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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 th