"the Truth, and commands of God." See Rom. iii. 4. Alfo read Peter and John's boldness. Acts iv. 19. and St. Paul's, Gal. i. 9. See also Article vi. ART. XXI. Of the Authority of General Councils. G 1 ENERAL Councils may not be gathered together without the Commandment and Will of Princes. And when they be gathered together (forafmuch as they be an Affembly of men, whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God), they may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God. Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation, have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they be taken out of the holy Scripture. General Councils may not be gathered together, without the com mandment of Princes, &c.] " Great is the power and authority *f of Kings and Princes by the Word of God. For as the de** fence of Religion is committed unto them: so must they " see that all men do their duties, either to the implanting of * the Truth where it is not, or the suppressing of fin and ido" latry, wherever it appears." Such Councils were held in the " time of the Mofaical government, by the command of the " most godly K. David, Solomon, Ezekiah, Jofiab, &c.” See 1 Chron. xiii, 1, 2. 1 Kings viii. 1. 2 Chron, xv. 9.xxx. 4. And fince the Gospel, it hath been received into most Kingdoms and Commonwealths by Christian Kings, Princes, and Emperors. And it follows that without the will of Kings or Princes, they cannot assemble Councils: but no general one was before that of Constantine the Great, who was born in this kingdom, by whose authority the Nicene Council was assembled, about 312 years after Chrift's Nativity. And the Council of Constantinople by Theodosius the Elder, as also the following ones, were by the authority of the Emperors. See Rom. xiii. 1. where where the Apostle exhorts, saying, Let every Soul be subject to the higher powers: For there is no power but of God, the powers that be, are ordained of God. Rom. xii. 11. 1 Pet. ii. 13. Whereof all men be not governed by the Spirit of God, they may err.] This has too often been the cafe. Bishops and Deacons, &c. are still but men, as well when they are in a Council, as when they are out of it, liable to weaknesses and impertections of human nature, so it is no wonder that they should err, and it is manifest they do, and have greatly erred, and that in things pertaining unto God and Christ. See John ix, 22.xii. 42, 47. Matt. xxvii. 63. Mark xiv. 53, 55. Acts iv. 5, 6, 18. Therefore, says Ignatius, If any man speak to you " without Jesus Christ, stop your ears against such councils." See Field on the Church, Jewel's Apol. Article 5 ART. XXII. Of Purgatory. THE Romish Doctrine concerning Purga tory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration as well of Images as of Reliques, and also Invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God. Concerning Purgatory, &c.] It is granted, as well by the Romith, the false Church, as by the true Church of God, that no unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God; and because all men either have been, or still are unclean, therefore they must be purged from fin. But in the manner of purging from fin, the Romanist and true Church widely differ, as is clearly to be proved from God's Word. The Romish Church say, it must be in purgatory that the souls of men must be thoroughly cleansed and fitted for heaven: held in the Council of Trent. And that this place of Purgatory is in a certain place in Hell; and that Prayers, Maffes, and Invocations must be continually offered for them. See their Manual of Prayers. E2 : The word of God says, that we, the true Church of Christ, must, and shall be cleansed from all our sins, before we depart this life; for Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might purify and cleanse it with the washing of water, by the word. Eph. v. 26. John xv. 3. Again it is faid, Ye are washed, ye are fanctified, ye are justified in the name of Jesus Christ; whose blood cleanseth us from all fin, both inward and outward. See Heb. ix. 14. John i. 7. I Cor. vi. 11. Again, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, (in the faith of Chrift) from henceforth: Yea, faith the Spirit, that they may rest from their Labour, Rev. xiv. 13. Here is not one word of Purgatory: That there is a narrow-way, and a broad-way; a place of happiness and of torment; See Matt. vii. 13, 14. and Luke xvi. 20. but no middle state. But all that believe in the name of Jesus Christ shall receive remission of fins, and shall never come into condemnation, neither here, nor hereafter. See Rom. viii. 1. x. II. John iii. 18. Acts iv. 12.-x 43. And Clement, of Alexandria, fays, " He who receives the " angel of repentance here, shall not repent when he leaves " this body; neither shall he be ashamed when he beholds his " Saviour coming in Glory, with all his heavenly hoft: nei"ther shall he be afraid of the fire of Hell; which is prepared " for the Devil and his Angels." And St. Cyprian says, "There is no confession in Hell: as the Tree falls so it will be. " Eccl. ix. 3." Stillingsteet's Idolatry of the Church of Rome. Of Pardons, or Indulgencies; Worshipping of Images, &c. " This doctrine concerning Pardons, &c. is a gross invention " of the Church of Rome, contrary to God's word; by which the " Pope raises immense sums of money, out of the fuperabun"dant merits of Christ, and the Saints; who bestows it on " whomsoever he pleases, and as much of these merits as he " thinks fits; for the remission of such punishments as remain " to be inflicted; and this is called Indulgence."* Archdeacon Welchman. And in the worshipping of Images they now would fain clear themselves from the charge of Idolatry, making a difference between an absolute and a relative worship. But God * It is incredible to think what an immense sum the Pope raises in the time of Lent, by allowing those, who can pay for it, to eat meat in that Seafon. faid, Thou shalt not make any graven Image, or the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath, to bow down thyself unto them. Exod. xx. 4, 5. Whence then comes the custom of paying adoration to the relics of the Saints? when they themselves, while on Earth, abhorred, and strictly forbad it. See Acts x. 25, 26. Acts xiv. 15. Yea, the Angel of God forbad St. John to worship him. Rev. xix. 10. Invocations of Saints, contrary to God's word. To conclude with St. James i. 6. "All invocation is vain where there is "no Faith; and since there can be no faith where there is no " word of God to support it, it follows that the invocation of " Saints must be a vain and wicked thing." There is but one mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus. I Tim. ii. 5. Who ever liveth to make intercession for his people. Heb. vii. 25. The Patriarchs of old, Abraham, Ifaac, Jacob, David, Daniel, and all the Prophets, as well as the Apostles and Primitive Fathers, and all holy Men, made their prayers unto God the Father, thro' Jesus Christ. See Pfal. 1. 15. Matt. vii. 11. Luke xi. 13. Gen. xxvi. 25.-xxxii. 9. Dan. ix. 16. Acts x. 2.-xvi. 25. Lord, grant us grace ever to do the fame, by their worthy examples. Amen. ART. XXIII. Of Ministering in the Congregation. I T is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of publick preaching, or miniftering the Sacraments in the Congregation, before he be lawfully called and fent to execute the fame. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and fent, which be chosen and called to this work by men who have publick authority given unto them in the congregation to call and send Ministers into the Lord's vineyard. It is not lawful for any Man, &c.] Publickly to preach, &c. but such as are authorised thereunto. This is clear from the Old Testament as well as from the New. The holy men of old old were both called, and commanded by God himself to preach the word, or they dared not do so: we read of Samuel, Jeremiah, Jonah, John Baptist, and Jesus Christ himself, who also sent out their disciples to preach Repentance and Remission of Sins, and to heal all manner of diseases. See John i. 6. -ΧΧ. 21. Matt. x. 5, 8. Luke ix. 1.-. 1. Lawfully called and chosen.] God hath ordained in his Church, faith Paul, fome Apostles, Some Prophets, some Pastors and Teachers, . 1 Cor. xii. 28. Eph. iv. 11. And these publickly to preach the Word before all men, as Chrift himself did. See Luke iv. 15. Acts iv. 1, 17. 1 Cor. ix. 16, 17. The Sacraments not to be administered but by men larufully called.] As Christ gave his Disciples and Apofties power to preach the Word, he also gave them authority to baptize and administer the Sacraments. Luke xxii. 19. 1 Cor. xi. 243 25. Acts ii. 28. So all the Ministers of the Word and Sacraments, are Ambassadors for Christ, and Ministers of God. 2 Cor. v. 20. vi. 4. The Apostles in their days ordained Bishops and Presbyters, and the Bishops from thenceforth ordained others to the ministry, to feed the Church of God, purchas'd by the blood of Christ. See Heb. v. 4. No man taketh this honour upon himself but he that is called of God, as was Aaron, to the Priest's office. For this cause (faith Paul to Titus) left 1 thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee. Tit. i. 5. And also to be careful to make special choice of wise, sober, and discreet men; Of gifts, able to divide the word of God aright, to the use of all edifying, &c. See Acts i. 23. xiv. 23. 1 Tim. iv. 14.-iii. 2. 1 Pet. v. 3. Tit. i. 7. This Article seems to have been levelled against those whom we call Lay Preachers; men who are not called and chosen to the ministry, by Ecclefiaftical authority. See Field on the Church. Bp. Lloyd of Church Government, &c, ART. XXIV. Of speaking in the Congregation in fuch a Tongue as the People understandeth. I Tis a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of to |