Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

BOOK. II.

Chap. 1.

• §. 1. The Definition of Christian Religion accord∣ing to Scripture, and divers Christian Writers.
• §. 2. Of the necessity of preferring the Internal part of Christian Religion.

Chap. 2.

• §. 1. Of the Knowledg of God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, and in what respects we ought to be ignorant of him.
• §. 2. Of the Order wherein this Knowledg may be considered.
• §. 3. Of the Ʋnity of the Godhead, from the Ʋni∣ty of the Nature of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
• §. 4. A particular consideration of the Essence of the Holy Spirit.
• §. 5. The Godhead Incorporeal in respect of its Im∣mensity.
• §. 6. Without Beginning, and without any Ending.
• §. 7. He is Omnipotent, and doth whatsoever he pleaseth.
• §. 8. He is Omniscient, nothing can be hid from him.
• §. 9. He is Just, there is no Ʋnrighteousness in him.
• §. 10. He is Gracious, full of Mercy, no Cruelty is in him.
• §. 11. He is Perfect, no Imperfection is in him.
• §. 12. His place of Residence is in Heaven, yet not consin'd to place.
• §. 13. Nothing can be done without his Providence, though contrary to his Will.
• §. 14. It is unlawful to form any Shape, or Image of God, so much as in our Minds.

Chap. 3. Of the knowledg of Jesus Christ, whom God

hath sent to the Saviour of the World.

• §. 1. Mankind generally apprehensive of a state of Eternity, and hath some inclination to beatitude after Death.
• §. 2. God made known his Grace in Christ from the Beginning. And of the knowledg which some Heathens had of him.
• §. 3. Of the meaning of the name Immanuel, and how it only agreeth to Christ as God-man in one Person.
• §. 4. Christ the Saviour of the World did really take a body of Flesh, or was Man by Nature.
• §. 5. Christ did in the place and stead of Mankind, fulfil that Law by which the whole World stood guilty before God.
• §. 6. Christ did really (not phantastically) suffer death in his own Body, for the Sins of the World.
• §. 7. The Righteousness of C•…•… is imputed to Men, and made theirs by Faith.
• §. 8. By the power of his Godhead, he rose again from Death, Bodily: And how the verity of the Gospel depends on the certainty thereof.
• §. 9. Christ is vested with all Power in Heaven and Earth, and the only Head and Law-giver to the Church as such.
• §. 10. Of the second coming of Christ, and how he shall then determine the final state of Men & Angels.
• §. 11. How Christ dwells in his Church by his Spirit, whose office is not to abrogate, but to establish what∣soever Christ hath taught his Church to observe.

Chap. 4. Concerning the Doctrine of Self-denial.

• §. 1. Self is the will of Man corrupted, and as such made the rule of his actions.
• §. 2. Of the powerful conviction of Sin, and a due sense of Man's wretchedness.
• §. 3. Of the necessity of an awful consideration of the Majesty, Justice, and Goodness of God, to true Conversion.
• §. 4. Of the great Patience of God, waiting to be gracious to Sinners.
• §. 5. Of sorrow for Sin, as committed against a Gracious God.
• §. 6. Of true hatred of Sin in the very thought, or first motions of it.
• §. 7. Of true confession of Sin, and application to God for Mercy.
• §. 8. Of the resolves of rightly humbled Souls.

Chap. 5. Treateth of the Christian Man's conformity to Christ in the spirit of his mind.

• §. 1. Of the light esteem our Saviour had of earthly things, and how his People are to follow him therein.
• §. 2. Of the great value Christ put upon Heavenly Things, and how he is therein to be followed.
• §. 3. Of the great Patience of Christ in all manner of Sufferings, and how we ought to suffer for him; to which purpose, three things very profitable must be considered.

Chap. 6. Wherein is considered the thing hoped for by Christians, and the comforts they partake of by the way.

• §. 1. How all Christians must first inherit the Righ∣teousness of their Father.
• §. 2. How Christians inherit their Fathers Name.
• §. 3. How the Spirit of Promise is part of the Saints inheritance. [Which is more fully handled in the second part of the first Book.]
• §. 4. How God's Children are Heirs of the Privi∣ledges of the House of God. [See second Part also.]
• §. 5. God's People are Heirs of this World: where Rom. 8. 20. The Creature was made subject to Vanity, is clearly opened.
• §. 6. Of the Heavenly Inheritance, or the Eternal Kingdom of Christ, and how all Life short of that is inconsiderable.

Chap. 7. Treateth of Angels, both good and bad; and of the service of the first, and disservice of the last to Mankind.

• §. 1. Of the Original of Angels, and how they are the Host of God.
• §. 2. Of the nature, dignity, and great number of Angels.
• §. 3. Of the dreadful Apostacy of some of the Angels.
• §. 4. Of the great envy of the Apostate Angels a∣gainst Mankind.
• §. 5. Of the office and care of good Angels to such as fear God, and how none are originally left to the tutelage of evil Angels.
• §. 6. Of the final estate of Angels, both good and bad.

THE SECOND PART Of the Second Book, containing the Ex∣ternal part of Christianity.

Chap. 1. Treateth of the Church of Christ, and the due way of Incorporating Members into it; and how far the Baptism of Repentance is necessa∣ry thereunto.

• §. 1. The external part of Christian Religion neces∣sary: And of the definition of the Church of Christ.
• §. 2. How Infants are of the Church as it contains the whole number of the saved; and how they were not admitted to Practical Ordinances in the first Churches, nor ought to be admitted thereto by us.
• §. 3. A particular Examination of the Primitive Churches, and after the nearest search, no Infant found to partake of Gospel-Ordinances, and par∣ticularly

• of Baptism; but Believers by profession, are found the only subjects of such services in the Primitive Churches.
• §. 4. Certain Arguments out of Mr. Tombs's An∣tipaedobapt. 3d part, in further confirmation of the Section next before this.
• §. 5. Of the necessity and great usefulness of Sacred Baptism. 1. From the Institution, or first de∣livery of it.
• §. 6. 2. From the Commission for the perpetuity of Baptism.
• §. 7. 3. From the Apostles Doctrine and Practice, in pursuance of their Commission.
• §. 8. 4. From the nature of the Ordinance it self.

Chap. 2. of the 2d Part. Of the due form and manner of the Admini∣stration of Baptism, which is by Dipping the Subject in the Element, proved.

• §. 1. 1. By the practice of John Baptist, and those who succeeded him in the Act of Baptism.
• §. 2. 2. From the true signification of the word Baptize, when used to express the Act done in this holy Ordinance.
• §. 3. 3. The intollerable injury offered to Christ, and unavoidable incoveniences to the Church, by altering the form or manner of Baptism.
• §. 4. 4. From the Agreement between the sign and thing signified in Baptism.
• §. 5. 5. From the consent of Learned Men who are our Opposites in many things.

Chap. 3. Treating of the doctrine and practice of Laying on of Hands, as it is a Principle of Christ's Religion, pertaining to the beginning of all Christian Men.

• §. 1. The Point explained: And how Christians may be said to receive the Promise of the Spirit.
• §. 2. All Christs Disciples have right to the Promise of the Holy Spirit, whether Male or Female.
• §. 3. A more ample disquisition of the nature of the Promise of the Spirit, and of the Churches interest therein, both Gifts and Fruits, to the end of the World, from 1 Cor. 12. 1. made good under six great Considerations.
• §. 4. Answereth two Objections, 1. Of the pretence of introducing new Oracles. 2. Of the Papists pretence to Infallibility.
• §. 5. Prayer and Laying on of Hands for the Graces of the Spirit, as well as for the Gifts; many thousands submitted to this Ordinance in one Church.
• §. 6. A particular consideration of Heb. 6. 2. as a clear evidence, that Prayer with Imposition of Hands, is an universal and perpetual ministrati∣on of the Church of Christ.
• §. 7. Answereth some Objections against the suppo∣sed disparity of the practice of Prayer with Impo∣sition of Hands, in the Apostles days, and now. See further in the Defence.

Chap. 4. Of the Segregation, or gathering together of the Church of Christ, and of the separation ne∣cessary to be made in order thereunto.

• §. 1. The original of separation among the Angels: which was decreed by God to be made between the Church and the old World.
• §. 2. Of the prosecution of a holy separation in the new World.
• §. 3. Separation warranted by the Gospel, between the Church and the World.
• §. 4. Separation necessary to be maintained between true Christians, and those that incumber that sa∣cred Profession with Mens precepts, or dishonour it by an evil life. See the last Part, or Treatise in the Defence.

Chap. 5. Treateth of the Form of Doctrine necessary to be maintained in Christian Assemblies, accord∣ing to the Scriptures.

• §. 1. Christian Assemblies for preaching the Word of God necessary, else Religion faileth.
• §. 2. Christians use no compulsion to uphold their Assemblies: their Fellowship ought to be voluntary, or of free Choice.
• §. 3. Of the Nicene Creed, and how the Baptized Churches are not Novelists in Articles of Faith.
• §. 4. A Confession of Faith put forth by many Bap∣tized Churches in this Nation, and presented to King Charles the Second, containing 25 Articles confirmed by the Scriptures, and by the Ancient Writers of Christianity.

Chap. 6. Treateth of publick Prayer, and of the due per∣formance thereof in the Churches of Christ.

• §. 1. Of the devotion of the First Churches in pray∣ing much to God, and of the excellency and suffici∣ciency of the Lord's Prayer, to regulate the Church in that Duty.
• §. 2. Of forms of Prayer devised and imposed by Men, what some Christian Writers both Ancient and Modern have thought thereof.
• §. 3. Answereth some Objections about imposed forms of Prayer.

Chap. 7. Treateth of the holy Table of the Lord, or the Lords Supper, celebrated in Bread and Wine, for a perpetual commemoration of the Death of Christ, till his second coming.

• §. 1. Of the various Titles given to this Ordinance, and the usefulness thereof to the Church.
• §. 2. Of the Authority by which this Ordinance is settled in the Church for a perpetual Ministry. Wherein also is considered the Feast of Charity, and whether any other Food be necessary to that

• holy manducation than Bread and Wine.
• §. 3. Of the divine use of the Lord's Table, to set forth Christ, and him crucified, and to come again.
• §. 4. The Lord's Table teacheth Humility, and Brotherly Love.
• §. 5. It teacheth Christian Ʋnity.
• §. 6. It conduceth to the stability of Christians in the Faith.
• §. 7. It is profitable to the attaining and keeping all holy qualifications.
• §. 8. Of the due manner of Celebrating the Lords Supper, wherein five Questions are considered, and answered.
• §. 9. Of the Popish abuse of the holy Table of the Lord. 1. In respect of their Transubstantiation. 2. In respect of their Missal-Sacrifice. 3. In respect of their Half-Communion.

Chap. 8. Treateth of the duty of Thanksgiving; of sing∣ing of Psalms in the Christian Church, and of the mind of many ancient and modern Chri∣stians touching this Matter.

• §. 1. Singing Psalms is a duty incumbent upon Christians, a part of Publick Worship, to be per∣formed in the Congregation by Persons gifted there∣vnto; but privately by every Christian.
• §. 2. Of the practice of the Primitive Churches in singing of Psalms.
• §. 3. Of the innovated formalities about singing in Parochial, or other Congregations.
• §. 4. A sure way of praising God in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, according to the Scripture; specially of the matter of the Psalms, or Hymns.
• §. 5. Of the manner how to sing the Praises of God in the Church of God. This case difficult: some∣thing offered towards the resolution of the Point. Eight Exceptions against a promiscuous singing, of a multitude of Voices together in a Church. Private Christians ought to praise the Lord in Psalms, as well as to Pray. Not safe for Chri∣stians to censure one another in this matter, where nothing apparently sinful doth incumber the service.

Chap. 9. Sheweth what Ministers, or Officers God hath given, or appointed to govern the Christian Church to the end of the World.

• §. 1. Of the great inconveniencies of setting up di∣vers kinds of Officers in the Church of Christ, which God hath not ordained.
• ...§. 2. Salmasius against the Popish Priesthood. The name of Altars was not heard of in the Pri∣mitive Churches.
• §. 3. Of the Titles of Christian Ministers, and first of Messengers, or Apostles.
• §. 4. Of the Divine Institution of Bishops in the Christian Church.
• §. 5. Of the work pertaining to Christian Bishops and Elders in the Christian Church.
• §. 6. Of the low outward condition of the ancient Bishops of the Church. An Apologie for the Bi∣shops of the present Baptized Churches.
• §. 7. Of the Office of Deacons in the Church of Christ.
• §. 8. Of the due Election of Messengers, Bishops and Deacons, in the Church of Christ, according to Scripture and Antiquity; and of the Question a∣bout a successive Ordination.

Chap. 10. Treateth of General Assemblies of Messengers, Elders, and Brethren, to decide general Con∣troversies in the Christian Church, &c.

• §. 1. Of the nature and necessary use of General Assemblies in the Christian Church.
• §. 2. Of the Question who hath power to convene General Assemblies.
• §. 3. Of the Question, How far General Assemblies have power by their Agreements, to bind the Chur∣ches whom they represent.
• §. 4. What sort of Christians are to give voice de∣liberative and decissive in Councils, or General Assemblies.

Chap. 11. Of the holy Discipline both general and parti∣ticular, which God hath ordained for the Purity of the Christian Church.

• §. 1. Christian Discipline described, and of the ne∣cessity of it.
• §. 2. Of the general Discipline of Fasting and Pray∣er; and the Questions which concern the same, Answered.
• §. 3. Of the great abuses in Fasting and Prayer, both in former and latter times.
• §. 4. Of the Way ordained by God to heal private Offences between one Christian and another.
• §. 5. Of the Way of God to proceed against such as sin openly in the Church of Christ.
• §. 6. Of the Way of the Lord to deal with Hereticks in the Christian Church according to the Gospel.

Chap. 12. Treateth of the Reasons why Christian Churches (specially of the Gentiles) are not bound to keep the Sabbath of the Jews, according to the Law of Moses; and how notwithstanding they are under the Morality of the Fourth Command in the Decalogue.

• §. 1. Of the Proposition to be proved, and how first it ought to be explained.
• §. 2. Containeth seven Reasons, or Arguments, ful∣ly proving the Proposition.
• §. 3. Answereth the most important Allegation out of the New Testament, usually brought for the ob∣servation of the Seventh Day, according to the Law of Moses.
• §. 4. Certain Testimonies out of the Ancient Chri∣stians, concerning this great Controversie.

Chap. 13. Treateth of the Observation of the Lords Day; or First Day of the Week, in the Christian Church, and how it is grounded on the Au∣thority of the holy Scripture, and strength∣ned by the consent of the best Antiquity; and whether that passage, Psal. 118. 24. be meant of that Day?

• §. 1. Of the Prophecy of David, Psal. 118. This is the Day which the Lord hath made; pro∣bably meant of the Lord's Day.
• §. 2. Of the New Testament Texts, which prove the Observation of the Lord's Day, and how the Title best agrees to the First Day of the Week.
• §. 3. Of the Practice of the Ancient Churches suc∣ceeding the first Churches, in the Religious Obser∣vation of the Lord's Day.

Chap. 14. Of the place of Christian-Assemblies, the di∣stinction between Holy, and Unholy, made void in the Christian Church. And how they ought to be free for all Corners.

• §. 1. Legal Sanctity in respect of place for God's Worship, made void by Christ.
• §. 2. Of the superstition of some professing Christi∣anity, about the holiness of one place above ano∣ther.
• §. 3. The place of Christian-Assemblies ought to be Publick.

Chap. 15. Of the Ministers Maintenance under the Gospel. Whether Tithes be due to the Ministers of Christ, Jure Divino?

• §. 1. God hath ordained a Maintenance for Gospel-Ministers, confirmed by the Apostle Paul, by di∣vers Arguments.
• §. 2. Of the Proportion, or quantity which belongs to them as Christ's Ministers.
• §. 3. Tithes not due to Christ's Ministers by the Law of God, proved by seven Arguments. Ma∣gistrates do well to encourage Christ's Ministers.

Chap. 16. Of that Humility and Brotherly Respect which ought to be in Christ's Ministers towards each other, and of the Carriage of the Bro∣therhood towards their Pastours.

• §. 1. Pride incident to Men in high places of Trust. Christ's Ministers to beware of the Temptations of the Devil. They stand in eminent danger. Pride in them of dangerous consequence many ways. Examples of this evil in Scripture, and History.
• §. 2. There is reverence due to Christ's Ministers. It is a great Sin for the Brotherhood, or any of them to carry offensively towards their Pastours. The Assemblies of Christians are to be kept with reverent Deportments by all the Members, as be∣ing more immediately in the presence of God, and his Ministers.