even prepare war against him.

The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money; yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord amongst us? none evil can conie upon us. Micah 3. 5, 11.

Q. These are plain testimonies from the prophets; are there none such from the apostles?

A. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain: for we brought nothing into the world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out: and having food and raiment, let us therewith be content. But they that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Tim. 6. 5 to 10.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. 2 Tim. 3. 2.

For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Tit. 1. 10, 11.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom, the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you; whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls; an heart they have exercised with covetous practices, cursed children, which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following

the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. 2 Pet. 2. 1, 2, 3, 14, 15.

Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are mur

murers, complainers, walking after their own lusts, and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration, because of advantage. Jude 11. 16.

Q. Ought there to be any order in the church of God? A. Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Cor. 14. 40.

Q. What good order is prescribed in the church concerning preachers? Is it fit that only one or two speak; or may more, if moved thereunto?

A. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace: for ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 1 Cor. 14.

30 to 33.

Q. Is there any promise, that daughters as well as sons, shall prophesy under the gospel?

A. And it shall come to pass afterwards, that I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. Joel 2. 28.

Q. Is this promise fulfilled, and to be fulfilled?

A. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Acts 2. 16, 17.

Q. Is there any such instance of old in the scriptures? A. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. Acts 21. 9.

Q. But may all women speak, or are any commanded to keep silence in the church?

A. Let your women keep silence in the church; for it

is not permitted unto them to speak, but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law, and if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for women to speak in the Church. 1 Cor. 14. 34, 35.

Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, or usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 1 Tim. 2. 11, 12.

Q. The first of these seems only to relate to women that have husbands: what comes of them that have none? the second speaks nothing of the church, but only that she ought not to usurp authority over the man: hath this no limitation? doth not the same apostle give directions, how women that speak, should behave themselves in the church?

A. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered, dishonoureth her head; for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 1 Cor. 11. 4, 5,

CHAPTER X.

Concerning Worship.

Q. What is the worship that is acceptable to God? A. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4. 23, 24.

Q. Seeing prayer is a part of worship, when ought we to pray?

A. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint. Luke 18. 1. Pray without ceasing. 1 Thes. 5. 17.

Q. Hath God no respect to the manner of calling upon him?

A. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all, is rich unto all that call upon him. Rom. 10. 12.

Q. Doth God hear the prayers of all that call upon him?

A. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Psalm 145. 18. The Lord is far from the wicked; but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. Prov. 15. 29.

Now we know that God heareth not sinners; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doth his will, him he heareth. John 9. 31.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. 1 John 5. 14.

Q. After what manner doth the apostle declare he will pray?

A. What is it then? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 1 Cor. 14. 15.

Q. Must we then pray always in the Spirit?

A. Praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints. Eph. 6. 18.

Q. Since we are commanded to pray always in it, can we do it of our own selves, without the help thereof?

A. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Rom. 8. 26, 27.

Q. I perceive, that without the leadings and help of the Spirit, prayers are altogether unprofitable. May not a man truly utter those things that are spiritual, without the Spirit's assistance?

A. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God, calleth Jesus accursed; and that no man can say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. 12. 3.

Q. This is strange; it seems the Spirit is much more necessary than many called Christians suppose it to be;

some of which can scarce give a good account, whether they have it, or want it but if a man speak things true upon the matter, are they not true as from him, if spoken without the Spirit?

A. And though they say, the Lord liveth, surely they swear falsely. Jer. 5. 2.

Q. It is apparent from all these scriptures, that the true worship of God is in the spirit; and as it is not limited to a certain place, neither to any certain time, what shall we think of them that plead for the observation of certain days?

A. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather, are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? ye observe days, and months, and times and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Gal. 4. 9, 10, 11.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat or drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath-day, which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Col. 2. 16, 17.

Q. Seeing it is so, may not some Christians as lawfully esteem all days alike, as others may esteem some days above another? what rule giveth the apostle in this case?

A. One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike: Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. Rom. 14. 5, 6.

Q. But is it not convenient and necessary, that there be a day set apart to meet and worship God in? Did not the apostles and primitive Christians use to meet upon the first day of the week, to make their collections and to worship?

A. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of