nions, or maintaining of such practices, as are contrary to the light of nature, or to the known principles of Christianity, whether concerning faith, worship, or conversation ; or to the power of godliness; or such erroneous opinions or practices, as either in their own nature, or in the manner of publishing or maintaining them, are destructive to the exter. nal peace and order which Christ hath established in the church; they may lawfully be called to account, and proceeded against by the censures of the church, and by the power of the civil magistrate". * are sent by him for the punishment as named among the Gentiles, that of evil doers, and for the praise of one should have his father's wife. them that do well. Ver. 16. As free, Ver. 5. to deliver such an one unto and not using your liberty for a cloak Satan for the destruction of the flesh, of maliciousness, but as the servants that the spirit may be saved in the of God. [Rom. xiii. 1. to the 8th Verse.] day of the Lord Jesus. Ver. 11. But Heb. xiii. 17. Obey them that have the now I have written unto you, not to rule over you, and submit yourselves: keep company, if any man that is for they watch for your souls, as they called a brother be a fornicator, or that must give account: that they may 'covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, do it with joy, and not with grief; for or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with that is unprofitable for you.

such an one no not to eat. Ver. 13. q Rom. i. 32. Who knowing the But them that are without God judgjudgment of God, (that they which eth. Therefore put away from among commit such things are worthy of yourselves that wicked person. 2 John death,) not only do the same, but have ver. 10. If there come any unto you, pleasure in them that do them. With and bring not this doctrine, receive i Cor. v. 1. It is reported commonly him not into your house, neither bid that there is fornication among you, him God speed. Ver. 11. For he that and such fornication as is not so much biddeth him God speed is partaker of • The Associate, or Secession Church, has declared her mind on this article as follows:

• We judge it necessary, in professing our adherence to the Westminster Confession, to de. clare, as our brethren in Scotland have done, our mind concerning the power of the civil magistrate in matters of religion, more particularly than that confession does.

* We do, therefore, assert, that, as the kingdom of Christ is spiritual, acknowle:lging no other laws, and no other rulers than what he has appointed in it, (a truth plainly and fully declared in the Westminster Confession:) so the civil magistrate has nothing to do with it as a magistrate. As a member of the Christian Church, he is bound to improve every opportu. nity, which his high station, and extensive influence may give hin, for promoting the faith of Christ, for opposing the enemies of this faith, for supporting and encouraging true godliness, and for discouraging whatever in principle and practice is contrary to it. But to accomplish these ends, it is not warrantable for him to use any kind of violence, either toward the life, the property, or the consciences of men. He ought not to punish any as heretics, or schismatics; nor onrht he to grant any privileges to those whom he judges to be professors of the true religion, which may hurt others in their natural rights. This whole duty as a magistrate respects men-not as Christians, but as members of civil society. The appointed means for promoting the kingdom of Christ are all of a spiritual nature. “The queapons of our warfare « are not carnal, but spiritual and mighty," not through the force of human laws compelling men to that which they dislike; but through God," by his Almighty power and grace, making the obstinate and rebellious yield a cheerful submission to it. «°lf

any article in our Confession of Faith seem to give any other power to the civil magis. trate, in matters of religion, than what we have now declared to be competent to him, we are to be considered as receiving it only in so far as it agrees with other articles of the same Confession, in which the spiritual nature of the church is asserted, and the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven denied to belong to the civil magistrate ; and in so far as it agrees with this declaration of our principles."

Declaration and Testimony, Part I. sect. 15 & 16.-Sce the note on Chap. XXIII, sect. 3. of this Confession.

and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the holy scripture b.

II. Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and to him alone c: not to angels, saints, or any other creatured : and, since the fall, not without a Mediator; nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone e.

III. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship f, is by God required of ali men 5; and,

b Deut. xii. 32. What thing soever the Father which hath sent him. And I command you, observe to do it: thou 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the shalt not add thereto, nor diminish Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of from it. Matt. xy. 9. But in vain God, and the communion of the Ho. they do worship me, teaching for doc. ly Ghost, be with you all. Amen. trines the commandments of men. d Col. ii. 18. Let no man beguile Acts xvii. 25. Neither is worshipped you of your reward, in a voluntary with men's hands, as though he need. humility, and worshipping of angels, ed any thing, seeing he giveth to all intruding into those things which he life, and breath, and all things. Matt. hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his iv. 9. And saith unto him, All these fleshly mind. Rev. xix. 10. And I things will I give thee, if thou wilt fell at his feet to worship him : and fall down and worship me. Ver. 10. he said unto me, See thou do it not ; Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee I am thy fellow.servant, and of thy hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou brethren that have the testimony of shalt worship the Lord thy God; and Jesus: worship God : for the testimohim only shalt thou serve. [Deut. xv. ny of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. to the 2015 Verse] Exod. xx. 4. Thou Rom. i. 25. Who changed the truth shalt not make unto thee any graven of God into a lie, and worshipped and image, or any likeness of any thing served the creature more than the that is in heaven above, or that is in Creator, who is blessed for ever. the earth beneath, or tbat is in the wa- Amen. ter under the earth Ver. 5. Thou e John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto shalt not bow down thyself to them, him, I am the way, and the truth, and nor serve them: for I the Lord thy the life : no man cometh unto the FaGod am a jealous God, visiting the ther but by me. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For iniquity of the fathers upon the children there is one God, and one Mediator unto the third and fourth generation of between God and men, the man Christ them that hate me: Ver. 6 And shew- Jesus. Eph ii. 18. For through him ing mercy unto thousands of them that we both have access by one Spirit love me, and keep my commandments. unto the Father. Col. iii 17. And Col. ii. 23. Which things have indeed whatsoever yedo in word or deed, do a shew of wisdom in will-worship all in the name of the Lord Jesus, give and humility, and neglecting of the ing thanks to God and the Father body, not in any honour to the satis- by him. fying of the flesh.

III. f Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for no.' 11. c Matt.iv. 10. (See before in let. thing : but in every thing by prayer ter b] With John v. 23. That all and supplication, with thanksgiving, men should honour the Son, even as let your requests be made known un. they honour the Father. He that ho- to God. noureth not the Son, honoureth not g Psal. Ixv. 2. O thou that bear.

a

CHAP. XXI. Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath-day. HE light of nature sheweth that there is a God, who hath

lordship and sovereignty over all ; is good, and doeth his evil deeds. And 2 Thess. iij. 14. that they may learn not to blaspheme. And if any man obey not our word Rev. ii. 2. I know thy works, and thy by this epistle, note that man, and labour, and thy patience, and how thou have no company with him, that he canst not bear them which are evil: may bę ashamed. And 1 Tim. vi. 3. and thou hast tried them which say If any man teach otherwise, and con. they are apostles, and are not, and hast sent not to wholesome words, even the found them liars. Ver. 14. But I have words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and a few things against thee, because thou. to the doctrine which is according to hast there them that hold the doctrine godliness ; Ver. 4. He is proud, know. of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast ing nothing, but doting about ques- a stumbling-block before the children tions and strifes of words, whereof of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto cometh envy, strife, railings, evil sur. idols, and to commit fornication. Ver. misings, Ver. 5. Perverse disputings 15. So hast thou also them that hold of men of corrupt minds, and destitute the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which of the truth, supposing that gain is thing I hate. Ver. 20. Notwithstandgodliness: from such withdraw thy- ing, 1 have a few things against thee, self. And Tit. i. 10. For there are because thou sufferest that woman many unruly and vain talkers and de- Jezebel, which calleth herself a proceivers, especially they of the circum- phetess, to teach and to seduce my cision : Ver. 11. Whose niouths must servants to commit fornication, and to be stopped, who subvert whole houses, eat things sacrificed unto idols. Rev. teaching things which they ought not, iii. 9. Behold, I will make them of the for filthy lucre's sake. Ver. 13. This synagogae of Satan, which say they witness is true : wherefore rebuke are Jews, and are not, but do lie; be. them sharply, that they may be sound hold, I will make them to come and in the faith. And Tit. iii. 10. A man worship before thy feet, and to know that is an heretic, after the first and that I have loved thee. second admonition, reject. With (Deut xiii. 6. to the 12th.] Rom. Matt. xviii. 15. Moreover, if thy bro. xiii. 3. For rulers are not a terror to ther shall trespass against thee, go and good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou tell him his fault between thee and him then not be afraid of the power? do alone : if he shall hear thee, thou hast that which is good, and thou shalt have gained thy brother. Ver. 16. But if praise of the same : Ver. 4. For he is he will not hear thee, then take with ihe minister of God to thee for good. thee one or two more, that in the But if thou do that which is evil, be mouth of two or three witnesses eve- afraid ; for he beareth not the sword ry word may be established. Ver. 17. in vain : for he is the minister of God, And, if he shall neglect to hear them, a revenger to execute wrath upon him tell it unto the church : but if he ne- that doeth evil. With 2 John, verses glect to hear the church, let him be 10, 11. (See in letter q.] Ezra vii. 23. unto thee as an heathen man, and a Whatsoever is commanded by the God publican. i Tim. i. 19. Holding faith of heaven, let it be diligently done for and a good conscience; which some the house of the God of heaven : for having put away, concerning faith why should there be wrath against have made shipwreck : Ver. 20. Of the realm of the king and his sons ? whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; Ver. 25. And thou, Ezra, after the whom I have delivered unto Satan, wisdom of thy God that is in thine

:

good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, hand, set magistrates and judges, do so again, I will lay hands on you. which may judge all the people that From that time forth came they no are beyond the river, all such as know more on the sabbath. Ver. 22. And I the laws of thy God; and teach ye commanded the Levites, that they them that know them not. Ver. 26. should cleanse themselves, and that And whosoever will not do the law they should come and keep the gates, of thy God, and the law of the king, to sanctify the sabbath-day. Rememlet judgment be executed speedily up- ber me, O my God, concerning this on him, whether it be unto death, or also, and spare me according to the to banishment, or to confiscation of greatness of thy mercy. Ver. 25. And goods, or to imprisonment. Ver. 27. I contended with them, and cursed Blessed be the Lord God of our them, and smote certain of them, and fathers, which hath put such a thing plucked off their hair, and made them as this in the king's heart, to beautify swear by God, saying, Ye shall not the house of the Lord which is in Je- give your daughters unto their sons, rusalem : Ver. 28. And hath extended nor take their daughters unto your mercy unto me before the king and sons, or for yourselves. Ver. 30. Thus his counsellors, and before all the cleansed I them from all strangers, king's mighty princes; and I was and appointed the wards of the priests strengthened, as the hand of the Lord and the Levites, every one in his my God was upon me, and I gathered business. 2 Kings xxiii. 5. And he together out of Israel chief men to go put down the idolatrous priests, whom up with me. Rev. xvii. 12. And the the kings of Judah had ordained :o ten horns which thou sawest are ten burn incense in the high places in the kings, which have received no king- cities of Judah, and in the places dom as yet ; but receive power as round about Jerusalem; them a'so that kings one hour with the beast. Ver. burnt incense unto Baal, to the sun, 16. And the ten horns which thou and to the moon, and to the planets, sawest upon the beast, these shall hate and to all the host of heaven. Ver. 6. the whore, and shall make her deso. And he brought out the grove frorn late and naked, and shall eat her flesh, the house of the Lord, without Jeruand burn her with fire. Ver. 17. For salem, unto the brook Kidron, and God hath put in their hearts to fulfil burnt it at the brook Kidron, and his will, and to agree, and to give their stamped it small to powder, and cast kingdom unto the beast, until the the powder thereof upon the graves of words of God shall be fulfilled. Neh. the children of the people. Ver. 9. xi. 15. In those days saw I in Judah Nevertheless, the priests of the high some treading wine.presses on the sab- places came not up to the altar of the bath, and bringing in sheaves, and Lord in Jerusalem, but they did eat of jading asses; as also wine, grapes, the unleavened bread among their bre.. and figs, and all manner of burdens, thren. Ver. 20. And he slew all the which they brought into Jerusalem on priests of the high places that were the sabbath-day: and I testified a- there upon the altars, and burnt men's gainst them in the day wherein they bones upon them, and returned 10 lesold victuals. Ver. 17. Then I con. rusalem. Ver. 21. And the king comtended with the nobles of Judah, and manded all the people, saying, Keep said unto them, What evil thing is the passover unto the Lord your God, this that ye do, and profane the sab- as it is written in the book of this bath-day? Ver. 21. Then I testified covenant. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 33. And against them, and said unto them, Josiah took away all the abominations Why lodge ye about the wall? If ye out of all the countries that pertained

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