Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/biblefre/topics03/t05650

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 Chapter 21 - Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

  1) The light of nature shows that there is a God who has lordship
     and sovereignty over all; is good, and does good to all; and is
     therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in,
     and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with
     all the might.

         # Ro 1:20 Ac 17:24 Ps 119:68 Jer 10:7 Ps 31:23 18:3
         # Ro 10:12 Ps 62:8 Jos 24:14 Mr 12:33

     but the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted
     by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may
     not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of
     men, of the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation,
     or any other way not prescribed in the holy Scripture.

         # De 12:32 Mt 15:9 Ac 17:25 Mt 4:9,10 De 15:1-20 Ex 20:4
         # Ex 20:5,6 Col 2:23
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 Chapter 21 - Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

  2) Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and
     Holy Spirit; and to him alone:

         # Mt 4:10 Joh 5:23 2Co 13:14

     not to angels, saints, or any other creature:

         # Col 2:18 Re 19:10 Ro 1:25

     and since the fall, not without a Mediator; not in the mediation
     of any other but Christ alone.

         # Joh 14:6 1Ti 2:5 Eph 2:18 Col 3:17
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 Chapter 21 - Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

  3) Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious
     worship,

         # Php 4:6

     is by God required of all men;

         # Ps 65:2

     and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the
     Son,

         # Joh 14:13,14 1Pe 2:5

     by the help of his Spirit,

         # Ro 8:26

     according to his will

         # 1Jo 5:14

     with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love,
     and perseverance;

         # Ps 47:7 Ec 5:1,2 Heb 12:28 Ge 18:27 Jas 5:16 1:6,7
         # Mr 11:24 Mt 6:12,14,15 Col 4:2 Eph 6:18

     and, if vocal, in a known language.

         # 1Co 14:14
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 Chapter 21 - Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

  4) Prayer is to be made for things lawful,

         # 1Jo 5:14

     and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter;

         # 1Ti 2:1,2 Joh 17:20 2Sa 7:29 Ru 4:12

     but not for the dead,

         # 2Sa 12:21,22,23 Lu 16:25,26 Re 14:13

     nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the
     sin to death.

         # 1Jo 5:16
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 Chapter 21 - Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

  5) The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear;

         # Ac 15:21 Re 1:3

     the sound preaching,

         # 2Ti 4:2

     and conscious hearing of the word, in obedience to God, with
     understanding, faith, and reverence;

         # Jas 1:22 Ac 10:33 Mt 13:19 Heb 4:2 Isa 66:2

     singing of psalms with grace in the heart;

         # Col 3:16 Eph 5:19 Jas 5:13

     as also the due administration and worthy receiving of the
     ordinances instituted by Christ; are all parts of the ordinary
     religious worship of God:

         # Mt 28:19 1Co 11:23-29 Ac 2:42

     besides religious oaths

         # De 6:13 Ne 10:29

     and vows,

         # Isa 19:21 Ec 5:4,5

     solemn fastings,

         # Joe 2:12 Es 4:16 Mt 9:15 1Co 7:5

     and thanksgivings upon special occasions,

         # Ps 107:1-43 Es 9:22

     which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in a
     holy and religious manner.

         # Heb 12:28
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 Chapter 21 - Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

  6) Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is, now
     under the gospel, either tied into, or made more acceptable by,
     any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed;

         # Joh 4:21

     but God is to be worshipped everywhere

         # Mal 1:11 1Ti 2:8

     in spirit and truth;

         # Joh 4:23,24

     as in private families

         # Jer 10:25 De 6:6,7 Job 1:5 2Sa 6:18,20 1Pe 3:7 Ac 10:2

     daily,

         # Mt 6:11

     and in secret each one by himself;

         # Mt 6:6 Eph 6:18

     so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not
     carelessly or wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God, by
     his word or providence, calls to it.

         # Isa 56:6,7 Heb 10:25 Pr 1:20,21,24
         # Pr 8:34 Ac 13:42 Lu 4:16 Ac 2:42
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 Chapter 21 - Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

  7) As it is of the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion
     of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in his word, by
     a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men in
     all ages, he has particularly appointed one day in seven for a
     sabbath, to be kept holy to him:

         # Ex 20:8,10,11 Isa 56:2,4,6,7

     which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of
     Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection
     of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week,

         # Ge 2:2,3 1Co 16:1,2 Ac 20:7

     which in Scripture is called the Lord's Day,

         # Re 1:10

     and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian
     Sabbath.

         # Ex 20:8,10 Mt 5:17,18
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 Chapter 21 - Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

  8) This sabbath is then kept holy to the Lord, when men, after a due
     preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their hearts, and
     ordering of their common affairs before hand, do not only observe
     an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and
     thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations;

         # Ex 20:8 16:23,25,26,29,30 31:15,16,17 Isa 58:13 Ne 13:15,16
         # Ne 13:17-22

     but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private
     exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.

         # Isa 58:13 Mt 12:1-13
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 Chapter 22 - Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

  1) A lawful oath is part of religious worship,

         # De 10:20

     wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calls
     God to witness what he asserts or promises; and to judge him
     according to the truth or falsehood of what he swears.

         # Ex 20:7 Le 19:12 2Co 1:23 2Ch 6:22,23
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 Chapter 22 - Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

  2) The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear, and it
     is to be used with all holy fear and reverence;

         # De 6:13

     therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful
     name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be
     abhorred.

         # Ex 20:7 Jer 5:7 Mt 5:34,37 Jas 5:12

     Yet as, in matters of weight and moment, an oath is warranted by
     the word of God under the New Testament, as well as under the Old;

         # Heb 6:16 2Co 1:23 Isa 65:16

     so a lawful oath, being imposed by lawful authority, in such
     matters, ought to be taken.

         # 1Ki 8:31 Ne 13:25 Ezr 10:5
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 Chapter 22 - Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

  3) Whoever takes an oath, ought duly to consider the weightiness of
     so solemn an act, and in it to avouch nothing but what he is
     fully persuaded is the truth.

         # Ex 20:7 Jer 4:2

     Neither may any man bind himself by oath to anything but what is
     good and just, and what he believes so to be, and what he is able
     and resolved to perform.

         # Ge 24:2,3,5,6,8,9

     Yet it is a sin to refuse an oath touching anything that is good
     and just, being imposed by lawful authority.

         # Nu 5:19,21 Ne 5:12 Ex 22:7,8,9,10,11
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 Chapter 22 - Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

  4) An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the
     words, without equivocation or mental reservation.

         # Jer 4:2 Ps 24:4

     It cannot oblige to sin; but in any thing not sinful, being
     taken, it binds to performance, although to a man's own hurt;

         # 1Sa 25:22,32,33,34 Ps 15:4

     nor is it to be violated, although made to heretics or infidels.

         # Eze 17:16,18,19 Jos 9:18,19 2Sa 21:1
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 Chapter 22 - Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

  5) A vow is of the like nature with a promissory oath, and ought to
     be made with the like religious care, and to be performed with
     the like faithfulness.

         # Isa 19:21 Ec 5:4-6 Ps 61:8 66:13,14
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 Chapter 22 - Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

  6) It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone:

         # Ps 76:11 Jer 44:25,26

     and that it may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out
     of faith, and conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for
     mercy received, or for the obtaining of what we want; whereby we
     more strictly bind ourselves to necessary duties, or to other
     things, so far and so long as they may fitly lead to it.

         # De 23:21-23 Ps 50:14 Ge 28:20-22 1Sa 1:11 Ps 66:13,14
         # Ps 132:2-5
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 Chapter 22 - Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

  7) No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the word of God, or
     what would hinder any duty commanded in it, or which is not in
     his power, and for the performance of which he has no promise of
     ability from God.

         # Ac 23:12,14 Mr 6:26 Nu 30:5,8,12,13

     In which respects, monastic vows of perpetual single life,
     professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being
     degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and
     sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.

         # 1Ti 4:3 Mt 19:11,12 1Co 7:2,9 Eph 4:28 1Pe 4:2 1Co 7:23
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 Chapter 23 - Of the Civil Magistrate

  1) God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, has ordained
     civil magistrates to be under him over the people, for his own
     glory, and the public good; and to this end, has armed them with
     the power of the sword, for the defence and encouragement of them
     that are good, and for the punishment of evil doers.

         # Ro 13:1-4 1Pe 2:13,14
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 Chapter 23 - Of the Civil Magistrate

  2) It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a
     magistrate, when called to it:

         # Pr 8:15,16 Ro 13:1,2,4

     in the managing of it, as they ought especially to maintain
     piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of
     each commonwealth;

         # Ps 2:10-12 1Ti 2:2 Ps 82:3,4 2Sa 23:3 1Pe 2:13

     so, for that end, they may lawfully, now under the New Testament,
     wage war upon just and necessary occasions.

         # Lu 3:14 Ro 13:4 Mt 8:9,10 Ac 10:1,2 Re 17:14,16
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 Chapter 23 - Of the Civil Magistrate

  3) The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration
     of the word and ordinances, or the power of the keys of the
     kingdom of heaven.

         # 2Ch 26:18 Mt 18:17 16:19 1Co 12:28,29
         # Eph 4:11,12 1Co 4:1,2 Ro 10:15 Heb 5:4
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 Chapter 23 - Of the Civil Magistrate

  4) It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates,

         # 1Ti 2:1,2

     to honour their persons,

         # 1Pe 2:17

     to pay them tribute and other dues,

         # Ro 13:6,7

     to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their
     authority for conscience' sake.

         # Ro 13:5 Tit 3:1

     Infidelity, or difference in religion, does not make void the
     magistrate's just and legal authority, nor free the people from
     their due obedience to him:

         # 1Pe 2:13,14,16

     from which ecclesiastic persons are not exempted.

         # Ro 13:1 1Ki 2:35 Ac 25:9,10,11 2Pe 2:1,10,11 Jude 1:8-11
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 Chapter 24 - Of Marriage

  1) Marriage is to be between one man and one woman: neither is it
     lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor any woman to
     have more than one husband, at the same time.

         # Ge 2:24 Mt 19:5,6 Pr 2:17
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 Chapter 24 - Of Marriage

  2) Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife;

         # Ge 2:18

     for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the
     church with an holy seed;

         # Mal 2:15

     and for preventing of uncleanness.

         # 1Co 7:2,9
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 Chapter 24 - Of Marriage

  3) It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry who are able with
     judgment to give their consent:

         # Heb 13:4 1Ti 4:3 1Co 7:36-38 Ge 24:57,58

     yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord.

         # 1Co 7:39

     And therefore such as profess the true Christian religion should
     not marry with infidels, unbelievers or other idolaters: neither
     should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with
     such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain
     damnable heresies.

         # Ge 34:14 Ex 34:16 De 7:3,4 1Ki 11:4 Ne 13:25-27
         # Mal 2:11,12 2Co 6:14
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 Chapter 24 - Of Marriage

  4) Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or
     affinity forbidden in the word;

         # Le 18:1-30 1Co 5:1 Am 2:7

     nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law
     of man, or consent of parties, so as those person may live
     together as man and wife.

         # Mr 6:18 Le 18:24-28

     The man may not marry any of his wife's kindred nearer in blood
     than he may of his own, nor the woman of her own.

         # Le 20:19-21
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 Chapter 25 - Of the Church

  1) The church consists of the whole number of the elect that have
     been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ its head;
     and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of him that fills all
     in all.

         # Eph 1:10,22,23 5:23,27,32 Col 1:18
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 Chapter 25 - Of the Church

  2) The visible church under the gospel, is not confined to one
     nation, as before under the law, and consists of all those
     throughout the world that profess the true religion,

         # 1Co 1:2 12:12,13 Ps 2:8 Re 7:9 Ro 15:9-12

     and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,

         # Mt 13:47 Isa 9:7

     the house and family of God,

         # Eph 2:19 3:15

     out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.

         # Ac 2:47
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 Chapter 25 - Of the Church

  3) To this visible church Christ has given the ministry, oracles,
     and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the
     saints in this life, to the end of the world; and does by his own
     presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make them
     effectual to it.

         # 1Co 12:28 Eph 4:11-13 Mt 28:19-20 Isa 59:21
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 Chapter 25 - Of the Church

  4) This church has been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.

         # Ro 11:3,4 Re 12:6,14

     And particular churches, which are its members, are more or less
     pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and
     embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed
     more or less purely in them.

         # Re 2:1-3:22 1Co 5:6,7
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 Chapter 25 - Of the Church

  5) The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and
     error;

         # 1Co 13:12 Re 2:1-3:22 Mt 13:24-30,47

     and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ,
     but synagogues of Satan.

         # Re 18:2 Ro 11:18-22

     Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth to worship
     God according to his will.

         # Mt 16:18 Ps 72:17 102:28 Mt 28:19,20
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 Chapter 25 - Of the Church

  6) There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ:

         # Col 1:18 Eph 1:22

     nor can any man in any sense be its head.

         # Mt 23:8-10
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 Chapter 26 - Of Communion of Saints

  1) All saints that are united to Jesus Christ their head by his
     Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with him in his graces,
     sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory.

         # 1Jo 1:3 Eph 3:16-19 Joh 1:16 Eph 2:5,6 Php 3:10 Ro 6:5,6
         # 2Ti 2:12

     And being united to one another in love, they have communion in
     each other's gifts and graces;

         # Eph 4:15,16 1Co 12:7 3:21,22,23 Col 2:19

     and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and
     private, as do lead to their mutual good, both in the inward and
     outward man.

         1Th 5.11,14 Rom 1.11,12,14 1Jno 3.16,17,18 Gal 6.10
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 Chapter 26 - Of Communion of Saints

  2) Saints, by profession, are bound to maintain an holy fellowship
     and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other
     spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification;

         # Heb 10:24,25 Ac 2:42,46 Isa 2:3 1Co 11:10

     as also in relieving each other in outward things, according to
     their various abilities and necessities.  Which communion, as God
     offers opportunity, is to be extended to all those who in every
     place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.

         # Ac 2:44-45 1Jo 3:17 2Co 8:1-9:15 Ac 11:29,30
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 Chapter 26 - Of Communion of Saints

  3) This communion which the saints have with Christ does not make
     them in any wise partakers of the substance of his Godhead, or to
     be equal with Christ in any respect: either of which to affirm is
     impious and blasphemous.

         # Col 1:18,19 1Co 8:6 Isa 42:8 1Ti 6:15,16 Ps 45:7 Heb 1:8,9

     Nor does their communion one with another, as saints, take away
     or infringe the title or property which each man has in his goods
     and possessions.

         # Ex 20:15 Eph 4:28 Ac 5:4
05683
 Chapter 27 - Of the Ordinances

  1) Ordinances are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace,

         # Ro 4:11 Ge 17:7,10

     immediately instituted by God,

         # Mt 28:19 1Co 11:23

     to represent Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest
     in him;

         # 1Co 10:16 1Co 11:25,26 Ga 3:27,17

     as also to put a visible difference between those that belong to
     the church and the rest of the world;

         # Ro 15:8 Ex 12:48 Ge 34:14

     and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ,
     according to his word.

         # Ro 6:3,4 1Co 10:16,21
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 Chapter 27 - Of the Ordinances

  2) The grace which is exhibited in or by the ordinances, rightly
     used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither does the
     efficacy of an ordinance depend upon the piety or intention of
     him that administers it,

         # Ro 2:29,29 1Pe 3:21

     but upon the work of the Spirit,

         # Mt 3:11 1Co 12:13

     and the word of institution; which contains, together with a
     precept authorising its use, a promise of benefit to worthy
     receivers.

         # Mt 26:27,28 28:19,20
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 Chapter 27 - Of the Ordinances

  3) There are only two ordinances ordained by Christ our Lord in the
     gospel, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord;
     to be administered by those only, who are qualified and called to
     it according to the commission of Christ.

         # Mt 28:19 1Co 11:20,23 1Co 4:1
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