17.

That brethren impenitent in any one sin, after the admonition of the church, are to be excluded the communion of the saints. And therefore not the committing of sin doth cut off any from the church, but refusing to hear the church to reformation. Matt. xviii. 17; 1 Cor. v. 4, 13.

18.

That excommunicants, in respect of civil society, are not to be avoided. 2 Thess. iii. 15; Matt. xviii. 17.

19.

That every church ought, according to the example of Christ's disciples and primitive churches, upon every first day of the week, being the Lord's day, to assemble together, to pray, prophesy, praise God, and break bread, and perform all other parts of spiritual communion for the worship of God, their own mutual edification, and the preservation of true religion and piety in the church. John xx. 19; Acts ii. 42; xx. 7; 1 Cor. xvi. 2. And they ought not to labour in their callings, according to the equity of the moral law; which Christ came not to abolish, but to fulfil. Exod. xx. 8, &c.

20.

That the officers of every church or congregation are either elders, who by their office do especially feed the flock concerning their souls; or deacons, men and women, who by their office relieve the necessities of the poor and impotent i rethren, concerning their bodies. Acts xx. 28; 1 Pet. v. 2, 3; Acts vi. 1, 4.

21

That these officers are to be chosen when there are persons qualified according to the rules in Christ's testament, by

election and approbation of that church or congregation whereof they are members, with fasting, prayer, and laying on of hands; and there being but one rule for elders, therefore but one sort of elders. 1 Tim. iii. 2, 7; Tit. i. 6, 9; Acts vi. 3, 4; xiii. 3; xiv. 23.

22.

That the officers of every church or congregation, are tied by office only to that particular congregation whereof they are chosen. And therefore they cannot challenge by office any authority in any other congregation whatsoever, except they would have an apostleship. Acts xiv. 23; xx. 17; Tit. i. 5.

23.

That the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are written for our instruction; and that we ought to search them, for they testify of Christ; and therefore to be used with all reverence, as containing the holy word of God, which only is our direction in all things whatsoever. 2 Tim. iii. 16; John v. 39.

24.

That magistracy is a holy ordinance of God; that every soul ought to be subject to it, not for fear only, but for conscience' sake. Magistrates are the ministers of God for our wealth, they bear not the sword for nought. They are the ministers of God, to take vengeance on them that do evil. That it is a fearful sin to speak evil of them that are in dignity, and to despise government. We ought to pay Rom. xiii.; 2 Pet.

tribute, custom, and all other duties. ii. 10. That we are to pray for them; for God would have them saved, and come to the knowledge of his truth. 1 Tim. ii. 1, 4. And therefore they may be members of the church of Christ, retaining their magistracy; for no ordinance of

God debarreth any from being a member of Christ's church. They bear the sword of God; which sword, in all lawful administrations, is to be defended and supported by the servants of God that are under their government, with their lives, and all that they have, according as in the first institution of that holy ordinance. And whosoever holds otherwise, must hold, if they understand themselves, that they are the ministers of the devil, and therefore not to be prayed for, nor approved, in any of their administrations; seeing all things they do, as punishing offenders, and defending their countries, state, and persons by the sword, is unlawful. That it is lawful in a just cause, for the deciding of strife, to take an oath by the name of the Lord. Heb. vi. 16; 2 Cor. i. 23; Phil. i. 8.

25.

That the dead shall rise again, and the living be changed in a moment; having the same bodies in substance, though diverse in qualities. 1 Cor. xv. 52; Job xxxviii. 19; xv. 28; Luke xxiv. 30.

26.

That after the resurrection, all men shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to be judged according to their works. That the godly shall enjoy life eternal; the wicked, being condemned, shall be tormented everlastingly in hell. Matt. xxv. 46.

FINIS.

A

CONFESSION OF FAITH

OF SEVEN CONGREGATIONS OR CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN LONDON, WHICH ARE COMMONLY (BUT UNIUSTLY) CALLED ANABAPTISTS.

PUBLISHED

FOR THE VINDICATION OF THE TRUTH, AND INFORMATION
OF THE IGNORANT; LIKEWISE FOR THE TAKING OFF
OF THOSE ASPERSIONS WHICH ARE FREQUENTLY
BOTH IN PULPIT AND PRINT UNJUSTLY

CAST UPON THEM.

But this I confesse unto thee, that after the way which they call heresie, so worship I the God of my Fathers, beleeving 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 evill, bear witnesse of the evill; but if well, why smilest thou me ?-John xviii. 23.

Blessed are yee when men revile you, and say all manner of evill against you falsly for my sake. Rejoyce, &c.-Matth. v. 11, 12. & xix. 29.

THE SECOND IMPRESSION CORRECTED AND ENLARGED,

PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO ORDER.

LONDON PRINTED BY MATTH. SIMMONS, AND ARE TO BE SOLD BY JOHN HANCOCK IN POPES-HEAD ALLEY, 1646.

[Title Page of First Edition.]

The

CONFESSION

OF FAITH

Of those CHURCHES which are commonly (though falsly) called ANABAPTISTS;

Presented to the view of all that feare God, to examine by the touchstone of the Word of Truth: As likewise for the taking off those aspersions which are frequently both in Pulpit and Print, (although

unjustly) cast upon them.

Acts iv. 20.

Wee cannot but speake the things which wee have seene and heard.
Isai. viii. 20.

To the Law and to the testimony, if they speake not according to this Rule, it is because there is no light in them.

2 Cor. i. 9, 10.

But wee had the sentence of death in ourselves, that wee should not trust in our selves, but in the living God, which raiseth the dead; who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver, in whom wee trust that he will yet deliver.

LONDON,

Printed in the yeare of our Lord, 1644.

[Title Page of Third Edition.]

A

CONFESSION

OF

FAITH

Of the several Congregations or Chur-
ches of Christ in LONDON, which are commonly
(though unjustly) called ANABAPTISTS.
PUBLISHED,

For the Vindication of the truth, and information of the ignorant; likewise for the taking off of those aspersions which are frequently, both in

Pulpit, and Print unjustly cast upon them.

UNTO WHICH IS ADDED,

HEART BLEEDINGS FOR

Professors Abhominations.

OR

A faithfull generall Epistle (from the same Churches) presented to all who have knowne the way of truth, forewarning them to flee security, and carelesse walking under the Profession of the same, discovering some of Sathans wiles, whereby also, wanton persons and their ungodly wayes are disclaimed.

But this I confesse unto thee, that after the way they call heresie, so worship 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 speake the things which wee have seen, and heard.-Acts iv. 20.

The third Impression corrected.

London, Printed by M. S. and are to be sold by F. Tyton at the three daggers in Fleet-Street, and L. Chapman, at the Crowne in Popes-head Alley, 1651. [The Fourth Impression, of 1652, has the same title page as the above.]