5.48. w Ch.11. And 30. 5. 3. 2.3. Mat. Father is perfect (t). For the yoke of Chrift is cafy, and his burthen is light (u). his commandments are not grievous (x). * 1 John And whosoever 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 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, nei6 Ch. 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 Cor. the commandments of God (e). 6. 3. 7, 8. 9. 7.21. I 7.19. ARTICLE XV. Concerning Perfeverance and Falling from Grace. WE ought to give diligence to make our calling and election fure, which things if we do, 1. 10. 9.27. 3. 12. 4. II. do, we shall never fall (ƒ). 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 impof. Heb. fible for those who were once enlightened, and have tafted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghoft, and have tafted of the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they fhall 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). 4. เ 15. 16. ARTICLE XVI. Concerning the Church and Ministry.. THE church of God is the pillar and ground of truth (9). Whereof the M n Rom. 8.38. dear ox Tim. 3. 15. Son Col. 1. Son of God is the head (p). From which 18. I. 2. 4. 8. II, 12. all the body by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered and knit together; 9 Col. increaseth with the increase of God (q). 2. 19. Which church of God is them that are fanc 1 Cor. tified in Chrift 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 hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no ftrikers, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient; not brawlers, not covets 1 Tim. ous (t). But lovers of good men, fober, juft, 3.2, 3. holy, temperate, holding faft the faithful 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 overAets 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 eny1 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 26 20. 28. 5. 17. eficemed 5.13. 4. IO, LI 4, efteemed very highly in love for their work's fake (a). As every man hath received the a 1Thes, gift, fo ought the fame to be ministered: if any man fpeak, let him fpeak as the oracles of God: if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth (b). Preaching the gospel, not with the 6 1 Pct. wifdom of words, left the crofs of Chrift be made of none effect (c). Nor yet with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonftration of the fpirit and of power; that the faith may not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (d), Ch.2. Howbeit fuch speak wisdom 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 also speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghoft teacheth (f). For it is not Ver. they that speak, but the Holy Ghoft, or fpirit of the Father, that speaketh 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 fhalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the M 2 corn; · 6, 7. 13. 8 Cor. I. 17. 9. 11. 14. 9, 16, corn; and the labourer is worthy of his 6 1 Cor. reward (b). Yet a neceffity is laid upon them; yea, woe is unto them, if they preach not the gofpel; and their reward is, that when they preach the gofpel, they make Cor. the gospel of Chrift without charge (i). 17, 18. Not coveting any man's filver, or gold, or apparel; but their hands miniftering 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 20. 33. they are not of the greedy dogs that can Ifaiah never have enough (1). Nor of the fhep56. II. herds that look to their own way, every Ibid. one for his gain from his quarter (m). Ezek. That feed themselves, and not the flock (n). 34.8. That make the people err, biting with their 11. II. 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). 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 of the truth, fuppofing that gain is godli1 Tim. nefs (s). But they know that godliness, Ver. 6. With contentment, is great gain (1). And 6.5. 34. / |