A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of the New Testament, by way of question and answer with an explication and confirmation of those answers.

Qu. 11. How are mutuall love and communion among Believers testified and confirmed in their Observation?

Answ. In that they are appointed by the Lord Christ for that end, and in their own nature as attended unto in their Assemblies, are in an especiall man∣ner suited unto that purpose. John 13.35. 1 Cor. 10.16, 17. 1 Cor. 11.18, 19. Ephes. 4.4, 5, 6.

Explication.

The principles of mutual, spirituall love among Believers, arise from their relation unto one Father, Matth. 23.9. One is your Father which is in Heaven: who giveth unto all them that believe in Christ, Power to become the sons of God, John 1.12. And their being all Children of the same Family; that family in Hea∣ven and Earth which is called after the name of God the Father of it, as the Fa∣ther of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ephes. 3.14, 15. and unto Christ Jesus as their elder Brother, who is not ashamed to call them Brethren, Heb. 2.11. being by him born of God; and from their participa∣tion

of one and the self same Spirit, which dwelleth in them, as they are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in them, 1 Cor. 3.16. as also in all the fruits of that one Spirit, 1 Cor. 12.4, 5, 6, 7, 8. and in that one faith and hope whereunto they are called; Eph. 4.4, 5, 6. endeavouring to keep the uni∣ty of the Spirit in the bond of peace, there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God, and Fa∣ther of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. And that love which is not built on these principles and foun∣dations, is not Evangelical, whatever other ground it may have, or occasion it may pretend unto. Communion of Saints consists in their mutuall love duly exer∣cised according to rule; and all commu∣nion is an effect of Union. In Union there∣fore must lye the springs of love: and this consists in a joynt incorporation of Belie∣vers into Christ; for as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many are one body, so also is Christ; for by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body; and this they

have by the means before mentioned, namely their adoption, faith, and inha∣bitation of the Spirit. Now in the joint celebration of the Ordinances of Gods worship, they altogether make profession of these principles, and act that one faith, hope, and love jointly, whereof they are made partakers, and thereby grow up more and more into the head by that which every joint supplieth, Eph. 4.16. and some of them are pecu∣liarly designed by the Lord Christ, for the testification of their love, and union among themselves, 1 Cor. 10.16, 17. 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 com∣munion of the body of Christ? as we being many are one bread, and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.