the Kingdom, and that in all those
civil laws which have been acted by them, or for the present is or shall
by ordained, we are bound to yield subjection and obedience unto in
the Lord, as conceiving our selves bound to defend both the persons
of those chosen, and all civil laws made by them, with our persons,
liberties, and estates, with all that is called ours, although we should
suffer never so much from them in not actively submitting to some
ecclesiastical laws, which might be conceived by them to be their
duties to establish which we for the present could not see, nor our
consciences could submit unto; yet are we bound to yield our persons
to their pleasures.
And if God should provide such a mercy for us, as to incline the
magistrates hearts so far to tender our consciences, as that we might
be protected by them from wrong, injury, oppression and molestation,
which long we formerly have groaned under by the tyranny and
oppression of the Prelatical Hierarchy, which God through mercy has
made this present King and Parliament wonderful honorable; as an
instrument is His hand, to throw down; and we thereby have had
some breathing time, we shall, we hope, look at it as a mercy beyond
our expectation, and conceive ourselves further engaged for ever to
bless God for it.1 Tim. 1:2-4; Psal. 126:1; Acts 9:31
LIBut if God with hold the magistrates allowance and furtherance
herein; 1 yet we must not withstanding proceed together in Christian
communion, not daring to give place to suspend our practice, but to
walk in obedience to Christ in the profession and holding forth this
faith before mentioned, even in the midst of all trails and afflictions,
not accounting out goods, lands, wives, husbands, children, fathers,
mothers, brethren, sisters, yea, and our own lives dear unto us, so we
may finish our course with joy: remembering always we ought to 2
obey God rather then men, and grounding upon the commandment,
commission, and promise of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, who
as He has power in heaven and earth, so also has promised, if we
keep His commandments which He has given us, to be with us to the
end of the world: and when we have finished our course, and kept the
faith, to give us the crown of righteousness, which is laid up for all
that love His appearing, and to whom we must give an account of all
our actions, no man being able to discharge us of the same.
1) Acts 2:40,41; 4:19; 5:28,29,41; 20:23; 1 Thes. 3:3; Phil. 1:27-29; Dan. 3:16,17; 6:7, 10, 22, 23.
2) Matt. 28:18-20; 1 Tim. 6:13-15; Rom. 12:1.8; 1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Tim. 4:7,8; Rev. 2:10; Gal 2:4,5LII
And likewise unto all men is to be given whatsoever is their due;
tributes, customs, and all such lawful duties, ought willingly to be by
us paid and performed, our lands, goods, and bodies, to submit to the
magistrate in the Lord, and the magistrate every way to be
acknowledged, reverenced, and obeyed, according to godliness; not
because of wrath only but for conscience sake. And finally, all men so
to be esteemed and regarded, as is due and appropriate for their place,
age, estate, and condition.Rom. 13:5-7; Mat. 22:21; Titus 3; 1 Peter 3:13; 5:5; Eph. 5:21, 22; 6:1, 9
LII [sic].And thus we desire to give God that which is God's, and unto Caesar
that which is Caesar’s, and unto all men that which belongs unto
them, endeavoring ourselves to have always a clear conscience void
of offense towards God, and towards man. And if they take this that
we have said, to be heresy, then do we with the Apostle freely
confess, that after the way which they call heresy, worship we the
God of our Fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law
and in the Prophets and Apostles, desiring from our souls to disclaim
all heresies and opinions which are not after Christ, and to be
steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, as
knowing our labor shall not be in vain in the Lord.
Mat. 22:21; Acts 24:14-16; John 5:28; 2 Cor. 4:17; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 15:58, 59
Conclusion
Thus we desire to give unto Christ that which is His, and unto all
lawful Authority that which is their due, and to owe nothing to any
many but love, to live quietly and peaceably, at is becometh saints,
endeavoring in all things to keep a good conscience, and to do unto
every man (of what judgment soever) as we would they should do
unto us, that as our practice is, so it may prove us to a conscionable,
quiet, and harmless people, (no ways dangerous or troublesome to
human Society) and to labor and work with our hands, that we may
not be chargeable to any, but to give to him that needeth both friends
and enemies, accounting it more excellent to give than to receive. Also
we confess that we know but in part, and that we are ignorant of
many things which we desire and seek to know: and if any do show
us that friendly part to show us from the Word of God that we see
not, we shall have cause to be thankful to God and them. But if any
man shall impose upon us anything that we see not to be commanded
by out Lord Jesus Christ, we should in His strength, rather embrace
all reproaches and tortures of men, to be striped of all outward
comforts, and if it were possible, to die a thousand deaths, rather than
to do anything against the least tittle of the truth of God, or against the
light of our own consciences. And if any shall call what we have said
heresy, then do we with the Apostle acknowledge, that after the way
they call heresy, worship we the God of our Fathers, disclaiming all
heresy (rightly so called) because they are against Christ, and to be
steadfast and immovable, always abounding in obedience to Christ, as
knowing our labor shall not be in vain in the Lord.1 Corinthians 1:24
Not that we have dominion over your faith, but
are helpers of your joy: for by faith we stand.Psalm 74:21, 22
Arise, O God, plead mine own cause. Remember how the foolish man
blasphemeth Thee daily. O let not the oppressed return ashamed, but
let the poor and needy praise Thy name.
Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.FINIS
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Last updated for easier reading 10/22/06