: Cons. IV. That God orders and de-
termines the measure, manner,
time, and continuance of afflic-
tions and persecutions; and that
according to our necessities
Cons. V. That God doth sometimes
make enemies and persecutors
themselves to attest the saints'
innocency when they suffer; and
will surely avenge them of their
adversaries
Cons. VI. That God will comfort,
uphold, and preserve his, in all
their troubles, and not lay more
upon them than they can bear
See common calamities, chap. xxi.
Cons. VII. That the righteous are
near and dear to God in Christ;
so that he takes notice of their
afflictions and troubles; and is
said to be persecuted and afflicted
in their persecutions, &c.
See union and relation between Christ and his church, chap. xiii.
Cons. VIII. That the greater the
afflictions and distresses of the
righteous have been, the more
wonderful have their deliver-
ances been and then hath sal-
vation appeared in their extre-
mity
See Perseverance, chap. xiv.
V. To be cheerful under affliction,
and rejoice at being counted
worthy to suffer for Christ
VI. To call upon the Lord for
help, support, and salvation
See more of prayer, chap. xiv.
In common calamities, chap. xxi.
VII. Not to fear, but believingly
commit their cause to God, and
quietly wait for his salvation
See also trusting in, and waiting for God, chap. xiv.
Secondly. Duties of Believers
toward enemies and persecu-
tors in a time of suffering
Sect. 1. That magistracy is an ordi- nance of God: that by him magis- trates are advanced to office: the titles given to them.
First. The several acceptations of the
church mentioned in scripture
I. General, or universal
II. Universal, visible
III. Particular visible churches of
believers, who are joined toge-
ther as one body, and usually
meet together in one place, for
the participation of the same or-
dinances, and exercising duties
as a church, and one to another
as members thereof
Secondly. The dignity, privileges, and
blessings belonging to the church
of Jesus Christ in general, as such 340
See union and relation between Christ
and his church, chap, xiv.
Fourthly. Of the property that parti-
cular churches had in their mem-
bers, and of others joining them-
selves to them
Fifthly. Of letters commendatory,
and the churches receiving of such
as were recommended to them by
word or letter
Sixthly. Of the order of the churches
in their assemblies and meetings:
their stated regulations in con- stant worship
Seventhly. Of the gifts of prayer,
prophesying, psalms, tongues, &c.
which the members of churches re-
ceived: how they used them in
the church assemblies, and else-
where, for the edification one of
another, and instruction of others:
the order how they should be
used, directed: such gifts to be
desired for this end
Eighthly. Of other acts done in and by
these particular churches, in send-
ing messengers to other churches;
and, upon occasion, determining
controversies, writing and sending
epistles, and other affairs. of their
meeting together in order thereto,
and hearing such epistles: the
epistles directed to the whole body 347
See Church discipline in this chapter, sect. xiii.
Ninthly. Of the ending of controver-
sies arising between the members
of the church; to avoid going to
law before the infidels
Tenthly. Of the relief of the poor of
the churches, and their contribu-
tion to the necessity of other
churches, and the order of it
See distributing to the poor at large,
chap. xvii.
Eleventhly. Of the officers of parti-
cular churches; their power, duty,
and recompense: how they should
be qualified for their office; and
of the churches' duty to them as
such
1. Of the officers' power, duty,
qualification, and recompense
See more of gospel preachers in general,
chap. xxiv.
II. Complaints of, and threaten-
ings against evil officers or mi-
nisters of the church
SECTION 1. Shewing what Religion is, and how the knowledge of it is to be obtained.
UNDER the name of Religion is comprehended all that worship and service which is due from men to God: whatever we ought or are bound to do in obedience to him; whatever he will reward us for doing, or punish us for not doing.
In order, therefore, to worship and serve God as we ought to do, we must first believe that he is; that he hath given us laws and commandments to keep; that he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him, and of such as do according to all that he hath commanded them: and that he taketh vengeance on them that obey him not. And for the better understanding the nature and extent of our duty, in all respects, together with the grounds and reasons of our obligations; it behoves us in the next place to inform ourselves as truly and particularly as we can, who the Lord is whom we are to serve; what attributes and perfections belong to him, and what works he hath wrought; as also, what manner of beings we ourselves are, who are commanded to serve him; what capacities and inclinations we have; what state and condition we are in, and in what relation we stand to God. After which it will be necessary for as to inquire, how and in what manner
those laws and ordinances are, which God is to be worshipped, and what he hath commanded us to observe.
And then, for our greater encouragement to serve God, in all such things as we shall find to be enjoined us, and to persevere in our obedience to him; it is requisite for us to know what happiness God hath prepared for them who love and obey him, and what misery he hath provided for such as transgress his commandments. How great, how certain, and of what continuance, both the joy and the terror of the Lord are.
SECT. II. The Necessity of Searching the Scriptures.
THESE are the things in which every man is concerned to be well instructed; and the truest and shortest way of attaining such knowledge as this, is, by searching the Scriptures:
For they are they which testify of God; which show us what is good, and what the Lord doth require of us; which set before us the way of life, and the way of death; and which, teach us what we must do to be saved from the wrath to come, and to inherit eternal life,
The way of man is not now in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Though we can by nature do many things contained in the law of God; and though we can in many cases, even of ourselves, judge what
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