secuting others, that they ought to pray for their persecutors? Is this Christ's command?

A. But I say unto you, love your enemies; bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you. Mat. 5. 44.

Q. Was this Christ's own practice?

A. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do, &c. Luke 23, 34.

Q. Is Christ herein to be our example?

A. For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself unto him that judgeth righteously. 1 Pet. 2. 21, 22, 23.

Q. Is there an instance of any saint in scripture who followed his example herein?

A. And he kneeled down, and cried, with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge, &c. Acts 7. 60.

Q. It appears by all these scriptures, that Christianity consisteth in the exercise of fear and trembling, humility, patience and self-denial: What ought we then to think of such who place much of their religion in abstaining from marriage, and certain meats; worshipping of angels, and other such acts of voluntary humility?

A. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared as with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 1 Tim. 4. 1, 2, 3.

Let no man beguile you of your reward, in a voluntary humility, and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. Col. 2. 18.

CHAPTER XIII.

Concerning Magistracy.

Q. What is the duty of a magistrate?

A. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me: He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 2 Sam. 23. 3.

Q. What do the scriptures speak of the duty of such as are under authority?

A. 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. Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God; and they that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same; for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Rom. 13. 1 to 5.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. 1 Pet. 2. 13 to 15.

Q. Ought tribute to be paid to them?

A. For, for this cause pay ye tribute also; for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. Rom. 13. 6, 7.

Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's. Mat. 22. 21.

Q. Are we obliged to obey magistrates in such things as we are persuaded in our minds are contrary to the commands of Christ?

A. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Acts 4. 18 to 20.

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council; and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you, that ye should not teach in this name? and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 27, 28, 29.

us.

Acts 5.

Q. What ought to be magistrates' behaviour in such cases, according to the counsel of wise Gamaliel ?

A. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space, and said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, what ye intend to do, as touching these men. And now I say unto you, refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel, or this work, be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. Acts 5. 34, 35, 38, 39.

Q. What command giveth Christ to his people under the gospel, in relation to this matter? how doth he hold forth their duty under the parable of the tares?

A. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? but he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Mat. 13. 27, 28, 29.

Q. Doth he explain these tares, of the wicked, whom the godly must not take upon them to cut off, lest through

mistake they hurt the good; but leave it to God, to do it by his angels?

A. The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one: the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burnt in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity. Mat. 13. 38 to 41.

CHAPTER XIV.

Concerning the Resurrection.

Q. What saith the scripture of the resurrection of the dead?

A. And have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Acts 24. 15.

Q. To what different end shall the good be raised from the bad, and how are they thereunto reserved?

A. Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5, 28, 29.

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire, against the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men.

2 Pet. 3. 7.

Q. What must be answered to such as ask, how the dead are raised, and with what body? A. Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die. And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain. But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of

fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies. terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 1 Cor. 15. 36 to 44.

Q. The apostle seems to be very positive, that it is not that natural body, which we now have, that shall rise; but a spiritual body.

A. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption; and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory; O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory? Cor. 15. 50 to 55.

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