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religion-第10部分
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fulfill; And; He that shall break one of the least of these
Commandements; and shall teach men so; He shall be called least
in the Kingdome of Heaven。 CHRIST therefore had not a Royall; or
Soveraigne power committed to him from his Father in this world;
but consiliary; and doctrinall onely; which himselfe signifies;
as well then when he call his Apostles; not Hunters; but Fishers
of men; as when he compares the Kingdome of God to a graine of
mustard seed; and to a little Leaven hid in meale。
VII。 God promis'd unto Abraham first; a numerous seed; the
possession of the Land of Canaan; and a blessing upon all Nations
in his seed; on this Condition; that he; and his seed should
serve him; next unto the seed of Abraham according to the flesh;
a Priestly Kingdome; a Government most free; in which they were
to be Subject to no humane power; on this Condition; that they
should serve the God of Abraham on that fashion which Moyses
should teach。 Lastly; both to them; and to all Nations; a
heavenly; and eternall Kingdome; on Condition that they should
serve the God of Abraham; on that manner which Christ should
teach。 For by the new; that is to say; the Christian Covenant;
it's covenanted on mens part; to serve the God of Abraham; on
that manner which JESUS should teach: On Gods part; to pardon
their sinnes; and bring them into his caelestiall Kingdome。 We
have already spoken of the quality of the heavenly Kingdome above
in the 5。 Article; but it is usually call'd; sometimes the
Kingdome of Heaven; sometimes the Kingdome of Glory; sometimes
the life Eternall。 What's required on mens part; namely to serve
God as CHRIST should teach; containes two things; Obedience to be
performed to God; (for this is to serve God) and Faith in JESUS;
to wit; That we beleeve JESUS TO BE THAT CHRIST who was promis'd
by God: for that only is the cause why his Doctrine is to be
followed; rather then any others。 Now in holy Scriptures;
Repentance is often put in stead of Obedience; because Christ
teacheth every where; that with God the Will is taken for the
deed; but Repentance is an infallible sign of an obedient mind。
These things being understood; it will most evidently appear out
of many places of sacred Scripture; that those are the Conditions
of the Christian Covenant which we have nam'd; to wit; giving
remission of sins; and eternall life on Gods part; and Repenting;
and Beleeving in JESUS CHRIST; on Mens part。 First; the words;
The Kingdom of God is at hand。 Repent yee and beleeve the
Gospell; Mark 1。 15。 contain the whole Covenant: In like manner
those; Thus it is written; and thus it behoved Christ to suffer;
and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance; and
remission of sinnes should be preached in his Name among all
Nations; begining at Jerusalem; Luke 24。 vers。 46; 47。 And those;
Repent and be converted; that your sins may be blotted out; when
the times of refreshing shall come; &c。 Acts 3。 vers。 19。 And
sometimes one part is expresly propounded; and the other
understood; as here; He that beleeveth in the Sonne; hath
everlasting life; He that beleeveth not the Sonne; shall not see
life; but the wrath of God abideth on him; Iohn 3。 vers。 36;
Where Faith is exprest; Repentance not mentioned。 And in CHRISTS
preaching; Repent; for the Kingdome of heaven is at hand; Mat。 4。
17。 Where Repentance is exprest; Faith is understood。 But the
parts of this new Contract are most manifestly; and formally set
down there; where a certain Ruler bargaining as it were for the
Kingdom of God; asketh our Saviour; Good Waster; what shall I doe
to inherit eternall life; Luke 18。 v。 18。 But CHRIST first
propounds one part of the price; namely observation of the
Commandements; or obedience; which when he answered that he had
kept; he adjoynes the other; saying; Yet lackest thou one thing;
Sell all that thou hast; and distribute to the Poor; and thou
shalt have Treasure in Heaven; and come; follow me; v。 22。 This
was matter of Faith。 He therefore not giving sufficient credit to
CHRIST; and his heavenly Treasures; went away sorrowfull。 The
same Covenant is contained in these words: Hee that beleeveth;
and is baptized; shall be saved; he that beleeveth not; shall be
damned; Mark 16。 vers。 15; 16。 Where Faith is exprest; Repentance
is supposed in those that are baptized; and in these words;
Except a man be born again of water; and the Holy Ghost; he
cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven; Iohn 3。 vers。 5。 Where
to be born of water; is the same with regeneration; that is to
say; Conversion to CHRIST。 Now that Baptisme is required in the
two places cited just before; and in divers others; we must
understand; that what Circumcision was to the old Covenant; that
Baptisme is to the new: Seeing therefore; that was not of the
Essence; but served for a memoriall of the old Covenant; as a
Ceremony or signe (and was omitted in the wildernesse) in like
manner this also is used; not as pertaining to the Essence; but
in memory; and for a signe of the New Covenant which wee make
with God; and provided the will be not wanting; the Act through
necessity may be omitted; but Repentance and Faith; which are of
the Essence of the Covenant; are alwayes required。
VIII。 In the Kingdome of God after this life there will be
no; Lawes。 partly because there is no roome for Lawes; where
there is none for sinne; partly because Laws were given us from
God; not to direct us in Heaven; but unto Heaven。 Let us now
therefore enquire what Laws CHRIST (establisht not himselfe; for
he would not take upon him any Legislative authority; as hath
been declared above in the sixth Article; but) propounded to us
for his Fathers。 Wee have a place in Scripture; where he
contracts all the Lawes of God publisht till that time; into two
Preceps; Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart;
with all thy soul; and with all thy minde: this is the greatest;
and first Commandement。 And the second is like unto it: Thou
shalt love thy Neighbour as thy selfe。 On these two Commandements
hangs all the Law; and the Prophets; Mat。 22。 vers。 37; 38; 39;
40。 The first of these was given before by Moyses in the same
words; Deut。 6。 vers。 5。 And the second even before Moyses; for
it is the naturall Law; having its begining with rationall nature
it selfe。 And both together is the summe of all Lawes: for all
the Lawes of divine naturall worship; are contained in these
words; Thou shalt love God; and all the Lawes of divine worship
due by the old Covenant; in these words; Thou shalt love thy God;
that is to say; God as being the peculiar King of Abraham; and
his seed; and all the Lawes naturall; and civill; in these words;
Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy selfe。 For he that loves God
and his neighbour; hath a minde to obey all Lawes; both divine;
and humane。 But God requires no more then a minde to obey。 Wee
have another place; where CHRIST interprets the Lawes; namely;
the fifth; sixth; and seventh entire Chapters of Saint Matthewes
Gospell。 But all those Lawes are set down; either in the
Decalogue; or in the morall Law; or are contained in the faith of
Abraham; as that Law of not putting away a wife is contained in
the faith of Abraham: for that same; Two shall be one flesh; was
not delivered either by CHRIST first; or by Moyses; but by
Abraham; who first publisht the Creation of the world。 The Lawes
therefore which CHRIST contracts in one place; and explaines in
another; are no other then those to which all mortall men are
obliged; who acknowledge the God of Abraham。 Beside these; we
read not of any Law given by CHRIST; beside the institution of
the Sacraments of Baptisme; and the Eucharist。
IX。 What may be said then of these kinde of Precepts: Repent;
Be Baptized; Keep the Commandements; Beleeve the Gospell; Come
unto me; Sell all that thou hast; give to the Poor; follow me;
and the like? We must say that they are not Lawes; but a calling
of us to the faith; such as is that of Isa。 Come; buy wine; and
milk without monie; and without Price; Isai 55。 vers。 1。 Neither
if they come not; doe they therefore sinne against any Law; but
against prudence onely; neither shall their infidelity be
punisht; but their former sinnes。 Wherefore Saint John saith of
the unbeleever; The wrath of God abideth on him; he saith not;
The wrath of God shall come upon him; And; He that beleeveth not;
is already judged; he saith not; shall be judged; but is already
judged。 Nay it cannot be well conceived; that remission of sinnes
should be a benefit arising from faith; unlesse we understand
also on the other side; that the punishment of sinnes is an hurt
proceeding from infidelity。
X。 From hence; that our Saviour hath prescribed no
distributive Lawes; to the Subjects of Princes; and Citizens of
Cities; that is to say; hath given no rules whereby a Subject may
know; and discerne what is his owne; what another mans; not by
what forms; words; or circumstances; a thing must be given;
delivered; invaded; possest; that it may be known by Right to
belong to the Receiver; Invader; or Possessour; we must
necessarily understand that each single subject (not only with
unbeleevers; among whom CHRIST himselfe denyed himselfe to be a
judge and distributer; but even with Christians) must take those
rules from his City; that is to say; from that Man; or Councell;
which hath the supreme power It。 followes therefore; that by
those Lawes; Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt not commit adultery;
Thou shalt not steale; Honour thy Father and Mother; nothing else
was commanded; but that Subjects; and Citizens; should absolutely
obey their Princes in all questions concerning Meum & Tuum; their
own and others Right。 For by that Precept; Thou shalt not kill;
all slaughter is not prohibited; for he that said; Thou shalt not
kill; said also; Whosoever doth work uPon the Sabbath; shall be
put to death; Exod 35。 vers。 2。 No; nor yet all slaughter the
cause not being heard; for he said; Slay every man his Brother;
and every man his Companion; and every man his Neighbour; Exo。
32。 v。 27。 And there fell of the People about three thousand men;
v。 28。 Nor yet all slaughter of an innocent Person; for Iephte
vowed; W
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