Ancient truth revived, or, A True state of the antient, suffering Church of Christ, commonly (but falsly) called Brownists, living in London, and other places of this nation wherein I. Is shewed (in the preface) the state of the gospel-church, from the time of Christ's ascension, to the end of the world, gathered out of the book of Revelations, II. The confession of our faith, grounded on the doctrine of the apostles and prophets, III. By vvhom the gospel vvas first preached in this island, IV. Our practice in the worship of God, according to the practice of the primitive church, with an explanation of every ordinance, and vvho have right to administer the same, V. The first day of the week proved to be the gospel-sabbath.

Reasons gathered out of the holy Scriptures, to prove, that since the Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, not only the Ceremonial Ordinances for Worship are abolished, but also the chief Time in which they were performed, to wit, the Seventh-Day Sabbath. And also to prove, that as the Lord Jesus hath not only ordained new Gospel-Ordinances, but also a new Time, in which they are to be performed, to wit, the first Day of the Week for the Gospel Sabbath.

THat which moveth us to give our Judgment about the time of Gospel-Worship, is; first, for the Glory of God; and secondly, for the Comfort of the Elect Children of God, who (we fear) are many of them misled in their understandings, by some that now keep the seventh Day for the time of Gospel-Worship; and also by others, who, though they say the seventh Day is abolished, yet do believe that Christ hath appointed no peculiar Day for his Gospel-Worship; and others that say every Day is alike to them, and keep no Day conscionably at all, only meet for fushions sake, when others do, partly by that opportunity to draw People to their way, and also for fear if they open their Shops, they should be punished by the Magistrate.

First, We direct our Words to those that say, Christ under the Gospel appointed no peculiar day for his Worship.

Such ought to know, That as it stands not to the Honour of Kings and Princes, and Masters of Servants, to appoint their Subjects and Servants their Work, and leave the Time to their Discretion, when they think good to do the same: How much more doth it not stand with the Honour of our Lord Jesus, Prince of the Kings of the Earth, Lord of Lords, and only Lawgiver to his Church or Subjects, having appointed new Ordinances for his Worship, that he should leave the Time to their Pleasure, when they shall think good to perform the same. And were it so as they suppose, that Christ hath appointed no peculiar day for his Worship; when as he hath commanded his Church not to forsake the assembling of themselves together, and promised his Presence to be with them; which if the time is not by his appointment but theirs, is not this to make the Lord to wait on his Subjects pleasure, and not they on his? when he shall meet with them, and not when they should meet with him? which is contrary to the Order of God both in Grace and Nature; even against the Honour and Preroga∣tive of a King over his Subjects, of a Master over his Servants; bringing

a Babel or Confusion both in Church and State, and an Article of the Ro∣mish Faith about the time of God's Worship, who say they are bound to believe as the Church believes in this and many other things.

2. We are to know that the living God is a God of Order; but it was not his Way and Order from the very beginning of the Creation, to ap∣point Man his Work, and leave the Time to his Discretion: for Adam by Creation was only Lord of the Earth, and all things therein; but by a Cove∣nant Estate made between the Lord and himself he was made Heir of Hea∣ven by Promise, confirmed to him by two Sacramental Signs set before them, one called the Tree of Life, representing Christ, the now Tree of Life in the spiritual Garden of his Church, Rev. 22.1. the Way, and no other to Heaven from the beginning, Acts 4.12. The other called the Tree of Knowledg, signifying the (a) Law now in the spiritual Garden of God, the Church of Christ, by which is the knowledge of Sin; which Tree of Knowledg in the figure was then forbidden Adam and his Wife to touch or meddle with the fruit thereof, as we are now by the Law, by eating or believing, that by the works or fruits thereof we can be made happy e∣ternally. And thus Adam and his VVife (b) willingly covenanted with their Creator, to serve and obey the Pleasure of his VVill; but the Lord left not the Time to their (c) discretion, but after he had ordered them six days for their bodily Exercise in (d) dressing of the Garden and such like civil Em∣ployments, did also appoint them a Sabbath of holy Rest in his Service, to imploy their Minds in the Meditation of God's Love to them in the be∣nefit of the Sacramental Signs aforesaid, and likewise to praise the Lord for all his Mercies in all the VVorks of his Creation, made for their (e) sakes, and also to teach them, that by the Time of God's Service instituted by the Lord for them, that it was a Sign to them the Lord had sanctified them. (a) Rom. 7.7. (b) Gen. 3.2. (c) Gen. 2.3. (d) Ver. 15. (e) Deut. 4.19. (f) Ezek. 20.12.

3. After Man's Fall, Moses the first VVriter of holy Scripture, ending his first Book, called Genesis, or Generations, with Israel going into Aegypt, a Figure of Man's Captivity by the Fall of Adam, and his Generations in him, Rom. 5. beginneth his next Book, called Exodus, or Departure, upon Israel's being called to depart out of Aegypt, and by the Covenant of Grace after they were come out made with them in Christ, they became the Lords People, a holy Nation, Exod. 19. Unto whom the Lord after gave his Law with Ordinances for his VVorship; But here we are to note, he did not leave the Time to their Discretion when they thought good to do the same, but appointed them the Seventh-day Sabbath, afore given to the first Adam by the Lord, and to Israel by the hand of Moses; and hereupon the Holy Ghost witnesseth of Moses, that he was faithful in the House of God as a Servant, who being a Figure of Christ in his Pro∣phetical,

Priestly and Kingly Offices, appointing both the Ordinances for Worship, and also the Time. And as Christ, who is said to be like unto Mo∣ses, yea, more than a Servant, to wit, a Son, and faithful in his own House; inasmuch as he hath not only appointed new Ordinances for his Worship, but also a new Time; and so in nothing was he inferiour to Moses, as those people would make him, that say he hath appointed no particular Day for his Worship under the Gospel. But Christ's Disciples were better acquaint∣ed with the mind of the Lord, and knew that the day of Christ's Resur∣rection was the Gospel Sabbath: Therefore on the first Day did they as∣semble together to Prayer and Religious Duties, Christ himself appearing among them after he was risen, justifying their Faith and Practice, in pro∣claiming peace unto them, John 20.19.

4. Accordingly did the Apostle Paul practise by the Spirit of Faith, who coming to Troas with his Company, abode there seven days, and did not assemble with the Disciples there to perform Christ's Ordinances for Wor∣ship till the first day of the Week: whose example is written for our learn∣ing, Phil. 3.17. Acts 20.7. Ʋpon the first day of the Week the Disciples came together to break Bread, (that is, to communicate in the Lord's Supper) as a remembrance of Christ's Death, who died for their Sins, and rose the first day for their Justification. And likewise the Ordinance of Contribu∣tion commanded on the first Day, not to be neglected, but perform'd, be∣cause it is an odour of a sweet-smelling Sacrifice to the Lord in the Church of God: and therefore are Deacons appointed to attend on that work, to gather the free-gift of the Saints then cast into the Lord's Treasury in his Spiritual Temple of living stones, that the Deacons may according to the Wisdom of God given them, distribute it to the maintenance of the Mini∣ster, and relief of the poor Saints. Now then, if God's way is to be pre∣ferr'd, as it is the best: then the Ministers of Christ should disdain to be maintain'd with Pope Pascalis his Provision, Tithes, which he appointed for his Massing Priests, in the Year of our Lord 827. as Mr. Bacon in his Book entituled the Reliques of Rome, makes appear. For, before that time, all true Ministers of Christ were fed of the Flock they fed, and drank of the Vineyard they dressed. Therefore let not such say they are Christ's Ser∣vants that take Antichrist's wages: forasmuch as the Lord Christ, who walketh in the midst of his Church, is Lord and Lawgiver to the same. From whose Throne we may hear his Voice saying, Behold, I make all things new; a new People, 1 Pet. 2.10. new Ordinances, new Ministry, new Maintenance, new Time. And therefore is the first Day of the Week rightly call'd the Lord's Day by the Spirit of God, Rev. 1.10. the Go∣spel Sabbath. As doth also appear further:

For, as the next immediate time after the Lord had finished the work of the old Creation was the seventh day sanctified, a Day of holy Rest for the

Service and Worship of God: Even so the next immediate time after the Lord Jesus had finished the new Creation, or Man's Redemption by his Resurrection, was the first. Day of the Week sanctified a Day of holy Rest, by the example of Christ and his Apostles, with the Churches: whose ex∣ample in all things they joyntly practised with the Churches, as they did keep the first Day of the Week for the Gospel-Sabbath, are sufficient Commands for all Christians to follow: because it is written, Be ye followers of me, as I am of Christ, 1 Cor. 11.1. And again, Be ye followers together of me; and mark them which walk so, as you have us for an Ensample, Phil. 3.18. So that all things the Apostles joyntly practised with the Churches are exemplary Commands to bind us to follow them, but they did joyntly with the Churches keep the first Day of the Week to be the Gospel-Sabbath in performing with the Churches the Ordinances ordained by Christ for his Worship. So that it is further written, If any man think himself to be a Pro∣phet, or Spiritual; let him acknowledge, that the things that I write unto you are the Commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant [of this] let him be ignorant, 1 Cor. 14.37, 38.

Yet that the first Day of the Week is the Gospel-Sabbath, is confirmed by a second Reason.

That as the Light was created in the first Day, with which the Lord deck'd the World as with a Garment, Psal. 104.2. Unto which Work of the Lord in the first Day, is the Spiritual Light compared by the Apostle in the new Creation; as it is written 2 Cor. 4. God, who said that out of Darkness Light should shine, hath shined in our hearts. That they that once were in Darkness might be made light in the Lord, Eph. 5.8. And thus on the first Day of the Week, by Christ's Resurrection was Life and Immortality brought to light by the Gospel, in the glad tidings of Christ's Resurrection, who was risen for the Justification of those he died for. Therefore is it a Day of e∣verlasting Joy to all such as are made Partakers thereof, never to be forgot∣ten, but to be kept in holy remembrance of God's Love to Man in Christ, and in performing Christ's Ordinances, in which the Love of God in Christ shineth, and is evidently set forth unto them. And thus much to convince them that say, Christ hath not appointed any particular Time for his Gospel-Worship.

The next Place to answer the seventh day Sabbath Keepers Argument for the seventh Day in opposition to the first Day, who say, The seventh Day Sabbath is not abolished, because it was commanded to be kept by a Moral Precept.

Ans. Though the seventh Day was commanded to be kept by a Moral Precept; so likewise the Ordinances for the Worship of God, then ap∣pointed and chiefly performed on the seventh Day, were commanded by a like Moral Precept in the second Commandment. And as the Ordinances

for Worship then, all christians grant are now abolished by Christ, though commanded by a Moral Precept, being Figures of good things to come by Christ: Even so by the like reason the seventh Day Sabbath, figuring rest in Christ, is abolished by Christ, though commanded to be kept by a Mo∣ral Precept. So though the Ceremonial Ordinances with the Time under the Law are ended, yet the Spiritual Equity remaineth of both second and fourth Commandments. As for Example, as the second Commandment bound all Israel to worship the Living God with the Ordinances given by the hand of Moses, and likewise forbid them all Inventions of Men in God's Worship; and all Christians grant these Ceremonial Ordinances of the Law are abolished, yet the second Commandment remains binding to all Chri∣stians now, as of old, to worship the living God with those Ordinances ap∣pointed by the Lord Jesus and no other, and likewise forbiddeth all In∣ventions of Men in the Worship of God under the Gospel. Col. 2.20, 21, 22.

So likewise, though the seventh Day Sabbath is abolished, yet the fourth Commandment remaineth binding to all Christians now to keep one Day in seven holy to the Lord; and who should appoint us which Day of the se∣ven, but Christ's Example with his Disciples, (John 20.) and his Apostles; whose Examples (as aforesaid) in what they joyntly practised with the Churches are Commands for us to follow, as is afore proved. Therefore the first Day is the Gospel Sabbath. And that all the Sabbaths under the Law are ended is proved by the same Apostle to the Churches, Let no Man judg you in Meats or in Drinks, or in respect of an holy Day, or of the New-Moons, or of the Sabbaths; which are shadows of good things to come, but the Body is of Christ, Col. 2.16, 17. And thus by the Day-break of the Gospel the Shadows (Cant. 2.17.) are gone, yet not one Tittle of the Moral Law in the Spirituality thereof, is abolished, Mat. 5.17.18. As doth further appear.

By the Number Seven in the Law of Moses, were many Mysteries shad∣dowing good things in Christ to be fulfilled. To instance a few of many, as the sprinkling of the Blood seven times before the Lord, signifying a full cleansing of all our Sins by the Blood of Christ, Heb. 9.18. 1 John 1.9. And seven times sprinkling the Leper, Lev. 14.17. And seven days con∣secrating the Priests, Lev. 8.8. The seventh Year a Year of Rest Lev. 25.3, 4. and seven times seven Years brought the Jubile, Ver. 8, 9. And every se∣venth day was a Sabbath. All which Shadows, Christ the Substance be∣ing come, are in him abolished, and all that do believe in him are freed from the literal keeping of the same.

Nevertheless there remaineth a special Use from all these Figures to us that believe, being apprehended by Faith in Christ according as Christ him∣self and his Apostles have applied them for the Saints Use and Comfort. As namely, when the Altar of Burnt-Offering is mentioned in the New Te∣stament, we are taught the Doctrine of Christ's Oblation, Rev. 11.1. Heb. 13.10.

So likewise from the Altar of Incense, the Doctrine of his Mediatorship, Rev. 8.5. So the Passover to the Supper, 1 Cor. 5.7, 8. Circumcision to Bap∣tism, Col. 2.11. the Pillars to the Teachers, Gal. 2.9. And when the Tabernacle is mentioned, it is a sign of God's dwelling with his People, Rev. 21.3. Also the Candlesticks signify the Churches, Rev. 1.20. And so likewise the 7th-day-Sabbath to our Rest in Christ, Heb. 4.10. From all which Shadows and many more we may draw spiritual Comfort; forasmuch as our Faith is not built only on the Doctrine of the Apostles, but also upon the Doctrine of the Prophets, Christ being held forth to be the chief Corner-Stone in both, as they are expounded by Christ and his Apostles. And so, if the Lord open the Eyes of our Understanding, (as he did his Disciples, Luk. 24.45.) we shall behold the wondrous things in God's Law, Psal. 119.18. Therefore Christ beginning at Moses, and in all the Prophets, expounded the Scriptures in all things concerning himself: which until the vail be taken away from off the eyes and heart, none can steadfastly look to the end of that which is abo∣lished, 2 Cor. 3.13. neither do understand how Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to all that believe, Rom. 10.4. yet not one tittle useless, but all Scripture is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteousness; able to make the Man of God perfect in all understanding in the mystery of the same, (2 Tim. 3.16.) as in that mystery why Moses must be honoured above all other Prophets, to be bu∣ried of God himself: Because the Law of Shadows was given by the hand of Moses from God, therefore God would have the Shadows of his Son honourably buried by the Lord Jesus, who buried all Shadows in the Law with the time, himself resting in the grave the whole time of the seventh-day Sabbath; so buried all Moses's Shadows in the Law. And therefore in this sense is it written, The Law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. So that by Grace we are saved in Christ, and not by the works of the Law, as the seventh-day Keepers expect in the New-Te∣stament, A form of words, saying, Remember to keep holy the first day, as it was said in the Law, to keep the seventh day. These, with Thomas, are weak in the Faith, that must feel by the sense of Nature before they will believe, and so remain under the Curse, and not the Blessing, by exercising Faith, and not resting on the letter of the Law, in expecting a literal Com∣mandment in the Gospel for all our belief and practice; and so make the Gospel a secondary Law of Works, when all Christians ought to stand on a better foundation, and to know that the things chiefly necessary to be specified in the New Testament were the exhibiting the Messiah in the flesh for the redemption of his People, with the manner of his Birth, Life, Do∣ctrine, Suffering, Death, Burial, Resurrection and Ascension, and sitting at the right-hand of God; with the calling of the Gentiles to the Faith, with their Infants to be fellow-heirs with the believing Jews and their

children; forasmuch as the Promises in the Prophets belonged to them, with the abolishing the Ordinances with the time in the Law in the literal performance as aforesaid; and now to follow the footsteps and examples of Christ and his Apostles, who have established by their practices in the Churches new Ordinances, new Ministers, Maintenance, Time and Place for Gospel-Worship, &c. as we have proved before; and that the Apostles, with the Churches, did keep the first-day of the week for Gospel-Worship; so did the Christians some hundreds of years after, as is shewed in Anno Christi 111. Ignatius in Epistola ad Magnes, after the Sabbath, or setting aside the Sabbath (as some translate it) Let every one that loves Christ, keep holy the Lord's Day, the Queen of Days, the Resurrection day, the highest of all Days. Anno 150. Justin Martyr, Apol. 2. saith, Ʋpon the day call'd Sun∣day, or Lord's Day, all that abide within the Cities, or Villages, do meet together in some place, where the Records of the Apostles, and Writings of the Prophets are read unto us: then standing up together, we send up our Prayers to Heaven; which being ended, there is delivered unto us Bread and Wine. And the richest sort, every one as his good will is, contributeth something towards the relief of the poor Brethren.

Anno 160. Dionysius Bishop of Corinth, in his Epistle to Soter Bishop of Rome, Euseb. Histor. Eccles. lib. 4. cap. 22. saith, We have spent, or passed through the Lords Day to day, an holy Day.

Anno 226. Origen Exod. 16. Homil. 7. saith: Ʋpon the Lords Day the Lord always rains Manna from Heaven, namely, the heavenly Truth of the Word read and preached to the People. All which Testimonies and many more shew, that the Christians before Constantine's time did keep the first Day for the Gospel-Sabbath; and not, as some have said, that the first Day was not kept till Constantine's time; which is a gross Mistake; for Constantine did not reign till about the Year of our Lord, 316.

And because, as is likely, the first Day then, as now among Christians, was prophaned with Mens corrupt Minds, in doing their worldly busi∣ness, and neglect of God's Service; therefore did Constantine the Emperor, as our King hath now, sign an Act, or Edict, for the better keeping, or restraining Abuses in Civil things on the Lord's Day; yet the Edict in Constantines time did not, any more than this Act in our time doth, prove by its then setting forth, that the Lord's Day was not kept before; as Au∣thors afore named shew before Constantine's time, and in our Days before the Act came forth, the Lord's Day was kept holy, a Sabbath to the Lord, though by many much prophaned.

And thus we see how greatly some that go by the Name of Seventh-Day Men are mistaken, to say, that the first Day of the VVeek was not kept for Gospel-VVorship till Constantines time.

Moreover, though the seventh Day in the fourth Commandment is abolish∣ed, and the first Day come in the place; yet the Holiness remains to the first as it did to the seventh Day, by virtue of the fourth Commandment. As for Example, If the same Scriptures in the Law commandeth the Worshippers under the Gospel, to be holy as God is holy, because the Covenant by which the Lord was a Husband to them was holy, 1 Pet. 1.15, 16. Levit. 11.44. Then the same Scriptures that commanded the Time for Worship under the Law, commands the Time for Gospel-Worship to be kept now holy under the Gospel, Esay 58.13, 14.

Moreover, as there was a Time when the Seventh-day Sabbath did be∣gin; so there is a Time when the Gospel-Sabbath taketh its beginning. And because many People in divers Nations differ much about the Time, as the A∣thenians kept the first Day from Evening to Evening, as the Jews kept their Sabbath; the Chaldeans begin the time at Sun-rising, the Aegyptians at Noon; but most People in these Western parts of the World keep the first Day from Midnight to Midnight, which most agreeth with the time of Christ's Re∣surrection; who lying in the Grave the whole Seventh-day Sabbath, rose most likely so soon as the seventh Day ended, because then the first Day began with the Sun-rising, for it riseth to us after twelve a clock. So Christ the Sun of Righteousness is said to be risen very early in the Morn∣ing, while it was yet dark, John 20.1. So then the Seventh-day Sabbath was past, Mat. 16.1. at the rising of the Sun, Acts 2. For it may be said the Sun is risen after twelve a clock, as we call it Morning at one a clock, about which time our Gospel-Sabbath takes its beginning, and endeth a∣bout the same time; as Paul upon an extraordinary occasion continued his Preaching, with the Performing of the rest of Christ's Ordinances, till twelve a Clock of the First Day of the Week at Night, Acts 20.7.

And as the time being changed to the first Day with the Holiness thereof, even so by the virtue of the fourth Commandment are we also forbidden all manner of Work on the first Day, as was forbidden on the seventh Day of old. As saith the Prophet, If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a Delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, not doing thy one pleasures, nor speaking thy own words, Isa. 58.13. Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord, ver. 14. But it is much to be feared, that Gospel Professors are not acquainted with this Scripture, when on the first Day of the Week they can work in their Trade apart, some all day; some carry home Work, sell Wares, write Let∣ters of worldly Business, ride Journies, make Bargains, and cast up their Books of Accompts, take Voyage to Sea. Let all such know, that because Sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the Sons of Men is fully set in them to do evil, Eccles. 8 11. God will punish the Breakers of this Time for Gospel-Worship, as he did the Breakers of the Seventh-day Sabbath under the Law.

Moreover, If the Lord made it a special Reason, that Israel of old should keep the Seventh day Sabbath upon their Deliverance out of Aegypt, on which Day it may be supposed they came out, Deut. 5.15. Sure our Spiritual Deliverance from the Spiritual Bondage of Sin and Satan, of which Bondage Aegypt was a Figure, is therefore a more weightier reason, why we should keep the Day of our Deliverance, even the first Day of the Week, the Day wherein the Redemption of all the Elect was accomplished by Christ's Re∣surrection from the dead. And again if Israel were enjoyned to keep the Seventh-day upon their Deliverance; how much more are all Christians bound upon the same Ground and Reasons to keep the Day of our Delive∣rance.

And again, If the bringing of Israel out of Aegypt was such a Work, as God for the memorial thereof, made both the Day and Month the Beginning and first Month of the Year, which was not so before, Exod. 12.2. and the Deliverance (as afore) but a Figure of our Spiritual; How much more then is that Day to be accounted of, and kept holy above all Days in the Year, in which we were delivered from our Spiritual Bondage by the Re∣surrection of Christ, who suffered on that day that Sin was first committed in Paradise; and also after he had suffered for Sin, lay in the Grave the Se∣venth day Sabbath, the chief time that the Sacrifice for Sin was consumed on the Altar. And thus when the holy Scriptures, which consist of Prophe∣cies, Histories, Parables, Mysteries, Statutes, Judgments, and the like, are rightly (as saith the Apostle) divided, we may not be ashamed, as some whom he blamed, that desired to be Teachers of the Law, understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm, keeping the Seventh-day Sabbath for the Gospel-Sabbath, mingling the Law and Gospel together, either in our Justification before God, and likewise in practice by keeping the Letter of the Law in the Seventh-day Sabbath, as the only Time for Gospel-Worship; so making the Lord Jesus in his Church inferior to Moses.

And lastly, Having given this brief observation of the state of the Church of Christ from his Ascension to the end of the World; with the Confession of Faith in which the Primitive Churches were established; and the hea∣venly Order they performed all the Ordinances of Christ, with the Mini∣stry, Maintenance, and Time: Let the Reader wisely observe, that in this last Age of the World we are told that after the last glorious Reformation under the seventh Angel, (as is described in the Preface) Satan will be loo∣sed out of his Restraint (or Prison) again; and because he knows he hath but a short time, will gather together his Armies, comprehended under the name of Gog and Magog, Rev. 20. whose names signify covered, or to cover, (to wit) but not with my Spirit, (saith the Lord, Isa. 30.1.) but with his Angelick Doctrines, as if they came from Heaven: So will he use his ut∣termost

sleights to deceive, as Christ saith, if it were possible the very Elect, by his false Apostles and Prophets, with their vain titles and gilded shews of Church and Ministry: So that the Harlot, or false Church, called a Beast, is said to have Horns, like the Lamb Christ, Rev. 13.11. yea she is said to be arrayed with Purple and Scarlet, gilded with Gold, precious Stones, and Pearls, Rev. 17.4. as if she were the Queen and Spouse of Christ, Psal. 45.9, 13. Ezek. 16.10, 13. Cant. 7.5. She hath Peace-offerings and Vows, Prov. 7.14. as if she were the very Church of God, Psal. 66.13. Bread and Water to refresh her Children, Prov. 9.16, 17. and her number great and many, Jer. 5.7. yet but a well-favoured Harlot, Nah. 3.4. who by her al∣luring tongue, whereby she lieth in wait to deceive, Eph. 4.14. Rom: 16.18. hath cast down many wounded, yea many strong men have been slain by her; for her house is the way to Hell, going down to the Chambers of Death, Prov. 7.26, 27. Therefore what special care ought every one to have that tender their souls eternal happiness, to examine what estate they are in, and whether the Congregation they are members of be the true Church of God, seeing in these last days Christ telleth us, that many false Christs and false Prophets shall arise, and deceive many.

Now if in Nature we were warned of these dangers and harms to the Body, what strong watch would we set at our gates both night and day to prevent it? how much more, be∣ing warned by these Lines, of the dangers of these last and perilous days, wherein so many unstable souls are beguiled, that never try by God's Word what they hear; but if it suit with the natural sense, it is yeelded to for a Truth, when as the natural man cannot judg in matters of Faith, seing he perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; and so upon this false ground is the whole Gospel of Christ perverted, and made a secondary Law of works, that if men believe as the general part of the Church believes, it is true belief; and if they go to hear a Sermon, and sometimes break Bread, it is all the service God requires of them in the Church or Congregation: Let us intreat such not thus to deceive them∣selves, or any longer be led away by Deceivers, to think if they imitate a part of God's service, or without Faith in what they do, they are in a good condition: Let such know the contrary: for Cain as well as Abel offered sacrifice, yet were not both accepted, Gen. 4. Israel in their Apostacy erected a Temple, an Altar and Ministry, 1 King. 12.28. And did not the two women plead both considently for the living Child, 1 King. 3.16. and whose could it be but hers that loved it most: Even so, who is the true Church of Christ but they that love him most? and who are those Churches that love Christ most, but they that keep all his Commandments? as it is written, He that hath my Commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, Joh. 14.21. But how shall such Churches be said to love Christ, that shut out of his Church or Kingdom his true Ministry, and also the performance of several of his Ordinances? For proof thereof we refer the conscienable Reader that will judg without partiality, comparing the practice of the Church in this day, and their faith, to the primitive practice that we the poor despised Christians, falsly called Brownists, have here set down as our Belief and Practice; desiring the Lord in his mercy to bless these our Labours to this Generation, even the elect among them, that they seeing their Lords plea∣sure, may flee to him whom they love in his true Church, as Doves to their windows, Isae. 60.8. Now to him that is able to keep us from falling, even the only wise God, and our Lord Jesus Christ, be all Glory, Honour and Praise rendred now, and for evermore. Amen.

FINIS.