The churches glory, or, The becoming ornament being a seasonable word, tending to the provoking, encouraging, and perfecting of holiness in believers ... : whereunto is added, A glasse for the unconverted ... as also, several articles of faith briefly laid down for the further establishment and confirming of the faithful / by Josias Bonham, sen. of Byfield in Northamptonshire.

Certain Articles included and drawn from the forego∣going Discourse, as the Judgment of the Authour in brief.

First.

THere is one God, Creator of all things, whose being is of him∣self; Glorious in Essence, Al∣mighty in Power, Infinite in Wisdom, Wonderful in Provi∣dence, Perfect in Purity, Rich in his Mer∣cies, Great in loving Kindness, Faithful in his Covenants, Free in his dispensation o•• Grace, Tender of Compassion, Long-suffering in Patience, Abounding in Good∣ness and Truth, Righteous in his Laws, Just in his Judgments, Jealous of his Truths, a Hater of Sin, a Revenger of Iniquity upon the Impenitent incompre∣hensible in himself; yet comprehending all things within his All-seeing Eye, his

Understanding, Knowledge, and Almigh∣ty Power, having Dominion over all things, to order all things, and dispose of all, according to the good pleasure of his divine will, unto whom all Worship, Service, and Obedience is due, and is to be performed in his own way by the Sons of men; and what he is in himself, his Being and Attributes, he is Incorruptible, Immortal, & Eternally so: God blessed for ever, the hope, the help, the support, the consolation and salvation of all that put their trust in him, to whom be Glory, Ho∣nour, and Praise everlastingly. Amen.

Secondly,

The glorious God hath made forth himself unto the Sons of men by three denominations or distinction of names, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Fa∣ther is of himself, not made, created, nor begotten: The Son is of the Father, Be∣gotten; not made, as he is God; yet made of a Woman, as he is Man, Gal. 4.4. The perfection of both Natures centred in him, that he was perfect God, and perfect Man: The holy Spirit is neither made, created, nor begotten; but is equally one, from Eternity in the God-head, with the Father and the Son,

proceeding from both, mans heart to in∣vade, to repair the great loss, the power of sin therein made.

Thirdly,

The Father from Eternity, before the world was, did determine, decree and pur∣pose in himself, in time, to Create man; to be to the glory of his Name, & to enjoy him in a glorious state; and thereunto did fore-appoint, or predestinate him.

Fourthly.

The Father fore-seeing the Fall of Man by sin, and Mans Captivity under Satans dominion thereby, and Mans corrupt and miserable state under the same; and Mans inability to recover himself there-from, that the determined Counsel, de∣cree, purpose, and predestination or fore-appointment of the Father might stand sure, and yet he be just: He also deter∣mines a free Redemption for Man-kind by his Son, and electeth or chuseth his Heirs of Glory in his Son, under justi∣fication of Life and Glory, through be∣lieving in his Son, and conforming to him; and herein God is just, and the justifier of them that believe on Jesus.

Fifthly.

The which power of believing, and act of conforming, was by the Father fore-appointed from Eternity, to be produced by, or the product of the spirit, which through its operation upon the heart, or inward man, should enable the Sons and Daughters of men, at least Some of them, to believe on his Son, and conform to him, and thereby be made meet to glorifie God, and enjoy his glory; there∣fore is this believing and conforming in Scripture, called a New Birth, and the sanctification of the Spirit, because wrought by the spirit, somtimes extraor∣dinarily by inspiration, or more ordina∣rily in and by the Word and Ministry thereof: enlightening the understanding, quickening the apprehension, informing the judgment, rectifying the will, renew∣ing the mind, regulating the affections, and perswading the heart to take Christ, to trust in Christ, to relye upon Christ, to obey Christ, and to suffer for Christ: It qualifies the heart with love to God, and joy in God, and zeal for God; with patience to wait upon God, with humili∣ty in its walking with God, with sinceri∣ty in the worship of God; sobriety in

life, temperancy in the use of the Crea∣tures, with kindness to the Brethren, and a peaceable disposition and charitableness towards all men, together with an hatred and loathing of sin, but a love to, and de∣light in all the ways of Righteousness.

Sixthly.

The Lord Jesus Christ in his working out the Redemption of man, in order to the decrees and fore-appointments of the Father, did take upon him the humane Nature, by a Conception in the Womb of a Virgin, through the over-shaddow∣ing of the Holy Ghost, as saith the Scrip∣tures: And in the Womb of the Virgin Mary was he nourished for the time, and after the manner of Women, and became both God and Man; that the same na∣ture that had sinned (being assisted with the Divine) might make restitution unto justification of life, and so God be just, and the justifier of them that believe on Jesus.

Seaventhly.

He taketh upon him the Execution of three offices imposed upon him by the Fa∣ther, as King, Priest, and Prophet: And in the Execution thereof, he doth accom∣plish

and compleat the Redemption of man-kind unto justification of life, ac∣cording to the eternal purpose and fore-appointment of the Father.

Eighthly.

He invadeth the Kingdom of darkness, and encountered the Prince thereof, the Divel that captivated man-kind, and brought them under his dominion; and by his two-edged sword, the word of God, he obtained Victory, and spoyled the Principalities and Powers of the do∣minion thereof.

Ninethly.

He answered the Law by a perfect o∣bedience thereunto, whereby he brought in perfect Righteousness unto life, where∣by he became the end of the Law for Righteousness to Believers, as they stand by faith in him, and whereby believers are wholly freed from the Accusations, Curse, and Condemnation of the Law.

Tenthly.

He answereth divine justice in his suf∣ferings upon the Cross for mans trans∣gression to a full satisfaction, whereby Believers, through saith in Christ, are

wholly acquitted as from the accusations of the Law, so from the Executions of Divine Justice, and brought into an e∣state of peace, reconciliation, and accep∣tance with the Father.

Eleaventhly.

He obtaineth a Conquest over Death and the Grave, those great Captivaters of man-kind, by the power of his Re∣surrection, whereby Death and the Grave are become subject to him, to de∣liver up their Captives at his command, which is a Priviledge to the Faithful, but a Woe to the Ungodly.

Twelfthly.

He Ascended to the right hand of power into the glory of the Father; where he further executeth the aforesaid Offices; as a Prophet he openeth the sealed book; the misteries of the Kingdom, and the great salvation that the Father from Eter∣nity hath placed in him for all that by faith subject to him, instructing and teach∣ing the knowledge thereof.

Thirteenth.

Christ further executeth his Priestly Office, also now in the days of his exal∣tation, by presenting the performances of his Subjects unto the Father in the gol∣den censor of his own Merits, making in∣tercession for them unto the Fathers gra∣cious acceptation, and to the encourage∣ment, comfort, and consolation of his Ser∣vants walking in his holy order of go∣vernment contained in the Gospel.

Fourteenth.

As Christ did invade the Kingdom of darkness, and overcame the Principalities and Powers thereof, that held fallen man in Captivity thereby: Se he as a King, is now in the execution of his Kingly Office in these days of his exaltation, as is demonstrated not only by his ordinati∣on, but also first in his giving forth his Laws, Ordinances, and Righteous order of Government, with commands of obe∣dience thereunto. Secondly: By defend∣ing and upholding his said Laws and Go∣vernment against all opposers. Thirdly: By his sending and gifting his Embassa∣dors with propositions of Pardon, Peace, Reconciliation, and Protection unto the

Sons and Daughters of men upon their receiving of him, and conforming to him, his Supremacy, Crown, and Dignity by subjection to his Laws and Government accordingly, that man might become Ser∣vants to him in subjection to his Laws; and be brought into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God, and Heirs of Glory, according to the Fathers fore-determina∣tion from Eternity.

Fifteenth.

It is the order and design of Christ in the dispensation of the Gospel, to gather Believers into Congregational Assem∣blies, otherwise called Churches, for the better accomplishing the fore-determined decrees and purposes of the Father; that is, that man might the better glorifie God, and be edified and made meet for glory.

Sixteenth.

It is the way and order of Christ that Believers actively constitute, imbody, or congregate themselves into Church. As∣semblies by a personal confession of Faith and Baptisme, answering the institution and order of Christ, their supreme Head and King.

Seaventeenth.

It is the order of Christ, and the liber∣ty and priviledge of Christian Congre∣gation so gathered, so constituted as a∣foresaid, to elect their Church-Officers, men approved for gifts and qualifications sutable to the rule of truth, as near as they can, and to ordain them into Office by a solemn ordination of fasting, prayer, and laying on of hands of the Eldership, for the better promoting of the interest of divine worship, and that order of govern∣ment that Christ hath left unto his Church upon Gospel-record, and for converting of the unconverted, and per∣fecting of the Saints in the Knowledge, Faith, and Obedience of Christ their King.

Eighteenth.

It is of divine requirement, and the Christian Churches duty to communicate unto the maintenance of their Minister in Office of their temporal concernments that ministereth to them in spirituals; for so hath the Lord ordained, that they that preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel; yet may a Pauls spirit make his ministry without charge for the Gospel-sake

without sin, if he can subsist without the Churches maintenance.

Nineteenth.

It is the duty of Christians from the ex∣ample of the primitive Apostolical Churches, to set apart, observe and so∣lemnize the first day of the week peculi∣arly, to assemble together, to worship the Father, to honour the Son, and to e∣difie one another in that holy order and divine rule of truth made known unto us by the Son, through the demonstrations of his Spirit in the Gospel, without adding or diminishing.

Humane inventions cast aside, For Christ in's Word hath them denyed.

Twentieth.

That prayer with thanksgiving unto the Father, in the name of the Son, by the assistance of the spirit, and reading, preaching, and hearing with due atten∣tion the doctrine of Gods word, and the due administration of the Ordinances of Baptisme, and of bread and wine in that order; and to those ends which answer Christs Institution, Pattern, or Example; as they are the essence and substantials of divine worship, so are they with actions

of mercy and charity, the proper work of a Sabbath, or a day set apart to the Lord, and are to be continued in practice by the Church, until the second appearing of Christ personally.

Twenty-first.

That the Baptizing of Believers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is a Divine Ordinance appointed as a visible token of Gods Covenant made in Christ unto Believers, appre∣hended only by an eye of faith, through a supernatural illumination, and is to be administred unto subjects upon their confession of Faith in Christ, wherein Christ not only gives a Believer visible admittance into communion with his Church as a Member; but also engageth to the Believer (walking in faith and o∣bedience to him) a performance of all the priviledges and benefits promised to his Church in him, as he is King, Priest, and Prophet thereunto.

And also the Believer by Baptisme, vi∣sibly testifieth to God, the Church, and the World, that he taketh Christ as his King, Priest, and Prophet; and thereby engageth with Christ to walk with him through his assistance in his holy order of

government and rule of truth, made known in his word to be his will, in op∣position to Sin, the World, and the Devil.

All persons have a right to the hearing of the Word Preacht, and are to be ad∣mitted by vertue of Christs Commission thereunto, whether Jews or Gentiles, Heathens, or Pagans, or whatsoever; but only Believers to Baptisme upon con∣fession of Faith, Act. 8.37.

Twenty-second.

The Ordinance of Bread and Wine in∣stituted by Christ, is to be observed by his Church, consisting of Baptized Belie∣vers, until his second coming, as a repre∣sentation of the body and blood of Christ, broken and shed for the remission of Sins, and of the Union-Believers in him there∣by; as also a representation of that com∣munion and fellowship Believers shall hereafter enjoy by vertue thereof; the which Ordinance, through a right appli∣cation by faith, proveth useful for the preservation and confirmation of the Faith, Hope, Joy, and comfort of Be∣lievers acting in the said Ordinance in o∣bedience to Christ their King.

Twenty-third.

It is the order of Christ, and the duty of Christians to reprove sin in their fel∣low-members upon the visible appearance of it; and to give in warnings and admo∣nitions for reformation, as they tender the glory of God, the honour of Christ, their own duty, and the promotion of truths interest, the life of holiness, and the present and future good of the said fellow-member found in transgression.

Twenty-fourth.

It is the will of Christ, and the duty of Christians, being justly reproved for sin, that they take it patiently, and apply it penitently, and improve it reformingly with respect unto the aforesaid ends, the glory of God, the honour of Christ, their own duty, truths interest, the life of ho∣liness, and the present and future good of their own souls.

Twenty-fifth.

It is a divine order, given forth by Christ as a Statute-Law unto his Church, that in cases of difference, arising between Church-members; and the said diffe∣rence cannot be composed by the parties

in difference, or by one or two more, that then the judgment and determination of the Church should stand for a composer of the same; and the parties in difference to be satisfied there-with, as they respect the glory of God, the dignity of Christ, the credit of the Church, and their union in the bond of peace.

Twenty-sixth.

It is the order of Christ, and the duty of his Church in obedience to him, as their supream Head and King, to put in exe∣cution the Ordinance of Excommunicati∣on against such Members that obstinately persist in wicked practices, or destructive erronious opinions, after private and publick reproofs, admonitions, and ex∣hortations given by the Church accor∣ding to the rule of Christs order; with a respect unto the dignity of Christ, and their duty to Christ, the purity of the Church, and the reformation of the per∣son found in transgression.

Twenty-seaventh.

As a Church-Member is by the order of Christ, and the Authority thereof given to his Church, justly excommunicated from communion with his Church in the

holy Ordinance of divine representations; so assuredly in the purpose and determi∣nations of God, he shall be excluded from the communion of Saints in glory, and be numbred among the Transgressors, ex∣cept timely Repentance.

Twenty-eighth.

These persons that enter themselves vi∣sible Church-Members by Baptisme, and walk in Church-communion in the use of all the external parts of divine worship, and under the dews of Gods free grace in Christ, in the doctrin of the Gospel; and have not Gods glory, and the mortifica∣cation of their sins; the subduing of their corrupt Lusts, and the sanctifying of their hearts with the qualifications of grace to be their principal ends; and in order to those ends, do not strive care∣fully to apply, and faithfully to improve the aforesaid means thereunto; such per∣sons are like to be as the man without the Wedding-garment, and his portion like to be their lot; for carnal ends, & an out∣side profession only establisheth in a man but the hope of the Hypocrite: but right ends often crowns the action with good success, although the action have many imperfections.

Twenty-nineth.

Those persons that in love to their cor∣rupt Lusts and the world, in the pride, pleasures and profits thereof, do care∣lesly slight the means of grace, and live in the neglect thereof; and those that ob∣stinately oppose the dignity of Christ in his Laws and Government, and subjects in the same; and those that wilfully re∣sist the motions and operations of the spi∣rit of grace, and work of sanctification until death, without Repentance, are doubtless of that number that God from Eternity, hath through their corruptions ordained or predestinated unto eternal Condemnation.

Thirtyeth.

The Office of Magistracy is an Ordi∣nance of God, wherein God doth im∣power and appoint him to be an Executi∣oner of his civil Laws of justice, to the ter∣rour of all vicious, prophane, and wicked persons that will not be bridled and kept within the bounds of civility, by the power of Gods word, nor light of nature; and also to countenance, maintain, and protect all civil persons within his juris∣diction, in their just rights and privi∣ledges:

And also, not only to observe Christs institutions and order of govern∣ment and worship, without adding too, or diminishing from the truth, as it is in Jesus; with respect to the dignity of Christ, as the only Law-giver, sole Head and Governour of his Church; but also to promote and propagate the interest of Christ, and his People in the true worship and order of Gospel-government, as a nursing Father, to countenance, preserve, and protect by his power those that en∣deavour to walk peaceable in the same; And herein he is the Minister of God to thee for good, Rom. 13.4, 5. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the Minister of God, a Revenger to execute Wrath upon him that doth evil: Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for Wrath, but also for Conscience-sake: And hence the Apostle exhorteth that prayers and supplications be made for all men, for Kings, and all that are in Authority, that we may lead a peaceable life in all God∣liness and Honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savi∣our: But if the Magistrate contrarily lay injunctions and impositions upon the Conscience of his Subjects, in the point of

divine worship, which the Voyce of Christ in the Gospel doth not own, either in matter, or manner of performance; so that it become inconsistent to the dignity of Christ, and the peace of a tender Con∣science; then may a soul, lawfully, with the Apostles & Christians of old, chuse rather to suffer the penalty, then to obey actively the command; & say with Peter and John, whether it be right to obey God or man, judge ye, Act. 4.19.

Thirty-one, Comprehending many.

The said Lord Jesus Christ shall once more appear per∣sonally in his Kingly power & glory, wherein the Father hath exalted him; the which power he shall then put in execution, to the dissolving of this world, & all the Prin∣cipalities and Powers there∣of, unto which power the graves shall be subject, to deliver up their dead accor∣ding to his will; the Saints in the first place with those his Saints then alive, all of them will he gather into one Assembly or Body in Com∣munion

with himself in their Immortal state; who with the Holy Angels, shall ac∣company him on the Throne of Majesty, and Seat of Justice, beholding, & giv∣ing their assent and consent unto the just proceedings of Christ, the Righteous Judg, in the execution of his Justice, against all the un∣godly, both Men and An∣gels, who shall then be cast into eternal flames of the fi∣ery Indignation and Wrath of the Almighty, as a just reward of their ungodly deeds.

But his Saints, shall be in the white Robes of his own Innocency, and Crown of Righteousness, present and deliver up unto the Father, as the effects of the Fathers Election in the Son, and as the fruits of the faithful la∣bours of the Son, unto the Fathers great and gracious acceptation of them unto his Kingdom in the state of

glory from Eternity, pur∣posed, appointed, and pro∣mised unto them through faith and sanctification; there to dwell as Kings, trium∣phing in glory over all their Enemies, fears, sufferings, and sorrows; and as Priests, offering up their sacrifices and songs of deliverance un∣to him that sitteth on the Throne, and unto the Lamb eternally.

Notes

• Believing and con∣forming to Christ is the pro∣duct of the spirit.
• The works of sancti∣fication or New Birth by the Spirit.
• Effects of Christs o∣bedience to the Law.
• The ef∣fects of Christs Priestly Office.
• Christs Victories are the Saints Triumph, but the Wickeds Woe.
• Christ the Saints Prophet in his ex∣altation.
• Christs Priest∣hood, a priviledg to his Saints for ever.
• Christ is in execu∣tion of his Kingly Office, whose Laws & Subjects are his Kingdom.
• 1 Cor. 9.11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Gal. 6. 6
• Act. 20.7.
• 1 Cor. 16.2
• Mat. 28.19. Mark. 16.15, 16.
• Gal. 2.27.
• Luk. 22.12, 20.
• 1 Cor. 11.24, 25, 26
• Lev. 19.17.
• Rom. 15.14.
• Heb. 3.3
• Psal. 141.5.
• Prov. 15.10.
• Mat. 18.16, 17.
• 1 Cor. 5.
• 1 Cor. 16.22.
• Mat. 18.18.
• Mat. 13.41.
• Rom 8.13.
• Rom. 13.
• Titus. 3.1.
• Christs visible appearance in his Kingly power.
• Mat. 16.27. Luk. 21.27. Mat. 24.30. 2 Pet. 3.10, 11.
• The general desolution.
• The Resur∣rection The Commu∣nion of Saints in Immortali∣ty attend Christ on the Throne with the Angels.
• Joh. 5.28, 29. 1 Thes. 4.16, 17. Jud. 14. Mat. 24.31. 1 Thes. 4.14.
• 1 Cor. 15.53. Mat. 19.28. 1 Cor. 6.2, 3. Joh. 5.27. Mat. 25.31, 32, 41, 46. Rom. 2.8, 9. Rev. 20.13, 14. Rev. 21.8. 2 Tim. 4.8 1 Pet. 5.4. 1 Cor. 15.24.
• The seat of Justice.
• The Condem∣nation of the Ungodly.
• The Saints Crown of Righteous∣ness.
• The Kingdom of Saints pre∣sented to the Father and ac∣cepted to glo∣ry.
• The Saints triumph in glory.
• The Saints sa∣crifice in their glorified state.