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The True Gospel-Faith Declared According to the Scriptures, 1654
I.
First, I believe there is but one God, I Cor. 8.6 But to us there is but one God. See 2 Kings 19.15 Mark 12.42, who is eternal, invisible, the onely wise God etc. Rev. 15.3 Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways. Psalm 145.9. The Lord is good to all, who is present in every place beholding the evil and the good, Acts 15.18. Known to the Lord are all his works from the beginning of the world. Iohn 6. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray him. See also Heb. 4.13. Who made Heaven, Earth, the Seas and all that is in them, Acts 17.14. God made the world and all things therein. See Rev. 14.7 Ionah 1.9 Iohn 1.3 Col. 1.15,16. And made man upright, Eccles. 7.29. This onely have I found that God made man upright and gave him power eo rule over all creatures on the earth, Gen. 9.2. The fear and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth; giving him a good law to keep Gen. 2.17. But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat; telling him he should die if he kept it not, Gen. 2.17. In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
II.
Secondly, that man broke that law and brought death upon himself and all his posteritie, Rom. 5.12. Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so by death passed on all men, for that all have sinned.
III.
Thirdly, that no man can redeem himself from this death, Psalm 47.7. None of them can by any means redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him, Ephes. 2.6. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves.
IV.
That God out of his love sent his son into the world to be born of a woman, to die for the sins of all men under the first Covenant, Iohn 3.16. For God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten son etc. Ga. 4.4. God sent forth his son made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them under the law, Heb. 2.9. That he by the grace of God should taste death for every man, Heb. 9.15. That by means of death for the redemption of the transgressors, that were under the first Testament.
V.
That he did do the will of his Father, in laying down his life for all sinners, Phil. 2.8. And being found in the fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross I Tim. 2.6, who gave himself a ransom for all.
VI.
That he rose again from the dead the third day, and was seen bodily by his Disciples, Luke 24.67; Luke 29.39.
VII.
That he ascended bodily into Heaven, Acts 1.9; Eph. 4.10.
VIII.
That he is now a Priest, a Prophet and a King, Heb. 4.24; Act 3.22; Rev. 19.16.
IX.
That he hath given down the Holy Spirit to his Servants, that they might make known to all Nations the things that concern the Name of Iesus and the Kingdom of Heaven Acts 2.4; 2 Cor. 3.6; Acts 28.31.
X.
That all ought to believe the things declared by the Spirit Acts 17.30; Rom 16.26.
XI.
That they that believe the things so preached ought to be dipped in water, Acts 10.47. Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized (which in English is Dipped) which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? Acts 10.43; Acts 2.41; Acts 8.12.
XII.
That God gives his Spirit to believers dipped through the prayer of faith and laying on of hands, Acts 8.15; Acts 8.17; Acts 5.32; Ephes. 1.13,14.
XIII.
That God gave his Spirit to believers dipped through the prayer of faith and laying on of hands, Acts 8.15; Acts 8.17; Acts 5.32; Ephes. 1.13,14.
XIV.
That every believer dipped is to be joyned with believers dipped which is the Church of Christ, Acts 2.41; I Cor. 12.13; I Pet. 2.5; Acts 2.42.
XV.
That this company of believers dipped are subject to afflictions, 2 Tim. 3.12; John 6.33.
XVI.
That everyone of them ought to be holy in life and conversation, 2 Cor. 7.1; I Pet. 1.15
XVII.
That they ought to meet together to break bread, Acts 20.7; Lk. 2.19.
XVIII.
That they ought to be frequent in prayer, Rom. 12.12; Ephes. 1.18; Luke 18.1:21,36.
XIX.
That they ought to obedient to the Magistrates in all things that are right, Rom.13.1; I Pet. 2.13,14.
XX.
That they ought to relieve the poor, that none want amongst them, except all want, they being diligent in their callings, Rom.12.13; Luke 3.11.
XI.
That it is the dutie of every one to tell his brother of his sin, seeing him to offend, Matt. 18.15; Lev. 19.17.
XII.
That they ought to cast out from among themselves all that walk disorderly, after admonition, they remaining obstinat, I Cor. 5.11; I Cor. 5.13; Titus 3.10.
XIII.
That they have power to chuse Messengers, Pastors, and Teachers from among themselves, Acts 1.21,22; Acts 1.26; Titus 1.5; Acts 6.3.
XIV.
That they are to be chosen by fasting and prayer, with the laying on of hands, Acts 13.3; Acts 6.6.
XV.
That the church is to assist them in the work they appoin them to do, with things needful, I Cor. 9.14; Rom.15.27; Gal. 6.6.
XVI.
That every membe rought to exercise his gift for the benefit of others, Matth.25.27; I Pet.4.10.
XVII.
That all ought to avoid the hearing of any Teachers so as to learn of them, except believers dipped, and making of marriages with any out of the Church lest they be drawn from the truth. 2 Jno.10 v..; I Iohn 4.6; I Cor.7.39; Deut.7.3,4; 2 Cor.6.14,15.
XVIII.
That Christ shall come personally to raise the just and unjust from the dead, Acts 1.11; Heb.929; I Cor.15.22.
XXIX.
That he shall judg every one according to his work 2 Cor.5.10; Rom.2.6.
XXX.
Whosoever believeth and is dipped, and abideth in the Commandments of God to the end, shall be saved, Mark 16.16; Matth. 24.13; Rev. 22.14.
XXXI.
That whosoever believeth not and walketh not in the Commandments of God to the end, shall be forever cast out from the presence of God into everlasting punishment, which is the second death, Iohn 3.36; Matth.25.30; Matth.25.31; Rev. 21.8.
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