The Fourth Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written To His Children; Being Properly A Confession Of His Faith.

5. I further believe and confess, that there is a holy Christian church, which is the communion of the saints, and the assembly of the believing and righteous, which is the temple of the living God, the pillar and solid ground of the truth, and the city of God in the Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:15. And in this temple the Holy Ghost is the teacher, and the apostles the laborers, who first built this temple. 1 Cor. 3:9. As Solomon, when he wanted to build his temple, sent out his servants, to hew out the stones from a mountain; and the stones having been hewed, when they were brought to the work, they joined them together, so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building; so Christ sent out his apostles, to teach men, and to preach repentance in his name, before they were to be baptized: for they had to be regenerated with the hammer of the divine word, and by the incorruptible seed of God the Father, who is a mountain and rock forever, if they were to be a living stone in the temple of God. 1 Kings 5:17; 6:7; Dan. 2:45. Thus the apostles, as wise builders, first built the temple, and laid the foundation. Hence Paul says, that God has set in the church first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers. 1 Cor. 12:28. In another place he says: He set some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. For as a body which has many members, and yet is but one body, so also, though there are many believers, there is nevertheless but one body, of which Christ is the head. For Paul writes: By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body . . . and have been made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13. And all that are in this temple or city have Christ for their Lord and King; him they must obey; they must suffer him to rule over them, and to bear dominion with the sceptre of his kingdom, namely, with his Spirit and Word; for to him all power is given in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18. The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as though they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him. And as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. John 5:22,23,26. He that hath the Son of God hath eternal life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. But this church has forgiveness of sins through him; for they believe in him, and seek their salvation in him alone, for there is none other name given them under heaven, whereby they can be saved, than by the name of Christ; for he is made unto them, of God, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Acts 4:12; 1 Cor. 1:30. And he gave himself for them, that he might redeem them from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Tit. 2:14. These have one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God for their Father, and one Holy Spirit, upon whom and through whom the temple is built and founded. Eph. 4:5,6.

6. I further believe and confess a Christian baptism, according to the import of the word of God, as Christ commanded his apostles, saying: Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. Matt. 28:19,20. And Mark 16:15,16: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Thus the apostles did according to the command of their Lord; for on the day of Pentecost Peter opened his mouth, and taught the people of Jerusalem, and reproved them of their 771 sins, so that they said: Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:37–39.