dinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.

V. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error: " and some have so degenerated, as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan." Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth, to worship God according to his will.'

VI. There is no other head of the church

f 1 Cor. v. 6, 7. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not, that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. Rev. ii. and iii. chapters throughout.

1 Cor. xiii. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. Matt. xiii. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 47. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also, &c.— Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind. Rev. ii. and iii. chapters.

h Rev. xviii. 2. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Rom. xi. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.

i Matt. xvi. 18. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Psa. cii. 28. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established sore thee. Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.

but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense be head thereof; but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself, in the church, against Christ, and all that is called God.*

CHAPTER XXVI.

OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS.

ALL saints that are united to Jesus Christ their head, by his Spirit and by faith, have fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory: and, being united

j Col. i. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. Eph. i. 22. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.

ren.

Matt. xxiii. 8, 9, 10. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your master, even Christ; and all ye are brethAnd call no man your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters; for one is your Master, even Christ. 2 Thess. ii. 3, 4, &c. Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

1 1 John i. 8. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. Eph. iii. 16, 17. That he would grant you according to the riches of his

to one another in love, they have communion in each other's gifts and graces, m and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.

II. Saints, by profession, are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in out

glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. John i. 16. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. Phil. iii. 10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.

m Eph. iv. 15, 16. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love.

1 Thess. v. 11, 14. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. Gal. vi. 10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 1 John iii. 16, 17, 18.

• Heb. x. 24, 25. And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Acts ii. 42, 46. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.—

ward things, according to their several abilities and necessities. Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who, in every place, call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. P

III. This communion which the saints have with Christ, doth not make them in any wise partakers of the substance of his Godhead, or to be equal with Christ in any respect either of which to affirm, is impious and blasphemous. Nor doth their communion one with another, as saints, take away, or infringe the title or property which each man hath, in his goods and possessions.

r

And they, continuing with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. Isa. ii. 3. 1 Cor. xi. 20.

P 1 John iii. 17. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Acts xi. 29, 30. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. 2 Cor. viii. and ix. chapters.

4 Col. i. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. 1 Cor. viii. 6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Psa. xlv. 7. 1 Tim. vi. 16.

Acts v. 4. Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

t

CHAPTER XXVII.

OF THE SACRAMENTS.

8

SACRAMENTS are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest in him: " as also to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the church, and the rest of the world; and solemnly to engage them

› Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had, yet being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant; to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Matt. xxviii. 19. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread.

1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 1 Cor. xi. 25, 26. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.

▾ Ex. xii. 48. And when a stranger shall sojourn with