without fubjects cannot be: And this holy church si preferved or fupported by God, against the rage of the whole world; though the fometimes (for a while) appears very small, and in the eyes of men, to be reduced to nothing: As during the perilous reign of Ahab, the Lord referved unto him seven thousand men, who had not bowed the's knees to Baal. Furthermore his holy church is not confined, bound or limited to a certain place, or to certain perfons, but is fpread and difperfed over the whole world, and yet is joined and united with heart and will, by the power of faith in one and the fame fpirit.

XXVIII.

That every one is bonud to join himself to the true church.

We believe, fince this holy congregation is a affembly of those who are faved, and that out of it there is no falvation, that no perfon of whatsoever ftate or condition he may be, ought to withdraw himfelf, to live in a feparate ftate from it; but that all men are in duty bound to join and unite themselves with it, maintaining the unity of the church, fubmitting themselves to the doctrine and difcipline thereof, bowing their necks under the yoke of Jefus Chrift, and as mutual members of the fame body, ferving to the edification of the brethren according to the talents God has given them. And that this may be the more effectually oblerved, it is the duty of

all believers, according to the word of God, to feparate themfelves from all thofe who do not belong to the church, and to join themfelves to this congregation, wherefoever God hath eftablished it, even though the magistrates and the edicts of princes were against it, yea though they fhould fuffer death or any other corporal punishment. Therefore all those who separate themfelves from the fame, or do not join themselves to it, act contrary to the ordinance of God.

XXIX.

Of the marks of the true church, and wherein fhe differs from the falje church.

We believe, that we ought diligently and circumfpectly to difcern from the word of God, which is the true church, fince all fects which are in the world affume to themselves, the name of the church. But we speak not bere of hypocrites, who are mixed in the church with the good, yet are not of the church, though externally in it: But we fay that the body and communion of the true church muft be diftinguifhed from all fects who call themfelves the church. The marks by which the true church is known are these: If the pure doctrine of the gofpel is preached therein. If the maintains the pure administration of the facrament as inftituted by Chrift: If church difcipline is exercifed in punishing of fin: In fhort if all things are managed accord

ing the pure word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected; and Jefus Chrift acknowledged as the only head of the church. Hence the true church may certainly be known, from which no man has a right to feparate himself. With refpect to thofe who are members of the church, they may be known by the marks of Chriftians, namely, by faith; and when they have received Jefus Chrift the only Saviour, avoid fin, follow after righteousness, love the true God and their neighbour, neither turn afide to the right or left, and crucify the flesh with the works thereof. But this is not to be un derstood, as if there did not remain in them great infirmities; but they fight against them through the fpirit, all the days of their life, continually taking their refuge to the blood, death, paffion and obedience of our Lord Jefus Chrift, in whom they have remiffion of fins, through faith in him. As for the falfe church, she afcribes more power and authority to herself and her ordinances, than to the word of God, and will not fubmit herself to the yoke of Chrift: Neither does the adminifter the facraments as appoin⚫ ted by Chrift in his word, but adds to, and takes from them as he thinks proper; he relieth more upon men than upon Chrift; and perfecutes thofe who live holily according to the word of God, and rebuke her for her errors, covetousness and idolatry.. These two churches are easily known, and diftinguished, from each other.

XXX.

Concerning the government of, and offices in the church.

We believe, that this true church must be go. verned by that fpiritual policy, which our Lord hath taught us in his word; namely, that there must be minifters or paftors to preach the word of God, and to adminifter the facraments, alfo elders and deacons, who, together with the paftors, form the council of the church: That by thefe means the true religion may be preserved, and the true doctrine every where propagated, likewife tranfgreffors punished and restrained by fpiritual means; alfo that the poor and diftreffed may be relieved and comforted, according to their neceffities. By thefe means every thing will be carried on in the church with good order and decency, when faithful men are chofen, according to the rule prefcribed by St. Paul in his epiftle to Timothy.

XXXI.

Of the minifters, elders, and deacons.

We believe that the minifters of God's word, and the elders and deacons, ought to be chofen to their refpective offices by a lawful election of the church, with calling upon the name of the Lord, and in that order which the word of God teacheth. Therefore every one must take heed, not to intrude himself by indecent means, but is bound to wait till it shall

please God to call him; that he may have teftimony of his calling, and be certain and affured that it is of the Lord. As for the ministers of God's word, they have equally the fame power and anthority wherefoever they are, as they are all minifters of Chrift, the only univerfal Bishop, and the only head of the church. Moreover that this holy ordinance of God may not be violated or lighted, we fay that every one ought to esteem the minifters of God's word, and the elders of the church, very highly for their work's fake, and be at peace with them, without murmuring, ftrife or contention, as much as poffible.

XXXII.

Of the order and difcipline of the church.

In the mean time we believe, though it is useful and beneficial, that thofe who are rulers of the church inftitute and establish certain ordinances among themselves for maintaining the body of the church; yet that they ought ftudionfly to take care, that they do not depart from those things, which Christ our only master hath instituted, And therefore, we reject all human inventions, and all laws which man would introduce in the worship of God, thereby to bind and compel the confcience in any manner whatever. Therefore we admit only that, of which tends to nourish and preferve concord, and unity, and to keep all men in obedience to God. For this purpose, excommunication or church difcipline