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whom he will call and fend; to him for the fervice of his church, I dedicate my strength, my life, my all, to be employ'd where, and how, and as long as he fees good.

And the Lord grant! I may find mercy to be faithful in the miniftry I am here in the appointed way to receive from him, in a fenfe of the account to be given to him; that after I have preached to others, I myself may not be a caft-away: But taking beed to myself, and to my doctrine, may be able to give up my account with joy, in the presence of our Lord fus Chrift, at his coming.

In his name I humbly go forth to the awful work, on him I depend for affiftance, acceptance, and all my fuccefs: O my God, Redeemer and Sanctifier! Let my own and hearers eternal falvation eternally redound to the praife of the glory of thy grace. Amen, and Amen.

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I.

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Conclufion.

Form of found Words.

Upon the PLAN of the

ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISMS,

AND

Confeffion of Faith;

And fit to Bind with them.

To which is added,

A LIST of the DIVINES in that ASSEMBLY: The Vow taken by every Member at his Entrance; with a Word of their Character.

ASSEMBLIES CATECHISM,

Queftion the Second.

Of the fcriptures as our rule.

"Queft. WHAT rule bath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy

" him?

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Anfwer. "The word of God (which is contained in the fcriptures of the Old and New με Teftament) is the only rule to direct us how "we may glorify and enjoy him."

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Q. 1. If the word of God contained in the fcriptures of the Old and New Teftament, is our only rule; are not publick catechifms and confeffions of faith ufelefs?

A. No; by no means: tho' the word of God contain'd in the fcriptures, be our only rule, to fay publick catechisms and confeffions of faith fetch'd from the fcriptures and founded upon them are useless; is to contradict experience, and offend against the generation of God's children.

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Q. 2. Has it been the custom of the churches of Chrift to have their publick confeffions of faith and catechifms for the use of their minifters and people?

A. It has fo; and a good custom it has been, notwithstanding it has been abufed by Papists on one fide, and is now fo much decry'd by Proteftants of loose principles on the other.

Q. 3. Is there any thing in the fcriptures themfelves to countenance fuch compofures, and for a great regard to be had to them?

A. "Fis St. Paul's express command to Timothy, Hold faft the form of found words, which thou kaft beard of me in faith and love, which is in Chrift Jefus, 2 Tim. i. 13.

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Q. 4. What in this place may be understood by the form of found words?

A. The form of found words may be underftocd either of the doctrine of the gospel in general, or else very probably of a collection of fome of its principal heads, which the apostle had chofen, and put together in the order and drefs he thought beft; and either preach'd in Timothy's hearing, or drew up in writing, and committed to Timothy as a truft and treasure,

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not only for his own ufe and direction in preaching, but to tranfmit to others for the ufe and benefit of fucceeding generations in the church of Chrift, 2 Tim. ii. 2. The things which thou haft beard of me among ft many witnelles, the fame commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others alfo.

Q. 5. Upon what accounts may the apostle call the form of which he fpeaks, a form of found

words?

A. 1. In regard of their nature, or what they were in themfelves: and fo found words, are words that are pure, in oppofition to any unwarrantable mixture.

2. With refpect to their influence; and fo found words, are words that make found, or conduce to the health of fouls; as of unfound words, fuch as are not according to the purity of the gospel, we may fay the contrary. We read of found fpeech that cannot be condemned, Tit. ii. 8. And of words that eat as a canker, 2 Tim. ii. 17.

Q. 6. What, by the apostle's order, is Timothy's duty, as to the form of found words deliver'd to him?

A. To hold it faft, i. e. Having fuch a form or collection of gofpel doctrine, as a pattern for his direction both as a chriftian and as a minifter, not to fwerve from it himself, nor, as far as in him lay, fuffer it to be corrupted by others; upon no terms to part with it, but firmly retain, and own, and be ready to defend it against all oppofition whatsoever.

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