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having food and raiment, they are therewith

content (u).

ARTICLE XVII.

Concerning Worship.

u V .8.

THE hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers fhall worship the Father in fpirit and in truth; for the Father feeketh fuch to worship him (x). * John God is a fpirit, and they which worship 4.23. him, must worship him in fpirit and in Truth (y). For the Lord is nigh to ally Ver. them that call upon him, to all that call

upon

24.

2

15.29.

John

5. 14.

1 Cor.

him in truth (z). He is far from the z Pfalm wicked; but he heareth the prayer of the 145. 18. righteous (a). And this is the confidence a Prov. that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us (b). What is it then? We must pray with the fpirit, and with the understanding alfo (c). Likewife the fpirit alfo helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we fhould pray for as we ought; but the fpirit itself maketh interceffion for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered and he that fearcheth the heart, knoweth what is the mind of the fpirit, because he maketh interceflion for the faints, according to the will of God (d).

M 3

14. 15.

d Rom.

8. 26,

ARTICLE

27.

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4.5.

3.21,

22.

ARTICLE XVIII.

Concerning Baptifm.

AS there is one Lord, one faith, so there Eph. is one baptifm (e). Which doth alfo now fave,us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the anfwer of a good confcience towards God, by the refurrection of f1 Pet. Jefus Chrift (f). For John indeed baptized with water, but Chrift with the Holy Ghoft g Mat. and with fire (g). Therefore as many as are baptized into Jefus Chrift, are baptized into his death, and are buried with him by baptifm into death, that like as Chrift was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even fo they alfo fhould walk Rom. in newness of life (b). Having put on 6.3,4. Chrift (i).

3. II.

j Gal.

3.27..

ARTICLE XIX.

Concerning eating of bread and wine, washing of one another's feet, abstaining from things ftrangled, and from blood, and anointing of the fick with oil.

THE Lord Jefus, the fame night in which he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and faid, Take, eat; this is my body which

II. 23,

24, 25.

is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me: after the fame manner alfo he took the cup, when he had fupped, faying, 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 fhew the Lord's death till he come (k). Jefus knowing that the Father had 1 Cor. given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God, he rifeth from fupper, and laid afide his garments, and took a towel,. and girded himfelf; after that he poureth water into a bafon, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded: fo after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was fat down again, he faid unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Mafter, and Lord, and ye fay well; for fo I am: if I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye alfo ought to wash one another's feet; for I have given you an example, that ye fhould do as I have done to you (1). For it seemed good to the Holy Ghoft' John and to us, to lay upon you no greater 5.12, to burden than thefe neceffary things, that ye 15. abstain from meats offered to idòls, and from blood, and from things ftrangled, and from

fornication;

13. 3 to

15.28,

fornication; from which, if ye keep yourm Acts felves, ye fhall do well (m). Is any man fick 29. among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, James anointing him with oil (n).

22

5. 14.

16.

ARTICLE XX.

Concerning the liberty of fuch Chriftians as are come to know the fubftance, as to the ufing or not ufing of these rites, and of the obfervation of days.

THE kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteoufnefs, and peace, and Rom. joy in the Holy Ghoft (). Let no man 14, 17. therefore judge us in meat or drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, Col. 2. or of the fabbath days (p). For if we be dead with Chrift from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are we fubject to ordinances? Let us not touch, or tafte, or handle, which all are to perish with the ufing, after the comVer. mandments and doctrines of men (9). For now, after we have known God, or rather are known of him, why should we turn again unto the weak and beggarly elements, or defire again to be in bondage, to obferve days and months, and times and years, left Gal. 4- labour have been bestowed on us in vain (r)?,

20, to 22

9 to II.

If one man efteem a day above another, another esteems every day alike; let every man be fully perfuaded in his own mind: he that regardeth a day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it (s). Rom.

ARTICLE XXI.

Concerning Swearing, Fighting, and
Perfecution.

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14 5.6.

IT hath been faid by them of old time," Thou shalt not forfwear thyfelf, but fhalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but Christ fays unto us, Swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footftool; neither by Jerufalem, for it is the city of the Great King; neither fhalt thou fwear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black; but let your communication be yea, yea; nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than thefe, cometh of evil (t). And James Mat. charged us, Above all things not to fwear; to 37. neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; left ye fall into condemnation (u). Though we walk in the " James flesh, we are not to war after the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not to be carnal,

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5. 12.

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