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H: As Magiftrates may lawfully call a Synod of Ministers and other fit Perfons, to confult and advise with about Matters of Religion: So if Magiftrates be open Enemies to the Church, the Minifters of Christ,of themselves by Virtue of their Office;or they with other fit Perfons, upon Delegation from their Churches, may meet together in fuch Affemblies,

III. It belongeth to Synods and Councils, minifterially to determine Controverfies of Faith and Cafes of Confcience; to fet down Rules and Dire&tions for the better ordering of the publick Worfhip of God, and Government of his Church; to receive Complaints in Cafes of Mal-adminiftration, and authoritatively to determine the fame: Which

they determined that Paul and Bar-
nabas, and certain other of them,
fhould go up
to Jerufalem unto the
apoftles and elders about this que
ftion. v.4.And when they were come
to Jerufalem, they were received of
the church, and of the apoftles and
elders; and they declared all things.
that God had done with them. v. 6.
And the apostles and elders came
together for to confider of this

matter.

II. Ifa, 49. 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 thy feet, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they fhall not be afhamed that wait for me. 1 Tim. 2. 1. I exhort therefore, that first 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

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and peaceable life in all godliness and honefty. [2 Chron. 19. 8. to the end. ] [ 2 Chron. 29. and 30. chapters throughout.] Mat. 2.4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and fcribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Chrift fhould be born. v.s. And they faid unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, Prov. 11. 14. Where no counfel the people fall but in the multitude of counsellers there is fafety.

Acts 15. 2. 4. [ See in letter ".] v. 22. Then pleased 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 which are of theGentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, v. 25. It

feemed

Decrees and Determinations, if confonant to the Word of God, are to be received with Reverence and Submiffion; not only for their Agreement with the Word, but alfo for the Power whereby they are nade, as being an Ordinance of God appointed hereunto in his Word 4.

IV, All Synods or Councils fince the Apostles 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 used as an Help in both ", 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 Common-wealth, unless by way of humble Petition in Cafes extraordinary; or by way of Advice for Satisfaction of Confcience, if they be thereunto required by the Civil Magiftrate.

CHAP.

feemed good unto us, being affem- is in heaven. v. 20. For where two bled with one accord, to fend chofen or three are gathered together in men unto you, with our beloved my name, there am I in the midft Barnabas and Paul,

III. a Acts 15. 15, 19, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. See in the Bible.] Acts 16.4. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerufalem. Mat. 18. 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. 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. v. 19. Again I fay unto you, that if two of you thall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which

of them.

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IV. Eph. 2.20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the chief.corner-ftone, Acts 17. 11. These were more noble than thofe in Theffalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and fearched the fcriptures daily, whether those things were fo. 1 Cor. 2. 5. That your faith should not ftand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 2 Cor. 1. 24. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye ftand.

V. Luke 12. 13. And one ofthe company faid unto him, Mafter, fpeak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. v. 14. And

he

CHAP. XXXII.

Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Refurrection of the Dead.

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HE Bodies of Men after Death return to Duft and fee Corruption ; but their Souls which neither die nor fleep) having an immorta Subfiftence, immediately return to God who gave them, The Souls of the Righteous, being then made perfect in Holinefs, are received into the highest Heavens, where they behold the Face of God in Light and Glory, waiting for the full Re demption of their Bodies: And the Souls of the Wicked are caft into Hell, where they remain in Tor ments and utter Darkness, referved to the Judgment

he faid unto him, Man, who made me a judge, or a divider over you? John 18. 36. Jefus answered, my kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my fervants fight, that I fhould not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

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I. Gen.3.19. In the fweat of thy face fhalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it waft thou taken: for duft thou art, and unto duft thou shalt return. Acts 13. 36. For David after he had ferved his own generation by the will of God, fell on fleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and faw corruption, b Luke 23.43 And Jefus faid unto him, Verily I fay unto thee, To day fhalt thou be with me in paradife. Ecclef. 12. 7. Then fhall the duft return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

• Heb. 12. 23. To the general mbly and church of the first

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born which are written in heaven and to God the judge of all, andt the fpirits of just men made perfect 2 Cor. s. 1. For we know, that if o earthly houfe of this tabernacle were diffolved,we have a building of God an houfe not made with hands ere nal in the heavens. v. 6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that whilft we are at home in the bo dy, we are abfent from the Lord v. 8. We are confident, I fay, and willing rather to be abfent from the body, and to be prefent with the Lord, Phil. 1. 23. For I am in ftrait betwixt two, having a defireta depart, and to be with Chrift; which is far better. With Acts 3.21. Whom the heaven must receive, until the times of reftitution of all things, which God hath fpoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets,fince the world began. And Eph.4.10. He that defcended, is the fanie alfo that afcended up far above all heaven, that he might fill all things.

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if the Great Day . Befides thefe Two Places for ouls feparated from their Bodies, the Scripture acnowledgeth none.

II. At the Laft Day fuch as are found alive shall ot die but be changed: And all the Dead shall be ifed up with the self fame Bodies, and none other, though with different Qualities, which shall be ited again to their Souls for ever f

III. The Bodies of the Unjuft fhall by the Power fChrift be raised to Dishonour; the Bodies of the aft by his Spirit unto Honour, and be made conmable to his own glorious Body %.

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CHAP.

fhall we ever be with the Lord 1 Cor. 15.5 1. Behold, I fhew you a mystery; we shall not all fleep, but we shall all be changed, v. 52. In a momeat, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet fhall found, and the dead fhall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

7.27.

Laske 16.23. And in hell he lift up seyes,being in torments, and feeth braham afar off,and Lazarus in his fom.7.24. And he cried, and faid, ther Abraham,have mercy on me, id fend Lazarus that he may dip e tip of his finger in water and ol my tongue; for I am tormented this flame. Acts 1.25.That he may Job 19.26 And though after my ke part of this miniftry and apo- skin, worms deftroy this body, yet in felip, from which Judas by tranf my fiefh fhall 1 fee God: effion fell, that he might go to Whom I fhall fee for my felf, and Sown place. Jude 6. And the angels mine eyes fhall behold, and not anhich kept not their firft eftate, but other; though my reins be confumed ft their own habitation, he hath re- within me. 1 Cor. 15. 42. So alfo is ved in everlasting chains under the refurrection of the dead. It is arkness, unto the judgment of the fown in corruption, it is raised in reat day. v. 7. Even as Sodom and incorruption: v. 43. It is fown in omorrah, and the cities about dishonour, it is raifed in glory; it is hem in like manner giving them- fown in weakness, it is raifed in elves overto fornication, and going power: v. 44. It is fown a natural fter ftrange flesh, are fet forth for body, it is raifed a fpiritual body. of eternal fire. 1 Pet. 3.19. By which is a fpiritual body. example, fuffering the vengeance There is a natural body, and there

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fo he went and preached unto the pirits in prifon.

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III, Acts 24. 15. And have hope towards God,which they themselves are alive and remain, fhall be caught furrection of the dead, both of the Theff. 4.17. Then we which alfo allow, that there fhall be a reup together with them in the clouds, just and unjust. John s. 28. Marvel to meet the Lord in the air: and fo

not

CHAP. XXXIII.

Of the Laft Judgment.

OD hath appointed a Day wherein he will judge the World in Righteousness by Jefus Chrift, to whom all Power and Judgment is given of the Father. In which Day,not only the apoftate Angels fhall be judged; but likewife all Perfons that have lived upon Earth,fhall appear before the Tribunal of Chrift, 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.

not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves fhall hear his voice, v. 29, And fhall come forth,they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the refurrection of damnation. I Cor. 15. 43. [ See in letter f.] Phil. 3. 21. Who fhall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to fubdue all things unto himfelf.

1. a Acts 17. 31. Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteoufnefs, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given affurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

John 5. 22. For the Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: v. 27. And hath given him authority to execute judgment alfo, becaufe he is the Son of man.

e1 Cor. 6. 3. Know ye not that we fhall judge angels, how much more things that pertain to this life?

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II. The

Jude 6. [ See letter & chapter foregoing.] 2 Pet. 2. 4. For if God fpared not the angels that finned, but caft them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment."

d 2 Cor. 5. 10. For we must all ap pear before the judgment seat of Chrift, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Eccl. 12. 14. For God fhall bring every work into judgment, with every fecret thing, whether it be good, or whether the evil. Rom. 2. 16. In the day when God fhall judge the fecrets of men by Jefus Chrift, according to my gospel. Rom. 14. 1o. But why doft thou judge thy brother? or why def thou fet at nought thy brother? we fhall all ftand before the judgment feat of Chrift. v. 12. So then every one of us fhall give account of himfelfto God. Mat. 12. 36. But I lay unto you, that every idle word that men fhall speak, they fhall give a count thereof in the day of judg ment. v. 37. For by thy words

thou

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