Images de page
PDF
ePub

Pay also unto God the Worship, that will bear the Tryal of and receive Eftablishment by this Rule. Have always in Readiness a Divine Warrant for all the Worship you perform to God. Believe that Worship is accepted and that only, which is directed unto, and Commanded, and hath the Promife of a Bleffing from the Word of God. Believe that Worship not divinely commanded is in Vain,* nor will answer the Neceffities and Expectations of a Chriftian, and is a Worshipping, you know not what. Believe in all Divine Worship, it is not enough that this or that A&t of Worship is not forbidden in the Word of God; If it be not commanded, and you perform it, You may fear, You will be found Guilty and expofed to Divine Displeasure. § Nadab and Abibu paid dear for offering in divine. Worship that which the Lord Commanded them not. It is an honour done unto Chrift, when you account that only Decent Orderly and Convenient in his Houfe, which depends upon the Inflitution and Appointment of himfelf, who is the only Head and Law giver of his Church.

III. That you be well grounded in the firm' Truths of Religion. We have willingly taken pains to add the Holy Scriptures, where

Mat. 15.9. ↑ John 4. 22. Jer. 7.22. § Leu
B

every point of Faith contained in this Conféffi on doth depend, and is born up by, and commend the fame to your diligent perufal, that You be eftablished in the truth and your Faith reft upon its proper Balis, the Word of God. (4) Follow the Example of the Noble Bereans, Search the Scriptures, Grow in Grace and the knowledge of Chrift, be not Children in Understanding, but Men. Labour for a found confirmed Knowledge of thefe Points in the Evidence of them. See that they be deeply rooted in your Minds and Hearts, that fo You be not an eafy prey to fuch as lie in wait to deceive. (b) For the want hereof to be condoled is the Unhappinefs of many ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of, the Truth. (c)

IV. That having applyed the Rule of Holy Scripture to all the Articles of this Confefion, and found the fame upon Tryal the Unchangable and Eternal trucbs of God: (d) You remember & bold them faft, contend earnestly for them as the Faith once delivered to the Saints. Value them as Your great Charter, the Inftrument of Your Salvation, the Evidence of your not failing of the Grace of God, and receiving a Crown that fadeth not away. (e) Maintain them, and e

(2) A&s 17.10, 11 Joh. 5. 39. 2 Pet 3. 18. 1 Cor. 14,20. (b) Eph. 4. 83,14 (c) 2 Tim 3. 7. (d) Rev 3 3. Jude 3. * Cor. 15.18. 1 Cor. 16 13 Pfal. 78.5:

very of them all your days with undaunted Refolution against all oppofition, whatever the event be, and the fame tranfmit fafe and pure to Pofterity: Having bought the Truth, on no hand fell it. Believe (a) the Truth will make you free: Faithful is be that bath promised: Sofball none take away your Crown.

Finally, Do not think it enough that your Faith and Order be according to the Word of God, but live accordingly. (b) It is not enough to believe well, You run your felves into the greateft hazzard unless you be careful to live well, and that this be, (c) All your Life and Converfation must be agreeable to the Kule of Gods Word. This is the Rule of a Chriflian Converfation and Practical Reformation (d) Reft not in the form of Godliness, denying the power of it. Stir up an holy Zaal, Strengthen the things that remain that are ready to die, Be not carried away with the Corruptions, Temptations and evil Examples of the Times, but be blamelefs & without Rebuke, the Sons of God in a froward Generation, (e) They hall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

Remember ye our Brethren in this Colony,' That we are a part of that Body, (f)for which

(a) Joh 23 23 Joh 8 32 Heb. 10 13 Rev 3 11 (b) Tit 2.

11 12

Rev

32

(c) Gal 616 Mic 68 (d) 2 Tim 7 15 Rev 3 9 Phil 2 15 (e) Rev 3 4 (f) Hol 12 2 3

B 2

the

the Providence of God hath wrought Wonders and are obliged by and Accountable for all the Mercies difpenfed from the beginning of our Fathers fettling this Country until now. There he spake with us,(g)That the practical piety and ferious Religion of our progenitors is exemplary and for our Imitation, (a) and will reft confounding fhame on us, if we prove Degenerate. The Lord grant that the noble defign of our Fathers in coming to this Land, may not be forgotten by us, nor by our Children after us,even theIntereft of Religion, which we can never Exchange for a Temporal Intereft, without the fowleft Degeneracy and moft inexcufable Detection. (b) To Conclude the Solemn Rebukes of Providence from Time to Time in a faries of Judgments, and in particular, the General drought in the Summer paft, toge ther with the grievous Disappointment of our MilitaryUndertaking, the Diftreffes, Sickness and Mortality of ourCamp cannot successfully be improved but by a self bumbling Confideration of our ways & atboro Repentance of all that is amifs. (c)So will the God of our Fathers be our God, and he will be a Wall of Fire round about us and the Glory in the midst of us in this prefent and all fucceeding Generations. AMEN.

(g) Hof 124 (3) 2 Tim 1 5 Job 88 (b) 2 17 Jer 2 21 (c) lía 26 9 Gen 43 23 Zach 2 5

A

A

CONFESSION

O F

FAIT

H

С НА Р. I.

Of the Holy Scriptures.

Lthough the Light of Nature, and the Works of Creation and Providence, do fo far manifeft the Good

nefs, Wisdom and Power of God, as to leave men unexcufable; yet they are not fufficient to give that Knowledge of God and of his Will, which is neceffary unto Salvation: Therefore it pleafed the Lord at fundry times, and in diverfe manners to reveal himfelf, and to declare that his Will unto his Church and afterwards for the better preferving and propagating of the Truth, and for the more fure Eftablishment and Comfort of the Church against the Corruption of the Flesh, and

с

the

« PrécédentContinuer »