5.48. Ch. II. 30. I * 1 John 1 Mat. Father is perfect (t). For the yoke of Christ is eafy, and his burthen is light (u). And his commandments are not grievous (x). And whofoever will enter into life, must keep y Mat. the commandments (y). Hereby do we 19. 17. know that we know God, if we keep his 1 John commandments (z). He that faith, I know 5.3. 2.3. 6. him, and keepeth not his commandments, Ver. 4. is a liar, and the truth is not in him (a). Whofoever abideth in him, finneth not; whofoever finneth, hath not seen him, neiCh. 3 ther known him (b). Let no man deceive us; he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous; he that committeth fin is of the devil; whofoever is born of God, doth not commit fin; for his feed remaineth in him, and he cannot fin, be1 John cause he is born of God (c). For not every one that faith Lord, Lord, fhall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of the Father, which is in Mat. heaven (d). Circumcifion is nothing, and uncircumcifion is nothing, but the keeping 1 Cor. the commandments of God (e). 3. 7, 8. 9. 7.21. 7.19. ARTICLE XV. Concerning Perfeverance and Falling WE ought to give diligence to make our calling and election fure, which things if we do, I. IO. 9.-27. 3. 12. Heb. 4. II. do, we shall never fall (f). For even Paul Pet. kept under his body, and brought it into fubjection, left by any means, when he preached to others, he himself became a caft-away (g). Let us therefore take heed, & Cor. left there be in any of us an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God (b). Likewife let us labour to enter into Heb. that reft, left any man fall after the fame example of unbelief (i). For it is impoffible for those who were once enlightened, and have tafted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tafted of the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance (k). For he that abideth Heb.6. not in Chrift, is caft forth, and is withered 4 5,6. (1). Yet fuch as overcome, he will make as John pillars in the temple of his God, and they fhall go no more out (m). And these are m Rev. perfuaded, that nothing fhall be able to 3. 12. separate them from the love of God, which is in Chrift Jefus (n). ARTICLE XVI. Concerning the Church and Ministry. THE church of God is the pillar and 15. 16. n Rom. 8. 38. ground of truth (0). Whereof the dear 1 Tim. M Son 3. 15. 18. 2. 19. I. 2. Col. 1. Son of God is the head (p). From which all the body by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered and knit together; Col. increaseth with the increase of God (q). Which church of God is them that are fanc 1 Cor. tified in Christ Jefus (r). Who when he afcended up on high, gave gifts unto men: and he gave fome apoftles, fome prophets, fome evangelifts, fome paftors and teachers, for the perfecting of the faints, for the Eph. work of the miniftry (s). Who ought to be blameless, vigilant, fober, of good behaviour, given to hofpitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no ftrikers, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient; not brawlers, not covet 1 Tim. ous (t). But lovers of good men, fober, juft, 3.2, 3. holy, temperate, holding faft the faithful 4. 8. II, 12. 20. 28. word, as they have been taught, that they may be able by found doctrine, both to exTit. hort and to convince gainfayers (u). Taking 1. 8, 9. heed to themselves and to the flock, over which the Holy Ghoft hath made them overAéts feers, to feed the church of God (x). Taking the overfight thereof, not by conftraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but, as being eny 1 Pet. famples to the flock (y). And fuch elders 5.2, 3. as rule well, are to be counted worthy of double honour, efpecially they who labour 21 Tim. in the word and doctrine (). And to be 5. 17. eficemed 5.13. 4. IO, LI I. 4, efteemed very highly in love for their work's fake (a). As every man hath received the a 1Thef, gift, fo ought the fame to be ministered: if any man fpeak, let him speak as the oracles of God: if any man minifter, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth (b). Preaching the gospel, not with the b1Pet. wisdom of words, left the crofs of Chrift be made of none effect (c). Nor yet with 1 Cor. enticing words of man's wifdom, but in 17. demonftration of the fpirit and of power; that the faith may not ftand in the wifdom. of men, but in the power of God (d), d'Ch. 2. Howbeit fuch fpeak wifdom among them "5. that are perfect; yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, which cometh to nought; but they speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to their glory (e). Which things Ver. they alfo fpeak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth (ƒ). For it is not ƒ Ver. they that fpeak, but the Holy Ghoft, or fpirit of the Father, that fpeaketh in them (g). Who if they fow fpiritual things, ought & Mat. to reap carnal things; for fo the Lord 10. 20. hath ordained, that they which preach the gofpel, fhould live of the gofpel; for the fcripture faith, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn; M 2 6, 7. 13. corn; and the labourer is worthy of his 61 Cor. reward (b). Yet a neceffity is laid upon 211 them; yea, woe is unto them, if they preach 14. 9, 36, 20.33. not the gofpel; and their reward is, that when they preach the gofpel, they make 1 Cor. the gospel of Chrift without charge (i). 17, 18. Not coveting any man's filver, or gold, or apparel; but their hands ministering to their neceffities, that fo labouring, they may fupport the weak; remembering the words of the Lord Jefus, how he faid, It is more Acts bleffed to give, than to receive (k). For 34. they are not of the greedy dogs that can never have enough (1). Nor of the fhepherds that look to their own way, every Ibid. one for his gain from his quarter (m). n Ezek. That feed themselves, and not the flock (n). That make the people err, biting with their teeth, and crying Peace, and preparing war against all fuch as put not into their mouths, Micah. teaching for hire, and divining for money (o). 3,5, II. Nor yet of thefe which teach things which Tit. 1. they ought not, for filthy lucre's fake (p). 56. 11. 34.8. II. That run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, loving the wages of unrighte 9 Pet. oufnefs (9). And through covetoufnefs, 2. 15, with feigned words, making merchandize of Ver. 3. fouls (r). Men of corrupt minds, deftitute 6.5. of the truth, fuppofing that gain is godli1 Tim. nefs (s). But they know that godliness, Ver. 6. with contentment, is great gain (t). And having |