True Gospel Faith (1654)

First, I believe there is but one God. But to us there is but one God, who is eternal, invisible, the only wise God. Great and marvelous are thy works Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways. The Lord is good to all, who is present in all places, knows all things. The eye of the Lord is present in every place beholding the evil and the good. Known to the Lord are all his works from the beginning of the world. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray him. Who made Heaven, Earth, the Seas and all that is in them. God made the world and all things therein. And made man upright. This only have I found that God made man upright and gave him power to rule over all creatures on the earth. The fear and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth; giving him a good law to keep. But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shall not eat; telling him he should die if he kept it not. In the day that thou eat thereof thou shall surely die.

Secondly, that man broke that law and brought death upon himself and all his posterity. Wherefore as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin, and so death passed on all men, for that all have sinned.

Thirdly, that no man can redeem himself from this death. None of them can by any means redeem his brother, or give God a ransom for him. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves.

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. For God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten son, etc. God sent forth his son made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them under the law. That he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. That by means of death for the redemption of the transgressors that were under the first Testament.

That he did do the will of his Father, in laying down his life for all sinners. And being found in the fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, who gave himself a ransom for all.

That he rose again from the dead the third day, and was seen bodily by his Disciples.

That he ascended bodily into Heaven.

That he is now a Priest, a Prophet and a King.

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 Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven.

That all ought to believe the things declared by the Spirit.

That they that believe the things so preached ought to be dipped in water. 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?

That God gives his Spirit to believers dipped through the prayer of faith and laying on of hands.

That every believer dipped is to be joined with believers dipped, which is the Church of Christ.

That this company of believers dipped are subject to afflictions.

That every one of them ought to be holy in life and conversation.

That they ought to meet together to break bread.

That they ought to be frequent in prayer.

That they ought to be obedient to the Magistrates in all things that are right.

That they ought to relieve the poor, that none want among them, except all want, they being diligent in their callings.

That it is the duty of every one to tell his brother of his sin, seeing him to offend.

That they ought to cast out from among themselves all that walk disorderly, after admonition, they remaining obstinate.

That they have power to choose Messengers, Pastors, and Teachers from among themselves.

That they are to be chosen by fasting and prayer, with the laying on of hands.

That the church is to assist them in the work they appoint them to do, with things needful.

That every member ought to exercise his gift for the benefit of others.

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.

That Christ shall come personally to raise the just and unjust from the dead.

That he shall judge every one according to his work.

Whosoever believes and is dipped, and abides in the Commandments of God to the end, shall be saved.

That whosoever believes not and walks 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.

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