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become the Sons of God, John 1. 12. and are incorporated into his myftical Body, that he may dwell in us as his Temple, and we dwell in him as in the Refidence of Righteousness and Life; So our abiding in Christ importeth other Three Things; 1. An employing of Chrift in all our Addreffes to God, and in all our Undertakings of whatfoever Piece of Service to him. 2. A Contentedness with his Sufficiency, without going out from him to feek Righteousness, or Life, or Furniture in any Cafe, in our own, or any of the Creatures Worthiness. 3. A Fixedness in our Believing in him, a Fixedness in our Employing and making Ufe of him, and a Fixedness in our Contentment in him, and adhering to him; fo that no Allurement, no Temptation of Satan or the World, no Terror nor Trouble may be able to drive our Spirits from firm Adherence unto him, or from the conftant avowing of his Truth, and obeying his Commands, who hath loved us, and given himself for us : And in whom not only our Life is laid up, but also the Fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily, by reafon of the fubftantial and perfonal Union of the Divine and Human Nature in him.

Hence let every watchful Believer, for firengthening himself in Faith and Obedience, reafon after this Manner.

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7Hosoever doth daily employ Christ Jefus, for cleanfing his Confcience and Affections from the Guiltinefs and Filthinefs of Sins against the Law, and 'for enabling him to give Obedience to the Law in Love, he hath the Evidence of true Faith in himself,

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But 1 (may every watchful Believer fay) do daily employ Jefus Chrift for cleaning my Confcience and 'Affections from the Guiltinefs and Filthinefs of Sins against the Law, and for enabling of me to give Obedi" ence to the Law in Love.

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'Therefore I have the Evidence of true Faith in myself.' And hence alfo let the fleepy and fluggish Believer reafon, for his own Up-ftirring, thus:

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'Whatsoever is necessary for giving Evidence of true Faith, I must study to do it, except I would deceive myself and perish.

But, to employ Chrift Jefus daily for cleaning of 'my Confcience and Affections from the Guiltinefs and Filthiness of Sins against the Law, and for enabling of 'me to give Obedience to the Law in Love, is necessary 'for evidencing of true Faith in me.

Therefore this I must study to do, except I would deceive myself and perish.'

And, Laftly, Seeing Chrift himself hath pointed this forth, as an undoubted Evidence of a Man elected of God unto Life, and given to Jefus Chrift to be redeemed, If he come unto him, that is, clofe Covenant and keep Communion with him, as he teacheth us, John 6, 37. faying, All that the Father hath given me, fhall come to me and him that cometh unto me I will in nowife caft out: Let every Perfon, who doth not in Earneft make Ufe of Chrift for Remiffion of Sin and Amendment of Life, reafon hence, and from the whole Premiffes, after this Manner, that his Confcience

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Whofoever is neither by the Law nor by the Gospel 'fo convinced of Sin, Righteoufnefs and Judgment, as 'to make him come to Chrift, and employ him daily for Remiffion of Sin and Amendment of Life; he ⚫ wanteth not only all Evidence of faving Faith, but also all Appearance of his Election, fo long as he re'maineth in this Condition.

But I (may every impenitent Perfon fay) am neither by the Law nor Gospel fo convinced of Sin, Righ⚫teousness and Judgment, as to make me come to Christ, and employ him daily for Remiffion of Sin and Amendment of Life.

'Therefore I want not only all Evidence of faving Faith, but alfo all Appearance of my Election, fo long as I remain in this Condition,',

A

DIRECTORY

FOR

Church Government, Church Cenfures, and Ordination of Minifters.

Agreed upon

By the Affembly of Divines at Westminster,

WITH

The Affiftance of Commiffioners from the Church of Scotland;

AND

Appointed by the General Affembly at Edinburgh, 1647, to be printed; and examined by the fe veral Prefbyteries against the next General Affembly.

Printed in the Year 1754.

NOTA, A Church-Government and Ordination, be ordination,

Lbeit the following Directory, anent

for Subftance contained in the Propofitions thereof above infert, Page 113 to 125; and ratified by Civil and Ecclefiaftical Authority, Anno 1645; yet, in regard to the Directory for Church-Cenfures, Excommunication and Abfolution, is not yet infert; and that the General Affembly 1647, have the faid Directory for Church-Government, &c. under their Confideration; and by their Act, Seff. 25th, appoint the fame to be printed, and examined by Prefbyteries against the next Affembly; and the General Affembly 1648, do refer to the Committee for publick Matters, to take in the Reports concerning the Directory of Government, Catechifm, and cxi Propofitions: Allo, in their Seffion 32d, they make an Act for Continuation of the Examination of the Directory of ChurchGovernment, and the cxi Propofitions, until the next Affembly (See the Index of unprinted Acts 1647 and 1648;) Therefore the fame is here published from that Copy of it printed by Appointment of the Affembly, Anno 1647.

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ir Church-Govern

dination of Min Aflembly of Divines

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EUS CHRIST, upon at is, whofe Name , the Mighty God, Frace of Peace;

and Peace there shall of the Throne of David,

and

2, and establish it with J forth even for ever; hav in Heaven and Earth by th the Dead, and set him at e all Principality and Powe and every Name that is Torld, but alfo in that which i Tings under his Feet, and gave. Things him that filleth all in all : Heb to the Church, which Sove all Heavens, that he might fi Gifts for his Church, and gave a Edification of his Church,

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Saints.

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DIRECTORY

For Church-Government, Church-Cenfures, and Ordination of Minifters; Agreed upon by the Affembly of Divines at WESTMINSTER, &C.

The Preface.

JESUS CHRIST, upon whofe Shoulder the Govern ment is, whofe Name is called Wonderful, Counfellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace; of the Increase of whofe Government and Peace there fhall be no End; who fits upon the Throne of David, and upon his Kingdom, to or der it, and establish it with Judgment and Justice, from henceforth even for ever; having all Power given unto him in Heaven and Earth by the Father, who raised him from the Dead, and set him at his own right Hand, far above all Principality and Power, and Might, and Dominion, and every Name that is named, not only in this World, but alfo in that which is to come; and put all Things under his Feet, and gave him to be the Head over all Things to the Church, which is his Body, the Fulness of him that filleth all in all: He be afcendeding up far above all Heavens, that he might fill all Things, received Gifts for his Church, and gave all Officers neceffary for the Edification of his Church, and perfecting of his Saints.

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