LIBRARY OF PRINCETON MAY 2 3 2005 1 1 rHEOLOGICAL SEMINARY \x THE SUBORDINATE STANDARDS, OTHER AUTH0RITATI\1 DOCUJIENTS / FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. > PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. LIBRARY OF PRINCETON MAY 2 3 2005 1 THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY LONDOlN: t-T, :N'ELSOJSr AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW; EDINBURGH : A^B NEW YOKE. \ i10n3WI«S10Y«A»8U r ' — "' 1 1- J6 JAJi^-uJJHT CONTENTS. Act anb Declaration ajjent the Publication of the Subordi- nate Standards, and other Authoritative Documents of the Free Church of Scotland ...... Page I. Standards of the Free Church of Scotland agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and approved by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland : — The Confession of Faith, The Larger Catechism, . The Shorter Catechism, . The Sum of Saving Knowledge, . The National Covenant, . The Solemn League and Covenant, The Acknowledgment of Sins, &c. The Directory for Public Worship, The Form of Presbyterial Church- Government, The Directory for Family Worship, IL AtTHORITATIVE DoCUifEKTS OF THE FrEE ChURCH OF SCOTLANT) :- 1. Claim, Declaration, and Protest, anent the Encroachments ofthe Court of Session, 1842, .... 2. Address to the Queen, thereanent, 1842, 3. Protest by the Commissioners to the General Assembly ap- pointed to meet on 18th May 1843, 4. Act of Separation and Deed of Demission by Ministers, 1843, 5. Supplementary Act of Separation and Deed of Demission by Ministers, ....... 6. Act anent Questions and Formula, . . . 1 125 283 317 337 345 351 359 383 407 427 442 443 447 454 461 ACT AND DECLAKATION ANENT THE PUBLICATION OF THE SUBORDINATE STANDARDS AND OTHER AUTHORITATIVE DOCUMENTS OP THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. At Edinburgh, the Zlst day of May 1851 years. Sess. 19. VVTiich day the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scot- land being met and duly constituted, Inter alia, The General Assembly, on considering the Report of the Commit- tee to which this matter was referred at a previous diet, unanimously agreed to sanction, as they hereby sanction, the publication of a vo- lume, containing the subordinate standards, and other authoritative documents of this Church. And with the view of directing attention to "all the way by which the Lord has led us," as well as to the testi- mony which He has honoured this Church to bear for the whole truth of God regarding His Church, and His glory therein, the General Assem- bly did, and hereby do, adopt the following Act and Declaration : — When it pleased Almighty God, in His great and undeserved mercy, to reform this Church from Popery by presbyters, it was given to the Reformers, amid many troubles, to construct and model the constitu- tion of the Church, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and govermnent, according to the AVord of God, and not according to the will of earthly rulers. Our fathers, accordingly, in singleness of eye and simplicity of heart, without regard to the favour or the fear of man, so applied themselves to the work to which they were called, that they were en- abled, with remarkable unanimity, to settle it upon the basis which, by the blessing of God, has continued unaltered down to the present time. Of this settlement, besides that profession of the evangelical faith which is common to all the Churches of the Reformation, the peculiar and essential features are: — I. The government of the Church by presbyters alone, or by that order of men which is indicated in the JMew Testament indiscriminately by the terms presbyters and bishops or overseers — t^io-Suts^oi and i-ria'xo'roi. — and, II. The subjection of the Church, in all things spiritual, to Christ as her only Head, and to His Word as her only rule. From the beginning these principles have been held as fundamental by the Reformed Church of Scotland ; and as such they were recog- nized in her earliest standards, — the First and Second Books of Dis- cipline,— adopted by h.er own indepeadent authority, before the fuU VI ACT AND DECLARATION, 1S51. sanction either of the Crown or of the Parliament was given to the Reformation which God had accompUshed on her behalf. For these principles, the ministers and members of this Church, as well as the nobles, gentlemen, and burgesses of the land, from the first united in contending; and on more than one occasion, in the course of these early * National Struggles, — as in 1580 when the National Covenant was Covenant, signed,* — our reforming ancestors bound themselves one &c., p. 337, ^Q another, as in the sight of God, to maintain and defend them against all adversaries. Farther : while this Church has ever held that she possesses an inde- pendent and exclusive jurisdiction or power in all ecclesiastical matters, *'' which flows directly from God, and the Mediator, Jesus Christ, and is spiritual, not having a temporal head on earth, but only Christ, the only King and Governor of His Church ;" she has, at the same time, always strenuously advocated the doctrine taught in Holy Scripture, — that nations and their rulers are bound to own the truth of God, and to advance the kingdom of His Son. And accordingly, with unfeigned thankfulness, did she acknowledge the good hand of the Lord, when, after prolonged contests with the enemies of the Reformation, — and, in particular, with certain parties who sought not only to uphold a form of Prelatic government in the Church, but to establish the supre- macy of the Crown in all causes, spiritual and ecclesiastical, as well as civil and temporal, — a national recognition and solemn sanction of her constitution, as it had been settled by her own authority, according to the Word of God, was at last obtained; — first, in the Act of Parlia- ment 1567, and again, more completely, in the Act of Parliament 1592, — then and since regarded by her as the great constitutional charter of her Presbyterian government and freedom. Thus the first Reformation was accomplished. But before a generation had elapsed, a sad change for the worse took place. Through defection in the Chui'ch, and tyrannical invasion of her independence by the civil power, the Presbyterian poUty and government were overturned, and manifold abuses and corruptions in discipline and worship, were insidiousLy introduced. A second Refor- mation accordingly became necessary. And here, again, it pleased Almighty God, as in that former Refor- mation of the Church from Popery by presbyters, to give to our fathers light and grace; so that, taking His Word as their only rule, and own- ing His Son as their only King in Zion, they were enabled not only to restore the constitution of the Church as it had stood when her first Reformation seemed to be completed, but to aim, also, at carrying out more fully the great essential principles of that constitution, and se- curing more effectually tnan before the prevalence of these principles over all the land, as well as their permanency through all coming ages. In seeking this noble end, our fathers were again led, for their mutual security, as well as for the commending of so righteous a cause to Him by whom it was committed to them, to have recourse to the solemnity of a holy confederation. The National Covenant was renewed at the beginning of the con- tendings for this second Reformation, with an extension of its weighty protQats and censures, to meet whatever new £i.-uit tiiQ. Qid stocU of ACT AND DECLARATION, 1851, VU Pi-elatic and Erastian usurpation had been bearing. And the Solemn League and Covenant was afterwards entered into, in concert v.-ith England and Ireland, '• for the reformation and defence of religion, the honour and happiness of the king, and the peace and safety of the three kingdoms ;" and, in particular, for '• endeavouring to bring the Churches of God in the three Idngdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion, confession of faith, form of Church ^ o i^ , government, directory for worship, and catechising. " * League, &c!) Thus religiously bound and pledged to God and to one P- ^^5. another, our fathers were enabled to effect the reformation of this Church from Prelacy, even as their fathers in like manner effected its reformation from Popery. In the ever-memorable Assembly held at Glasgow in 1638, as well as in subsequent Assembhes, it was declared that '•' all Episcopacy different from that of a pastor over a particular flock was abjured in this Kirk ; " and provision was made, accordingly, for its complete removal, and for the settlement of Church government and order upon the former Presbyterian footing. In all this work of pulling down and building up, the independent spiritual jurisdiction of the Church, flowing immediately from Christ her only Head, was not only earnestly asserted, but practically exercised. For the whole work was begun and carried on without warrant of the civil power. And it was only after much contending, and with not a little hesitation, that the civil power began to interpose its authority in the years 1639 and 1641, to support and sanction what the Church had, by the exercise of her own inherent jurisdiction, already done. Thereafter, for the better prosecution of the work on hand, and in the face of the manifest purpose of the king and his adherents to crush it altogether, this Church, by commissioners duly named by the General Assembly, took part in the Assembly of Divines which met at Westminster in 1643, And having in view the uniformity con- templated in the Solemn League and Covenant, she consented to adopt the Confession of Faith, Catechisms, Directory for Public Wor- ship and Form of Church Government agreed upon by the said As- sembly of Divines. These several formularies, as ratified, with certain explanations, by divers Acts of Assembly in the years 1645, 1646, and particularly in 1647, this Church continues till this day to acknowledge as her subor- dinate standards of doctrine, worship, and government; — with this dif- ference, however, as regards the authority ascribed to them, that while the Confession of Faith * contains the creed to which, as * Confession, to a confess on of his own foith, every office-bearer in the ^^^^ relative. Church must testify in solemn form his personal adherence ; sembiy, p. 15. — and while the Catechisms, Larger and Shorter, t are j Catechisms, sanctioned as directories for catechising ; — the Directory "^'ith relative for Public Worship, the Form of Church Government, and sembiy,pp,*i25, the Directory for Family Worship, % ai-e of the nature of -S3, regulations, rather than of tests, — to be enforced by the I'vi^h^relative Church like her other laws, but not to be imposed by sub- Acts of as- scription upon her ministers and elders. These documents, sembiy, p. 361, then, together with a practical application of the doctrine \^^^.^q^^^' of the Coafessjon, ia the Sum of Saving Knowledge, §— Jelge, p!''^!:. V]il ACT A?0> DECLARATION, 1851. a valuable treatise, which, though without any express Act of Assem- bly', has for ages had its place among them, — have, ever since the era of the second Reformation, constituted the authorized and autho- ritative symbolic books of the Church of Scotland. JSJor is it to be overlooked here, in connection ^vith these proceed- ings, but, on the contrary, it is to be owned as a signal instance of the Divine favour, that when the civil dissensions and wars — all of which this Church unfeignedly deprecated and deplored — issued in a brief in- terval of quiet, and when the Parliament of Scotland was at last moved to own the Reformation work of God in the land, this Church obtained a ratification of her spiritual liberties much more full and ample than had ever previously been granted. This appeared, as in other things, so especially in the matter of presentation to benefices, with appomt- ment to the oversight of souls. In that matter, this Reformed Church had from the beginning maintained a testimony and contest against the right of patronage, as inconsistent Avith " the order which God's Word craves." And now, both the Parliament and the Church being free to act according to the will of God, and professing to be guided by His Word, it was enacted by the Parliament in 1649, that ministers should be settled " upon the suit and calling, or with the consent of the congregation ; " and the Assembly, in the same year, laid down wholesome rules and regulations for securing the orderly caUing of pastors by the congregations of the Church, with due regard at once to the spiritual privil^es of the people, and the spiritual jm-isdiction of those appointed to bear ofiice among them in the Lord. Thus, by God's grace, in this second Reformation, wrought out by our fathers amid many perils and persecutions, this Church was hon- oured of God to vindicate and carry out the great fundamental prin- ciples of her constitution — the government of the Church by presby- ters alone ; her inherent spiritual jurisdiction, derived from her great and only Head ; and the right of congregations to call their own pastors. And thus the second Reformation seemed to be happily accomplished and secured; and the Church and nation of Scotland abjured Prelacy, as they had formerly abjured Popery. That the men whom God raised up for this great work proved themselves to be fallible in several of their proceedings, does not detract from our conviction that the work itself was the work of God. The principles of rehgious liberty not being so thoroughly understood in that age as they are now, it is not surprising, however much it is to be lamented, that our fathers should have given some occasion to the charge of intolerance in the laws enacted, though seldom enforced, with a view to inflict civil penalties for offences partly, if not entirely, religious. It is to be confessed, also, that in prosecuting their great work in circumstances of unparalleled difiiculty, instances were not Avanting of an undue commingling of religion with the passing politics of the day, and an undue reliance on an arm of flesh for the further- ance of the cause of God. These defects some of the worthiest and ablest of the actors in that great crisis lived to deplore ; and to such causes may be traced, in a great measure, the bitter animosities that too speedily ensued between the parties of the Resolutioners and the ACT AND DECLARATION, 1851. IX Protesters — in consequence of which the Church of Scotland was found divided against herself at the very time when union Avas most essential, and at the restoration of Charles II. was thrown helpless and fettered into the furnace of a bitter and unrelenting persecution. But notwithstanding these evidences of the hand of man in the transactions connected with the second Reformation, we would griev- ously err and sin were we not to recognize, in the substance of what was then done, the hand and Spirit of God ; and were we not to dis- cern in it such an adaptation to the exigencies of the times, and such an amount of conformity to the Divine mind and will, as must ever be held to give to the attainments then made by this Church and nation a peculiar force of obligation, and to aggravate not a little the guilt of subsequent shortcomings and defections. Passing over the dark period of the closing years of the Stuart dynasty, and descending along the line of history to the era of the glorious Revolution, we find the Church, which had been twice before brought out of great troubles in her contendings against Popery and Prelacy, once again rescued from the oppression of arbitrary power, and lifting her head as the free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The bloody acts of the preceding time were repealed ; on the petition of the ministers and professors of the Church of Scotland, the civil sanction was given to the Confession of Faith ; Presbyterial Church government was re-established in the hands of those who had been ejected by Prelacy in 1661 ; and to the wonder of many, and the con- fusion of her enemies, tliis Church rose from her ashes, and was recog- nized as the same Church which, whether in freedom or in bondage — Avhether under the shade of royal favour, or hunted as a partridge on the mountains — could trace its unbroken identity downwards from the very beginning of the Reformation. That the "Revolution Settlement," by which the liberties of the Church were secured, under the reign of "William and Mary, was in all respects satisfactory, has never been maintained by this Church, On the contrary, various circumstances may be pointed out as hinder- ing the Church from realizing fully the attainments that had been reached during the second Reformation. Not only were the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland unprepared for prose- cuting the work of "reformation and uniformity in religion," to which they had pledged themselves; but even in Scotland itself the reluctant concessions of statesmen were limited to what a people, worn out by long and heavy tribulation, were barely willing to ac- cept as a relief, and did not thoroughly undo the mischief of an age of misrule. Thus, for instance, in the civil sanction then given to Presbytery, the Parhament of 1690, overlooking altogether the higher attainments of the second Reformation, went back at once to the Act 1592, and based its legislation upon that Act alone, as being the original charter of the Presbyterian EstabUshment. Accordingly, it left unrepealed the infamous " Act Recissory " of King Charles, by which all that the Church had done, and all that the State had done for her, in the inter- val between 1638 and the Restoration, had been stigmatized as trea- sonable and rebellious. Thus the Revolution Settlement fAiled in ade- X ACT AND DECLAIJATION, 1851. quately acknowledging- the Lord's work done formerly in the land; and it was, besides, in several matters of practical legislation, very ge- nerally considered by our fathers at the time to be defective and un- satisfactory. Some, and these not the least worthy, even went so far as to refuse all submission to it. But for the most part, our fathers, smarting from the fresh wounds of anti-Christian oppression, weary of strife, and anxious for rest and peace, either thankfully accepted, or at least acquiesced in it; in the hope of being able practically to effect under it the great ends which the Church had all along, in all her former contendings, regarded as indispensable. For it would be in a high degree ungrateful to overlook the signal and seasonable benefits which the Revolution Settlement really did confer upon the Church, as well as upon the nation. Not only did it put an end to the cruel persecution by which the best blood of Scot- land had been shed in the field, on the hill-side, and on the scaffold ; not only did it reinstate in then* several parishes the pastors who had been unrighteously cast out in the reign of the second Charles, and set up again the platform of the Presbyterian government; but by reviving and re-enacting the Statute of 1592, the^ original charter and foundation of Presbytery, it recognized as an inalienable part of the constitution of this country the establishment of the Presbyterian Church. It secured also effectually, as was then universally beheved, the exclusive spiritual jurisdiction of the Church, and her independence in spiritual matters of all civil control. And by the arrangements which it sanctioned for the filling up of vacant charges, it abolished * Act 7th those rights of patronage which had been reserved in 1592,* June, 1690, and made provision for enforcing the fundamental principle ^' ■^'^- of this Church, that " no pastor shall be mtruded into a con- gregation contrary to the will of the people." On all these grounds, the Church was well entitled to rejoice in the deliverance wrought out for her in 1688 and 1690; to thank God for it, and take courage; and to cherish the warm and sanguine expectation of reaping now the fruit of her struggles and her trials, in a career of undisturbed, united, and successful exertion for the glory of her great Head, the good of the land, and the saving of many souls. How far that expectation might have been fulfilled, if faith had been kept with the Church and people of Scotland by the British Parlia- ment, according to the terms of the Revolution Settlement, subse- quently ratified by the Treaty of Union between Scotland and England, ■ — and if the Church had received grace to continue faithful to her principles, — is a question which can now be httle more than matter of speculation and conjecture. For the breach made upon her constitu- tion by the restoration of patronage in 1711, — a measure passed against her own earnest remonstrance and protest, — concurring with that un- happy declension from sound doctrine and spiritual life which began to ^dsit this as well as other Churches of the Reformation during the early period of the last century, — not to speak of the leaven of unsound principle transmitted from the too easy admission at the Revolution of the Prelatic curates into the Presbyterian Church, without any evi- dence of their sincere attachment to its doctrines ; — these things led to abuses in the administration of the Church's disciphne and government, ACT AND DECLARATION, 1851. XI — such as, to a large extent, prevented the Revolution Settlement from obtaining a full and fair trial. The abuses to vv'hich we refer regarded matters of vital import, such as the toleration of heresy and immorality; the tyrannical exercise of Church power over brethren, with the unjust denial of the right of protest for the exoneration of individual consciences; the arbitrary enforcing of the lav,' of patronage by corrupt Presbyteries and Assem- blies, acting upon their own discretion, and with no compulsion from any civil authority; the grievous oppression of congregations, by the forcible intrusion of ministers into parishes against the will of the people, and other proceedings of a similar kind ; in consequence of which, not only were multitudes of godly ministers and people com- pelled, for conscience' sake, to withdraw from her communion, and to form themselves into separate ecclesiastical societies, but the Church itself from which they seceded was found wiUing — though always, blessed be God ! with a protesting minority in her courts — to make a practical surrender of the most important and distinctive principles of her ancient Presbyterian polity. Hence it happened, that when, in the good providence of God, and through the gracious working of His good Spirit, this Church once more,"for the third tune, was led to take up the work of the Preforma- tion, — entering, though, alas! with much shortcoming, into the la- bours of our fathers, by whom she had been reformed from Popery and Prelacy, — she encountered, as was most natural, no small measure of the same opposition with which they had been obhged to contend, from a formidable body of her own ministers and members, as well as from the civil power ; whose aid was called in to coerce and control the Church courts in the exercise of their spiritual functions, and, through them, to crush the hberties of congregations in the calling of ministers to be over them in the Lord. For it ought to be on record to coming ages, that this Church began the work of reformation, on this third great occasion in her history, in 1834, by refusing to allow any pastor to be intruded upon a re- claiming congregation. At the same time, also, while thus securing such a protection to her congregations, this Church resolved to give practical effect to another fundamental principle of her Presbyterian pohty which had been grie- vously violated, — the principle, namely, that "•' the pastor, as such, hath a ruling power over the flock ; " or, in other words, that all ordained pastors are equally entitled to rule, as well as to teach and minister, in Christ's house. This, accordingly, the Church did, in an Act of As- sembly, 1834, recognizing all pastors of congregations as members of her Church judicatories, and assigning to each, along with the elders of his congregation, the administration of discipline among his owti flock, and the oversight of souls, in whatever local or territorial district the Church might be pleased to place under his spiritual care. It was in carrying out these measures of indispensable practical re- form, adopted in 1834, that the Church was visited with the inter- ference of the courts of civil law, in those various forms of unconstitu- tional aggression upon, and invasion of, her sacred functions as a Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, owning no head on earth but only XU ACT AND DECLAnATION, 1S51. Christ, which are set forth at large in the Claim, Declaration, and Protest, adopted by the General Assembly in 1842, and laid before her Majesty, and before the Parliament of Great Britain, in the course of *ci i & the year thereafter.* p. 427. ' ' These manifold invasions of her spiritual jurisdiction by the courts of civil law, this Church received grace stead- fastly to resist, at the expense of much loss, obloquy, and suifering, borne by her faithful ministers and people. But this was not all ; for she was enabled also, during all her harass- ing and painful contendings, to carry forward still fiirther the work of revival throughout her borders, as well as to lift up a still more de- cided testimony for the purity and liberty of Christ's house, — His Church on earth, — especially in the expUcit condemnation which the General Assembly in 1842 passed of the entu'e system of patronage, as a grievance to be utterly abolished. And, through the blessing of God, she was not left without manifest tokens of the Divine counte- nance and favour, — such as, in like circumstances, had been vouch- safed in former times, — in the remarkable pouring out of the Holy •Spirit on not a few portions of the chosen vineyard of the Lord. Among other tokens for good, as the Church humbly considered them, it may be mentioned as one of the most gratifying, that a begin- ning was made, during this reforming period, of the M'ork of re-union among the true-hearted branches of the Presbyterian Church in Scot- land, Overtures towards a junction with the Church of Scotland having been made by a highly esteemed body of those whose fathers had seceded from it, and ample deliberation having taken place on both sides, the end in view was happily and harmoniously attained in the year 1839, when the General Assembly, with the consent of the Pres- byteries of the Church, passed an Act to the following effect : — " Whereas proposals have been made by the Associate Synod for a re-union with the Church of Scotland, and a considerable number of overtures have been sent at the same time to the General Assembly from the Synods and Presbyteries of the Church favourable to that object ; and it has been ascertained by a committee of the General As- sembly, that the course of study required for a long time past of stu- dents in divinity in connection with said Synod is quite satisfactory, and that their ministers and elders do firmly adhere to the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, and other standards of our Church : and whereas the members of the Associate Synod do heartily concur with us in holding the great principle of an ecclesiastical establishment, and the duty of acknowledging God in our national as well as our individual capacity; and we, on the other hand, do heartily concur with the members of the Associate Synod in con- fessing the great obligation under Vv'hich we lie to our forefathers in the year 1638, and several years of that century immediately following, and the duty, in particular circumstances, of uniting together in public solemn engagement in defence of the Church, and its doctrine, discip- line, and form of worship and government: and whereas our brethren of the Associate Synod have declared their willingness, in the event of a re-union, to submit to all the laws and judicatories of this Church, reserving only to themselves the right which the members of the Estab- ACT AND DECLARATION, 1801. XlU llshecl Cliuvch enjoy of endeavouring to correct, in a lawful manner, what may appear to them to be faulty in its constitution and govern- ment, — the General Assembly, with the consent of the Presbyteries of this Church, enact and ordain, that all the ministers of the Associate Synod, and their congregations in Scotland, desirous of being admitted into connection and full commimion with the Church of Scotland, be received accordingly/' This step was hailed with lively satisfaction by the supporters of the old hereditary principles of the Scottish Reformation, as not only a testimony to the returning faithfulness -with which these principles were now maintained, but a pledge and presage also of other move- ments of a similar kind which might be expected to follow, as the work of reformation and revival went on: thus holding out the hope of this Church being honoured to be successful in healing the breaches of Zion as well as rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Thus, with much cause to sing of mercy as well as of judgment, the Church for ten years continued to testify, to contend, and to labour, in the great and good cause. But as time rolled on, and the causes of collision between the ecclesiastical and the civil courts became more embarrassing, it was apparent to all that an emergency was at hand, such as would call for the utmost wisdom of counsel as w^ell as the fu-mest energy of action. All along, indeed, while the contendings of this tbird Reformation period were going forward, not only did " they that feared the Lord speak often one to another," but most solemn consultations of the brethren were held at every step, with much earnest prayer, and many affecting pledges of mutual fidelity to one another, and to God. And as the crisis manifestly drew near, the whole body of those ministers of this Church by whom the contest was maintained met together in con- vocation, in November 1842, being convened by a large number of the fathers of the Church, and, after a sermon preached by the late lamented Dr Chalmers, continued in dehberation for several successive days, spending a large portion of the time in united supplication for the guidance and grace of God; and did not separate till, with one mind and one heart, they were enabled to announce, in resolutions having, in the circumstances, all the force of the most impressive vows and obhgations, their final purpose, at all hazards, to maintain uncompro- mised the spiritual liberty and jurisdiction of this Church. And this they resolved to do, not by prolonged resistance to the civil courts, should the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain refuse the redress craved in the above mentioned Claim of Rights, but by pubhcly re- nouncing the benefits of the National Estabhshment, — under protest that it is her being Free, and not her being Estabhshed, that consti- tutes the real historical and hereditary identity of the Reformed Na- tional Church of Scotland. The Claim of Rights adopted by the General Assembly in 1842, having been denied and disallowed, first by Her Majesty's Government, in a letter addressed to the Moderator by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and thereafter by the Commons' House of Par- liament, in a vote taken on the 7th IMarch 1843, and carried against a l(irge majority of the merabors representing Scotland ; it became appa- XIV ACT A^'D DECLARATION, 1851. rent that the system of patronage, — to which this Church, although viewing it as a grievance, had submitted, under the impression that the right was restricted to the disposal of the benefice, while the Church was left free in the matter of admission to the cure of souls, — must be held, as now interpreted and maintained by the supreme power of the State, to be altogether contrary to the "Word of God and the Hberties of the people of Christ ; and that this Church, therefore, in that as well as in other departments of her administration, had no choice or alter- native but submission in things spiritual, to civil control, or separation from the State and from the benefits of the Establishment. Holding firmly to the last, as she holds still, and, through God's grace, will ever hold, that it is the duty of civil rulers to recognize the truth of God, according to His Word, and to prom.ote and support the kingdom of Christ, without assuming any jurisdiction in it, or any power over it ; and deeply sensible, moreover, of the advantages resulting to the community at large, and especially to its more destitute portions, from the public endowm.ent of pastoral charges among them : this Church could not contemplate ■uithout anxiety and alarm the prospect of los- ing, for herself, important means of general usefulness, — leaving the whole machinery of the Establishment in the hands of parties who could retain it only by the sacrifice of her fundamental principles, — and seeing large masses of the people deprived of the advantage of having the services of a gospel ministry provided for them independently of their own resources. But her path was made plain before her. For the system of civil interference in matters spiritual being still per- severed in, so as to affect materially the very constitution of the General Assembly, in the election of commissioners from the Presby- teries to that supreme court, it became the duty of those of the said commissioners who were faithful to the crown of Christ, — and who formed decidedly the major part of the members chosen according to * p t t & *^^ l^ws of the Church, — to protest,* in presence of Her p. 443. ' ' Majesty's representative, on the 18th of May 1843, against the meeting then convened being held to be a free and law- ful Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Under which protest, and in the terms thereof, the said commis- sioners ^\ithdrew to another place of meeting, where, on the same day, and with concurrence of all the ministers and elders adhering to them, they proceeded to constitute, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only King and Head of the Church on earth, the General Assem- bly of the Free Church of Scotland, and to take measures for the estab- lishment of the Church apart from the State in the land. How signally God opened for her, in her new position, both a door of utterance and a door of entrance, not only in this, but in other coun- tries also — how mercifully He disappointed all her fears, and procured for her acceptance among the people — how wonderfully He disposed all hearts so as to continue to her the means of missionary enterprise, both at hom.o and abroad — how graciously He cheered her, by giving to her the signal privilege of finding all her missionaries, to the Jews and the Gentiles, true to herself and to her principles, in the hour of trial : and in general, how large a measure of prosperity and peace He was pleased to grant to hex*, — though with some severe persecution and ACT AND DECLAHATION, 1851. X9 oppression in certain quarters, — ^this Church cannot but most devoutly acknowledge: mourning bitterly, as she must at the same time do, over many shortcomings and sins, arid lamenting the little spiritual fruit of awakening and revival that has accompanied the Lord's bountiful and wonderfaf deahng with her. In deep humiliation, therefore, but at the same time in the holy boldness of faith unfeigned, she would stili seek to retain and occupy the position which the foregoing summary of her history assigns to her; humbly claiming to be identified with the Church of Scotland, which solemnly bound herself to the Reformation from Popery, and again similarly pledged herself to the Reformation from Prelacy; deploring past shortcomings from the principles and work of these Reformations, as well as past secessions from her own communion, occasioned by tyranny and corruption in her councils; and, finally, resolved and determined, as in the sight and by the help of God, to prosecute the ends contemplated from the beginning in all the acts and deeds of her reforming fathers, until the errors which they renounced shall have disappeared from the land, and the true system which they upheld shall be so universally received that the whole people, rightly instructed in the faith, shall unite to glorify God the Father in the full acknowledgment of the kingdom of His Son, our blessed Lord and Sa\dour, Jesus Christ, to whose name be praise for ever and ever. Amen. Extracted from the Records of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland by Thomas Pitcairx,) ^.^ ^ ^ ^ ^-^ Patrick Clason, ) Tfrs CONFESSION OF FAITH; LARGER AND SHORTER CATECHISMS, !trt}>ttt«=^ roofs at ILargc rOGETJinR WITH THE SUM OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE, (contained in the holy SCKTPTURES, AND HELD FOETH IN THE SAID CONFESSION AND CATECHISMS,) AM) PRACTICAL USE THEREOF; COVENANTS, NATIONAL AND SOLEMN LEAGUE ; ACKNOWLEDGMENT OP SINS, AXD ENGAGE- MENT TO duties; directories for publick and family wob- ship; FORM OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT, ETC. OF PUBLICK AUTHORITY IN THE CHUriCH OP SCOTLAND ; WITH ACTS OF ASSEMBLY AND PARLIAMENT, RE- LATIVE TO, AND APPROBATIVB OF, THE SAME. Deut. vl. 6. 7.— And these words which T eommatid thee this dav shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them dilieently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou slttest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. IprinteU tg ^utljoritg. LONDON: T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW; EDINBURGH ; AND NEW YORK. LICENCE. In teiTns of Her Majesty's Letters Patent to lier Printers for Scotland, and of the Instnictions issued by Her Majesty in Council, dated Eleventli July, Eighteen Hun- dred and Thirty-nine, I hereby License and Authorise THOMAS NELSON AND SONS, Booksellers In Edinburgh, to Print within the nremises situated Hope Parlt, Edinburgh, occupied by them as Printing-Offlce, and to Publish, as by the Autho- rity of Her Majesty, an Edition of the Confession of Faith, in Bourgeois and Minion type. Duodecimo size, consisting of Five Thousand Copies, as proposed in their Declaration, dated the Eleventh day of January, in the year Eighteen Hundred and Fifty-nine; the terms and conditions of the said instnictions being always, and in all points, fully complied with and observed by the said Thomas Nelson und Sons. CHARLES BAILLIE. EDiNBtJRGfl, 22d January 1859. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER, ESPECIALLY HEADS OF FAMILIES. AS we cannot but \vith grief of soul lament those multitudes of errors, blasphemies, and all kinds of profaneness, which have in this last age, hke a mighty deluge, overflown this nation ; so, among several other sins which have helped to open the flood-gates of all these impieties, we cannot but esteem the disuse of family instruction one of the greatest. The two gi'eat pillars upon which the kingdom of Satan is erected, and by which it is upheld, are ignorance and error ; the first step of our manumission from this spiritual thraldom consists in ha\dng our eyes opened, and being turned from darkness to light, Acts xxvi. 18. How much the serious endeavours of godly parents and masters might contribute to an early seasoning the tender years of such as are under their inspection, is abundantly evident, not only from their special in- fluence upon them, in respect of their authority over them, interest in them, continual presence with them, and frequent opportunities of being helpful to them ; but also from the sad effects which, by woeful experience, we find to be the fruit of the omission of this duty. It were easy to set before you a cloud of witnesses, the language of whose practice hath been not only an eminent commendation of this duty, but also a serious exhortation to it. As Abel, though dead, yet speaks by his example to us for imitation of his faith, &c., Heb. xi. 4 ; so do the examples of Abraham, of Joshua, of the parents of Solomon, of the grandmother and mother of Timothy, the mother of Augustine, whose care was as well to nurse up the souls as the bodies of their Uttle ones; and as their pains herein was great, so was their success no way un- answerable. We should scarce imagine it any better than an impertinency, in this noon-day of the gospel, either to inform or persuade in a duty so ex- pressly commanded, so frequently urged, so highly encouraged, and so eminently owned by the Lord in all ages with his blessing, but that our sad experience tells us, this duty is not more needful, than it is of late neglected. For the restoring of this duty to its due observance, give us leave to suggest this double advice. The/rsf concerns heads of famihes in respect of themselves; That as the Lord hath set them in place above the rest of their family, they would labour in all wisdom and spiritual understanding to be above them also. It is an uncomely sight to behold men in years babes in knowledge; and how unmeet are they to instruct others, who need themselves to be taught which be the first principles of the oracles of God, Heb. v. 12. Knowledge is an accomplishment so desirable, that the devils themselves knew not a more taking bait by which to tempt our first parents, than by the fruit of the tree of knowledge ; So shall you be as gods, knowing good and evil. When Solomon had that fa- 4 THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. vour shewed him of the Lord, that he was made his own chuscr what to ask, he knew no greater mercy to beg than wisdom, 1 Kings iii. 5, 9. The understanding is the guide and pilot of the whole man, that faculty which sits at the stern of the soul : but as the most expert guide may mistake in the dark, so may the understanding, when it wants the Ught of knowledge; Without knowledge the mind cannot be good, Prov. xix. 2; nor the life good, nor the eternal condition safe, Eph. iv. 18. 3/y people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hos. iv. 6. It is ordi- nary in scripture to set profaneness, and all kind of miscarriages, upon the score of ignorance. Diseases in the body have many times their rise from distempers in the head, and exorbitancies in practice from errors in judgment : and indeed in every sin there is something both of ignorance and error at the bottom : for, did sinners truly know what they do in sinning, we might say of every sin what the Apostle speaks concerning that great sin, Had they known hint, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory ; did they truly know that every sin is a provoldng the Lord to jealousy, a proclaiming war against Heaven, a crucifying the Lord Jesus afresh, a treasuring up wrath unto them- selves against the day of wrath ; and that, if ever they be pardoned, it must be at no lower a rate than the price of his blood ; it were scarce possible but sin, instead of alluring, should affright, and instead of tempting, scare. It is one of the arch devices and principal methods of Satan to deceive men into sin : thus he prevailed against our first parents, not as a lion, but as a serpent, acting his enmity under a pre- tence of friendship, and tempting them to evil under an appearance of good ; and thus hath he all along carried on his designs of darkness, by transforming himself into an angel of light, making poor deceived men in love with their miseries, and hug their ov^ti destruction. A most sovereign antidote against all kind of errors, is to be grounded and settled in the faith : persons unfixed in the true religion, are very re- ceptive of a false ; and they who are nothing in spiritual knowledge, are easily made any thing. Clouds without water are driven to and fro with every wind, and ships without ballast liable to the violence of every tempest. But yet the knowledge we especially commend, is not a brain- knowledge, a mere speculation ; this may be in the worst of men, nay, in the worst of creatures, the devils themselves, and that in such an eminency, as the best of saints cannot attain to in this hfe of imper- fection ; but an inward, a savoury, an heart knowledge, such as was in that martyr, who, though she could not dispute for Christ, could die for him. This is that spiritual sense and feehng of divine truths the Apostle speaks of, Heb. v. 14. Having your senses exercised, &c. But, alas, we may say of most men's religion what learned Rivet* speaks concerning the errors of the fathers, '■ They were not so much their owti errors, as the errors of the times wherein they lived." Thus do most men take up their religion upon no better an account than Turks and Papists take up theirs, because it is the rehgion of the times and places wherein they Uve ; and what they take up thus sUghtly, they lay down as easily. Whereas an inward taste and rehsh of the things of God, is an excellent preservative to keep us settled in the most unsettled times. Corrupt and unsavoury principles have great advan- * Rivet Crit. Sacr. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. Q tage upon us, above those that are spiritual and sound ; the former being suitable to corrupt nature, the latter contrary; the former springing up of themselves, the latter brought forth not without a painful industry. The ground needs no other midwifery in bringing forth weeds than only the neglect of the husbandman's hand to pluck them up ; the air needs no other cause of darkness than the absence of the sun ; nor water of coldness than its distance from the fire ; because these are the genuine products of nature. Were it so with the soul, (as some of the philosophers have vainly imagined.) to come into the world as an abrasa tabula^ a mere blank or piece of white paper, on which neither any thing is written, nor any blots, it would then be equally receptive of good and evil, and no more averse to the one than to the other : but how much worse its condition indeed is, were scrip- ture silent, every man's experience does evidently manifest. For who is there that knows any thing of his own heart, and knows not thus much, that the suggestions of Satan have so easy and free admittance into our hearts, that our utmost watchfulness is too httle to guard us from them ? v/hereas the motions of God's Spirit are so unacceptable to us, that our utmost diligence is too little to get our hearts open to entertain them. Let therefore the excellency, necessity, difficulty of true wdsdom stir up endeavours in you somewhat proportionable to such an accomplishment ; Above all getting, get understanding, Prov. iv. 7 ; and search for wisdom as for hidden treasures, Prov. ii. 4. It much concerns you in respect of yourselves. Our second advice concerns heads of families, in respect of their families. Whatever hath been said already, though it concerns every private Christian that hath a soul to look after ; yet, upon a double account, it concerns parents and masters, as having themselves and others to look after : some there are, v/ho, because of their ignorance, cannot ; others, because of their sluggishness, will not mind this duty. To the former we propound the method of Joshua, who first began with himself, and then is careful of his family. To the latter we shall only hint, what a dreadful meeting those parents and masters must have at that great day, with their children and servants, when all that were under their inspection shall not only accuse them, but charge their eternal miscarrying upon their score. Never did any age of the Church enjoy such choice helps as this of ours. Every age of the gospel hath had its Creeds, Confessions, Cate- chisms, and such breviaries and models of divinity as have been singu- larly useful. Such forms of sound words (however in these days de- cried) have been in use in the Church ever since God himself wrote the Decalogue, as a summary of things to be done ; and Christ taught us that prayer of his, as a directory what to ask. Concerning the useful- ness of such compendiary systems, so much hath been said already by a learned divine * of this age, as is sufficient to satisfy all who are not resolved to remain unsatisfied. Concerning the particular excellency of these ensuing treatises, we judge it unneedful to mention those eminent testimonies which have been given them from persons of known worth, in respect of their judg- ment, learning, and integrity, both at home and abroad, because theiu- * Doctor Tuckiiej iu his Seimou on 2 Tim. i. 13, 6 THE EPISTLE TO TDE READER. selves spalce so much their own praise ; gold stands not in need of varnish, nor diamonds of painting : give us leave only to tell you, that we cannot but account it an eminent mercy to enjoy such helps as these are. It is ordinary in these days for men to speak evil of things they know not ; but if any are possessed with mean thoughts of these treatises, we shall only give the same counsel to them that Philip gives Nathaniel, Come and see^ John i. 46. It is no small advantage the reader now hath, by the addition of scriptures at large, whereby with little pains he may more profit, because with every truth he may behold its scripture foundation. And, indeed, considering what a Babel of opinions, what a strange confusion of tongues, there is this day among them who profess they speak the language of Canaan, there is no intelligent person but will conclude that advice of the prophet especially suited to such an age as this, Isa. viii. 20, To the law, and to the testimony ; if tliey speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. If the reverend and learned composers of these ensuing treatises were willing to take the pains of annexing scripture proofs to every truth, that the faith of people might not be built upon the dictates of men, but the authority of God, so some considerable pains hath now been further taken in transcribing those scriptures; partly to prevent that grand inconvenience, (which all former impres- sions, except the Latin, have abounded with, to the great perplexing and disheartening of the reader,) the misquotation of scripture, the meanest reader being able, by having the words at large, to rectify whatever mistake may be in the printer in citing the particular place ; partly, to prevent the trouble of turning to every proof, which could not but be very great ; partly, to help the memories of such who are \\'illing to take the pains of turning to every proof, but are unable to retain what they read ; and partly, that this may serve as a Bible com- mon-place, the several passages of scripture, which are scattered up and down in the word, being in this book reduced to their proper head, and thereby giving light each to other. The advantages, you see, in this design, are many and great ; the way to spiritual knowledge is hereby made more easy, and the ignorance of this age more inexcusable. If, therefore, there be any spark in you of love to God, be not con- tent that any of yours should be ignorant of him whom you so much admire, or any haters of him whom you so much love. If there be any compassion to the souls of them who are under your care, if any regard of your being found faithful in the day of Christ, if any respect to future generations, labour to sow these seeds of knowledge, which may grow up in after-times. That you may be faithful herein, is the earnest prayer of, Henry Wilkinson, D.jy.A.M.F Roger Drake. William Taylor. Samuel Annesley Thomas Gouge. Charles Offsin-ing. Arthur Jackson. John Cross. Samuel Clerk. Samuel Slater. William Whitaker. John Fuller. James Nalton. Thomas Goodwin. Matthew Pool. William Bates. John Locler. Francis Raworth. William Cooper. William Jenkin. Thomas Mauton. Thomas Jacomb. George GriUiths. Edward Perkins. Ralph Venning. Jeremiah Burwell. Joseph Church. Has. Bridge.s. Samuel Smith. Samuel Rowles. John Glascock. Leo. Cooke. John Sheffield. Matthew Ilaviland. Wiiiiam Biackmore. Richard Kentish. Alexander Pringle. William Wickins. Thomas Watson. John Jackson. John Seabrooke. John Peach ie. James JoUife. Obadiah Lee. 7 MR THOMAS MANTON'S EPISTLE TO THE READER. Christian Reader, I CANNOT suppose thee to be such a stranger in England as to be ignorant of the general complaint concerning the decay of the power of godliness, and more especially of the great conniption of youth. Wherever thou goest, thou wilt hear men crying out of bad children and bad servants; whereas indeed the source of the mischief must be sought a little higher : it is bad parents and bad masters that make bad children and bad servants; and we cannot blame so much their imtowardness, as our own negligence in their education. The devil hath a great spite at the kingdom of Christ, and he knoweth no such compendious way to crush it in the egg, as by the perversion of youth, and supplanting family-duties. He striketh at all those duties which are publick in the assemblies of the saints ; but these are too well guarded by the solemn injunctions and dying charge of Jesus Christ, as that he should ever hope totally to subvert and undermine them ; but at family-duties he striketh with the more success, because the institution is not so solemn, and the practice not so seriously and conscientiously regarded as it should be, and the omission is not so liable to notice and publick censui-e. Religion was first hatched in families, and there the devil seeketh to crush it; the families of the Patriarchs were all the Churches God had in the world for the time; and therefore, (I suppose,) when Cain went out from Adam's family, he is said to go out from the face of the Lord, Gen. iv. 16. Now, the devil knoweth that this is a blow at the root, and a ready way to prevent the suc- cession of Churches : if he can subvert families, other societies and commu. nities will not long flourish and subsist with any power and vigour; for there is the stock from whence they are supplied both for the present and future. For the present : A family is the seminary of Church and State ; and if children be not well principled there, all miscarrieth : a fault in the first concoction is not mended in the second ; if youth be bred ill in the family, they prove ill in Church and Commonwealth; there is the first making or marring, and the presage of their future lives to be thence taken, Prov. xx. 11. By family discipline, officers are trained up for the Church, I Tim. iii. 4, One that rulelh well his own Ivouse, &c. ; and tJiere are men bred up in subjec- tion and obedience. It is noted. Acts xxi. 5, that the disciples brought Paul on his way with their wives and childi'cn; their children probably are men- tioned, to intimate, that their parents would, by their own example and affectionate farewell to Paul, breed them up in a way of reverence and respect to the pastors of the Church. For the future : It is comfortable, certainly, to see a thriving nursery of young plants, and to have hopes tliat God shall have a people to serve him when we are dead and gone : the people of God comfoi'ted themselves in that, Ps. cii. 28, The children oj thy servants shall continue, &c. Upon all these considerations, how careful should ministers and parents be to train up young ones whilst they are yet pliable, and, like wax, capable of any form and impression, in the knowledge and fear of God; and betimes to instil the principles of our most holy faith, as they are drawn into a short sum in catechisms, and so altogether laid in the view of conscience ! Surely these seeds of truth planted in the field of memory, it they work nothing else, will at least be a great check and bridle to them, and, as the casting in of cold water doth stay the boiling of the pot, somewhat allay the fei-voura of vouthf ul lusts and passions. I had, upon entreaty, resolved to recommend to thee with the greatest eai-ucstness the work of catechising, and, aa a meet help, the usefulness of 8 THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. tills book, as thus printed witli the scriptures at large : but meeting with a private letter of a vei-y learned and godly divine, wherein that work is ex- cellently done to my hand, I shall make bold to transcribe a part of it, and offer it to publick view. The author having bewailed the great distractions, corruptions, and divi- sions that are in the Church, he thus represents the cause and cure : " Among others, a principal cause of these mischiefs is the great and common neglect of the governors of families, in the discharge of that dutj^ which they owe to God for the souls that are \mder their charge, especially in teaching thera the doctrine of Christianity. Families are societies that must be sanctified to Grod as well as Clnrrches; and the governors of them have as truly a charge of the souls that are therein, as pastors have of the Churches. But, alas, how little is this considered or regarded ! But while negligent minis- ters are (deservedly) cast out of their places, the negligent masters of fami- lies take themselves to be almost blameless. They offer their children to God in baptism, and there they promise to teach them the doctrine of the gospel, and bring them up in the nurture of the Lord ; but they easily pro- mise, and easily break it; and educate their children for the world and the flesh, although they have renounced these, and dedicated them to (xod. This covenant-breaking with God, and betraying the souls of their children to the devil, must lie heavy on them here or hereafter. They beget children, and keep families, merely for the world and the flesh : but little consider what a charge is committed to them, and what it is to bring up a child for God, and govern a family as a sanctified society. " how sweetly and successfully would the work of God go on, if we would but all join together in our several places to promote it ! Men need not then run without sending to be preachers ; but they might find that part of the work that belongeth to them to be enough for them, and to be the best that they can be employed in. Especially women should be careful of tliis dutj", because as they are most about their children, and have early and frequent opportunities to instruct them, so this is the principal seiwice they can do to God in this world, being restrained from more publick work. And doubt- less many an excellent magistrate hath been sent into the Commonwealth, and many an excellent pastor into the Church, and many a precious saint to heaven, through the happy preparations of a holy education, perhaps by a woman that thought herself useless and unserviceable to the Church. Would parents but begin betimes, and labour to affect the hearts of their children with the great matters of everlasting life, and to acquaint them with the substance of the doctrine of Christ, and, when they find in them the know- ledge and love of Christ, would bring them then to the pastors of the Church to be tried, confirmed, and admitted to the further privileges of the Church, what happy, well-ordered Churches might we have! then one pastor need not be put to do the work of tAvo or three hundred or thousand governors of families, even to teach their cliildren those principles which they should have taught them long before; nor should we be put to preach to so many miser- able ignorant souls, that be not prepared by education to understand us; nor should we have need to shut out so many from holy communion upon the account of ignorance, that yet have not the grace to feel it and lament it, nor the wit and patience to wait in a learning state, till they are ready to be fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. But now they come to us with aged self-conceitedness, being past children, and yet worse tlian children still ; having the ignorance of children, but being overgrown the teachableness of children; and think themselves wise, yea, wise enough to quarrel with the wisest of their teachers, because they have lived long enough to have been wise, and the evidence of their knowledge is their aged ignorance; and they are readier to flee in our faces for Church -privileges, than to learn of us, and obey our instiiictions, till they are prepared for them, that tliey may do them good; like snappish curs, that will snap us by the fingers for their meat, and snatch it out of our hands; and not like children, that stay till we give it them. Parents have so used them to be unruly, that ministers have to deal but with too few but the unruly. Aud THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. 9 It is for want of this laying the foundation well at first, that professors them- selves are so ignorant as most are, and that so many, especially of the younger sort, do swallow down almost any error that is offered them, and follow any sect of dividers that will entice them, so it be but done with earnestness and plausibility. For, alas ! though by the grace of God their hearts may be changed in an hom% (whenever they understand but the essentials of the faith,) yet their understandings must have time and diligence to furnish them with such knowledge as must stablish them, and fortify them against deceits. Upon these, and many the like considerations, we should entreat all Christian families to take more pains in this necessary work, and to get better acquainted with the substance of Christianity. And, to that end, (taking along some moving treatises to awake the heart,) I know not what work should be fitter for their use, than that compiled by the Assembly at Westminster; a Synod of as godly, judicious divines, (notwithstanding all the bitter words which they have received from discontented and self-con- eeited men,) I verily think, as ever England saw. Though they had the un- happiness to be employed in calamitous times, when the noise of wars did Btop men's ears, and the licentiousness of wars did set every wanton tongue and pen at liberty to reproach them, and the prosecution and event of those wars did exasperate partial discontented men to dishonour themselves hy seeking to dishonour them ; I dare say, if in the days of old, when councils were in power and account, they had had but such a council of bishops, as this of presbyters was, the fame of it for learning and holiness, and all mi- nisterial abilities, would, with very great honour, have been transmitted to posterity. " 1 do therefore desire, that all masters of families would first study well this work themselves, and then teach it their children and servants, accord- ing to their several capacities. And, if they once understand these grounds of religion, they will be able to read other books more understandingly, and hear sermons more profitably, and confer more judiciously, and hold fast the doctrine of Christ more firmly, than ever you are like to do by any other course. First, let them read and learn the Shorter Catechism, and next the Larger, and lastly, read the Confession of Faith." Thus far he, whose name I shall conceal, (though the excellency of tho matter, and present stjde, will easily discover him,) because I have published it without his privity and consent, though, I hope, not against his liking and approbation. I shall add no more, but that I am, Thy servant, in the Lords work, THOMAS MANTON. 10 An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for the call- ing of an Assembly of learned and godly Divines, and oilier s, to he consulted tcith by the Parliament, for the settling of the government and liturgy of the Church of England ; and for vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the said Church from false aspersions and interpretations. June 12, 1643, WHEREAS, amongst the infinite blessings of Almighty God upon this nation, none is nor can be more dear unto us than the purity of our religion; and for that, as yet, many things remain in the liturgy, discipline, and government of the Church, which do necessarily require a further and more perfect reformation than as yet hath been attained ; and whereas it hath been declared and resolved by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that the present Church-government by archbishops, their chan- cellors, commissars, deans, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and other eccle- siastical officers depending upon the hierarchy, is evil, and justly offensive and burdensome to the kingdom, a great impediment to reformation and growth of religion, and vei-y prejudicial to the state and government of this kingdom ; and therefore they are resolved that the same shall be taken away, and that such a government shall be settled in the Church as may be most agreeable to God's holy word, and most apt to procure and preserve the peace of the Church at home, and nearer agreement with the Church of Scotland, and other Reformed Churches abroad; and, for the better effecting hereof, and for the vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the Church of England from all false calumnies and aspei-sions, it is thought fit and necessary to call an Assembly of learned, godly, and judicious Divines, who, together with some members of both the Houses of Parliament, are to consult and advise of such matters and things, touching the premises, as shall be proposed unto them by both or either of the Houses of Parliament, and to give their advice and counsel therein to both or either of the said Houses, when, and as often as they shall be thereunto required : Be it therefore ordained, by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, That all and every the persons hereafter in this present ordinance named, that is to say, — And such other person or persons as shall be nominated and appointed by both Houses of Parliament, or so many of them as shall not be letted by sick- ness, or other necessary impediment, shall meet and assemble, and are hereby required and enjoined, upon summons signed by the clerks of both Houses of Parliament, left at their respective dwellings, to meet and assemble them- selves at Westminster, in the Chapel called King Henry the VH.'s Chapel, on the first day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and forty -three; and after the first meeting, being at least the number of forty, shall from time to time sit, and be removed from place to place ; and also that the said Assembly shall be dissolved in such manner as by both Houses of Parliament shall be directed : and the said persons, or so many of them as shall be so assembled, or sit, shall have power and authority, and are hereby likewise enjoined from time to time, during this present Parlia- ment, or until further order be taken by both the said Houses, to confer and treat among themselves of such matters and things, touching and concerning tlie liturgy, discipline, and government of the Church of England, for the vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the same from all false aspei-sions and misconstnictions, as shall be proposed unto them by both or either of the said Houses of Parliament, and no other; and deliver their opinion, ad- vices of, or touching the matters aforesaid, as shall be most agreeable to the word of God, to both or either of the Houses, from time to time, in such manner and sort as by both or either of the said Houses of Parliament shall be required; and the same not to divulge, by printing, writing, or otherwise, without the consent of both or either Houses of Parliament. And be it fur- ther ordained by the authority aforesaid. That William Twisse doctor in divinity shall sit in the chair, as prolocutor of the said Assembly; and if he happen to die, or be letted by sickness, or other necessary impediment, then Bucli other person to be appointed in his place as sliall be a^^i-eed on by the 11 Baid Houses of Parliament : And in case any difference in opinion shall hap- pen amongst the said persons so assembled, touching any the matters that shall be proposed to them as aforesaid, that then they shall represent the same, together with the reasons thereof, to both or either the said Houses respectively, to the end such further direction may be given therein as shall be requisite to that behalf. And be it fm-ther ordained by the authority aforesaid, That, for the charges and expences of the said Divines, and every one of them, in attending the said service, there shall be allowed every one of them that shall so attend, during the time of their said attendance, and for ten days before and ten days after, the sum of four shillings for every day, at the charges of the Commonwealth, at such time, and in such manner as by both Houses of Parliament shall be appointed. And be it further ordamed. That all and e\Qvj the said Divines, so, as aforesaid, required and enjoined to meet and assemble, shall be freed and acquitted of and from evei-y ofience, forfeiture, penalty, loss, or damage, which shall or majr ensue or grow by reason of any non-residence or absence of them, or an}' of them, from his or their, or any of their church, churches, or cures, for or in respect of theii' said attendance upon the said service ; any law or statute of non- residence, or other law or statute enjoining their attendance upon theii- re- spective ministries or charges, to the contrary thereof notwithstanding. And if any of the persons above named shall happen to die before the said Assem- bly shall be dissolved by order of both Houses of Parliament, then such other person or persons shall be nominated and placed in the room and stead of such person or persons so djing, as by both the said Houses shall be thought fit and agreed upon ; and every such pei*son or persons, so to be named, shall have thelike power and authority, freedom and acquittal, to all intents and purposes, and also all such wages and allowances for the said service, dui'ing the time of his or their attendance, as to any other of the s;iid persons io this ordinance is by this ordinance limited and appointed. Provided always, That this ordinance, or any tiling therein contained, shall not give unto the persons aforesaid, or any of them, nor shall they in this Assembly assume to exercise any jurisdiction, power, or authority ecclesiastical whatsoever, or any other power than is herein particularly expressed. Assembly at Edinburgh, August 19, 1643. Sess. 14. Commission of tlie General Assembly to some Ministers and Ruling Elders, for repairing to the Kingdom of England. THE Genei'al Assembly of the Qliurch of Scotland finding it necessary to send some godly and learned of this Kirk to the kingdom of England, to the effect under written ; therefore gives full power and commission to Mr Alexander Henderson, Mr Robert Douglas, Mr Samuel Rutherford, Mr Robert Baillie, and Mr George Gillespie, Ministei*s, John Earl of Cassilis, John Loi-d Maitland, and Sir Archibald Johnstoun of Warristoun, Eldei-s, or any three of them, whereof two shall be Ministers, to repair to the kingdom of England, and there to deliver the declaration sent unto the Parliament of England, and the letter sent unto the Assembly of Divines now sitting in that kingdom; and to propone, consult, treat, and conclude with that Assem- bly, or any Commissioners deputed by them, or any Committees or Commis- sioners deputed by the Houses of Parliament, in all matters which may fur- ther the union of this Island in one Form of Kirk-government, one Confes- ,sion of Faith, one Catechism, one Directory for the worship of God, accord- ing to the instnictions which they have received from the Assembly, or sliall receive from time to time hereafter from the Commissioners of the Assembly deputed for that effect : with power also to them to convey to His Majesty the himible answer sent from this Assembly to His Majesty's letter, by such occasion as they shall think convenient ; and sicklike, to deliver the Assem- bly's answer to the letter sent from some well-affected bretlu'en of the minis- 12 try there ; and generally authorises tliera to do all things which may further the so much desired union, and nearest injunction of the two Churches of Scotland and England, conform to their instructions aforesaid. Many of the persons who ivere called by the foresaid Ordinance of the Lords and Commons {in that broken state of t/ie Church) to attend the Assembly a]ipeared not; whereupon tlie whole work lay on the hands of the persons hereafter men- tioned. The Promise and Vow taken by every Member admitted to sit in the Assembly. IA. B. do seriously promise and vow, in the presence of Almighty God, That in this Assembly, whereof I am a member, I will maintain nothing in point of doctrine, but what I believe to be most agreeable to the word of God; nor in point of discipline, but what may make most for God's glory, and the peace and good of this Church. A List of the Divines who met in the Assembly at Westminster. Dr William Twisse of Newbury, Prolo- cutor, Di- Cornelius Burges of Waterford, John White of Dorchester, Assessors, Dr William Gouge of Blackfriars, London, Robert Harris of Kanwell, B. D. Thomas Gattaker of Rotherhithe, Oliver Bowles of Sutton, B. D. Edward Reynolds of Bramston, Jeremiah Whitaker of Streton, Dr Anthony Tuckney of Boston, John Arrowsmith of Lynne, Simeon Ashe of St Brides, Philip Nye of Kimbolton, Jeremiah Burroughs of Stepney, John Lightfoot of Ashley, Stanley Gower of Brampton Bi van, Richard Heyrick of Manchester, Thomas Case of Loudon, Dr Thomas Temple of Battery, George Gipps of Ayleston, Thomas Carter, Dr Humphrey Chambers of Claverstoun, Thomas JVlicklethwait of Cherryburtou, John Guibon of Waltham, Christopher Tesdale of Uphusborne, Henry thilps, George Walker, B.D. Edmund Calamy, B. D. of Aldermanbury, Dr Lazarus Seaman of London, Joseph Caryl of Lincoln's Inn, Dr Ilenry Wilkinson senior of Waderston, Richard vines of Calcot, Nicholas Profit of Marlborough, Stephen Marshall, B.D. of Finchingfield, Dr Joshua Hoyle late of Dublin, Thomas Wilson of Otham, Thomas Hodges of Kensington, Thomas Baillie of Mildenhall, B.D. Francis Taylor of Yalding, Thomas Young of Stownmarket, Thomas Valentine, B. D. of Chalfout, St Giles, William Greenhill of Stepney, Edward Pele of Compton, John Green of Pencomb, Andrew Pern of Wilby, Samuel de la Place, John de la March, John Dury, »eli Philip Deline, Sidrach Simpson of London, JoLu Langly of Weatuderiy, Richard Clayton of Showers, Arthur Sallaway of Seavernestock, John Ley of Budworth, Charles Herle of Winwick, prolocutor after Dr Twisse, Herbert Palmer, B.D. of Ashwel, assessor after Mr White, Daniel Cawdrey of Great Billing, Henry Painter, B. D. of Exetei", Henry Scudder of Col inborn, Thomas Hill, B. D. of Tichmarsh, William Reynor, B.D. of Egham, Dr Thomas Goodwin of London, Dr William Spurstow of Hampden, Matthew Newcomb of Dedhara, Dr Edmond Staunton of Kingston, John Conant of Lymmington, B. D. Anthony Burges of Sutton Coldiield, William Rathband, Dr Francis Cheynel of Oxen, J)r Henry Wilkinson younger of Oxford, Obadiah Sedgwick, B. D. of Cogshal, Edward Corbist of Marton College, Ox- ford, Samuel Gibson of Burley, Thomas Coleman of Bliton, Theodore Back hurst, William Carter of London, Peter Smith, John Maynard of Mayfield, William Price of Paul's Church in Covent Garden, John Whincop of St Martins in th«3 Fields, William Bridge of Yarmouth, Peter Sterry of London, William Mew, B. D. of Eslington, Benjamin Pickering of East Hoatly, John Strickland of St Edmonds in Sarum, Humphrey Hardwick, Jasper Hicks of Lawrick or Lanrake, John Bond, Henry Hall, B. D. of Norwich, Thomas Ford of Loudon, afterwards of Exeter, Thomas Thorogood of Massingham, Peter Clerk of Kerby Underbill, William Good, John Foxcroft of Gotham, John Ward, Richard Byfield of Long-Dltton, t'rancis Woodcock, J uhu Jackson of Murske. 13 Commissioners from the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, A.LEXAXDER HENDERSON of Edinburgh, John Lord Maitland, aftenrards Duke of Robert Douglas of Edinburgh, Lauderdale, Samuel Rutherford of St Andrews, Sir Archibald Johnstoun of Waristouu, Robert Baillie of Glasgow, Henry Robrough, {Ruling Elders, George Gillespie of Edinburgh, Ministers, Adoniram Byfield, John Earl of Cassilis, John Wallis, Scribes. Assemblj' at Edixbukoh, August 27, 1647. Sess. 23. Act approving the Confession o/ Faith. A CONFESSION of Faith for the Kirks of God in the three kingdoms, being the chiefest pai-t of thai uniformity in religion, which by the Solemn League and Covenant, we are bound to endeavour : And there being accordingly^ Confession of Faith agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster, with the assistance of Commissioners from the Kirk of Scotland ; which Confession was sent from our Commissioners at London to the Commissioners of the Kirk met at Edinbui-gh in J anuary last, and hath been in this Assembly twice publickly read over, examined, and con- sidered ; copies thereof being also printed, that it might be particularly per- used by all the members ofthis Assembly, unto whom frequent intimation was publickly made, to put in their doubts and objections, if they had any : And the said Confession being, upon due examination thereof, found by the Assembly to be most agreeable to the word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Kirk. And, lastly. It being so necessary, and so much longed for, that the said Con- fession be, with all possible dihgcnce and expedition, approved and estab- lished in both kingdoms, as a principal part of the intended tmiformity in religion, and as a special means for the more eifectual suppressing of the many dangerous errors and heresies of these times ; the Genei'al Assembly doth therefore, after matui'e deliberation, agree unto, and approve the said Confession, as to the truth of the matter ; ( judging it to be most orthodox, and grounded upon the word of God ;) and also, as to the point of uniformity, agreeing for our part, that it be a common Confession of Faith for the three kingdoms. The Assembly doth also bless the Lord, and thankfully acknow- ledge his great mercy, in tliat so excellent a Confession of Faith is prepared, and thus far agreed upon in both kingdoms; which we look upon as a great strengthening of the true reformed religion against the common enemies thereof. But, lest oui* intention and meaning be in some particulars misun- derstood, it is hereby expressly declared and provided, That the not men- tioning in this Confession the several sorts of ecclesiastical officers and assem- blies, shall be no prejudice to the tiiith of Christ in these particulars, to be expressed fully in the Directory of Government. It is fm-ther d(!elared, That the Assembly imderstandeth some parts of the second article of the thirty- one chapter only of kirks not settled, or constituted in point of government: And that although, in such kirks, a synod of Ministers, and other fit persons, may be called by the Magistrate's authority and nomination, without any other call, to consult and advise with about matters of religion ; and although, likeAvise, the Ministers of Christ, without delegation from their churches, may of themselves, and by virtue of their office, meet together sjnodically in such kirks not yet constituted, yet neither of these ought to be done in kirks constituted and settled; it being always free to the Magistrate to advise with synods of ministers and raling elders, meeting upon delegation from their churches, either ordinarily, or, being indicted by his authority, occasionally, and pro re nata; it being also free to assemble together sjmodically, as well pro re nata as at the ordinary times, upon delegation from the churches, by the intrinsical power received from Chi-ist, as often as it is necessary for the 14 good of the Church so to assemble, in case the Magistrate, to the detriment of the Church, withhold or deny his consent; the necessity of occasional •asemblies being first remonstrate unto him by humble supplication. A. KER. Charles I. Pari. 2. Sess. 2. Act 16. A d. anent the Catechisms, Confession of Faith, and Ratification thereof. At Edinburgh, February 7, 1649. THE Estates of Parliament, now presently convened in this second Session of tiie second triennial Parliament, by virtue of an Act of the Commit- tee of Estates, who had power and authority from the last Parliament for convening the Parliament, having seriously considered the Catechisms, viz. the Larger and Shorter ones, with the Confession of Faith, with three Acts of Approbation thereof by the Commissioners of the General Assembly, pre- sented unto them by the Commissioners of the said General Assembly; do ratify and approve the said Catechisms, Confession of Faith, and Acts of Approbation of the same, produced as it is ; and ordains them to be recorded, published, and practised. ACT 7th June 1690. Ratifying the Confession of Faith, and settling Presbyterian Church Government. UR Sovereign Lord and Lady, the King and Queen's Majesties, and three Estates of Parliament, conceiving it to be their bounden duty, after the great deliverance that God hath lately wrought for this Church and King- dom, in the first place to settle and secure therein the true Protestant reli- gion, according to the truth of God's word, as it hath of a long time been professed within this land ; as also the government of Christ's Church within this Nation, agreeable to the word of God, and most conducive to the ad- vancement of true piety and godliness, and the esLablishing of peace and tranquillity within this realm, — they, by these presents, ratify and establish the Confession of Faith now read in their presence, and voted and approven by them, as the public and avowed Confession of this Church, containing the Bum and substance of the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches, (which Confes- sion of Faith is subjoined to this present Act,) as also they do establish, ratify, and confirm the Presbyterian Church Government and Discipline; that is to say, the Government of the Church by Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies, ratified 8nd established by the 114 Act James VI., Pari. 12, Anno 1.392, entitled Ratification of the Liberty of the Kirk, &c., and thereafter received by the general consent of this na- tion, to be the only Government of Christ's Church within this kingdom; reviving, renewing, and confirming the same in the whole heads thereof, ex- cept that part of it relating to Patronages, which is hereafter to be taken into consideration. CONFESSION OF FAITH; AOFKKD UPON BY THE ASSEMBLY OF DITINES AT WESTMINSTER. WITU THE ASSISTANCE V¥ COMMISSIONEKS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, AS A PART OF THE COVEJJANTED UNIFORMITY IN RELIGION BETWIXT THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE KINGDOMS OF SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND. APPROVED BY THE GFNERAL ASSKMBLT 1647, ASD HATIFTED AND KSTABLTSHFD BY ACTS OF PARLIAMENT 1649 AND 1690, AS THE PUBMCK AND AYOWKD CuNFESolON or THE CHURCH Of SCOTLAND. THE PROOFS FROM THE SCRIPTURB. THE CONTENTS. CHAP. I. II. III. IV. V. VI. 711. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. CHAP. f\Y the Holy Scripture. U Of God, and of the Holy Trinit5^ Of God's Eternal Decree. xvni. XIX. XX. Of Creation. Of ProTidence. XXI. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment XXII. thereof. XXIII. Of Grod' s Covenant with Man . XXIV. Of Christ the Mediator. XXV. Of Free Will. XXVI. Of Effectual Calling. XXVII. Of Justification. xxvni. Of Adoption. XXIX. Of Sanctification. XXX. Of Saving Faith. XXXI. Of Repentance unto Life. XXXII. Of Good Works. Of the Perseverance of the Saints. XXXIII. Of Afc^urance of Grace and Salvation. Of the Law of God. Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience. Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath-day. Of lawful Oaths and Vows. Of the Civil Magistrate. Of Marriage and Divorce. Of the Church. Of Communion of Saints. Of the Sacraments. Of Baptism. Of the Lord's Supper. Of Church Censures. Of Synods and Councils. Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resur- rection of the Dead. Of the last Judgment. TUB CONFESSION OF FAITH, Agreed upon hy the Assembly of Divines at Westminster ; Examined and approved, Anno 1647, by the General Assembly of the Churcu OF Scotland ; and ratified by Acts op Parliament 1649 and 1690. CHAP. I.— Of the Hol^ Scripture. I. A LTHOUGH the light of nature, and the works of creation and xL providence, do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable ;* yet they are not sufficient to give tliat knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salva- tion:'' therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his Church ;' and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing;* which maketh the holy 1, *Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gen- demnest thyself ; for thou that judgest tiles, which have not the law. do by doest the same things, nature the things contained in the ^ 1 Cor. i. 21. For after that, in tlie law, these, having not the law, are a wisdom of God, the world by wisdom law unto themselves : Ver. 15. Which knew not God, it pleased God by the show the work of the law written in foolishness of preaching to save them theirhearts, their conscience also bear- that believe. 1 Cor. ii. 13. Which ing witness, and their thoughts the tilings also we speak, not in the words mean while accusing or else excusing which man's wisdom teacheth, but one another. Rom. i. 19. Because that which the Holy Ghost teacheth ; com- which may be known of God is mani- paring spiritual things with spiritual, fest in them : for God hath showed it Ver. 14. But the natural man receiv- unto them. Ver. 20. For the invisi- eth not the things of the Sph'it of God : ble things of him from the creation of for they are foohshness unto him ; the world are clearly seen, being un- neither can he know them, because derstood by the things that are made, they are spiritually discerned, even his eternal power and Godhead ; ° Heb. i. 1. God, who at sundry Bo that they are without excuse. Ps. times, and in divers manners, spake xix. 1. The heavens declare the glory in time past unto the fathei's by the of God; and the firmament showeth prophets. his handy-work. Ver. 2. Day imto '^ Prov. xxii. 19. That thy trust may day uttereth speech, and night unto be in the Lord, I have made known to night showeth knowledge. Ver. 3. thee this day, even to thee. Ver. 20. There is no speech nor language where Have not I written to thee excellent their voice is not heard. Rom. i. 32. things in counsels and knowledge ; Who, knowing the judgment of God, Ver. 21. That I might make theo that they which commit such things know the certainty of the words of are worthy of death, not only do the ti-uth; that thou mightest answer the same, but have pleasure in them that words of truth to them that send unto do them. _ With Rom. ii. 1. Therefore thee ? Luke i. 3. It seemed good to me thou art inexcusable, man, whoso- also, having had perfect understand- ever thou art that judgest : for where- ing of all things from the very first, in thou judgest another, thou con to write imto thee in order, most ex- 18 THE CONFESSION OF FAITtt CHAP. I. scripture to be most necessary;* those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.' II. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the Books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these : — OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. Genesis. I. Kings. Fcclesiastes. Amos. Exodus. II. Kings. The Song of Obadiah. Leviticus, I. Chronicles. Songs. Jonah. Numbers. II. Chronicles. Isaiah. Micah. Deuteronomy. Ezra. Jeremiah. Nahum. Joshua. Nehemiah. Lamentations. Habakkuk. Judges. Esther. Ezekiel. Zephaniah. Ruth. Job. Daniel. Haggai. I, Samuel. Psalm.s. Hosea. Zechariah. II. Samuel. Proverbs. Joel. Malachi. OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. The Gospels ac- Paul's Epistles Thessalonians II. The first and se- cording to to the Romans. To Timothy I. cond Epistles Matthew. Corinthians I. To Timothy II. of Peter. Mark. Corinthians II. To Titus. The first, second, Luke. Galatians. To Philemon. and third Epis- John. Ephesians. The Epistle to tles of Jtthn. The Acts of the Philippians. the Hebrews. The Epistle of Apostles. Colossians. The Epistle of Jude. Thessalonians I. James. The Revelation. All which are giv en by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.g cellent Theophilus, Ver. 4. That thou mightest know the certainty of tliose tilings wherein thou hast been in- stinicted. Rom. xv. 4. For whatso- ever things were written aforetime were written for oui' learning; that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope. Matt. iv. 4. But he answered and said. It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that pro- ceedeth out of the mouth of God. Ver. 7. Jesus said unto him, It is written aerain, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord^tliy God. Ver. 10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord tliy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Isa. viii. 19. And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and that mutter : should not a people seek unto their God ? for the living to the dead ? Ver. 20. To the law and to the testi- mony : if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. e 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scrip- tures, whicli are able to make thee wise uuto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Pet. i. 19. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whercunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dai'k place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in j^om* hearts. *■ Heb. i. I. God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fatliers by the prophets, Ver. 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also lie made the worlds. II. 8 Luke xvi. 29. Abraham saith unto him, 'l^bcy have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. Ver. CHAP, t THE CONFESSION OF FAITH, ly III. The Books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the scripture ; and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be any otherwise ap- proved, or made use of, than other human writinjo-s.^ IV. The authority of the holy scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God, (who is truth itself,) the author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the word of God.' V. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to an high and reverend esteem of the holy scripture,'' and the heaven- liness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole, (which is to give all glory to God,) the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the word of God ; yet, notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infalhble truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the word in our hearts.' 31. And he said unto him, If they hear but holy men of God spake as they not Moses and the prophets, neither were moved by the Holy Ghost. will they be persuatled though one IV. ^ 2 Pet. i. 19. We have also a rose from the dead. Eph. ii. 20. And more sure word of prophecy; where- are built upon the foundation of the unto ye do well that ye take heed, as apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ unto a light that sbiueth in a dark himself being the chief corner-stone, place, until the day daAvn. and the day. Rev. xxii. 18. For I testify unto every star arise in your hearts. Ver. 21. man that heareth the words of the For the prophecy came not in old time prophecy of this book, Ifany man shall by the will of man; but holy men of add unto these things, God shall add God spake as they were moved by the unto him the plagues that are written Holy Ghost. 2 Tim. iii. 16. All scrip, in this book: Ver. ]9. And if any man tm-e is given by inspiration of God, shall take away from tlie words of the and is pi'ofitable for doctrine, for re- book of this prophecy. God shall take proof, for correction, for instruction away his part out of the book of life, in righteousness. 1 John v. 9. If we and out of the holy city, and from the receive the witness of men, the wit- things which are written in this book, ness of God is greater : for this is the 2 Tim. iii. 16. All scripture is given witnessof God which he hath testified by inspiration of God, and is profit- of his Son. 1 Thess. ii. 13. For this able for doctrine, for reproof, for cor- cause also thank we God without ceas- rection, for instruction in righteous- ing, because, when ye received the ness. word of God which ye heard of us, ye III. "^ Luke xxiv. 27. And begin- received it not as the word of men, ning at Moses and all the prophets, he but (as it is in truth) the word of expounded unto them in all the scrip- God, which eflFectually worketh also tures the things concerning himself, in you that believe. Ver. 44. And he said unto them, These V . "^ 1 Tim. iii. 15. But if I tarry are the words which I spake imto you, long, that thou mayest know how thou while I was yet with you, tliat all ouglitest to behave thyselfin the house things must be fulfilled' which were of God, which is the church of the liv- written in the law of Moses, and in ing God, the pillar and gTound of tlie the Prophets, and in the Psalms, con- truth. cerning me. Rom. iii. 2. Much evei-y ' 1 John ii. 20. But ye have an unc- way : chiefly, because that unto them tion from the Holy One, and ye know were committed the oracles of God. all things. Ver. 27. But the anoint- 2 Pet. i. 21. For the prophecy came ing which ye have received of him Hot in old time by the will of man ; abideth in you ; and yc need not that 20 THE CONFESSION OF F\ITH. CHAP. I. VI. The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith, and Ufe, is either expressly set down in scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be de- duced from scripture : unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men." Ne- vertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the word ;° and that there are some circumstances con- cerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the word, which are always to be observed." any man teach you : but as the same ancjintins: teacheth you of all things, antl is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide m him. Johnxvi. 13. Howbeitwhen he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth : for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak : and be will show you things to come. Ver. 14. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. 1 Cor. ii. 10. But God hath re- vealed them unto us by his Spirit : for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. Ver. 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spii-it of man which is hi him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Ver. 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God ; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Isa. lix. 21. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord ; My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. VL "^ 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scrip- tures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Ver. 16.^ All scrip- ture is given by inspii^ation of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for re- proof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ; Ver. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Gal. i. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel imto you than that which we have preach- ed \mto you, let him be accursed. Ver. 9. As we said before, so say I now again. If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 2 Thess. ii. 2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. ° John vi. 45. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 1 Cor. ii. 9. But, as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have en- tered into the heart of man, the things wliich God hath prepared for them that love him. Ver. 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit : for the Spirit searchetli all things, yea, the deep things of God. Ver. 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Ver. 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God ; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. *> 1 Cor. xi. 13. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God imcovered? Ver. 14. Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him ? 1 Cor. xiv. 26. How is it then, brethren? when ye come to- gether, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. Ver. 40. Let all things be done de- cently, and in order. CHAP. I. TITE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 21 VII. All tilings in scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all;P yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them, "i VIII. The Old Testament in Hebrew, (which was the native lan- guage of the people of God of old,) and the IS e w Testament in Greek, (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations,) being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical;' so as in all controversies of religion, the Church is finally to appeal unto them.' But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have right unto and interest in the scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search them,^ there- fore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come," that the word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner,^ and, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, may have hope.* IX. The infalUble rule of interpretation of scripture is the scripture itself J and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full VII. P 2 Peter iii. 16. As also in all his epistles, speaking in tliem of these things : in which are some things liard to be imderstood, which they that are unlearned and imstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 1 Ps. cxix. 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ver. 1.30. The entrance of thy words giveth light ; it giveth understanding unto the simple. VIII. ^ Matt. V. 18. For verily I say unto yoTi, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from tlie law, till all be fulfilled. * Isa. viii. 20. To the law and to the testimony : if they speak not accord- ing to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Acts xv. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written. John v. 39. Search the scriptures ; for in them ye think ye have eternal life : and they are they which testify of me. Ver. 46. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me : for he wrote of me. * John V. 39. Search the scriptures ; for in them ye think ye have eternal life : and they are they which testify of me. " 1 Cor. xiv. 6. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine ? Ver. 9. So likewise ye, except ye iitter by the tongue worda easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken ? for ye shall speak into the air. Ver. 11. There- fore if I know not the meaning of tlio voice, I shall be unto him that speak- eth a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian mito me. Ver. 12. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zea- lous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Ver. 24. But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all : Ver. 27. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by coui-se; and let one in- terpret. Ver. 28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church ; and let him speak to him- self, and to God. ^ Col. iii. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom ; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with gi-ace in your hearts to the Lord. ^ Rom. XV. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning ; that we, through pa- tience and comfort of the scriptm-es, might have hope. 22 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. n. sense of any scripture, (which is not manifoM, hut one,) it must be searched and knoNvn by other places that speak more clearly. y X. The supreme Judg-e, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient wi-it- ers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the scripture." CHAP. TL.—Of God, and of the Holy Trinibj. I. rpHERE is but one only* li\4ng and trueGod,^ who is infinite in being _L and perfection,"' a most pure spirit,*^ invisible,® without body, parts,' IX. y 2 Pet. i. 20. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scrip- ture is of any private intei-pretation. Ver. 21. For the prophecy came not m old time by the will of man ; but holy men of (jod spal^e as tliej^ were moved by the Holy Ghost. Acts xv. ] 5. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, Ver. 16. After this I will return, and will buil J again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down ; and I will build again the mins thereof, and I will set if up. X. ^ Matt. xxii. 29. Jesvis answered and said imto them. Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. Ver. 31. But as touching the resurrection of tlie dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto j^ou by God, saying. Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apos- tles and prophets, .Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. With Acts xxviii. 25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they depai-ted, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers. I. a Deut. vi. 4. Hear, Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. \'iii. 4. A s concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and tliat there is none other God but one. Ver. 6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him ; and one Lord .Jesiis Christ, by \^hom are all things, and we by him. '' 1 Thess. i. 9. For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turn- ed to God from idols, to serve the liv- ing and true God. Jer. x. 10. But the Lord is the true God, he is the liv- ing God, and an everlasting King. <> Job xi. 7. Canst thou by searching find out God ? canst thou find out the x\lmighty unto perfection ? Ver. 8. It is as high as heaven ; what canst thou do ? deeper than hell ; what canst thou know ? Ver. 9. The measure thereof is longer tlian the earth, and broader than the sea. Job xxvi. 14. Lo, these are parts of his ways ; but how little a portion is heard of him ? but the thunder of his power who can vmdei\stand ? •^ John iv. 24. God is a Spirit : and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. e 1 Tim. i. 17. Now, unto the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. ' Deut. iv. 15. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves, (for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Hor- eb out of the midst of the fire,) Ver. 16. Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the simili- tude of any figure, the likeness of male or female. John iv. 24. God is a Spirit : and they that worship him must wor- ship him in spirit and in truth. With Luke xxiv. 39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me. and see ; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have- CHAP. n. TITE CONFESSION OF FAITTI. 23 or passions,^ immutable.^ immense,' eternal,^ incomprehensible,' al- mighty,™ most wise,° most holy," most free,P most absolute,i working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will,"" for his own glory ;^ most loving,* gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity transgression, and sin ;" the re warder of them that diligently seek him; ? Acts xiv. 11. And when the people enw what Paul liad done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. Yer. 1.5. And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things ? We also are men of like passions with you. and preach unto you, that ye should turn from these vanities imto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein. ^ James i. 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is fi-om above, and Cometh down from theFatherof lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Mai. iii. 6. For I am the Lord, I change not ; there- fore ye sons of Jacob are not consum- ed. » 1 Kings viii. 27. But will God in- deed dwell on the earth ? Behold, the lieaven, and heaven of heavens, can- not contain thee ; how much less this house that I have builded ! Jer. xxiii. 23. Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off ? Ver. 24. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him ? saith the Lord: do not I fill heaven and earth ? saith the Lord. ^Ps. xc. 2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlast- ing, thou art God. 1 Tim. i. 17. Now, unto the King eternal, im- mortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. ' Ps. cxlv. 3. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised ; and his greatness is unsearchable. ™Gen. xvii. 1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God : walk before me, and be thou perfect. Rev. iv. 8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him ; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, say- ing. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Al- mighty, which was, and is, and is to come. " Rom. xvi. 27. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. ° Isa. vi. 3. And one cried unto an- other, and said. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts : the whole earth is full of his glory. Rev. iv. 8, [_See letter^ immediately for'noing. ] P Ps. cxv. 3. But our God is in the heavens ; he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 1 Pet. i. 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, foundation of God standeth sure, hav iug this seal. The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that through sanctification of the Spirit, nameth the name of Christ depart from unto obedience and sprinkling of the iniqiiity. John xiii. 18. I speak not of blood of Jesus Christ. Eph. i. 4. Ac- you all; I know whom I have chosen: cording as he hath chosen iis in hira but, that the scriptui'e may be ful- before the foundation of the world, filled. He that eateth bread with me that we should be holy and without hath lifted up his heel against me. blame before him in love : Ver. 5. Hav- V. i Eph. i. 4. According as he hath ing predestinated us unto the adoption chosen us in him before the founda- of children by Jesus Christ to himself, tion of the world, that we should be according to the good pleasure of ha holy, and without blame before him will. Eph. ii. 10. For we are his work- in love : Ver. 9 Having made known manship, created in Christ Jesus unto unto us the mystery of his will, ac- good works, which Grod hath before cording to his good pleasure, which he ordained that we should walk in them, hath purposed in himself : Ver. 11. 2 Thess. ii. 13. But we are bound to In whom also we have obtained an in- give thanks alway to God for you, heritance, being predestinated accord- brethren beloved of the Lord, because ing to the purpose of him who worketh God hath from the beginning chosen all things after the counsel of his own you to salvation through sanctiiica- will. Rom.viii.30. Moreover, whom he tion of the Spirit, and beaef of the did predestinate, them he also called ; truth. and whom he called, them he also jus- "^ 1 Thess. v. 9. For God hath net tjfied; and whom he justified, them he appointed us to wrath, but to obtain also glorified. 2 Tim. i. 9. Who hath salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, saved us, and called us with an holy Ver. 10. Who died for us, that, whether calling, not according to our woi'ks, we wake or sleep, we should live to- but according to his own purpose and gether with him. Tit. ii. 14. Who gave grace, which was given us in Christ himself for us. that he might redeem Jesus before the world began. 1 Thess. us from all iniquity, and purify unto V. 9. For God hath not appointed us himself a peculiar'people, zealous of to wrath, but to obtain salvation by good works. our Lord Jesus Christ. » Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he 28 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. in. and kept by his power through faith unio salvation.^ Neither are an^ other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sancti- fied, and saved, but the elect only.*! VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleased, according to the un- searchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice.' VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care,» that men attending the will did predestinate, them he also called ; and whom he called, them he also jus- tified ; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Eph. i. 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Clirist to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. 2 Thess. ii. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because (rod hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth. P 1 Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto sal- vation, ready to be revealed in the last tima, 1 Jolm xvii. 9. 1 pray for them : I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. Rom. viii.28. And we know that all things work together for good io them that love God, to them who are the called according to his pur- yose, &c. [to the end of the Chapter.] ohn vi. 64. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. Ver. 65. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. John x. 26. But ye be- lieve not ; because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. John viii. 47. He that is of GoS heareth God's words : ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 1 John ii. 1 9. They went out from us, but they were not of us ; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have con- tinued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that ihev were not all of as. VLL ' Matt. xi. 25. At that time Je- sus answered and said, I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou liast hid these thmgs from the wise and prudent, aud hast revealed them unto babes. Ver. 26. Even so, Father : for so it seemed good in thy sight. Rom. ix. 17. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Ver. 18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he Avill he hardeneth. Ver. 21. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel xuxio honour, and another unto dishonour? Ver. 22. What if God, willing to show hie wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction? 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless the foun- dation of God standeth sure, havin^i this seal. The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let evei-y one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Ver. 20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth ; and some to honour and some to dishonour. Jude, ver. 4. For there are certain men crept in una- wares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the oniy Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. ii. 8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being dis- obedient; whereimto also they were appointed. VIII. « Rom. ix. 20. Nay but, man, who art thou that repliest against God ? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it. Why hast thou made me thus? Rom. xi. 33. the depth of tlie riches both ot tlie wis- dom and knowledge of God! how un- searchable arc his judgraeivts, and his ways past finding out! Deut. xxix. Z9. The 6eci*et things belong unto the CHAP. IV. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. •if God revealed in his word, and yielding obedi'^nce thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eter- nal election.* So shall this doctrine afford matter ot praise, reverence, and admu'ation of God," and of humility, diligence, and abundant con- solation, to all that sincerely obey the Gospel.*' CHAP. lY.— 0/ Creation, I. TT pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost," for the manifes- X tation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness,** in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.* Lord our God ; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. ' 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, bretlu-en, give diligence to make your calhng and election sure : for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. " Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Rom. xi. 33. l^ee letter ^ immediately foregoing.'] " Rom. xi. 5. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Ver. 6. And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise gi-ace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace ; otherwise work is no more work. Ver. 20. Well ; because of imbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not liigh-minded, but fear. 2 Pet. i. 10. [_See letter^ immediately forego- ing.] Rom. viii. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect ? It is God that justiiieth. Luke x. 20. Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. I. * Heb. i. 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. John i. 2. The same was in the be- ginning with God. Ver. 3. All things were made by him ; and without him W^as not any thing made that was made. Gen. i. 2. And the earth was without form, and void; and dark- ness was upon the face of the deep : and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Job xxvi. 13. By his Spirit he has garnished the heavens ; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. Job xxxiii. 4. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. ^ Rom. i. 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being imderstood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead ; so that they are without excuse. Jer. x. 12. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. Ps. civ. 24. Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Ps. xxxiii. 5. He loveth righteousness and judgment : the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Ver. 0. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made ; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. " [Tlie whole first Chapter of Ge^i.] Heb. xi. 3. Through faith we under- stand that the worlds were framed 1 y the word of God ; so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Col. i. 16. For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vi- sible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principali- ties, or powers ; all things were creat- ed by him, and for him. Acts xviL 24. God, that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. 30 TUE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. IV. II. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female,<* with reasonable and immortal souls,^ endued with Icnow- ledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after his own image,^ having the law of God written in their hearts,^ and power to fulfil it;^ and yet under a possibihty of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change.' Beside this law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ; ^ which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.' II. ^ Gen. i. 27. So God created man in his own image : in the image of God created he him ; male and female created he them. « Gen. ii. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life ; and man became a living soul. With Eccl. xii. 7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. And Luke xxiii. 43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee. To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And Matt. X. 28. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. f Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us make man in oiu' image, after our Ukeness; and let them have domi- nion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Col. iii. 10. And have puton the new man, which is renew- ed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Eph. iv. 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righte- ousness and true holiness. _ e Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gen- tiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law. these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Ver. 15. Which show the work of the law written in theii| hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusmg or else ex- cusing one another. ^ Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man up- right ; but they have sought out many inveations * Gen. iii. 6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat ; and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. Eccl. vii. 29. [See letter ^ immediately foregoing.] ^Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it : for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Gen. iii. 8. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walk- ing in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Ver. 9. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? Ver. 10. And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself Ver. 11. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked ? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat ? Ver. 2H. Thei'efore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 1 Gen. i. 26. And God said. Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ; and let them have domi- nion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over .all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Ver. 28. And God blessed them : and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. CHAP. V. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 81 CHAP. Y.—Of Pr(midence. I. /^ OD, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold," \jr pose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things,'^ direct, dis- from the greatest even to the least," by his most wise and holy providence,^ ac- cording to his infallible foreknowledge,* and the free and immutable counsel of his own v\all,' to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy. ^ 11. Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, 1. » Heb. i. 3. Who, being the bright- ness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. ^ Dan. iv. 3-t. And at the end of the daj's I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine under- standing returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting do- minion, and his kingdom is from ge- neration to generation. Ver. 35. And all the inliabitauts of the earth are re- puted as nothing: and he doeth ac- cording to his will in the army of hea- ven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay Ids hand, or say unto liim, What doest thou ? Ps. exxxv. 6. Whatsoever the Lord pleas- ed, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. Acts xvii. 25. Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he need- ed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things ; Ver. 26. And hath made of one blood all na- tions of men for to dwell on all the fare of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the boxmds of their habitation : Ver 28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being ; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Job, Chapters xxxviii, xxxix, xl, xli. <= Matt. X. 29. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Ver 30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Ver. 31. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of moie value than many sparrows. •^ Prov. XV. 3. The eyes of thp Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Ps. civ. 24. Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom ba>;t thou made them all: the earth is lull of thy riches. Ps. cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. ^ Acts XV. 18. Known unto Godai-e all his woi-ks from the beginning of the world. Ps. xciv. 8. Understand, ye bi-utish among the people : and ye fools, when will ye be wise ? Ver. 9. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear ? he that formed the eye, shall he not see ? Ver. 10. He that chastise th the heathen, shall not he correct ? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? Ver. 11. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. ^ Eph. i. 1 1 . In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predes- tinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Ps. xxxiii. 10. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought : he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. Ver. 11. The counsel of the Lord stand- eth for ever, tlie thoughts of his heart to all generations. 8 Isa. Ixiii. 14. As a beast goeth down into tlie valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest ; so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name. Eph. iii. 10. To the intent that now. unto the principalities and powei-s in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. Rom. ix. 17. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared through- out all the earth. Gen. xlv. 7. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save yotxr lives by a great deliverance. Ps. cxlv. 7. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy gi-eat goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. 32 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. V. the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly;** yet, by the same providence, he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.* III. God in his ordinary providence maketh use of means,* yet is free to work without,' above,™ and against them,** at his pleasure. IV. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite good- II. •'Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered Iv. 10. For as the rain cometh down, by the determinate counsel and fore- and the snow from heaven, and re- knowledge of God, ye have taken, and turneth not thither, but watereth the by wicked hands have crucified and earth, and maketh it bring forth and slain. bud, that it may give seed to the sower, • Gen. viii. 22. While the earth re- and bread to the eater; Ver. 11. So maineth, seed time and harvest, and shall my word be that goeth forth out cold and heat, and summer and win- of my mouth : it shall not return unto ter, and day and night, shall not cease, me void ; but it shall accomplish that Jer. xxxi. 35. Thus saith the Lord, which I please, and it shall prosper in which giveth the stm for a light by the thing whereto I sent it. Hos. ii. day, and the ordinances of the moon 21. And it shall come to pass in that and of the stars for a light by night, day, I will hear, saith the Lord : I will which divideth the sea when the waves hear the heavens, and they shall hear thereof roar ; The Lord of hosts is his the earth ; Ver. 22. And the earth shall name. Exod. xxi. 13. And if a man hear the corn, and the wine, and the lie not in wait, but God deliver him oil ; and they shall hear Jezreel. into his hand ; then I will appoint thee ' Hos. i. 7. But I will have mercy a place whither he shall flee. With uponthehouseofJudah, and will save Deut, xix. 5. As when a man goeth into them by the Lord their God, and will the wood with his neighbour to hew not save them by bow, nor by sword, wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke nor by battle, by horses, nor by horse- with the axe to cut down the tree, and men. Matt. iv. 4. But he answered and the head slippeth from the helve, and said. It is written, Man shall not live lighteth upon his neighbour, that he by bread alone, but by every woid that die ; he shall flee unto one of those proceedeth out of the mouth of God. cities, and live. 1 Kings xxii. 28. And Job xxxiv. 10. Therefore hearken unto Micaiah said, If thou return at all in me, ye men of understanding : Far be peace, the Lord hath not spoken by it from God, that he should do wick ed- me. And he said. Hearken, people, ness ; and from the Almighty, that he every one of you. Ver. 34. And a cer- should commit iniquity, tain man drew a bow at a venture, and ™ Rom. iv. 19. And being not weak in smote the king of Israel between the faith, he considered not his own body joints of the harness : wherefore he now dead, when he was about an hun- said unto the driver of his chariot, dred years old, neither yet the dead- Turn thine hand, and carry me out of ness of Sarah's womb: Ver. 20. He the host ; for 1 am woimded. Isa. x. 6. staggered not at the promise of God I will send him against an hypocriti- through unbelief; but was strong in cal nation, and against the people of faith, giving glory to God ; Ver. 21. my wrath will I give him a charge. And being fully norsuaded, that what to take the spoil, and to take the he had promised, he was able also to prey, and to tread them down like perform. the mire of the streets. Ver. 7. How- ** 2 Kings vi. 6. And the man of God belt he meaneth not so, neither doth said, Where fell it ? And he shewed his heart think so; but it is in his him the place. And he cut down a heart to destroy and cut off nations stick, and cast it in thither; and the not a few. iron did swim. Dan. iii. 27. And the III. '^Actsxxvii. 31. Paul said to the princes, governors, and captains, and centiu"ion and to the soldiers. Except the king's counsellors, being gathered these abide in the ship, ye cannot be together, saw these men, upon whose saved. Ver. 44. And the rest, some bodies the fire had no power, nor was on boards, and some on broken pieces an hair of their head singed, neither of the ship. And so it came to pass, were their coats changed, nor the smell that they escaped all safe to laud. Isa. of fire had passed on them. CHAP. V. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH 33 ness of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that it ex- tendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men," and that not hy a bare permission,? but such as hath joined with it a most vnse and powerful bounding,i and otherwise ordering and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to his own holy ends;' yet so as the sinfulness thereof proceedeth only from the crea- ture, and not from God ; who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.* IV. ° Rom. xi. 32. For God hath con- cluded tliem all in unbelief, that he might have mei'cy upon all. Ver. 33. the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out ! ^ Ver. 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord ? or who hath been his coun- sellor ? 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. With 1 Chron. xxi. 1. And Satan stood up against Israel, and pro- voked David tonirmberlsrael. 1 Kings xxii 22. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith ? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also : go forth, and do so. Ver. 23. Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee. 1 Chron. x. 4. Then said Saul to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircunicised come and abuse me. But his annour-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. Ver. 13. So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking coun- sel of one that had a famihar spirit, to enquire of it ; Ver. 14. And enquired not of the Lord : therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse. 2 Sam. xvi. 10. And the king said. What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah ? so let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Cm-se David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done 60 ? Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and fore- knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have cmcified and slain. Acts iv. 27. For of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, Ver. 28. For to do whatso- ever thy hand and thy counsel deter- mined before to be done. P Acts xiv. 16. Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 1 Ps. Ixxvi. 10. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee ; the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. 2 Kings xix. 2S. Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou earnest. "■ Gen. 1. 20. But as for you, ye thought evil against me ; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Isa. x. 6. I will send him against an hj-pocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mii"e of the streets. Ver. 7. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so ; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. Ver. 12. Where- fore it shall come to pass, that, when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jeru- salem, I will pimish the fniit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria^ and the glory of his high looks. ^ James i. 13. Let no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tenipteth he any man : Ver. 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Ver. 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no va- riableness, neither shadow of turning. 34 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. r. V. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God, doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption, and de- ceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled;* and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for then* support upon himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends." VI. As for those wicked and ungodly men, whom God as a right- eous judge, for former sins, doth bhnd and harden,^ from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened 1 John ii. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Ps. 1. 21. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence ; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. V. * 2 Chr. xxsii. 25. But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him ; for his heart was lifted up : therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. Ver. 26. Notwithstand- ing Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, (both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,) so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. Ver. 31. Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Baby- lon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to snj, Go, number Israel and Judah. " 2 Cor. xii. 7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abimdance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buflet me, lest I should be exalted above mea- sure. Ver. 8. For this thing I be- sought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Ver. 9. And he said unto me. My grace is sufficient for thee ; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Ps. Ixxiii. throughout * Ps. Ixxvii. 1. I cried unto God with my voice, even tmto God with my voice; and he give ear imto me. Ver. 10. And I said. This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. Ver. 12. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. [Read the in- termediate verses in the Bible.'] Mark xiv. from the &Uh verse to the end, with Johnxxi. 15. So, when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these ? He saith unto him. Yea, Lord ; thou knowest that I love tliee. He saith unto him. Feed my lambs. Ver. 16. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me ? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord ; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Ver. 17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me ? Peter was grieved be- cause he said unto liim the third time, Lovest thou me ? And he said unto him. Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith imto him. Feed my sheep. VI. '^ Rom. i. 24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves. Ver. 26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections : for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against natui^e. Ver. 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. Rom. xi. 7. What then ? Israel hath not ob- tained that which he seeketh for ; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded, Ver. 8. (Accord- ing as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that CnAP. V. THE CONFESSION OP FAITH. 85 in their understandings, and \vrought upon in their hearts ;y but some- times also withdraweth the gifts which they had,^ and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin ;* and witlial, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan :*' whereby it comes to pass, that they harden themselves, even under those means which God useth for the softening of others." VII. As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all crea- they should not see, and ears that Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my they should not hear) unto this day. signs and my wonders in the land of y Deut. xxix. 4. Yet the Lord hath Egypt. WithExod. viii. 15. But when not given you an heart to perceive, Pharaoh saw that there was respite, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto he hardened his heart, and hearkened this day. _^ not unto them; as the Lord had said. 'Matt. xiii. 12. For whosoever hath, Ver. 32. And Pharaoh hardened his to him shall be given, and he shall heart at this time also, neither would have more abvmdance : but whosoever he let the people go. 2 Cor. ii. 15. hath not, from him shall be taken For we are unto God a sweet savour away even that he hath. Matt. xxv. of Christ, in them that are saved, and 29. For imto every one that hath shall in them that perish. Ver. 16. To the be given, and he shall have abimdance: one we are the savour of death unto but from him that hath not, shall be death; and to the other the savour of taken away even that which he hath, life unto life : and who is sufficient * Deut. ii. 30. But Sihon king of for these things ? Isa. viii. 14. And Heshbon would not let us pass by him : he shall be for a sanctuary ; but for for the Lord thy God hardened his a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of spirit, and made his heart obstinate, oflence, to both the houses of Israel ; that he might deliver him into thy for a gin and for a snare to the inha- hand, as appeareth this day. 2 Kings bitants of Jerusalem. 1 Pet. ii. 7. viii. 12. And Hazael said, Why weep- Unto you therefore which believe he eth my lord ? And he answered, Be- is precious : but unto them which be cause I know the evil that thou wilt disobedient, the stone which the build- do tmto the children of Israel : their ers disallowed, the same is made the strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and head of the corner, Ver. 8. And a their young men wilt thou slay with stone of stiunbling, and a rock of of- the sword, and wilt dash their chil- fence, even to them which stumble at dren, and rip up their women with the word, being disobedient; whcro- child. Ver. 13. And Hazael said, But unto also they were appointed. Isa. wliat! is thy servant a dog, that he vi. 9. And he said, Go, and tell this should do this great thing? And Elisha people. Hear ye indeed, but under- answered. The Lord hath shewed me stand not ; and see ye indeed, but per- that thou shalt be king over Syria. ceive not. Ver. 10. Make the heart ^ Ps. Ixxxi. 11. But my people would of this people fat, and make their ears not hearken to my voice ; and Israel heavy, and shut their eyes ; lest they would none of me. Ver. 12. So I see with their eyes, and hear with gave them up unto their own hearts' their cars, and understand with their lusts : and they walked in their own heart, and convert, and be healed, coimsels. 2 Thess. ii. 10. And with With Acts xxviii. 26. Sajnng, Go unto all deceivableness of unrighteousness this people, and say. Hearing ye shall in them that perish ; because they re- hear, and shall not understand ; and ceived not the love of the truth, that seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: they might be saved. Ver. 11. And Ver. 27. For the heart of this people for tills cause God shall send them is waxed gross, and their ears are dull strong delusion, that they should be- of hearing, and their eyes have they lieve a lie; Ver. 12. That they all closed; lest they should see with might be damned who believed not their eyes, and hear with their ears, the tnith, but had pleasure in un- and imderstand with their heai-t, and righteousness. should be converted, and I should ^ Exod. vii. 3. Asd I will harden heal them. S6 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. VI. tures ; so, after a most special manner, it taketh care of his church, and disposeth all things to the good thereof.^ CHAP. YI.— 0/ the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punish- ment thereof. I. /^UR' fii'st parents being seduced by the subtilty and temptation \J of Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden fruit.* This their sin God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory.^ II. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness, and com- munion with God," and so became dead in sin,* and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.® VII. * 1 Tim. iv. 10. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. Amos ix. 8. Behold, the eyes of the Lord Grod are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth ; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord. Ver. 9. For, lo, I will com- mand, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Isa. xliii. 3. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour : I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Ver. 4. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee : therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Ver. 5. Fear not ; for I am with thee : I will bring thy seed from the east, and ga- ther thee from tbe west. Ver. 14. Thus saith the Lord, your Redeem^ er, the Holy One of Israel, For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. I. a Gen. iii. 1.3. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done ? And the woman said. The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat 2 Cor xi. 3. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. ^ Rom. xi. 32. For God hath con. eluded them all in unbelief, that he mijdit have mercy upon all. II. " Gen. iii. 6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat ; and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. Ver. 7. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked ; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons. Ver. 8. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day : and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Eccl.vii.29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man up- right ; but they have sought out many inventions. Rom. iii. 23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. d Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it : for in the day that thou eatcst thereof thou shalt surely die. Eph. ii. 1. And you hath he quicken- ed, who were dead in ti-espasses and sins. « Tit. i. 15. Unto the pure all things are pure : but unto them that are de- filed and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience ia defiled. Gren. vi. 6. And God saw tliat CHAP. VI. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 37 III. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed/ and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity, descending from them by ordinary generation.^ IV. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indis- posed, disabled, and made opposite to all good,^ and wholly inclined to the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Jer.xvii. 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and des- perately wicked : who can know it ? Rom. iii. 10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Ver. 11. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Ver. 12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become impro- fitable ; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Ver. 13. Their throat is an open sepulchre : with their tong-ues they have used deceit : the poison of asps is under their lips : Ver. 14. "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness : Ver. 15. Their feet are swift to shed blood : Ver. 16. Destruc- tion and misery are in their ways : Ver. 17. And the way of peace have they not known : Ver. 18. There is no fear of Grod before their eyes. III. f Gen. i. 27. So God created man in his own image : in the image of God created he him ; male and temale created he them. Ver 28. And God blessed them : and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and miiltiply^, and re- Elenish the earth, and subdue it ; and ave dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And Gen. ii. 16. And the Lord God commanded the man, say- ing. Of every tree of the garden thou may est freely eat ; Ver. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it : for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And Acts xvii. 26. And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. With Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin ; and BO death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Ver. 15. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead; much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded imto many. Ver. 16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift : for the judgment was by one to condemna- tion, but the free gift is of many offences imto justification. Ver. 17. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one ; much more they which rex3eive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Ver. 18. There- fore, as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation ; even so by the righteousness of one th© free gift came upon all men imto jus- tification of hfe. Ver. 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinnsrs ; so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. And 1 Cor. xv. 21. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. Ver. 22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. '^ Ver. 45. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. *' Ver. 49. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. s Ps. li. 5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity ; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Gen. v. 3. And Adam lived an himch'ed and thu-ty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image ; and called his name Seth. Job xiv. 4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? not one. Job xv. 14. What is man, that he should be clean ? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous ? IV. ^ Rom. V. 6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the imgodly. Rom. viii. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject U the law of God, neither indeed can be. Rom. vii. 18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perfoiTu that which is eoou I find not. Col. i. 21. And you, that were sometime alienated, and enemies inyom-mind by wicked works, yetnow hath he reconciled. 38 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. VL all evil,' do proceed all actual transgressions.^ V, This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are i-egenerated : ^ and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and all the motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.™ VI. Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto,° doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinnei*," whereby he is bound over to the j Gren. vi. 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gren. viii. 21. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth : neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. Rom. iii. 10. As it is written. There is none righteous, no, not one : Ver. 11. There is none that undei'standeth, there is none that seeketh after Grod. Ver. 12. They are all gone out of the way, they are to- gether become unprofitable ; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. ^ James i. 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Ver. 15. Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, Avhen it is finished, bringeth forth death. Eph. ii. 2. Whexxiin in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the pi'ince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the childi^en of disobedience : Ver. 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desii-es of the flesh and of the mind ; and were by nature the childi^en of wrath, even as others. Matt. xv. 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, bla«pheraies. V. 1 1 Johni. 8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truthisnot in us. Ver. 10. Ifwesay that we have not sinned, we make him aliar, and his word is not in us. Rom. vii. 14. For we know that the law is spiritual ; but I am carnal, sold iinder sin. Ver. 17. Now then, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Ver. 18. For I know tliat in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing : for to will is present with me ; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Ver. 23. But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in mymembei-s. Jamesiii. 2. Forinmany things we offend all. If any man o9"enq not in woixl, the same is a pei'fect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Prov. XX. 9. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pm-e from my sin? Eccl. vii. 20. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. ^ Rom. vii. 5. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our mem- bei^ to bring foii.h fruit \into death. Ver. 7. What shall we say then ? Is the law sin ? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin but by the law : for I had not known lust, except the law had said. Thou shalt not covet. Ver. 8. But sin, taking occasion by the com- mandment, wrought in me all man- ner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. Ver. 25. I thank God, through Jesus Christ ovir Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Gal. v. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh : and these are contrary the one to the other ; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. VI. ^ 1 John iii. 4. Whosoever com- mitteth sin transgresseth also the law : for sin is the transgression of the law. ° Rom. ii. 15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another. Rom. iii. 9. What then ? are we bet- ter than they ? No, in no wise : for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin. Ver. 19. Now we know, that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and a.11 CHAP. Vn THE CONFESSION OF FAITH 89 wrath of God,P and curse of the law, Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Ver. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even imto the end of the world. Amen. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I deUvered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: Ver. 24. And, when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you : this do in remem- brance of me. Ver. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying. This cup is the new testament in my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye di*iiik it, in remembrance of me. P Pleb. xii. 22. But ye are come imto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, Ver. 23. To the general as- semblj'^ and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Ver. 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprink- ling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Ver. 25. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh : for if they escaped not wlw refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven ; Ver. 26. Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. Ver. 27. And this word. Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are sha- ken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Jer. xxxi. 33. But this ghall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel ; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and -will be their God, and they shall be my people. Ver. 34, And they shall teach no more evei"y man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying. Know the Lord : for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the gi-eatest of them, saith the Lord : for I will forgive their ini quity, and I will remember their sin no more. 1 Matt, xxviii. 19. [See letter <> im- mediately foregoing.'] Eph. ii. 15. Hav- ing abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments con- tained in ordinances ; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Ver. 16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby ; V^er. 17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. Ver. 18. For thi'ough him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Ver. 19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. •■ Luke xxii. 20. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. « Gal. iii. 14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Ver. 16. Now to Abra- ham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not. And to seeds, as of many ; but as of one. And to thy seed, which is Christ. Acts xv. 11. But we believe that, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, even as they. Rom. iii. 21. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets ; Ver. 22. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and CHAP. vm. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 43 CHAP. yni._0/ Christ the Mediator. I. TT pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the X Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man f the Prophet,^ Priest,'' and King f the Head and Sa- viour of his Church;® the Heir of all things;^ and Judge of the world ;ff unto whom he did from all eternity give a people to be his seed,'^ and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.' between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. ^ Acts iii. 22. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall tlie Lord youi' God raise up unto you of your bretlu-en, like unto me ; liim shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. <= Heb. V. 5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest ; but he that said imto liim, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee, Ver. 6. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec. ^ Ps. ii. 6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. Luke i. 33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. « Eph. V. 23. For the husband is the head of the Avife, even as Chi'ist is the head of the church; and he is the saviour of the body. ^ Heb. i. 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made tlie worlds. s Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath ap- pointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. ^ John xvii. 6. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world : thine they wei-e, and thou gavest them me ; and they have kept thy word. Ps. xxii. 30. A seed shall seiwe him ; it shall be ac- coimted to the Lord for a generation. Isa. liii. 10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him ; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and tne pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. * 1 Tim. ii. 6. Who gave hunself a ransom for all, to be testified in due upon all them that believe ; for there is no difference : Ver. 23. For all have sinned, and come short of the gloiy of God. Ver. 30. Seeing it is one God which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and unch-ciuncision through faith. Ps. xxxii. 1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. With Rom. iv. 3. For what saith the scripture? Abraham be- lieved God, and it was counted imto him for righteousness. Ver. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessed- ness of the man. imto whom God im- puteth righteousness without works. Ver. 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace ; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed : not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, Ver. 17. (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he beUeved, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Ver. 23. Now, it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him ; Ver. 24. But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. Heb. xiii. 8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. I. * Isa. xlii. 1. Behold my servant, whom I uphold ; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth : I have put my Spirit upon him ; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 1 Pet i. 19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and with- out spot: Ver. 20. Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. John iii. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator 44 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. VIII. II. The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance, and equal with the Father, did, when the fulness of time was come, take upon him man's nature,^ with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin ;' being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, of her substance.™ So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably join- ed together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confu- sion.'^ Which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.° HI. The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure ;p hav- time. Isa. Iv. 4. Behold, I have given him forawitness to tbepeople, a leader and commander to the people. Ver. 5. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not; and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel ; for he hath glorified thee. 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteous- ness, and sanctification, and redemp- tion. 11. ^ John i. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Ver. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 1 John V. 20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the time God, and eternal life. Phil. ii. 6. Who, be- ing in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. ^ Heb. ii. 14. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took Eart of the same ; that through death e might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. Ver. 16. For verily he took not on him the natm^e of angels ; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Ver. 17. Where- fore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Heb. iv. 1 5. For we have not an high priest which cannot betouclied with the feeling of oui- infirmities ; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ™ Luke i. 27. To a virgin espoused to a man, whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. Ver. 31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. Ver. 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee : therefore also that holy thing, which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. Gal. iv. 4. [iSee letter ^ immediately foregoing.'] ^ Jaike i. 35. [^Seethe foregoing verse.'] Col. ii. 9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godliead bodily. Rom. ix. 5. Whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 1 Pet. iii. 18. For Chi-ist also hath once sufi"ered for sins, the just for the imjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. 1 Tim. iii. 16. And, without contro- versy, great is the mystery of godli- ness : God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. " Rom. i. 3. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ oiu- Lord, which was made of tlie seed of David according to the flesh, Ver. 4. And declared to be the Son of God with power, accordingto the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. III. p Ps. sly. 7 Thou lovest right- CHAP.' vm. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 45 •liom it pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell :"" to the end, that being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth,^ he might be thoroughly furnished to execute the oftice of a Mediator and Surety.* Which office he took not unto himself, but was thereunto called by his Father ;'^ who put all power and judgment into his hand, and gave him commandment to execute the same.^ IV. This office the Lord Jesus did most wilHngly undertake t^ which that he may discharge, he was made under the law,'' and did per- fectly fulfil it;* endured most grievous torments immediately in his eousness, and hatost wickedness : therefore God, thy (rod, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. John iii. 34. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God : for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 1 Col. ii. 3. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. >■ Col. i. 19. For it pleased the Fa- ther, that in him should all fulness dwell. ^ Heb. vii. 26. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harm- less, midefiled, separate from sijiners, and made higher than the heavens. John i. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his gloi-y, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and tinith. ' Acts X. 38. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil : for God was with him. Heb. xii. 24. And to Jesus the mediator of the new cove- nant, and to the blood of sprinkling, tliat speaketh better things than that of Abel. Heb. vii. 22. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. " Heb. V. 4. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of (iod, as was Aaron. Ver. 5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest ; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to- day have I begotten thee. ^ John V. 22. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all jiidg- ment unto the Son : Ver. 27. And hath given him authority to execute judg-ment also, becaiise he is the Son of man. Matt, xxviii. 18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given imto me in heaven and in earth. Acts ii. 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know as- suredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Chi-ist. IV. y Ps. xl. 7. Then said I, Lo, I come : in the volume of the book it is written of me, Ver. 8. I deUght to do thy will, my God ; yea, thy law is within my heart. W^ith Heb. x. 5. Wlierefore, when he cometh into the world, he saith. Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me : Ver. 6. In burnt- otferings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure : Ver. 7. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, God. Ver. 8. Above, when he said, Sacrifice, and offering, and burnt- offerings, and offering for sin, thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein- (which are offered by the law;) Ver. 9. Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. Ver. 10. By the which will we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. John x. 18. No man taketh it from, me, but I lay it down of myself: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I re- ceived of my Father. Phil. ii. 8. And being foimd in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obe- dient imto death, even the death of the ci'oss. 2 Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. a Matt. iii. 15. And Jesus answer- ing, said unto him, Suffer it to be so now : for thus it becoraeth tis to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. Matt. v. 17. Think not that I 46 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAF. VI n. soul,'' and most painful sufferings in his body;" was crucified, and died;^ was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corrup- tion.® On the third day he arose from the dead,^ with the same body in which he suffered; 8^ with which also he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father,^ making intercession;* and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.*^ am come to destroy the law or the prophets : I am not come to destroy but to fulfil. ^ Matt. xxvi. 37. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Ver. 38. Then saith he unto them, My soiil is exceeding sorrowful, even imto death : tarry ye here, and watch with me. Luke xxii. 44. And, being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Matt, xxvii. 46. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani ? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? <= Matt., Chapters xxvi. and xxvii. * Phil. ii. 8. [See the last scripture in y immediately foregoing.'] ^ Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate coimsel and fore- knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain; Ver. 24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holdon of it. V er. 27. Because thou wilt not leave ray soul in hell, neither wilt thou sufier thine Holy One to see corruption. And Acts xiii. 37. But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Rom. vi. 9. Knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more ; death hath no more dominion over him. ^ 1 Cor. XV. 3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also re- ceived, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scripttu'es : Ver. 4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day accordmg to the scriptures ; * Ver. 5. And that be was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. e John XX. 25. The other disciples therefore said imto him. We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. Ver. 27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands ; and reach hither thy hand, and thnist it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. ^ Mark xvi. 19. So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. i Rom. viii. 34. Who is he that con- demneth ? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Heb. ix. 24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true ; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever Uveth to make intercession for them. ^ Rom. xiv. 9. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. Ver. 10. But why dost thou judge thy brother ? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother ? for we shall all stand before the judg- ment-seat of Christ. Acts i. 11. Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven ? this same Jesus, which is taken up from j^ou into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts x. 42. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. Matt. xiii. 40. As therefore the tares are gather- ed and burned in the fire ; so shall it be in the end of this world. Ver. 41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that ofl'end, and them which do iniquity. Ver. 42. And shall cast them into a fur- nace of fire : there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jude, ver. 6. And the angels which kept not their CHAP. vm. THE COT^ESSION OF FAITH. 47 V. The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of his Father ;^ and purchased not only recon- cihation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto him.™ VI. Although the work of redemption was not actually wi'ought by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efiicacy, and benefits thereof, were communicated unto the elect in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacri- fices, wherein he was revealed and signified to be the Seed of the woman, which should bruise the serpent's head, and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world, being yesterday and to-day the same, and for ever,° first estate, but left their own habi- tation, he hath reserved in everlast- ing chains, vmder darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. 2 Peter ii. 4. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment. V. ^ Rom. V. 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sin- ners ; so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Heb. ix. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ofi"ered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to ser\'e the living God ? Vev. 16. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. Heb. x. 14. For by one ofi"ering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Eph. V. 2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an ofi'ering and a sa- crifice to God for a sweet -smelling sa- vour. Rom. iii. 25. Whom God hath Bet forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the for- bearance of God; Ver. 26. To de- clare, I say, at tliis time his righteous- ness ; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. ™ Dan. ix. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgres- sion, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconcihation for iniquitj', and to bring in everlasting righteous- ness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. Ver. 26. And after tlireescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut olF, but not for himself : and the peo- ple of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are detemiined. Col. i. 19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell : Ver. 20. And (having made peace through the blood of his cross) by him to re- concile all things unto himself; by liim, I say, whether they be things in earth, or tilings in heaven. Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketli all things after the counsel of his own will. Ver. 14. Which ia the earnest of our inheritance, imtil the redemption of the pui'chased pos- session, unto the praise of his glory. John xvii. 2. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. Heb. ix. 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Ver. 15. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the I transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. VI. " Gal. iv. 4. But when the ful- ness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Ver. 5. To re- deem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Gen. iii. 15. And I will put 4S TIIE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAF. VIII. Vri. Christ, in the work of mediation, aeteth according to both natures; by each nature doing that which is proper to itself:" yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in scripture attributed to the person denominated by the other nature. P VIII. To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same ; V. 1 Eph. iv. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, imto the measme of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Ileb. xii. 23. To the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. 1 John iii. 2. Be- loved, now are we the sons of God ; an'l it doth not yet appear what we shall be : but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we Bhall see him as he is. Jude, ver. 24. Now unto him that is able to keep yoii from falling, and to present you fault- less before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. I. » Rom, viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified ; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom. xi. 7. What then ? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Eph. i. 10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him; Ver. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the pui'- pose of him who worketh all things after the coimsel of his own will. ^ 2 Thess. ii. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation thi'ough sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth : Ver. 14. Whereimto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the 62 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. X. unto them an heart of flesh ;« renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good;' and effectually draw- ing them to Jesus Christ ;? yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.^ II. This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from any thing at all foreseen in man;' who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit,'' he light, and from the power of Satan of God. Every man therefore that unto God, that they may receive for- hath heard, and hath learned of the giveness of sins, and inheritance among Father, cometh mito me. themwhich are sanctified by faith that ^ Cant. i. 4. Draw me, we will run is in me. 1 Cor. ii. 10. But God hath after thee. Ps. ex. 3. Thy people shall revealed them unto us by his Spirit : be willing in the day of thy power, in for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the beauties of holiness from the womb the deep things of God. Ver. 12. Now of the morning : thou hast the dew of we have received, not the spirit of the thy youth. .John vi. 37. All that the world, but the spirit which is of God ; Father giveth me shall come to me : that we might know the things that and him that cometh to me I will are freely given to us of God. Eph. i. in no wise cast out. Rom. vi. 16. 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Know ye not, that to whom ye yield Christ, the Father of glory, may give yourselves servants to obey, his ser- unto you the spirit of wisdom and re- vants ye are to whom ye obey ; velation in the knowledge of him : Ver. whether of sin unto death, or of obe- 18. The eyes of your understanding dience unto righteousness ? Ver. 17. being enlightened ; that ye may know But God be thanked, that ye were the what is the hope of his calling, and servants of sin; but ye have obeyed what the riches of the glory of his in- from the heart that form of doctrine heritance in the saints. which was delivered j'ou. Ver. 18, ^ Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new heart also Being then made free from sin, ye be- will I give you, and a new spirit will oame the servants of righteousness. I put witliin j'ou; and I will take II. ' 2 Tim. i. 9. Who hath saved us, away the stony heart out of your and called us with an holy calling, not flesh, and I will give you an heart of according to our works, but according flesh. to his own purpose and grace, which 'Ezek. xi. 19. And I will give them was given us in Christ Jesus before one heart, and I will put a new spirit the world began. Tit- iii. 4. But after within you ; and I will take the stony that the kindness and love of God our heart out of their flesh, and will give Saviour toward man appeared, Ver. them an heart of flesh. Phil. ii. 13. For 5. Not by works of righteousness it is God which worketh in you, both which we have done, but according to to will and to do of his good pleasure, his mercy he saved us, by the washing : Deut. XXX. 6._ And the Lord thy God of regeneration, and renewing of the ; will circumcise thine heart, and the Holy Ghost. Eph. ii. 4. But God, who I heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy is rich in mercy, for his great love • God with all thine heart, and with all wherewith he loved us, Ver. 5. Even thy soul, that thoxi mayest live. Ezek. when we were dead in sins, hath xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit quickened us together with Christ ; within you, and cause j'ou to walk in (by grace ye are saved). Ver. 8. For my statutes, and ye shall keep my by grace are ye saved thi'ough faith ; judgments, and do them. and that not of yourselves : it is the s Eph. i. 19. And what is the ex- gift of God : Ver. 9. Not of works, ceeding greatness of his power to us- lest any man should boast. Rom. ix. ward who believe, according to the II. For the children being not yet working of his mighty power. John born, neither having done any good or vi. 44. No man can come to me, except evil, that the pm'pose of God accord- the Father, which hath sent me, draw ing to election might stand, not of him: and I will raise him up at the works, but of him that calleth. last day. Ver. 45. It is written in the ^ 1 Cor. ii. 14. But the natural man prophets, And they shall be all taught receiveth not the things of the Spirit CHAP. X. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 63 is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.^ III. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit,™ who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth.° So also are all other elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word." IV. Others not elected, although they may be called by the minis- try of the word,P and may have some common operations of the Spirit,*^ yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved:' of God : for they are foolislmess unto him; neither can he know them, be- cause they are spiritually discerned. Rom. viii. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God : for it is not subject to the law of God, neither in- deed can be. Eph. ii. 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ ; (by grace ye are saved.) 1 .John vi. 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me : and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. John V. 25. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God ; and they that hear shall live. III. ™ Luke xviii. 15. And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them : but when his dis- ciples saw it, they rebuked them. Ver. 16. But .Jesus called them unto him, and said, Sutler little childi'en to come un- to me, and foi'bid them not : for of such is the kingdom of God. And Acts ii. 38. Then Peter said unto them, Re- pent, and be baptized evei-y one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 39. 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. And John iii. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the king- dom of God. Ver. 5. Jesus answered. Verily, verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the king- dom of God. And 1 John v. 12. He that hath the Son hath Ufe ; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. And Rom. viii. 9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [Compared together.'] ^ Jolm iii. 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the soimd thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whether it goeth : so is every one that is born of the Spirit. « 1 John V. 12. He that hath the Son hath life ; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. Acts iv. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other : for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. IV. P Matt. xxii. 14. For many are called, but few are chosen. 1 Matt. vii. 22. Many will say to me in that day. Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name ? and in thy name have cast out devils ? and in thy name done many wondertiil works ? Matt. xiii. 20. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it : Ver. 21. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dm-eth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth be- cause of the word, by and by he ia offended. Heb. vi. 4. For it is im- possible for those who were once en- lightened, and have tasted of the hea- venly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, Ver. 5. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come. >■ John vi. 64. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. Ver. 65. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. Ver. 66. From that time many of his dis- ciples went back, and walked no more 64 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XI. much less can men not professing the Christian religion be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they ever so diligent to frame their hves according to the light of nature, and the law of that religion they do profess;* and to assert and maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested.* CHAP. XI.— 0/ Justification. I. rrVHOSE whom God effectually calleth he also freely justifieth;^ JL not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous : not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone : not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience, to them as their righteousness ; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them,^ they receiving and with him. John viii. 24. I said there- fore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins ; for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. ^ Acts iv. 12. Neither is there sal- vation in any other : for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way. and the truth, and the life : no man Cometh unto the Father, but by me. l-lph. ii. 12. That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the eommonwealth of Israel, and stran- f^ers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. * John iv. 22. Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship : for salvation is of the Jews. John xvii. 3. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. ^ 2 John, ver. 9. Whosoever trans- fn-esseth, and abideth not in the doc- trine of Christ, hath not God : he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. Ver 10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into youi* house, neither bid him God speed : Ver. 11. For he that biddeth him God speed is par- taker of his evil deeds. 1 Cor. xvi. 22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Mavanatha. Gal. i. 6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel : Ver. 7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Ver. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. I. ^ Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called ; and whom he called, them he also justiiied ; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom. iii. 24, Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. ^ Rom. iv. 5. But to him that work- eth not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. _ Ver. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, V er. 7. Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Ver. 8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not imp\ite sin. 2 C^or. v. 19. To wit, that God was in Clmst, recon- ciling the world mito liimself, not im- puting their trespasses mito them ; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Ver. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin ; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Rom. iii. 22. Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that be- lieve ; for there is no difference. Ver. 24 Beius' justified freely by his grace, t[IAP. XI. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 55 resting on him and his righteousness by faith ; which faith they have not of themseh^es ; it is the gift of God.*= II. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteous- ness, is the alone instrument of justification;"^ yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all. other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.® III. Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to his Father's justice in their behalf.^ Yet, in as much through the redemption that is in them which heard the word. Gal. ii. Christ Jesus; Ver. 25. Whom God 16. Knowing that a man is not justi- hath set forth to be a propitiation fied by the works of the law, but by through faith in his blood, to declare the faith of Jesus Chi'ist, even we his righteousness for the remission have believed in Jesus Christ, that of sins that ai^e past, through the for- we might be justified by the faith of bearance of God ; Ver. 27. Where is Christ, and not by the works of the boasting then ? It is excluded. By law : for by the works of the law what law ? of works ? Nay ; but by shall no flesh be justified. Phil. iii. the law of faith. Ver. 28. There- 9. And be found in him, not having fore we conclude, that a man is justi- mine own rigiiteousness, which is of fied by faith without the deeds of the the law, but "that which is through law. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of the faith of Christ, the righteousness righteousness which we have done, which is of God by faith. Acts siii. but according to his mercy he saved 38. Be it known unto you, therefore, us, by the washing of regeneration, men and brethren, that through this and renewing of the Holy Ghost ; Ver. man is preached imto you the foi'- 7. That, being justified by his grace, giveness of sins: Ver. 39. And by we should be made heirs according to him all that believe are justified from the hope of eternal hfe. Eph. i. 7. all things, from which ye could not In whom we have redemption through be justified by the law of Moses. Eph. his blood, the forgiveness of sins, ac- ii. 7. That in the ages to come he cording to the riches of his grace, might shew the exceeding riches of Jer. xxiii. 6. In his days Judah shall his grace, in his kindness toward us be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; through Christ Jesus. Ver. 8. For and this is his name whereby he shall by grace are ye saved through faith ; be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHT- and that not of yourselves : it is the EOUSNESS. 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him gift of God. are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is II •* John i. 12. But as many as re- made unto us wisdom, and righteous- ceived him, to them gave he power to ness, and sanctification, and redemp- become the sons of God, even to them tion :_ Ver. 31. That, according as it that believe on his name. Rom. iii. 28. IS written. He that glorieth, let him Therefore we conclude, that a man is gloiy in the Lord. Rom. v. 17. For justified by faith without the deeds if by one man's offence death reigned of the law. Rom. v. i. Therefore, be- by one; much more they which re- ing justified by faith, we have peace ceive abundance of gi'ace, and of the with God through our Lord Jesus gift of righteousness, shall reign in Christ. life by one, Jesus Christ : Ver. 18. « James ii. 17. Even so faith, if it Therefore, as by the ofience of one hath not works, is dead, being alone, judgment came upon all men to con- Ver. 22. Seest thou how faith wrought denmation; even so by the righteous- with his works, and by works was ness of one the free gift came upon faith made perfect ? Ver. 26. For as all men unto justification of life. Ver. the body without the spirit is dead, so 19 For as by one man's chsobedience faith without works is dead also. Gal. many were made sinners ; so by the v. 6. For in Jesus Christ neither cir- obedience of one shall many be made cumcision avaUeth any thing, nor im- righteous. circumcision ; but faith which worketh " Acts X. 44. Wliile Peter yet spake by love, thf se words, the Holy Ghost fell on all III. * Rom. v. S. But God commendeth 66 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XI as he was given by the Father for them,s^ and his obedience and satis- faction accepted in their stead,^ and both freely, not for any thing in them, then- justification is only of free grace;' that both the exact jus- tice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinner s.'^ rV. God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect ;* and his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Ver. 9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Ver. 10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Ver. 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sin- ners ; so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Ver. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Heb. x. 10. By the which will we are sanctified, through the ofiering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Ver. ] 4. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Dan. ix. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the trans- gression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for ini- quity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecj^ and to anoint the most Holy. Ver. 26. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself : and the peo- ple of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Isa. liii. 4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did es- teem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Ver. 5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon him ; and with his stripes we are healed. Ver. 6, All we, like sheep, have gone astray ; we have turned evei-y one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid*bn him the iniquity of us all. Ver. 10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him ; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Ver. 11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied : by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Ver. 12. Therefore will I di^ade him a portion with the great, and he shall di^^de the spoil with the strong; becaiise he hath poured out his soul unto death : and he was numbered with the transgres- sors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the trans- gressors. e Rom. viii. .32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ? ^ 2 Cor. V. 21. For be hath made liim to be sin for us, who knew no sin ; that we might be made the righteous- ness of Gocl in him. Matt. iii. 17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Eph. v. 2. And walk in love, as Clrrist also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. * Rom. iii. 24. Being justified freely by Ills grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, ac- cording to the riches of his grace. ^ Rom. iii. 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness ; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Eph. ii. 7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. IV. 1 Gal. iii. 8. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached be- fore the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 1 Pet. i. 2. Elect according to the fore- knowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obe- CHAP. XI. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 67 Christ did, in the fulness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification:™ nevertheless they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit doth in due time actually apply Christ unto them.*» v. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified:* and although they can never foil from the state of justification,? yet they may by their sins fall under God's fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance. 1 dience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Ver. 19. But Tvith the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Ver. 20. Who verih' was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called ; and whom he called, them he also justified ; and whom he justi- fied, them he also glorified. ^ Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, Grod sent forth bis Son, made of a woman, made un- der the law. 1 Tim. ii. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testi- fied in due time. Rom. iv. 25. Who was deUvered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. ^ Col. i. 21. And you, that were Bometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled Ver. 22. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and iinblameable, and unreproveable in his sight. Gal. ii. 16. [See letter ° immediately forego- ing. '\ Tit. iii. 4. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Ver. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regenera- tion, and renewing of the Holy Ghost ; Ver. 6. Vv^hich he shed on us abun- dantly through Jesus Christ our Sa- viour; Ver. 7. That, being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. V. ° Matt. vi. 12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 1 John i. 7. But if we walk in the light, as he is m the light, we have fellow- ship one with another, and the blood of J esus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Ver. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to for- give us our sins, and to cleanse us from all uniighteousness. 1 John ii. 1. My little children, these things write I imto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Ciu-ist the righteous : Ver. 2. And he is the propitiation for our sins ; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. p Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not : and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. John x. 28. And I give unto them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. Heb. x. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 1 Ps. Ixxxix. 31. If they break my statutes, and keep not my command- ments; Ver. 32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Ver. 33. Never- theless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. Ps. Ii. 7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean ; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Ver. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Ver. 9. Hide thy face from nxj sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Ver. 10. Create in me a clean heart, God ; and re- new a right spirit within me. Ver. 11. Cast me not away from thy presence ; and take not thy Holy Spirit Irom me. Ver. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation ; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Ps. xxxii. 5. I acknow- ledged my sin imto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions imto the Lord ; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Matt. xxvi. 75. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him. Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. 1 Cor. xi. 30. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. Ver. 32. But when we are 58 THE CONFESSIOxX OF FAITH. CHAP. XII. VI. The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in ."11 these respects, one and the same with the justification of behevers .iiider the New Testament.' CHAP. XIL— Of Adoption. f. i LL those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for his only J\. Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption : * by vrhich they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God;^ have his name put upon them,^ re- ceive the Spirit of adoption ;^ have access to the throne of grace with boldness;* are enabled to cry, Abba, Father;^ are pitied,^^ protected,'' judged, we are chastened of the Lord, t':at we should not be condemned Vfith the world. Luke. i. 20. And, be- hold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, imtil the day that these tilings shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. VI. ■■ Gral. iii. 9. So then tbey which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Ver. 13. Christ hath re- deemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us : for it is written, Cursed is every oue that hangeth on a tree : Ver. 14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit tlu'ough faith. Rom. iv. 22. And therefore it was imputed to him i'ov righteousness. Ver. 23. Now, it was not written for his sake alone, t'.nt it was imputed to him ; Ver. 24. But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that rai sed iip Jesus our Lord f i-om the dead. Heb. xiii. 8. Jesus Chiast the same yes- terday, and to-day, and for ever. L * Eph. i. 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to t he good pleasure of Ms will. Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the Liw, Ver. 5. To redeem them that Vscre under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ^ Rom. viii. 17. And if children, then lioirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs V.'ith Christ ; if so be that we sulier with him, that we may be also glori- fled together. John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. •^ Jer. xiv. 9. Yet thou, Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not. 2 Cor. vi. 18. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daugh- ters, saith the Lord Almighty. Rev, iii. 12. Him that overcometli will t make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out : and I will wi'ite upon him the name of my God, and the name of the citj^ of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which Cometh down out of heaven from my God ; and I will write upon him my new name. ^ Rom. viii. 15. For ye have not re- ceived the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ^ Eph. iii. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Rom. v. 2. By wliom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ^ Gal. iv. 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 6 Ps. ciii. 13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. ^ Prov. xiv. 26. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence; and hia childi-en shall have a place of refuge. CHAP. XIII. TIIE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 59 provided for,' and chastened by him as by a father ;^ yet never cast off,i but sealed to the day of redemption,™ and inherit the promises,'' as heirs of everlasting salvation." CHAP. XUl.—Of Sandification. I. rpHEY who are effectually called and regenerated, having a new JL heart and a new spirit created in them, are farther sanctified really and personally, through the virtue of Christ's death and resur- rection,* by his word and Spirit dwelling in them ;^ the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,*^ and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified,^ and they more and more i Matt. vi. 30. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to- day is, and to-morrow Is cast hato the oven, shall he not much more ckithe you, ye of little faith ? Ver. 32. For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 1 Pet. V. 7. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. ^ Heb. xii. 6. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scoui'getli eveiy son whom he receiveth. ' Lam. iii. 31. For the Lord will not cast off for ever. ™ Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. " Heb. vi. 12. Tbat ye be not sloth- ful, but followers of them who thi-ough faith and patience inherit the pro- mises « 1 Pet. i. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord .Tesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Ver. 4. To an inlierit- ance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadcth not away, reserved in heaven for you. Heb. i. 14. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ? I. ^ 1 Cor. vi. 11. And such were some of you : but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Phil. iii. 10. That I may know him, and the power of hia resurrection, and the fellowship of his suflerings, being made conformable unto his death. Rom. vi. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the hkeness of his resurrection : Ver. 6. Knowing this, that om* old man is cr-ucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ^ Johnxvii. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth : thy word is truth. Eph v. 2(5. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Avater by the word. 2 Thess. ii. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath fi'om the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth. « Eom. vi. 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, tbat henceforth we should not serve sin. Ver. 14. For sin shall not have do- minion over you : for ye are not under the law, but under grace. d Gal. V. 24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and hists. Ptom. viii. 13. For if je live after the flesh, ye shall die ; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. XnE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. xm. quickened and strengthened in all saving graces,* to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord/ II. This sanctification is throughout in the whole man,^ yet imper- fect in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part : ^ whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war ; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.' III. In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail,'' yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome:' and so the saints grow in grace,™ perfecting holiness in the fear of God.« e Col. i. 11. Strengthened \v^ith all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-sutfering with joyfulness. Eph. iii. 16. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; Ver. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ; that ye, be- ing rooted and gi-ounded in love, Ver. 18. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; Ver. 39. And to know the love of Christ, "which passeth knowledge, that ye misrht be tilled with all the fulness of God. ^2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Heb. xii. 14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. II. e 1 Thess. v. 23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit, and Boul, and body, be preseiwed blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^ 1 John i. 10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Rom. vii. 18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing : for to will is present with me ; but how to perform that which is good I hud not. Ver. 23. But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my membei^. Phil. iii. 12. Not as though I had ah-eady attained, either were already perfect; but I follow Bfter, if that 1 may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. * Gal. V. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh : and these are con> trary the one to the other ; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 1 Pet. ii. 11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. III. ^ Rom. vii. 23. But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of siti which is in my members. ^ Rom. vi. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not underthelaw, but Tinder grace. IJohn V. 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world : and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Eph. iv. 15. But, speaking the tnith in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Ver. 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined to- gether and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the efi"ectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love. ^ 2 Pet. iii. 18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To liira be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Cor. iii. 18. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. ^ 2 Cor. vii. ] . Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting ho- liness in the fear of God. CHAP. XIV. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 61 CHAP. XIV.— Of Saving Faith. I. npHE grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to X the saving of their souls,* is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts,^ and is ordinarily wi-ought by the ministry of the word :• by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.*^ II. By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is re- vealed in the word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein ; • and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth ; }delding obedience to the commands,^ trembling at the threatenings,^ and embracing the promises of God for this Ufe and that I. »Heb. X. 39. Eut we are not of lieve, though they be not circumcised ; them who draw back imto perdition ; that righteousness might be imputed but of them that believe to the saving unto them also. Luke xvii. 5. And of the soiil. the apostles said unto the Lord, In- ^ 2 Cor. iv. 13. We having the same crease om- faith. Rom. i. 16. For I spirit of faith, according as it is writ- am not ashamed of the gospel of ten, I believed, and therefore have I Christ : for it is the power of God spoken ; we also believe, and therefore unto salvation to every one that be- speak. Eph. i. 17. That the God of lieveth ; to the Jew fii'st, and also to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of the Greek. Ver. 17. For therein is glory, may give unto you the spirit the righteousness of God revealed ofwisdom and revelation in the know- from faith to faith : as it is written, ledge of him : Ver. 18. The eyes of The just shall live by faith, your imderstanding being enhghten- IL « John iv. 4^ And said unto the ed ; that ye may know what is the woman. Now we oelieve, not because hope of his calling, and what the of thy saying : for we have heard him riches of the glory of his iulieritance ourselves, and know that this is in- m the saints, Ver. 19. And what is deed the Christ, the Saviour of the the exceeding greatness of his power world. 1 Thess. ii. 13. For tliis cause to us- ward who believe, according to also thank we God without ceasing, the working of his mighty power, because, when ye received the word Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye saved of God which ye heard of us, ye re- tlu-ough faith ; and that not of yoiu*- ceived it not as the word of men, but selves : it is the gift of God. (as it is in truth) the word of God, <= Rom. X. 14. How then shall they which effectually worketh also in you call on him in whom they have not that believe. 1 John v. 10. He that believed ? and how shall they believe believeth on the Son of God hath the in him of whom they have not heard ? witness in himself : he that believeth and how shall they hear without a not God hath made him a liar ; be- preacher ? Ver. 17. So then faith cause he believed not the i^ecord that cometh by heai'ing, and hearing by God gave of his Son. Acts xxiv. 14. the word of God. But this I confess unto thee, that ^ 1 Pet. ii. 2. As newborn babes, after the way which they call heresy, desu'e the sincere milk of the word, so worsliip I the God of my fathers, that ye may grow thereby. Acts xx. believing all things which are written 32. And now, brethren, I commend in the law and in the prophets, you to God, and to the word of his ^ Rom. xvi. 26. But now is made grace, which is able to build you up, manifest, and by the Scriptures of the and to give you an inheritance among prophets, according to the command- all them which are sanctified. Rom. ment of the everlasting God, made iv. 11. And he received the sign of known to all nations for the obedience circmncision, a seal of the righteous- of faith. ness of the faith which he had yet s Isaiah Lxvi. 2. For all those things being uncircumcised : that he might hath mine liand made, and all those be the father of all them that be- thic^js have been, saith the Lord: 62 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XIV. which is to come.^ But the principal acts of saving faith are, accept- ing, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctili- cation, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace. ^ III. This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong ;^ may be often and many ways assailed and weakened, but gets the victory;^ growing lip in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ,™ who is both the author and finisher of our faith. '^ but to this man -will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. ^ Heb. xi. 13. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of" them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 1 Tim. iv. 8. For bodily exercise pro- fiteth little ; but godliness is profita- ble unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. i John i. 12. But as many as re- ceived him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Acts xvi. 31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy hQjjse. Gal. ii. 20. I am crucified with Christ : neveithe- less I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me : and the life which I now live In the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Acts xv. 11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. in. ^ Heb. V. 13. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness ; for he is a babe. Ver. 14. But stiong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Rom. iv. 19. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb : Ver. 20. He staggered not at the pro- mise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Matt. vi. 30. Wherefore, if God 80 clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, je of little faith ? Matt, viii. 10. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that fol- lowed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. ^ Luke xxii. 31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat : Ver. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not : and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethi'en. Eph. vi. 16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 1 John v. 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world : and this is the victory that over- cometh the world, even our faith. Ver. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God ? ^ Heb. vi. 11. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end : Ver. 12. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience in- herit the promises. Heb. x. 22. Let us draAV near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts spiinkled from an evil con- science, and our bodies washed with pure watei'. Col. ii. 2. That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understand- ing, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. " Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith ; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the thi-one of God. CHAT. XY. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 63 CHAP. Xy. — Of Bepentajice unto Life. I. T) EPENTANCE unto life is an evangelical grace,* the doctrine XL whereof is to be preached by every minister of the gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ.^ II. By it a sinner, out of the sight and sense, not only of the dan- ger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of God, and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God,"' purposing and endeavour- ing to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments.*^ I. * Zeeh. xii. 10. And I will pour as a menstruous cloth ', thou shalt say upon the house of David, and upon unto it, Get thee hence. Ps. h. 4. the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Against thee, thee only, have I sin- spirit of grace and of supplications ; ned, and done this evil in thy sight ; and they shall look upon me whom that thou mightest be justified when they have pierced, and they shall thou speakest, and be clear when thou mourn for him, as one mourneth for judgest. Jer. xxxi. 18. I have surely his only son, and shall be in bitter- heard Ephraim bemoaning himself ness for him, as one that is in bitter- thus ; Thou hast chastised me, and I ness for his first-born. Acts xi. 18. was chastised, as a bullock unaccus- When they heard these things, they tomed to the yoke : tui'n thou me, held their peace, and glorified Grod, and I shall be tvuTied; for thou art Bajdng, Then hath God also to the the Lord my God. Ver. 19. Surely Gentiles granted repentance unto life, after that I was turned, I repented ; b Luke xxiv. 47. And that repent- and after that I was instructed, I ance and remission of sins should be smote upon my thigh : I was ashamed, preached in his name among all na- yea, even confounded, because I did tions, beginning at Jerusalem. Mark bear the reproach of my youth. Joel i. 15. And saying, The time is fvdfil- ii. 12. Therefore also now, saith the led, and the kingdom of God is at Lord, Turn ye even to me with all hand : repent ye, and believe the gos- your heart, and with fasting, and pel. Acts XX. 21. Testifying both to with weeping, and with mourning ; the Jews, and also to the Greeks, re- Ver.* 13. And rend your heart, and pentance toward God, and taith to- not your garments, and turn unto the ward our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord your God : for he is gi-acious II. « Ezek. xviii. 30. Therefore I and merciful, slow to anger, and of will judge you, house of Israel, great kindness, and repenteth him of every one according to his ways, the evil. Amos v. 15. Hate the evil, saith the Lord God. Repent, and and love the good, and establish judg- tiu-n yourselves from all your trans- ment in the gate : it may be that the gressions; so iniquity shall not be Lord God of hosts wiU be gracious your ruin. Ver. 31. Cast away from unto the remnant of Joseph. Ps. you all your transgressions, whereby cxix. 128. Therefore I esteem all thy ye have transgressed ; and make you precepts concerning all things to be a new heart and a new spirit : for right ; and I hate every false way. why will ye die, house of Israel ? 2 Cor. vii. 11. For, behold, this self- Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye re- same thing, that ye sorrowed after a member your own evil ways, and godly sort, what carefulness it wrought your doings that were not good, in you, yea, what clearing of your- and shall loathe yourselves in your selves, yea, what indignation, yea, owa. sight, for yoiu" iniquities, and what fear, yea, what vehement desire, for your abominations. Isa. xxx. yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge ! 22. Ye shall defile also the covering In all things ye have approved youi-- of thy graven images of silver, and selves to be clear in this matter. the ornament of thy molten images ^ Psal. cxix. 6. Then shall I not be of gold : thou shalt cast them away ashamed, when I have respect unto all 64 THE CO^"^ESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XV. in. Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof,^ which is the act of God's free grace in Christ ;^ yet is it of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon without it.^ IV. As there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation ;^ so there is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent.^ V. Men ought not to content themselves vnth a general repentance, but it is every man's duty to endeavour to repent of his particular sins particularly.^ thy commandments. Ver. 59. 1 thought on my ways, and turned my feet vinto thy testimonies. Ver. 106. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments, liuke i. 6. And they were both right- eous before Grod, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 2 Kings xxiii. 25. And like unto him was there no king before Mm, that tui-ned to the Lord "with all his heart, and with all his Boul, and with all his might, accord- ing to all the law of Moses ; neither after him arose there any like him. in. e Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own eight, for yom' iniquities, and for your abominations. Ver. 32. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord Grod, be it known unto you : be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, house of Israel. Ezek. xvi. 61. Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger : and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. Ver. 62. And I will establish my co- venant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord : Ver. 63. That thou mayest remember, and be confoimded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when 1 am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord Grod. ^ Hos. xiv. 2. Take with you words, and tiu'n to the Lord : say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously : so will we render the calves of our lips. Ver. 4. I will heal their backsUdiug, I will love them freely : for mine anger is tm-n- ed away from him. Rom. iii. 24 Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. s Luke xiii. 3. I tell you, Nay : but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise pcft'ish. Ver. 5. I tell you. Nay : but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Acts xvii. 30. And the times of this ignorance Grod winked at ; but now commandeth all men every where to repent : Ver. 31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. IV. ^ Rom. vi. 23. For the wages of sin is death ; but the gift of Gfod is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin ; and so death pass- ed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Matt. xii. 36. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. i Isa. Iv. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts : and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our Grod, for he will abundantly pardon. Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condem- nation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Isa. i. 16. Wash you, make you clean ; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil. Ver. 18. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord : Though youi* sins be as scarlet, they shall bo as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall bo as wool. V. ^ Psal. xix. 13. K^)ep back thy CHAP. XVI. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 65 VI. As every man is bound to make private confession c^ his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof;' upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy ;"» so he that scandalizeth his brother, or the church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or pubhck con- fession and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended ;^ who are thereupon to be reconciled to hun, and in love to receive liim.° CHAP. XYI.— 0/ Good Worhs. I. r\ OOD works are only such as God hath commanded in his holy ' VT word,^ and not such as, ^^dthout the wan-ant thereof, are devised by men out of bhnd zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention.** servant also from presumptuous sins ; confesseth and forsakcth them shall let them not have dominion over me : have mercy. 1 John i. 9. If we confess then shall I be upright, and I shall be oiu* sins, he is faithful and just to for- iimocent from the ereat transgression, give us our sins, and to cleanse us Luke xix. 8. And ^accheus stood, and from all unrighteousness, said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the ^ James v. 16. Confess your faults half of my goods I give to the poor; one to another, and pray one for an- and if I have taken any thing from other, that ye may he healed. _ Ihe any man by false accusation, I restore effectual fervent prayer of a righte- him foui'fold. 1 Tim. i. 13. Who was ous man availeth much. Lulve xvu. before a blasphemer, and a perse- 3. Take heed to yourselves : If thy cut or, and injurious: but I obtained brother trespass agamst thee, rebuke mercy, because I did it ig-norantly in him; and if he repent, forgive him. unbelief Ver. 15. This is a faithful Ver. 4. And if he trespass against thee saying, and worthy of all acceptation, seven times in a day, and seven times that Christ Jesus came into the world in a day tui-n again to thee, saying, to save sinners; of whom I am chief I repent; thou shall forgive him. VI. ' Ps. li. 4. Against thee, thee Josh. vii. 19. And Joshua said imto only, have I sinned, and done this Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, evil in thy sight; that thou mightest glory to the Lord God of Israel, and be justified when thou speakest, and make confession unto him ; and tell be clear when thou judgest. Ver. 5. me now what thou hast done; hide it Behold, I was shapen in uiiquity ; and not from me. [Psal. li. throughout.] in sin did my mother conceive me. « 2 Cor. ii. 8. Wherefore I beseech Ver. 7. Pvu-ge me with hyssop, and I you, that ye would confirm your love shall be clean ; wash me, and I shall toward him. be whiter than snow. Ver. 9. Hide I. » Micah vi. 8. He hath shewed thee, thy face from my sins, and blot out man, what is good; and what doth all mine iniquities. Ver. 14. Dehver the Lord require of thee, but to do me from blood-guiltiness, Cod, thou justly, and to love merey, and to walk Cod of my salvation ; and my tongue humbly with thy God ? Rom. xii. 2. shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. And be not conformed to this world ; Ps. xxxii. 5. I acknowledged my sin but be ye transformed by the renew- unto thee, and mine iniquity have I ing of yc>ui' mind, that ye may prove not hid. I said, I will confess my what is that good, and acceptable, and transgressions imto the Lord ; and perfect will of God. Heb. xiii. 21. thou forffavest the iniquity of my sin. Make you perfect in evei^ good work Selah. Ver. 6. For this shall every to do his will, working in you that one that is godly pray imto thee in a which is well-pleasing in his sight, time when thou mayest be found: through Jesus Christ; to whom be surely in the floods of great waters glory for ever and ever. Amen, they shall not come nigh unto him. ^ Matt. xv. 9. But in vam they do «' Prov. xxviii. 13. He that covercth worship me, teaching for doctrines the his sins shall not prosper; but whoso commandments of men. Isa. xxix. 13. 66 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XVI. ir. These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and e^^dences of a true and Kvely faith : * and by them believers manifest their thankfulness,^ strengthen their assurance,® edify their brethren,^ adorn the profession of the gospeI,s^ stop the mouths of the adversaries,^ and glorify God,' whose workmanship they are, creat- Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men. 1 Pet. i. 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corimptible things, as silver and gold, from j'our vain convei'sation received by tradi- tion from youi' fathers. Rom. x. 2. For I bear them record, that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. John xvi. 2. They shall put you out of tlie synagogues : jen, the time cometh, that whosoever kill- eth you will think that he doeth Grod service. 1 Sam. xv. 21. But the peo- ple took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacri- fice unto the Lord thy God in Gileal. Ver. 22. And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in bm-nt-offer- ings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. Ver. 23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatiy. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also re- jected thee from being king. IL <= James ii. 18. Yea, a man may say, Thouhast faith, and I have works ; shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Ver. 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect ? ^ Ps. cxvi. 12. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits to- ward me ? Ver. 13. I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 1 Pet. ii. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people ; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. ® 1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. Ver. 5. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected : hereby know we that we are in him. 2 Pet. i. 5. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue ; and to vir- tue, knowledge ; Ver. 6. And to know- ledge, temperance ; and to temperance, patience ; and to patience, godliness ; Ver. 7. And to godliness, brotherly kindness ; and to brotherlj' kindness, charity. Ver. 8. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that 5'e shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 9. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar ofl", and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Ver. 10. Whereibre the rather, breth- ren, give diligence to make your call- ing and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. f 2 Cor. ix. 2. For I know the for- wardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago ; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Matt. V. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. s Tit. ii. 5. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Ver. 9. Ex- hort servants to be obedient imto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Ver. 10. Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity ; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Sa^dour in all things. Ver. 11. For the grace of God that brmgeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Ver. 12. Teaching us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in tliis present world. 1 Tim. \i. 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honom% that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. ^ 1 Pet. ii. 15. For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. » 1 Pet. ii. 12. Having your conver- sation honest amon» the Gentiles: CHAP. XVI. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 67 ed in Christ Jesus thereunto ;^ that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end eternal hfe.' III. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ.™ And that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is re- quired an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to v/ork in them to will and to do of his good pleasure:"* yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit ; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them." IV. They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which that, whereas they speak against you as ye have always obeyed, not as in as evil-doers, they may, by your good m)' presence only, but now much more works, which they shall behold, glorify in my absence, work out j'our own (jrod in the day of visitation. Phil. i. salvation with fear and trembling. 11. Being filled with the fruits of Heb. vi. 11. And we desire that every righteousness, which are by Jesus one of j'ou do shew the same diligence, Christ, unto the glory and praise of to the full assurance of hope unto the God. John xv. 8. Herein is my Fa- end : Ver. 12. That ye be not slothful, ther glorified, that ye bear much frmt ; so shall ye be my disciples. ^ Eph. ii. 10. For we are his work- manship, created in Clu-ist Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 1 Rom. vi. 22. But now, being made free from sin, and become servants to but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the pro- mises. 2 Pet. i. 3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godli- ness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vir- tue. Ver. 5. And besides this, giving God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, all diligence, add to your faith, virtue ; and the end everlasting life. and to virtue, knoAvledge ; Ver. 10. III. ™ John XV. 4. Abide in me, and Wherefore the rather, brethren, give I in you. As the branch cannot bear diligence to make your calling and fruit of itself, except it abide in the election sure ; for if ye do these things, vine ; no more can ye, except ye abide ye shall never fall : Ver. 11. For so an m me. Ver. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches : he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit ; for without me ye can do nothing. Ver. 6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the tire, and they are burned. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new Jieart^ also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting king, dom of oiu' Lord and Saviour Jesus Clu-ist. Isa. Ixiv. 7. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee : for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 2 Tim. i. 6. Where- fore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God, which is will take away the stony heart out of in thee by the putting on of my hands, your flesh, and I will give you an heart Acts xxvi. 6. And now I stand and of flesh. Ver. 27. And I will put my am judged for the hope of the promise Spirit within you, and cause you to made of God unto our fathers : Ver. walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep 7. Unto which promises our twelve my judgments, and do them. tribes, instantly serving God day and ■^ Phil. ii. 13. For it is God which night, hope to come: for which hope's worketh in you both to will and to do sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of of his good pleasure. Phil. iv. 13. I the Jews. Jude, ver. 20. But ye, be- can do all things through Christ which loved, building up yourselves on your strengtheneth rr^. 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not most holy faith, praying in the Holy that we are suflicient of ourselves to Ghost, Ver. 21. Keep yourselves in the think any thing as of ourselves; but love of God, looking for the mercy of our sufficiency is of God. our Lord Jesus Cluist unto eternal * Phil. ii. 12. Wherefore, my beloved , life. 68 THE CONFESSION OF FATTn. CTTAP. XVI. is possible in this life, are so far from being able to siipererogate. and to do more than (xod requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.P V. We cannot, by our best works, merit pardon of sin, or eternal life, at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins;*' but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants ; ' and because, as they are good, they proceed from his Spirit;* and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled and mbced with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's judgment.* IV. P Luke xvii. 10. So likewise ye, Tvhcn ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say. We are unprofitable seiTants : we have done that which was oui* duty to do. Keh. xiii. 22. And I commanded the Levites,that they should cleanse them- selves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath- day. Remember me, my God, con- cerning this also, and spare me ac- cording to the greatness of thy mercy. Job ix. 2. I know it is so of a tinith : but how should man be just with God ? Ver. 3. If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. Gal. v. 17. For the fiesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh : and these are contrary the one to the other ; so that ye camiot do the things that ye would. V. 1 Rom. iii. 20. Therefore by the decfls of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight : for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom. iv. 2. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to gloiy, but not before God. Ver. 4. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. Ver. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works. Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith : and that not of yourselves : it is the gift of God : Ver. 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Ver. 6. Which he shed on us abun- dantly through Jesus Christ our Sa- viour; Ver. 7. That, being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Rom. viii. 18. For I reckon, that the suiferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Psal. xvi. 2. my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord : my goodness extendeth not to thee. Job xxii. 2. Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Ver. 3. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous ? or is it gain to him, that thou raakest thj' ways per- fect ? Job XXXV. 7. If thou be righte- ous, what givcst thou him ? or what receiveth he of thine hand ? Ver. 8. Thy wickedness may hiu't a man as thou ai't, and thy righteousness may profit the son of man. *■ Luke xvii. 10. [See letter p in this Chapter. '\ ^ Gal. V. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suflfer- ing, gentleness, goodness, faith, Ver. 23. Meekness, temperance : against such there is no law. *• Isa. Ixiv. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteous- nesses are as filthy rags ; and we all do fade as a leaf : and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Gal. V. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit ; and the Spirit against the flesh : and these are contrai-j'^ the one to the other ; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Rom. vii. 15. For that which I do I allow not : for what I would, that do I not ; but what I hate, that do I. Ver. IS. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing : for to will is present with me; but how to gerform that which is good I find not. 's. cxliii. 2. And enter not into judg- ment with thy servant : for in thy CHAP. XVI. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 69 VI, Yet notwithstanding, the persons of belieyers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him ;^ not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreproveable in God's sight ;'' but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.'' V'll. Works done by unregenerate men, although, for the matter of them, they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others ;y yet, because they proceed not from an heart pui-ified by faith ;^ nor are done in a right manner, according to the sight shall no man living be justified. Ps. cxxx. 3. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, Lord, who shall stand ? VL ^ Eph. 1. 6. To the praise of the glory of his gi'ace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. 1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spii-itual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacri- fices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Exod. xxviii. 38. And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow m all their holy gifts ; and it shall be always upon his fore- head, that they may be accepted be- fore the Lord. Gen. iv. 4. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof And the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering. With Heb. xi. 4 By faith Abel offered mito God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was right- eous, God testifying of his gifts ; and by it he, being dead, yet speaketh. ^ Job ix. 20. If 1 justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me : if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me peiwerse. Ps. cxliii. 2. And enter not into judgment with thy ser- vant : for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. ^ Heb. xiii. 20. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead oiir Lord Jesus, that great Shep- herd of the sheep, through the blood of the evei'lasting covenant, Ver. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, thi'ough Jesus Chiist ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Cor. viii. 12. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not lieu. vi. 10. For God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Matt. xxv. 21. His lord said unto him. Well done, thou good and faithfvd servant ; thou hast been faitliful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Ver. 23. His lord said vmto him. Well done, good and faithtul servant ;_ thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. VII. y 2 Kings X. 30. And the Lord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy childi'en of the foui-th generation shall sit on the thi'one of Israel. Ver. 31. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart ; for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. ] Kings xxi. 27. And it camo to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sack- cloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. Ver. 29. Seest thou how Ahab hum- bleth himself before me ? Becaiise he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days ; but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house. Phil. i. 15. Some in- deed preach Christ even of envy and strife ; and some also of good will. Ver. 16. The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds. Ver. 18. What then ? Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached ; and I there- in do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. ^ Gen. iv. 5. But unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not ix^specfc. And 70 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XVH. word;* nor to a right end, the glory of God;^ they are therefore sin- ful, and cannot please G od, or make a man meet to receive grace from God.° And yet their neglect of them is more sinful, and displeasing unto God.<^ CHAP. XYII. — Of the Perseverance of the Saints. I. rpHEY whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called X and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall Cain was very wroth, and his coun- and conscience is defiled. Amos v. tenance fell. With Heb. xi. 4. By 21. I hate, I despise j^our feast-days, faith Abel oflFered unto God a more and I will not smell in your solemn excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which assemblies. Ver. 22. Though ye ofier he obtained witness that he was right- me bm-nt-offerings, and your meat- eous, Grod testifying of his gifts ; and offerings, I will not accept them ; by it he, bein,^ dead, yet speaketh. neither will I regard the peace-ofter- Ver. 6. But Avithout faith it is im- ings of your fat beasts. _ Hosea i. 4. possible to please him : for he that And the Lord said unto him. Call his Cometh to God must believe that he name Jezreel ; for yet a little while, Is, and that he is a rewarder of them and I will avenge the blood of Jez- that diligently seek him. reel upon the house of Jehu, and will ^ 1 Cor. xiii. 3. And though I be- cause to cease the kingdom of the Btow all my goods to feed the poor, house of Israel Rom. ix. 16. So then and though I give my body to be it is not of him that willeth, nor of burned, and have not charity, it pro- him that ninneth, but of God that fiteth me nothing. Isa. i. 12. When sheweth mercy. Tit. iii._ 5. Not by ye come to appear before me, who hath works of righteousness which we have required this at your hand, to tread done, but according to his mercy he my courts ? saved us, by the washing of regenera- '^ Matt. vi. 2. Therefore, when thou tion, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. doest thine alms, do not sound a trum- ^ Ps. xiv. 4. Have all the workei'S pet before thee, as the hypocrites do of iniquity no knowledge ? who eat m the synagogxies, and in the streets, up my people as they eat bread, and that they may have glory of men. call not upon the Lord. Ps. xxxvi. 3. Verily I say luito you, They have The words of his mouth ai^e iniquity their reward. Ver. 5. And when and deceit : he hath left oflt" to be wise, thou prayest, thou shalt not be as and to do good. Job xxi. 14. There- the hypocrites are : for they love to fore they say unto God, Depart from pray standing in the synagogues, and us ; for we desire not the knowledge in the corners of the streets, that they of thy ways. Ver. 15. What is the may be seen of men. Verily I say Almightj^, that we should serve him ? unto you, They have their rcAvard. and what profit should we have, if we Ver. 16. Moreover, when ye fast, be pray unto him ? Matt. xxv. 41. Then not, as the hj'pocrites, of a sad coun- shall he say also unto them on the left tenance : for they disfigure their faces, hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into that they may appear unto men to everlasting fire, prepared for the devil fast. Verily I say unto you. They and his angels: Ver. 42. For I was have their reward. an hungered, and ye gave me no meat : ^ Hag. ii. 14. Then answered Hag- I was thirst j', and ye gave me no drink : gai, and said. So is this people, and so Ver. 43. I was a stranger, and ye took is this nation before me, saitli the me not in : naked, and ye clothed me Lord; and so is every work of their not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited hands ; and that which they ofier there me not. Ver. 45. Then shall he answer is unclean. Tit. i. 15. Unto the pure them, saying, Verily I say unto you, all things are pure : but unto them Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of that are defiled and unbelieving is the least of these, ye did it not to me. nothing pure ; but even their mind Matt, xxiii. 23. Woe unto you, scribes CHAP. XVII. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 71 away from the state of grace ; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.* II. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father;'' upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ;'' the abiding of the and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cum- min, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith : these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other un- done. I. » Phil. i. 6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good woi'k in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure : for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. John x. 28. And I give unto them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. Ver. 29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all ; and none is able to pluck them oiit of my Father's hand. 1 Johniii. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin ; for his seed remaineth in him : and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by the power of God thi-ough faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Ver. 9. Receiving the end of yoiu* faith, even the salvation of your souls. II. ^ 2 Tim. ii. 18. Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already ; and over- throw the faith of some. Ver. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God Btandeth sure, having this seal. The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Jer. xxxi. 3. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love ; there- fore with loving-kindness have I di-awn thee. ° Heb. X. 10. By the which will we are sanctified, through the ottering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Ver. 14. For by one oflFering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanc- tified. Heb. xiii. 20. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shep- herd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Ver. 21. Make you perfect in eveiy good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Heb. ix. 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Ver. 13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the imclean, sancti- fieth to the pmifying of the flesh ; Ver. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God ? Ver. 15. And for this cause he is the me- diator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Rom. viii. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect ? It is God that justi- fieth; Ver. 34. Who is he that con- demneth ? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Ver. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness^ or peril, or sword ? Ver. 36. (As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.) Ver. 37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. Ver. 38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor hfe, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, "nor things present, nor tilings to come, Ver. 39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creatiu-e, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Clmst Jesus our Lord. John xvii. 11. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy 72 THE CONFESSIOISr OP FAITH. CHAP. xvn. Spirit, and of the seed of God within them ; ^ and the nature of the covenant of grace :® from all which ariseth also the certainty and in- fallibility thereof.^ III. Nevertheless they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins;^ and for a time continue therein:^ whereby they incur God's dis- pleasure/ and grieve his Holy Spirit ;^ come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts ;• have their hearts harden- Father, keep tlirough thine own name tliose whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. Ver. 24. Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am ; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me : for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. ^ John xiv. 16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Ver. 17. Even the Spirit of truth ; whom the world cannot re- ceive, because it r.eeth him not, neither knoweth him : but je know him ; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in 3'^ou. 1 John ii. 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth hi you ; and ye need not that any man teach you : but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin ; for his seed re- maineth in him : and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. « Jer. xxxii. 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not tm-n away from them, to do them good ; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not de- part from me. ^ Jolm X. 28. And I give unto them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. 2 Thess. iii. 3. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stab- lish you, and keep jon from evil. 1 John ii. 19. They went out from us, but they were not of us ; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us : but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. IIL s Matt. xxvi. 70. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. Ver. 72. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. Ver. 74. Then began he to curse and to SAvear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. ^ Ps. Ii. [the title.] To the chief mu- sician, A psalm of David, when Na- than the prophet came imto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Ver. 14. Deliver me from blood-gniiltiness, God, thou God of my salvation ; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. i Isa. Ixiv. 5. Thou meetest him thai rejoiceth and worketh righteousness; those that remember thee in thy ways : behold, thou art wroth ; for we have simied : in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. Ver. 7. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, be- cause of our iniquities. Ver. 9. Be not wroth very sore, Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever : behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people. 2 Sam. xi. 27. And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she be- came )iis wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. ^ Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. ^ Ps. Ii. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness ; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Ver. 10. Create in me a clean heart, God ; and renew a right spirit within me. Ver. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy n-ee Spirit. Rev. li. 4. Nevertno- CHAP. xvin. THE CONf ESSION OF FAITH. 73 eci,™ and their consciences wounded ;° hurt and scandaHze others," and bring temporal judgments upon themselves. p CHAP. Xyill. — Of Assurance of Grace and Salvation. I. A LTHOUGH hypocrites, and other imregenerate men, may vainly xjL deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and estate of salvation ;* which hope of theirs shall perish ; ^ yet such as truly beUeve in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace," less I have some-wlir.t against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Cant. V. 2. I sleep, but my heart waketh : it is the voice of my beloved that knocketb, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undeiiled : for my head is filled "with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. Ver. 3. I have put off my coat ; how shall I put it on ? I have washed my feet ; how shall I defile them ? Ver. 4. My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. Ver. 6. I opened to my beloved ; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone : my soul failed when he spake : I sought him, but I could not find him ; I called him, but he gave me no an- swer. ^ Isa. Ixiii. 17. Lord, why hast thou made us to eiT from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear ? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. Mark vi. 52. For they considered not the mi- racle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. Mark xvi. 14. After- ward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbeUef and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. '^ Ps. xxxii. 3. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old, through my roar- ing all the day long : Ver. 4. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Ps. li. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness ; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. ° 2 Sam. xii. 14. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born imto thee shall sui'ely die. P Ps. Ixxxix. 31. If they break my statutes, and keep not my command- ments ; Ver. 32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 1 Cor. xi. 32. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. I. * Job viii. 13. So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hj^jo- crite's hope shall perish : Ver. 14. Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. Micahiii. 11. 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 among us ? none evil can come upon us. Deut. xxix. 19. And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. John viii. 41. Ye do the deeds of j^our father. Then said they to him. We be not born of foi-nication ; we have one Father, even God. ^ Matt. vii. 22. Many will say to me in that day. Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name ? and in thy name have cast out devils ? and in thy name done many wonderful works ? Ver. 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you : depart from me, ye that work miquity. « 1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 1 John iii. 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren : he that loveth not his bro- 74 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XVIII. and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God ; which hope shall never make them ashamed.*^ II. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded upon a fallible hope ; ® but an infallible assurance of faith, founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation/ the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made,^ the tes- timony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God : ^ which Spirit is the earnest of our mheri- tance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption.* in. This infaUible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of ther abidoth in death. Ver. 18. My world through lust. Ver. 5. And be- little children, let us not love in word, sides this, giving all diligence, add to neither in tongue ; but in deed, and your faith, virtue ; and to virtue, in tnith. Ver. 19. And hereby we knowledge. Ver. 10. Wherefore the know that we are of the tnith, and rather, brethren, give diligence to shall assure our hearts before him. make your calling and election sm'e : Ver. 21. Beloved, if our heart con- for if ye do these things, ye shall demn us not, then have we confidence never fall : Ver. 11. For so an entrance toward Grod. Ver. 24 And he that shall be ministered mito you abun- keepeth his commandments dwelleth dantly into the everlasting kingdom in him, and he in him : and hereby of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we know that he abideth in us, by 1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know the Spirit which he hath given us. 1 that we know him, if we keep his John V. 13. These things have I writ- commandments. 1 John iii. 14. We ten unto you that believe on the name know that we have passed from death of the Son of God, that ye may know unto life, because we love the bre. that ye have eternal life, and that ye thren : he that loveth not his brother may believe on the name of the Son abideth in death. 2 Cor. i. 12. For of Grod. our rejoicing is this, the testimony of ^ Rom. V. 2. By whom also we have our conscience, that in simplicity and access by faith into this grace where- godly sincerity, not with fleshly wis- in we stand, and rejoice in hope of dom, but by the grace of Grod, we the glory of God. Ver. 5. And hope have had our conversation in the maketh not ashamed ; because the world, and more abundantly to you- love of God is shed abroad in our ward. hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is ^ Rom. viii. 15. For ye have not re- givon unto lis. ceived the spirit of bondage again to II. ^ Heb. vi. 11. And we desire fear; but ye have received the Spirit that every one of you do shew the of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, same diligence, to the full assurance Father. Ver. 16. The Spirit itself of hope unto the end. Ver. 19. Which beareth witness with our sph'it, that hope we have as an anchor of the we are the children of God. soul, both sure and steadfast, and * Eph. i. 13. In whom ye also trust- which entereth into that within the ed, after that ye heard the word of vail. truth, the gospel of your salvation : ' Heb. vi. 17. Wherein God, willing in whom also, after that ye believed, more abundantly to shew unto the ye were sealed with that Holy Sj^irit heirs of promise the immutability of of promise, Ver. 14. Which is the his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; earnest of our inheritance, until the Ver. 18. That by two immutable redemption of the pm"chased posses- tliings, in which it was impossible for sion, unto the praise of his glory. God to lie, we might have a strong Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the Holy consolation, Avho have fled for refuge Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to lay hold upon the hope set before us. unto the day of redemption. 2 Cor. 6 2 Pet. i. 4. Whereby are given i. 21. Now he which stablisheth us unto us exceeding great and precious with you in Christ, and hath anoint- promises ; that by these ye might be ed us, is God; Ver. 22. Who hath partakersof the divine natm-e, having also sealed us, and given the eai'nest escaped the corruption that is in the of the Spirit in om- hearts. CHAP. XVIir. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 75 faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties, before he be partaker of it:^ yet. being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto.^ And therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligenee to make his calling and election sure ;™ that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience,'' the proper fruits of this assurance : so far is it from inclin- ing men to looseness. ° III. fc 1 John V. 13. These things have I written imto you that believe on the name of the bon of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Isa. 1. 10. Who is among j^ou that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Mark ix. 24. And straight- way the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe ; help thou mine unbelief. {See Ps. Ixxxviii. throughout. Ps. Ixxvii. to the \2th verse.'\ ^1 Cor. ii. 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God ; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 John iv. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hatli given us of his Spmt. Heb. vi. 11. And we desire that every one of j-ou do shew the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope imto the end : Ver. 12. That ye be not slothful, but fol- lowers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Eph. iii. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ; that ye, be- ing rooted and grounded in love, Ver. 1 8. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; Ver. 19. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. ^ 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure : for if ye io these things, ye shall never fall. _ " Rom. V. 1. Therefore, being jus- tified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ : V^er. 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Ver. 5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because tlie love of Gcd is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. Rom. xiv. 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and di-ink ; but right- eousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Rom. xv. 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Eph. i. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ver. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Ps. iv. 6. There be many that say. Who will shew us any good ? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy coxmtenance upon us. Ver. 7. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that then* corn and their wine increased. Ps. cxix. 32. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. ^ 1 John ii. 1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous : Ver. 2. And he is the propitiation for our sins ; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Rom. vi. 1. What shall we say then ? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound ? Ver. 2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein ? Tit. ii, 11. For the grace of God that bringeth salva- tion hath appeared to all men, Ver. 12. Teaching us, that, denying ungod- liness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, 76 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XVIII. IV. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted ; as, by negligence in pre- serving of it ; by falling into som.e special sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation; by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light :P yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, in tills present world. Ver. 14. Who may rejoice. Ver. 12. Restore unto gave himself for us, that he might me the joy of thy salvation ; and up- redeem us from all iniquity, and pu- hold me with thy free Spirit. _ Ver. rify unto himself a peculiar people, 14. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, zealous of good works. 2 Cor. vii. 1. God, thou God of my salvation ; Having therefore these promises, and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy dearly beloved, let us cleanse our- righteousness. Eph. iv. 30. And grieve selves from all filthiness of the flesh not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby and spirit, perfecting holiness in the ye are sealed unto the day of redenip- fear of God. Rom. viii. 1. There is tion. Ver. 31. Let all bitterness, and therefore now no condemnation to wrath, and anger, and clamour, and them which are in Christ Jesus, who evil-speaking, be put away from you^ walk not after the flesh, but after the with all malice. Ps. Ixxvii. 1. 1 Spirit. Ver. 12. Therefore, bretln-en, cried unto God with my voice, even we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live unto God with my voice ; and he gave after tlie flesh. 1 John iii. 2. Beloved, ear unto me. Ver. 2. In the day of now are we the sons of God ; and it my trouble I sought the Lord : my doth not j^et appear what we shall be : sore ran in the night, and ceased not : but we know that, when he shall ap- my soul refused to be comforted. Ver. pear, we shall be like him ; for we 3. I remembered God, and was trou- shall see him as he is. Ver. 3. And bled: I complained, and my spirit was every man that hath this hope in him overwhelmed. Selah. Ver. 4. Thou puritieth himself, even as he is pure, boldest mine eyes waking : I am so Ps. cxxx. 4. But there is forgiveness troubled that I cannot speak. Ver. with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 5. I have considered the days of old, 1 John i. 6. If we say that we have the years of ancient times. Ver. 6. felloAvship with him, and walk in I call to remembrance my song in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth : the night : I commune with mine own Ver. 7. But if we wallc in the light, heart ; and my spirit made diligent as he is in the light, we have fellow- search. Ver. 7. Will the Lord cast ship one with another, and the blood ofl" for ever ? and will he be favoui-- of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us able no more ? Ver. 8. Is his mercy from all sin. clean gone for ever ? doth his promise IV. P Cant. V. 2. I sleep, but my fail for evermore ? Ver. 9. Hath God heart wakcth : it is the voice of my forgotten to be gracious ? hath he in beloved that knocketh, saying, Open anger shut up Ms tender mercies ? to me, my sister, my love, my dove, Selah. ■-•• Ver. 10. And I said. This is my undetiled: for my head is filled my infirmity: but I will remember with dew, and my locks with the the years of the right hand of the dz'ops of the night. Ver. 3. I have most High. Matt. xxvi. 69. Now Peter put off my coat ; how shall I put it sat without in the palace : and a dam- on? I have washed my feet; how shall sel came unto him, saying, Thou also I defile them ? Ver. 6. I opened to wast with Jesus of Galilee. Ver. 70. my beloved ; but my beloved had with- But he denied before them all, saying, drawn himself, and was gone : my soul I know not what thou sayest. Ver. failed when he spake : I sought him, 71. And when he was gone out into but I could not find him ; I called the porch, another maid saw him. and him, but he gave no answer. Ps. li. said mito them that were there. This 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness ; fellow was also with Jesus of Naza- that the bones which ihou hast broken reth. Ver. 72. And again he denied CTTAP. XIX. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 77 this assurance may in due time be revived, *! and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported from utter despair.' CHAP. XIX.— Of the Law of God. I. /^ OD gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which he \jr bound him, and all his posterity, to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience ; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it ; and endued him with power and ability to keep it.* with an oath, I do not know the man. Ps. xxxi. 22. For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes : nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. [Ps. Ixxxviii. throughout.'] Isa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, tliat obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. 1 1 John iii. 9. "VTIiosoever is born of God doth not commit sin ; for his seed remaineth in him : and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thee, tliat thy faith fail not : and when thou art converted, strengthen thy breth- ren. Job xiii. 15. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him : but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Ps. Ixxiii. 15. If I say, I will speak thus ; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. Ps. li. S, 12. \_!See letter p immediately he- fore.'] Isa. 1. 10. [See letter p imme- diately foregoirig.] "■ Micah vii. 7. Therefore I will look unto the Lord ; I will wait for the God of my salvation : my God will hear me. Ver. 8. Rejoice not against me, mine enemy : when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light imto me. Ver. 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, becaiTse I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me : he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. Jer. xxxii. 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good ; but 1 will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depail; from me. Isa. liv. 7. For a small moment have I forsaken thee ; but with great mercies will I gather thee. Ver. 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment ; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. Ver. 9. For this is as the waters ot Noah unto me : for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth ; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. Ver. 10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Ps. xxii. 1. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? why art thou so far fi'om helping me, and from the words of my roaring ? [Ps. Ixxxviii . throughout.] I. * Gen. i._26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Ver. 27. So God created man in his own image : in the image of God created he him; m.ale and fe- male created he them. With Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it : for in the day that thou eatest there- of thou shalt surely die. Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things con- tained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves : Ver. 15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their con- science also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or 78 ^ THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XIX. II. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of right- eousness ; and, as such, was delivered by God upon mount Sinai in ten commandments, and written in two tables ; ^ the first four com- mandments containing our duty towards God, and the other six our duty to man." III. Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances ; partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits;*^ and partly hold- else excusing one another. Rom. x. 6. For Moses describeth the righte- ousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. Rom. v. 12. Where- fore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin ; and so death passed upon all men. for that all have sinned. Ver. 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners ; so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the cm'se : for it is written. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Ver. 12. And the law is not of faith: but. The man that doeth them shall live in them. Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man up- right ; but they have sought out many- inventions. Job xxviii. 2S. And tm- to man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom ; and to de- part from evil is understanding. II. ^ James i. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James ii. 8. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy- self, ye do well. Ver. 10. For whoso- ever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Ver. 11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now, if thou commit no adul- tery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. Ver. 12. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. Rom. xiii. 8. Owe no man anything, but to love one another : for he that lovcth another hath fulfilled the law. Ver. y. For this, Thou shalt not com- mit adultery. Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly compre- hended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy- self Deut. V. 32. Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Deut. X. 4. And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount, out of the midst of the fire, in the day of the assembly: and the Lord gave them unto me. Exod. xxxiv. 1. And the Lord said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone Hke unto the first ; and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest. <=Matt. xxii. 37. Jesus said unto him, Til on shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Ver. 38. 'Phis is the first and great commandment. Ver. 39. And the second is like imto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Ver. 40. On these two commandments hana: all the law and the prophets. III. d [Heb. ChajJter ix.] Heb. x. 1. For the .law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they oflFered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect. Gal. iv. 1. Now I say. That the heir, as long as he ia a child, diffcreth nothing from a ser- vant, though he be lord of all; Ver. 2. But is imder tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the father. Ver. 3. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. Col. ii. 17. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. CHAP. XIX. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 79 ing forth divers instructions of moral duties.® All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated under the New Testament.^ IV. To them also, as a body politick, he gave sundry judicial laws, which expu-ed together with the state of that people, not obliging any other now^ further than the general equity thereof may require.^ V. The moral law doth for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof ;^ and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God, the Creator, who gave it.* Neither doth Christ in the gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.^ ^ 1 Cor. v. 7. Purge out therefore Ver. 14. Or imto governors, as unto the old leaven, that ye may be a new them that are sent by him for the lump, as ye are unleavened. For punishment of evil-doers, and for the even Chiist our passover is sacrified praise of them that do well. Matt. for us. 2 Cor. vi. 17. Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will re- ceive you. Jude, ver. 23. And others save with fear, pulling them out of tlie fire ; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. ^ Col. ii. 14. Blotting out the hand- writing of ordinances that was against ns, which was contrai-y to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. Ver. 16. Let no man there- fore judge you in meat, or in drink, or m respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath-days; Ver. 17. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Dan. ix. 27. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of letter^.'] Ver. 10. abominations he shall make it deso- to his neighbour V. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. With ver. 38. Ye have heard that it hath been said. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: Ver 39. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 1 Cor. ix. 8. Say I these things as a man ? or saith not the law the same also ? Ver. 9. For it la written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen ? Ver. 10. Or saith he it altogether for our sakes ? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written : that he that ploweth should plow in hope ; and that he that thrasheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. V. ^ Rom. xiii. 8, 9. [See above in Love worketh no ill therefore love is the late, even imtil the consummation, fulfilling of the law. Eph. vi. 2. Hon- and that determined shall be poured our thy father and mother, (which is upon the desolate. Eph. ii. 15. Having the first commandment with promise.) abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances ; for to make in him- self of twain one new man, so making peace; Ver. 16. And that be might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. IV. ^[Exod. Chapterxxl Exod. xxii. 1. to the 29th verse. See both in the Bible."] Gen. xlix. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come ; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. With 1 Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every shineth ordinance of man for the Lord's sake : ' James ii whether it be to the king, as supreme ; ^ Matt, v 1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. Ver. 4. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandm.ents, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Ver. 7. Bre- thren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment, which ye had from the beginning : the old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Ver. 8. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you ; because the dark- ness is past, and the true light now 10, 11. {See in Utter ^.] 17 [See in letter^.} Ver, 80 THE CONFESSION OP FAITH. CHAP. XTX. VI. Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned;^ yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others ; in that, as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly ;™ discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts, and lives ; ° so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humihation for, and hatred against sin:° to- gether with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of his obedience. p It is likewise of use to the regenerate, 18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till aU be fulfilled. Ver. 19. Who- soever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven : but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shaU be called gi-eat in the kingdom of heaven. James ii. 8. [See in letter^ before.'] Rom. iii. 31. Do we then make void the law through faith ? God forbid : yea, we establish the law. \ I. ' Rom. vi. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you : for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law : for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us : for it is written. Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree, (jal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made imder the law, Ver. 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Acts xiii. 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to tliem which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. "^ Rom. vii. 12. \yherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Ver. 22. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. Ver. 25. I thank God, through Jesus Chri.st our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Ps. cxix. 4. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy pre- cepts diligently. Ver. 5. that my wavs were directed to keep thy sta- tutes! Ver. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. 1 Cor. vii. 19. Circumcision is nothing, and im- circumcision is nothing, but the keep- ing of the commandments of God. Gal. V. 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. See in the Bible. ° Rom. vii. 7. What shall we say then ? Is the law sin ? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin but by the law: for I had not known lust, ex- cept the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Rom. iii. 20. Therefoi'e by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. *' James i. 23. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like tmto a man beholding his natural face in a glass : Ver. 24. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. Ver. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a foi;getful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Rom. vii. 9. For I was alive without the law once ; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. Ver. 14. For we Imow that the law is spiritual ; but I am carnal, sold imder sin. Ver. 24. wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from the body of this death ? P Gal. iii. 24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us xmto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Rom. vii. 24. [See be/ore in let- ter °. Verse 25. in letter '^.} "Rom. viiL 3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the like- ness of sinful flesh, and for sin, con- CHAP. XIX. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 81 to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin;*! and the threaten- ings of it serve to shew what even their sins deserve, and what afflic- tions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law.' The promises of it, in like man- ner, shew them God's approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof,* although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works : * so as a man's doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one, and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law, and not under grace.'' demned sin in the flesh ; Ver. 4. That mother, (which is the first command- the righteousness of the law might be ment with promise,) Ver. 3. That it fulfilled in us, who walk not after the may be well with thee, and thou flesh, but after the Spirit. mayest live long on the earth. Ps. 1 James ii. 11. For he that said. Do xxxvii. 11. But the meek ghall inherit not commit adultery, said also. Do not the earth; and shall delight them- kill. Now, if thou commit no adul- selves in the abundance of peace, tery, yet if thou kill, thou art become With Matt. v. 5. Blessed are the meek : a transgressor of the law. Ps.cxix. 101. for they shall inherit the earth. Ps. I have refrained my feet from eveiy xix. 11. Moreover, by them is thy ser- evil way, that I might keep thy word, vant warned : and in keeping of them Ver. 104. Through thy precepts I get there is great reward, understanding : therefore I hate every * Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man is false way. Ver. 128. Therefore I es- not justified by the works of the law, teem all thy precepts concerning all but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even things to be right; and I hate eveiy we have believed in Jesus Chi-ist, that false way. we might be justified by the faith of *■ Ezra ix. 13. And after all that is Christ, and not by the works of the come upon us for our evil deeds, and law : for by the works of the law shall for oiu- great trespass, seeing that thou no flesh be justified. Luke xvii. 10. our God hast pimished us less than our So likewise ye, when ye shall have iniquities deserve, and hast given us done all those things which are com- such deliverance as this ; X^er. 14. manded you, say. We are unprofitable Should we again break thy command- servants : we have done that which ments, and join in afiinity with the was our duty to do. people of these abominations ? would- ^ Rom. vi. 12. Let not sin therefore est not thou be angi-y with us till thou reign in your mortal body, that ye hadst consumed us, so that there should should obey it in the lusts thereof, be no remnant nor escaping ? Ps. Ver. 14. For sin shall not have do- Lsxxix. 30. If his children forsake my minion over you : for ye are not under law, and walk not in my judgments ; the law, but under grace. 1 1'et. iii. 8. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Ver. 9. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing ; knowing that ye are there- unto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. Ver. 10. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his Ver. 31. If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments ; Ver. 32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and theu* iniquity with stripes. Ver. 33. Nevertheless my lov- ing-kmdness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. Ver. 34. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thmg that is gone out of my lips. ^ [Lev. xxvi. to the lith verse.] With lips that they speak no guile : Ver. 11. 2 Cor. vi. 16. And what agreement hath Let him eschew evil, and do good ; let the temple of God with idols ? for ye him seek peace, and ensue it. Ver. 12. are the temple of the living God ; as For the eyes of the Lord are over the God hath said, I will dwell in them, righteous, and his ears are open xmto and walk in them ; and I will be their theiv prayers: but the face of the Lord God, and they shall be my people, is against them that do evil. With Eph. vi. 2. Honour thy father and Ps. xxiiv. 12. What man is he that THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XX. VII. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the gospel, but do sweetly comply with it ;'' the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely and cheerfully which the vnll of God revealed in the law requii'eth to b© done.* CHAP. XX. — Of C%ristian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience, I. rpHE liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the X gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the con- demning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law ;* and in their be- ing delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and do- minion of sin,^ from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the vic- tory of the grave, and everlasting damnation ; * as also in their free desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good ? Ver. 13. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Ver. 14. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. Ver. 15. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. Ver. 16. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the re- membrance of them from the earth. Heb. xii. 28. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Ver. 29. For our God is a consuming fire. yiL '^ Gal. iii. 21. Is the law then against the promises of God ? God for- bid : for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. ^ Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Heb. viii. 10. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord ; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts ; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. With Jer. xxxi. 33. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel ; After those days, snith the Lord, I will put my law in thoir inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and tlicy shall be my people. I. » Tit. ii. 14 Who gave himself for U3, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 1 Thess. i. 10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath re- deemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us : for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. *> Gal. i. 4. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. CoL i. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath trans- lated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan tmto God, that they may receive for- giveness of sins, and inlieritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Rom. vi. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you : for ye are not under the law, but tm- der grace. <= Rom. viii. 28. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his pui'pose. Ps. cxix. 71. It is good for me that I have been afiiicted ; that I might learn thy statutes. 1 Cor. xv. 64. 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. Ver. 55. death, where is thy sting ? grave, where is thy vio- CHAP. XX. THE CONCESSION OF FAITF. 83 access to G-od,^ and their yielding obedience unto him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love, and willing mind.® All which were common also to believers under the law;^ but under the new testa- ment, the hberty of Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, to which the Jewish Church was subjected,^ and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace,^ and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.' II. God alone is lord of the conscience,^ and hath left it free from tory ? Ver. 56. The sting of death is sin ; and the strength of sin is the law. Ver. 57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Chi'ist. Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ^ Rom. v. 1. Therefore, being justi- fied by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Chiist : Ver. 2. J3y whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ® Rom. viii. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the eons of God. Ver. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear ; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 1 John iv. 18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. ^ Gal. iii. 9. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Ver. 14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gen- tiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spuit through faith. g Gal. iv. 1. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a sei'vant, though he be lord of all ; Ver. 2. But is under tutors and governors, until the time ap- pointed of the father. Ver. 3. Even 60 we, when vre were cliildren, were in bondage under the elements of the world. Ver. 6. And because ye are pons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of liis Son into your hearts, crying, Ab- ba, Father. Ver. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son ; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Gal. v. 1. Stand fast there- fore in the liberty whei-ewith Christ hath made us free, and be not en- tangled again with the yoke of bon- dage. Acts XV. 10. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathei-s nor we were able to bear ? Ver. 11. But we believe that, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Chiist, we shall be saved, even as they. ^ Heb. iv. 14. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Ver. IS. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may ob- tain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. x. 19. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Ver. 20. By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us through the vail, that is to say, his flesh; Ver. 21. And having an high Eriest over the house of God; Ver. 22. et us draw near with a true heai*t, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil con- science, and our bodies washed with pm^e water. > John vii. 3S. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Ver. 39. (But this spake lie of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive : for the Holy Ghost was not yet given ; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 2 Cor. iii. 13. And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the cliildre;i of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. Ver. 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Uberty. Ver. 18. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed in- to the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. II. ^ James iv. 12. There is one law- giver, who is able to save aud to de- 84 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XX. the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing con- trary to his word, or beside it, in matters of faith or worship.^ So that to believe such doctrines, or to obey such commandments out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience ;™ and the requiring of an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason also.** III. They who, upon pretence of Chri.'?tian liberty, do practise any sin, or cherish any lust, do thereby destroy the end of Christian liberty; which is, that, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness be- fore him, all the days of our life." stroy: who art thou that judgest another? Rom. xiv. 4. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant ? to his own master he standeth or falleth ; yea, he shall be holden up : for God is able to make him stand. ^ Acts iv. 19. But Peter and John an- swered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken xmto you more than unto God, judge ye. Acts v. 29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 1 Cor. vii. 23. Ye are bought with a price : be not ye the servants of men. Matt, xxiii. 8. But be not ye called Rabbi : for one is your Master, even Christ ; and all ye are brethren. Ver. 9. And call no man your father upon the earth : for one is your Fa- ther, which is in heaven. Ver. 10. Neither be ye called masters : for one is your Master, even Christ. 2 Cor. i. 24. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. Matt. XV. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the com- mandments of men. ^ Col. ii. 20. _ Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from the laidiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordin- ances. Ver. 22. (Which all are to perish with the using,) after the command- ments and doctrines of men ? Ver. 23. Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will- worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body ; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. Gal. i. 10. For do I now persuade men, or God ? or do I seek to please men ? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Gal. ii. 4. And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage : Ver. 5. To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hom% that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Gal. V. 1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. ^ Rom. X. 17. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom. xiv. 23. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith : for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Isa. viii. 20. To the law and to the testimony : if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Acts xvii. 11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readi- ness of mind, and searched the scrip- tnres daily, whether those things were so. John iv. 22. Ye worship ye know not what : we know what we wor- ship: for salvation is of the Jews. Hos. V. 11. Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he wil- lingly walked after the commandment. Rev. xiii. 12. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth, and them which dwell therein, to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. Ver. 16. And he caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark ia their right hand, or in their fore- heads: Ver. 17. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Jer. viii. 9. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them ? III. Gal. T. 13. For, brethren, ye CHAP. XX. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 86 ly. And because the powers which God hath ordained, and the Hberty which Christ hath purchased, are not intended by God to de- stroy, but mutually to uphold and preserve one another ; they Mho, upon pretence of Christian hberty, shall oppose any lawful po\A'er, or the lawful exercise of it, whether it be civil or ecclesiastical, resist the ordinance of God.P And for their pubhshing of such opinions, or maintaining of such practices, as are contrary to the light of nature, or to the known principles of Christianity, whether concerning faith, worship, or conversation ; or to the power of godUness ; or such erro- neous opinions or practices, as either in their omti nature, or in the manner of publishing or maintaining them, are destructive to the external peace and order which Christ hath estabhshed in the church; they may lawfully be called to account,"^ and proceeded have been called unto liberty; only pleasure in them that do them. With use not liberty for an occasion to the 1 Cor. v. 1. It is reported commonly fiesh, but by love serve one another, that there is foraication among you, 1 Pet.ii. 16. As free, and not using and such fornication as is not so much your liberty for a cloak of malicious- as named among the Gentiles, that ness,but as the servants of God. 2 Pet. one should have his father's wife, ii. 19. While they promise them li- Ver. 5. To deliver such an one unto berty, they themselves are the ser- Satan for the destiaiction of the flesh, vants of coiTuption : for of whom a that the spirit may be saved in the man is overcome, of the same is he day of the Lord Jesus. Ver. 11. But brought in bondage. John viii. Si. now I have wi'itten imto you not to Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I keep company, if any man that ia say unto you, Whosoever committeth called a brother be a fornicator, or 8in is the servant of sin. Luke i. 74. covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, That he Avould grant unto us, that we, or a dininkard, or an extortioner ; being dehvered out of the hands of our with such an one no not to eat. Ver. enemies, might serve him Avithout fear, 13. But them that are without God Ver. 75. In holiness and righteousness judgetli. Therefore put away from before him, all the days of oui* life. among yourselves that wicked person. IV. P Matt. xii. 25. And Jesus knew 2 John, ver. 10. If there come any their thoughts, and said unto them, unto you, and bring not this doctrine, Every kingdom divided against itself receive him not into your house, is brought to desolation;" and every neither bid him God speed : Ver. 11. city or house divided against itself For he that biddeth him God speed is shall not stand. 1 Pet. ii. 13. Submit partaker of his evil deeds. And 2 yourselves to every ordinance of man Thess. iii. 14. And if any man obey for the Lord's sake : whether it be to not our word by this epistle, note that the king, as supreme; Ver. 14. Orun- man, and have no company with him, to governors, as unto them that are that he may be ashamed. And 1 Tim. sent by him for the punishment of vi. 3. If any man teach otherwise, evil-doers, and for the praise of them and consent not to wholesome words, that do well. Ver. 16. As free, and even the words of our Lord Jesus not using your liberty for a cloak of Christ, and to the doctrine which is maliciousness, but as the servants of according to godUness ; Ver. 4. He is God, [Rom xiii. 1. to the 6ih Verse.'] proud, knowing nothing, but doting Heb. xiii. 17. Obey them that have about questions and strifes of words, the rule over you, and submit your- whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, selves : for they watch for your touls, evil surmisings, Ver. 5. Perverse dis- as they that must give account ; that putings of men of corrupt minds, and they may do it with joy, and not with destitute of the truth, supposing that gi-ief : for that is unprofitable for you. gain is godliness : from such withdraw • [I'eut. xiii. 6. to the I2th.'\ Rom. xiii. 3. For rulers ai-e 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. Ver. 4. 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 doeth evil With 2 Jolm, verses 10, 11. \_See in letter i.] Ezra vii. 23. Whatsoever is com- manded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently dene for the house of the God of heaven : for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons ? Ver. 25. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand, set magis- trates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. Ver. 26. And who- soever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judg- ment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to ban- ishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. Ver. 27. Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem ; Ver. 28. And hath extended mercy unto me before the king and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty prin- ces: and I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me; and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. Ilev.xvii. 12. And the ten bonis which be stopped ; who subvert wholehouses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthj'- lucre's sake. Ver. 13. This witness is true : Avhercfore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. And Tit. iii. 10. A man that is an heretick, after the first and second admonition, reject. With Matt, xviii. 15. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone : if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Ver. 16. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word^ may be established. Ver. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a pullican. 1 Tim. i. 19. Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made sliipwreck : Ver. 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander ; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. Rev. ii. 2. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil : and thou hast tried them which say they are apo-stles, and are not, and hast found them liars. Ver. 14. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there "them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling- block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. Ver. 15. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of tlie Nicolaitanes, whicli thing I hate. Ver. 20. Notwithstanding 1 have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. Rev. iii. 9. Be- CnAP. XXI, THE CONFESSION OF FAITH, 87 and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and wdth all the thou sawest are ten kings, which have brook Kidron, and burnt it at the received no kingdom as yet ; but re- brook Kidron, and stamped it small ceive power as kings one hour with the to powder, and cast the powder thereof beast. Ver. 16. And thetenhorns wliich upon the graves of the children of the thou sawest upon the beast, these shall people. Ver. 9. Nevertheless the priests hate the whore, and shall make her of the high places came not up to the desolate and naked, and shall eat her altar of the Lord in Jeixisalem, but flesh, and burn her with fire. Ver. they did eat of the unleavened bread 17. For Grod hath put in their hearts among their brethren. Ver. 20. And to fulfil his will, and to agree, and he slew all the priests of the high give their kingdom unto the beast, places that were there upon the altars, nntil the words of God shall be ful- and burnt men's bones upon them, filled. Neh. xiii. 15. In those days and retui-ned to Jerusalem. Ver. 21. saw I in Judah some treading wine- And the king commanded all the presses on the sabbath, and bringing people, sajing. Keep the passover un- in sheaves, and lading asses ; as also to the Lord your God, as it is written wine, gi"apes, and figs, and all manner in the book of this covenant. 2 Chron. of burdens, which they brought into xxxiv. 33. And Josiah took away all Jerusalem on the sabbath-day : and the abominations out of all the coun- I testified against them in the day tries that pertained to the children of wherein they sold victuals, Ver. 17. Israel, and made all that were present Then I contended with the nobles of in Israel to serve, even to serve the Judah, and said unto them, What evil Lord their God. And all liis days thing is this that ye do, and profane they departed not from following the the sabbath-day? Ver. 21. Then I Lord, the God of their fathers. 2 testified against them, and said unto Chron. xv. 12. And they entered into them. Why lodge ye about the wall ? a covenant to seek the Lord God of if ye do so again, 1 will lay hands on their fathers with all their heart, and you. From tliat time forth came they with all their soul ; Ver. 13. That no more on the sabbath. Ver. 22. And whosoever would not seek the Lord I commanded the Levites, that they God of Israel should be put to doath, should cleanse themselves, and that whether small or great, whether man they should come and keep the gates, or woman. Ver. 16. And also con- to sanctify the sabbath-day. Remem- cerning Maachah, the mother of Asa ber me, my God, concerning this the king, he removed her from being also, and spare me according to the queen, because she had made an idol greatness of thy mercy. Ver. 25. And in a grove : and Asa cut down her I contended with them, and cui'sed idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at them, and smote certain of them, and the brook Kidron. Dan. iii. 29. There- plucked off their hair, and made them fore I make a decree, That every peo- swear by God, saying, Ye shall not pie, nation, and language, wMch speak give 5'our daughters unto their sons, any thing amiss against the God of nor take their daughters unto your Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed nego, sons, or for yourselves. Ver. 30. Thus shall be cut in pieces, and their houses cleansed I them from all strangers, shall be made a dunghill; because and appointed the wards of the priests there is no other God that can deliver and the Levites, every one in his busi- after this sort 1 Tim. ii. 2. For kings, ness. 2 Kings xxiii. 5. And he put down and for all that are in authority ; that the idolatrous priests, whom the kings we may lead a quiet and peaceable of Judah had ordained to bum incense life in all godliness and honesty. Isa. in the high places in the cities of Ju- xlix. 23. And kings shall be thy nurs- dah, and in the places round about Je- ing-fathers, and "their queens thy rusalem ; them also that burnt incense nm*sing-mothers: they shall bow down unto Baal, to the Sim, and to the moon, to thee with their face toward the and to the planets, and to all the earth, and lick up the dust of thy host of heaven. Ver. 6. And he brought feet; and thou shalt know that I am otit the grove from the house of the the Lord: for theyshall Dot be ashamed Lurd, without Jcnisaiem, unto the that wait for me. Zech. xiii. 2, And 88 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XXI. might.* But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is in- stituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the holy scripture.^ II. Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; and to him alone : " not to angels, saints, or any other creature : ^ it shall come to pass in that day, saith with all the soul, and with all the the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off strength, and to love his neighbour the names of the idols out of the land, as himself, is more than all whole and they shall no more be remem- burnt-offerings and sacrifices, bered ; and also I will cause the pro- ** Deut. xii. 32. What thin^ soever phets and the vmclcan spirit to pass I command you, observe to do it : thou out of the land. Ver. 3. And it shall shalt not add thereto, nor diminish come to pass, that when any shall yet from it. Matt. xv. 9. But in vain they prophesy, then his father and his do worship me, teaching for doctrines mother that begat him shall say unto the commandments of men. Acts xvii. him. Thou shalt not live; for thou 25. Neither is worshipped with men'3 speakest lies in the name of the Lord : hands, as though he needed any tiling, and his father and his mother that seeing he givetli to all life, and breath, begat him shall thrust him through and all things. Matt. iv. 9. And saith when he prophesieth. _ unto him. All these things will I give I. * Rom. i. 20. For the invisible thee, if thou wilt fall down and wor- things of him from the creation of the ship me. Ver. 10. Then saith Jesus world are clearly seen, being under- unto him, Get thee hence, Satan : for stood by the things that are made, it is written, Thou shalt worship the even his eternal power and Godhead ; Lord thy God, and him only shalt so that they are without excuse. Acts thou serve. [Deut. xv. tothe 20th Verse.'\ xvii. 24. God, that made the world, Exod. xx. 4. Thou shalt not make unto and all tilings therein, seeing that he thee any graven image, or any like- is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth ness of any thing that is in heaven not in temples made with hands. Ps. above, or that is in the earth beneath, cxix. 68. Thou art good, and doest or that is in the water under the good : teach me thy statutes. Jer. x. earth : Ver. 5. Thou shalt not bow 7. Who would not fear thee, King down thyself to them, nor serve them: of nations ? for to thee doth it apper- for I the Lord thy God am a jealous tain : forasmuch as among all the wise God, visiting the iniquity of the fa- men of the nations, and in all their thers upon the children unto the third kingdoms, there is none like unto and fom-tli generation of them that thee. Ps. xxxi. 23. love the Lord, hate me ; Ver. 6, And shewing mercy all ye his saints: for the Lord pre- unto thousands of them that love me, serveth the faithful, and plentifully and keep my commandments. Col. ii. rewardeth the proud doer. Ps. xviii. 23. Which things have indeed a shew 3. I will call upon the Lord, who is of wisdom in will-worship, and hu- worthy to be praised : so shall 1 be mility, and neglecting of the body ; saved from mine enemies. Rom. x. not in any honour to the satisfying of 12. For there is no difference between the flesh. the Jew and the Greek; for the same II. ° Matt. iv. 10. [See before in let- Lord over all is rich unto all that call ter ^J With John v. 23. That all men upon him. Ps.lxii. 8. Trust in him at all should honour the Son, even as they times ; ye people, pour out yovo" heart honoui* the Father. He that honoui"- before him : God is a refuge for us. eth not the Son, honoureth not the Josh. xxiv. 14. Now therefore fear the Father which hath sent him. And 2 Lord, and serve him in sincerity and Cor. xiii. 14 The gi-ace of the Lord in tnith : and put away the gods Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and which your fathers served on the the communion of the Holy Ghost, be other side of the flood, and in Egypt ; with you all. Amen, and serve ye the Lord. Mark xii. 33. ^ Col. ii. 18. Let no man beguile And to love him with all the heart, you of your reward in a voluntary and with all the understanding, and humility, and worshipping of angels. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 89 nor in the mediation of CHAP. XXI. and, since the fall, not without a Mediator : any other but of Christ alone.** III. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship,^ is by God required of all men ;s and, that it may be accept- ed, it is to be made in the name of the Son,^ by the help of his Spirit,* according to his will,^ with understanding, reverence, humility, fer- vency, faith, love, and perseverance ;^ and, if vocal, in a known tongue.™ in^^ruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly putfed up by his fleshly mind. Rev. xix. 10. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not; I am thy fellow- servant, an^J of thy breth- ren that have the testimony of Jesus : worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rom. i. 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, wlio is blessed for ever. Amen. ® Jolm xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto him , I am the way, and the truth, and the life : no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Eph. ii. 18. For through him we both have access by; one Spirit unto the Father. Col. iii. 17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. III. ^ Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for no- thing : but in eveiy thing by prayer and supplication, with thn.nki^giving, let your requests be made known un- to God. g Ps. Ixv. 2. thou that hearest prayer, mito thee shall all flesh come. ^ John xiv. 13. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorilied in the Son. Ver. 14. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to ofler up spiritual sacri- fices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. » Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought ; but the Spirit itself mak- eth intercession for us with groaniugs which cannot be uttered. ^ 1 John V. 14. And this is the con- fidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any tiling according to his will, he hearcth us. ' Ps. xlvii. 7. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. Eccl. v. 1. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of tools : for they consider not that they do evil. Ver. 2. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God : for God is in heaven, and thou upon eaith; there- fore kt thy words be few. Heb. xiL 28. Wherefore, we receiving a king- dom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve Go.l acceptably witli reverence and godly fear. Gen xviii. 27. And Abra- ham answered and said. Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes. James v. 16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The eflectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James i. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing waver- ing: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Ver. 7. For let not that man think that he shull receive any thing of the Lord. Mark xi. 24. There fore I say unto you, What things so- ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Matt. vi. 12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debt- ors. Ver. 14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: Ver. 15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Col. iv. 2. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplica- tion in the Spirit, and Avatcliing there- unto with all perseverance and sup- plication for all saints. ^ I Cor. xiv. 14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit pray- eth, but my understanding is. un- fruitful. 90 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XXI. rV. Prayer is to be made for things lawful,'* and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter ;° but not for the dead,P nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death. Gen. ii. 18. And the Lord God at her mouth. Ver. 58. And they said, It is not good that the man called Rebekah, and said rmto her, should be alone ; I will make hun an W^ilt thou go with this man ? And help meet for him. she said, I will go. ° Mai. ii. 15. And did not he make ^ 1 Cor. vii. 39. The wife is bound one ? Yet had he the residue of the by the law as long as her husband Spirit. And wherefore one ? That he liveth; but if her husband be dead, might seek a godly seed. Therefore she is at hberty to be married to whom take heed to j-our spirit, and let none she will ; only in the Lord, deal treacheiously against the wife of s Gen. xxxiv. 14. And they said his 5"outh. irnto them, AVe cannot do this thing, ^ 1 Cor. vii. 2. Nevertheless, to avoid to give om- sister to one that is uncir- fornication, let every man have his cruucised; for that were a reproach own wife, and let every woman have imto us. Exod. xxxiv. 16. And thou her own husband. Ver. 9. But if they take of their daughters unto thy sons, cannot contain, let them marry : fur and their daughters go a whoring it is better to marry than to burn. after their gods, and make thy sons III. ^ Heb. xiii. 4. Marriage is hon- go a whoring after their gods. Deut. curable in all, and the bed undefiled : vii. 3. Neither shalt thou make mar- but whoremongers and adulterers God riages with them ; thy daughter thou will judge. 1 Tim. iv. 3. Forbidding shalt not give unto his son, nor his to marry, and commanding to abstain daughter shalt thou take unto thy from meats, which Gud hath created son. Ver. 4. F'or they will turn away to be received with thanksgiving of thy son from following me, that they them which believe and know the may serve other gods ; so will the tiuth. 1 Cor. vii. 36. But if any man auger of the Lord be kindled against think that he behaveth himself un- you, and destroy thee suddenly. 1 CUA.P. XXIV. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 103 IV. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden in the word;^ nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man, or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.' The man may not marry any of his wife's kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own, nor the woman of her husband's kindred nearer in blood than of her own> V. Adultery or fornication committed after a contract, being de- tected before marriage, giveth just occasion to the innocent party to dissolve that contract.^ In the case of adultery after marriage, it is Kings xi. 4. For it came to pass, -when Solomon was old, that his wives turn- ed away his heart after other gods : and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his Grod, as was the heart of David his father. Neli. xiii. 25. And I contended with tliem, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying. Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters imto your sons, or for yourselves. Ver. 26. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these tilings ? yet among many nations was there no king like him, Avho was beloved of his God, and (iod made him king over all Israel : neverthe- less even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Ver. 27. Shall we then hearken imto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives ? Mai. ii. 11. Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jenisalem : for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. Ver. 12. The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hosts. 2 Cor. vi. 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers : for what fellowslup hath righteousness with imrighteousness ? and what communion hath light with darkness ? IV. ^ [Lev. Chapter xviii.] 1 Cor. v. 1. It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. Amos ii. 7. That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek : and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name. iMark vi. 18. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Lev. xviii. 24. Defile not ye youi-selves in any of these things : for in all these the na- tions are defiled which I cast out be- fore you. Ver. 25. And the land is defiled : therefore I do visit the ini- quity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ver. 2Q. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abomina- tions ; neither any of yoiu* own na- tion, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you ; Ver. 27. (For all these abominations have the men of the land done which were before you, and the land is defiled;) Ver. 28. That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nationa that were before you. ^ Lev. XX. 19. And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister ; for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity. Ver. 20. And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath tmcovered Ms uncle's naked- ness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. Ver. 21. And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing; he hath uncover- ed his brother's nakedness : they shall be childless. V. 1 Matt. i. 18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise : When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was foimd with child of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 19. Then Joseph hei husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. Ver. 20. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the lot THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XXV. lawful for the innocent party to sue out a divorce,™ and, after the divorce, to marry anotlier, as if the offending party were dead.'* VI. Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to study argu- ments, unduly to put asunder those whom God hath joined together in marriage ; yet nothing but adultery, or such wilful desertion as can no way be remedied by the church or civil magistrate, is cause suffi- cient of dissolving the bond of marriage:" wherein a publick and orderly course of proceeding is to be observed, and the persons concei'n- ed in it not left to their own wills and discretion in their own case.i* CHAP. XXV.— Of the Church. I. rpHE catholick or universal church, which is invisible, consists of jL the vv'hole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.* Lord appeared unto him in a dream, A brother or a sister is not under saying, Joseph, thou son of David, bondage in such cases : but God hath fear not to take unto thee Mary thy called us to peace. Matt. xix. 6. Wliere- wifc: for that which is conceived in fore they are no more twain, but one her is of the Holy Ghost. flesh. What therefore God hath join- ™ Matt. V. 31. It hath been said, ed together, let not man put asunder. Whosoever shall put away his wife, p Deut. xxiv. 1. When a man hath let him give her a writing of divorce- taken a wife, and married her, and it ment: Ver. 32. But I say unto 3"ou, come to pass that she find no favour That whosoever shall put away his in his eyes, because he hath found wife, saving for the cause of foruica- some uncleanness in her ; then let him tion, causeth her to cuunnit adultery: write her a bill of divorcement, and and whosoever shall marry her that is give it in her hand, and send her out divorced committeth adultery. of his house. Ver. 2. And when she " Matt. xix. 9. And I say unto you, is departed out of his house, she may Whosoever shall put away his Avife, go and be another man's wife. Ver. 3. except it be for fornication, and shall And if the latter husband hate her, marry another, committeth adultery; and write her a bill of divorcement, and whoso marrieth her which is put and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth away doth comuut adultery. Rom. her out of his house; or if the latter vii. 2. For the vfoman which hath an husband die, which took her to be his husband is bound by the law to her wife ; Ver. 4. Her former husband, husband so long as he liveth : but if which sent her away, may not take the husband be dead, she is loosed her again to be his wife, after that from the law of her husband. Ver. 3. she is defiled ; for that is abomination So then if, while her husband liveth, before the Lord : and thou shalt not she be married to another man, she cause the land to sin, which the Lord shall be called an adulteress : but if thy God giveth thee for an inheri- her husband be dead, she is free from tance. that law ; so that she is no adulteress, L * Eph. i. 10. That, in the dispen- though she be married to another sationofthe fulness of times, he might man. gather together in one all things in VL o Matt. xix. 8. He saith unto Christ, both which are in heaven, and t^em, Moses, because of the hardness which are on earth, even in him. Ver. of your hearts, suffered you to put 22. And hath put all things under his aw.iy your \rlves: but from the be- feet, and gave him to be the head over ginning it was not so. Ver. 9. [See all things to the church, Ver. 23. Iffer''] 1 Cor. vii. 15. But if the Which is his body, the fulness of him unbelieving dcpnrt, let him depart, that filleth all in all. Eph. v. 23. For CHAP. XXV. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 105 II. The visiMe church, which is also catholick or universal under the gospel, (not confined to one nation, as before under the law.) consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion,^ to- gether with their children;" and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,*^ the house and fiimily of God,® out of which there is no ordi- nary possibility of salvation.^ III. Unto this catholick \nsible church Christ hath given the minis- the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church ; and he is the saviour of the body. Ver. 27. That he might pre- sent it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing ; but that it should be holy, and without blemish. Ver. 32. This is a great mystery : but I speak con- cerning Chiist and the church. Col. i. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the first- born from the dead ; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. II. b 1 Cor. i. 2. Unto the church of Cxod which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that ia every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. 1 Cor. xii. 12. For as the boJy is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body ; so also is Christ. Ver. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, Avhether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free ; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Ps. ii. 8. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thj possession. Rev. vii. 9. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. Rom. XV. 9. And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. Ver. 10. And again he saith. Rejoice, ye Gen- tiles, with his people. Ver. 11. And again. Praise the Lord, all ye Gen- tiles; and laud him, all ye people. Ver. 12. And again Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles ; in lum shall the Gentiles trust. ° 1 Cor. vii. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband : else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. Acts ii. 39. 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. Ezek. xvi. 20. Moreover, thou hast taken thy sens and thy daughters, whom thou hast born unto me, and these hast thou sa- crificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter, Ver. 21. That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them ? Rom. xi. 16. For if the first- fruit be holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root be holy, so are the branches. Gen. iii. 15. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed : it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish my cove- nant between me and thee, and_ thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. ^ Matt. xiii. 47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind. Isa. ix. 7. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. « Eph. ii. 19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the hoiisehold of God. Eph. iii. 15. Of whom the wliole family in heaven and earth is named. f Acts ii. 47. Praising God, andhav- ing favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 106 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XXV. try, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints in this Hfe, to the end of the world ; and doth by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make them effectual thereunto.^ IV. This catholick church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.^ And particular churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and publick worship performed more or less purely in them.' V. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error ;^ and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. ^ Nevertheless, there shall III. s 1 Cor. xii. 28. And God bath set some in the church, fiist, apostles; secondarilj', prophets ; thirdly, teach- ers ; after that miracles ; then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversi- ties of tongues. Eph. iv. 11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, pro- phets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Ver. 12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edi- fjdng of the body of Christ : Ver. 13. Till vre 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 tlie fulness of Christ. Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, bap- tizing them in tlie name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; Ver. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Isa. lis. 21. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in tliy mouth, sliall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the month of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. IV. ^ Kom. xi. 3. Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. Ver. 4. But what saith the answer of God ruito him ? I have reserved to myself seven thou- sand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Rev. xii. 6. And the woman fled into the wil- derness, where she hath a place pre- {)ared of God, that they sliould teed ler there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Ver. 14. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. i [Rev. Chapters ii. and iii. throtigh- out^ 1 Cor^ V. 6. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Ver 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. V. ^ 1 Cor. xiii. 12. For now we see through a glass, darkly ; but tlien face to face : now I know in part ; but then shall I know even as also I am known. [R-ev. Clmpters ii. and\\\.'\ Matt. xiiL 24-30. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying. The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also, (fee. Ver. 47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of everj'^ kind. ' Rev. xviii. 2. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babjdon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is be- come the habitation of de-sils, and the hold of evei-y foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Rom. xi. 18. Boast not against the branches : but if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Ver. 19. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graf- fed in. Ver. 20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high- minded, but fear : Ver 21. For if God CHAP. XXVI. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 107 be always a church on earth to worship God according to his will.'" VI. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ:'^ nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that ex- alteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God." CHAP. XXYI.— 0/ Communion of Saints. I. A LL saints that are united to Jesus Christ their head by his Spirit, J\. and by faith, have fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory.* And being united to one another in spared not the natm-al branches, take that he, as God, sitteth in the temple heed lest he also spare not thee. Ver. of God, shewing himself that he is 22. Behold therefore the goodness and God. Ver. 8. And then shall that severity of God : on them which fell, Wicked be revealed, Avhom the Lord severity; but toward thee, goodness, shall consume with the spirit of his if thou continue in his goodness; mouth, and shall destroy with the otherwise thou also shalt be cut oif. brightness of his coming: Ver. 9. *" Matt. xvi. 18. And I say also un- Even him, whose coming is after the to theCj That thou art Peter, and working of Satan, with all power, and upon this rock I will build my church ; signs, and lying wonders. Rev. xiii. and the gates of hell shall not prevail 6. And he opened his mouth in blas- against it. Ps. Ixxii. 17. His name phemy against God, to blaspheme his shall endure for ever : his name shall name, and his tabernacle, and them be continued as long as the sun ; and that dwell in heaven, men shall be blessed in him : all na- I. * 1 John i. 3. That which we have tions shall call him blessed. Ps. cii. seen and heard declare we unto you, 28. The children of thy servants shall that ye also may have fellowship with continue, and their seed shall be esta- us : and truly our fellowship is with blished before thee. Matt, xxviii. 19, the Father, and with his Son Jesus 20. [See in letter s.] ^ Christ. Eph. iii. 16. That he would VI. ^ Col. i. 18. And he is the head grant you, according to the riches of of the body, the church ; who is the his glory, to be strengthened Avith beginning, the first-born from the might by his Spirit in the inner man ; dead ; that in all things he might ^'er. 17. That Christ may dwell in have the pre-eminence. Eph. i. 22. your hearts by faith ; that ye, being And hath put all things under his rooted and grounded in love, Ver. 18. feet, and gave him to be the head over May be able to comprehend with all all things to the church. saints what is the breadth, and length, ° Matt, xxiii. 8. But be not ye called and depth, and height; Ver. 19. And Rabbi : for one is your Master, even to know the love of Christ, which Chi-ist ; and all ye are brethren. Ver. passeth knowledge, that ye might be 9. And call no man your father upon tilled with all the fulness of God. the earth : for one is your Father, John i. 16. And of his fulness have aU w^hich is in heaven. Ver. 10. Neither we received, and grace for grace. Eph. be ye called masters : for one is your ii. 5. Even when we were dead in sins, Master, even Christ. 2 I'hess. ii. 3. hath quickened us together with Let no man deceive you hy any means : Christ ; (by grace ye are saved ;) Ver. for that day shall not come, except 6. And hath raised us up together, and there come a falling away first, and made us sit together in heavenly places that man of sin be revealed, the son of in Christ Jesus. Phil. iii. 10. That I perdition; Ver. 4. Who opposeth and may know him, and the power of his exalteth himself above all that is resurrection, and the fellowship of his called God, or that is worshipped ; so sufferings, being made confoimable 108 THE CONFESSION OF FAITTT. CHAP. XXVI. love, they have communion in each other's gifts and graces;'' and are ohli'jed to the performance of such duties, publiek and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man." ir. Saints, by profession, are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and com.inunion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification;'^ as also in re- lieving each other in outward things, according to their several abili- ties and necessities. Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who in every place call upon the n^ime of the Lord Jesus.® unto his death. Rom. vi 5. For if we liave been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Ver. 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroj^ed, that lienceforth we should not serve sin. 2 Tim. ii. 12. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him : if we deny him, he also will deny us. *> Eph. iv. 15. But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Chrif>t: V'er. 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which eveiy joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of ever}' part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love. 1 Cor. xii. 7. But the manifestation of the Spi- rit is given to every man to profit withal. 1 Cor. iii. 21. Therefore let no man glory in men : for all things are yours ; Ver. 22. Whether Paul, or A])ollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or tilings to come ; all are yours ; Ver. 23. And ye ai^e Christ's ; and Christ is Gods. CoL ii. 19. And not holding the head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, in- creaseth with the increase of God. c 1 Thcss. v. 11. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one an- other, even as also ye do. Ver. 14. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unrulj', comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. Rom. i. 11. For I long to see you, that I may im- part unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established ; Ver. 12. That is, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me. Ver. 14. I am debtor both to the Greeks mid to the Barbarians, both to the wise and to the unwise. 1 John iii. 16. Hereby per- ceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us : and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Ver. 17. But whoso hath this Avorlds good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compas- sion from him, how dwelletli the lovo of God in Mm? Ver. IS. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue ; but in deed, and in truth. Gal. vi. 10. As we have therefore op- portunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. II. ^ Heb. X. 24. And let us consider one another, to pi'ovoke unto love, and to good works : Ver 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves to'-^ether, as the manner of some is ; but exhort- ing one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Acts ii. 42. And they continued stead- fastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayere. Ver. 46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. Isa. ii. 3. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths : fur out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of tlie Lord from Jerusalem. 1 Cor. xi. 20. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. ^ Acts ii. 44. And all that believed were together, and had all things com- mon; Ver 45. And sold their posses- sii>ns and goods, and parted them to all men, as evei'y man had need. 1 John iii. 17. [See in letter ". 2 Cor. (Jiidpters viii. and ix.] Acts xi. 2i). TTTAP. XXVTT. THE CONFESSION OF FAITIT. 109 III. This commimion which the saints have with Christ, doth not make them in any wise partakers of the substance of his Godhead, or to be equal M'ith Christ in any respect : either of Avhich to affirm is impious and blasphemous.' Nor doth their communion one with an- other, as saints, take away or infringe the title or property which each man hath in his goods and possessions. s CHAP. XXYIL— Of the Sacraments. I. QACRA^IENTS are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace," iO immediately instituted by God,^ to represent Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest in him;'' as also to put a visible Then the disciples, ererj^nan accord- ing to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: Ver. 30. Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. III. f Col. i. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church ; who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence: Ver. 19. For it pleased the Father, that in hira Bliould all fulness dwell. 1 Cor. viii. 6. But tons there is but one Grod, the Father, of whom are all things, and Ave in liim ; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Isa. xlii. 8. I am the Lord ; that is my name : and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven Images. 1 Tim. vi. 15. Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords ; Ver. 1 6. Who only hath immortality, dwelling inthelight which no man can approach unto; whom no man bath seen, nor can see : to whom be honour and power ever ■ lasting. Amen. Ps. xlv. 7. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wick- edness : theix'fore Cxod, thy Grod, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. With Heb. i. 8. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, God, is for ever and ever ; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Ver. 9. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity ; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. s Exod. XX. 15. Thou shalt not steal. Fph. iv. 28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with liis hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to Mm that needeth. Acts v. 4. AVhiles it remained, was it not thine own ? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power ? why hast thou conceived this tiling in thine heart ? thou hast not lied imto men, but unto God. I. =* Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncu-cumcised : that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circum- cised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish my covenant be- tween me and thee, and tliy seed after thee, in their generations, for an ever- lasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Ver. 10. [See below in letter f.] ^ Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. 2:3. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. ° 1 Cor. X. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the com- munion of the blood of Christ ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ? 1 Cor. xi. 25. After the same maimer also he took the cup, wlien he had supped, saying. This cuj) is the new testament in my blood . this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Ver. 2G. For as often as ye eat 110 TITE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XXVII. difference between those that belong unto the church and the rest of the world ;^ and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his word.^ II. There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified ; whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other ' III. The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments, rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them ; neither doth the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth administer it,^ but upon the work of the Spirit,'' and the word of in- stitution ; which contains, together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers.^ IV. There be only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in tlie gospel, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord ; nei- tliis bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. *"Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Chi'ist have Fut on Christ. Gal. iii. 17. And this say, that the covenant, that was con- firmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. d Rom. XV. 8. Now I say, that .Jesus Christ was a minister of the eii*cum- cision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. Exod. xii. 48. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it ; and he shall be as one that is born in the land : for no imcircumcised person shall eat thereof. Gen. xxxiv. 14. And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give oiir sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us. •^ Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that so many of us aswere baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death ? Ver. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also shoTild walk in newness of life. 1 Cor. X. 16. [See in letter <=.] Ver. 21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. II. f Gen. xvii. 10. This is my cove- nant, which ye shall keep, between me and you, and thy seed after thee ; Every man-chikl among you shall be circumcised. Matt. xxvi. 27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to thsm, saying. Drink ye all of it: Ver. 28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. III. 8 Rom. ii. 28. For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly ; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh : Ver. 29. But he is a Jew which is one inwardly : and circum- cision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. 1 Pet. iii. 21. The like figure whereunto even br.ptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a pood conscience toward God,) by the resur- rection of Jesus Christ. ^ Matt. iii. 11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Gho t, and with fire. 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to di"ink into one Spirit. > Matt. xxvi. 27, 28. [See in letter «■.] Matt, xxviii. 19. [See in letter \'^ Ver. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you : and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. CHAP. XXYIII. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 11 ther of which may be dispensed by any but by a minister of the word, lawfully ordained.^ V. The sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those of the New.^ CHAP. XXYUl,— Of Baptism. I. T) APTISM is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by XJ Jesus Christ,* not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church,'' but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace,'' of his ingrafting into Christ,^ of rege- neration,® of remission of sins,^ and of his giving up unto God through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life:^ which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world. ^ IV. ^ Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye there- fore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. 20. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. Ver. 23. For I have received of the Lord tliat which also I delivered unto you. That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. 1 Cor. iv. 1. Let a man so accoimt of us as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Heb. V. 4. And no man taketh this honom* unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. V. 1 1 Cor. X. 1. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be igno- rant, how that all our fathers Avere under the cloud, and all passed through the sea ; Ver. 2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; Ver. 3. And did all eat the same spiritual meat; Ver. 4. And did all drink the same spiritual drink; (for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them ; and that Rock was Christ.) I. a Matt, xxviii. 19. [See letter ^ of the foregoing Chaj^ter.] ^ 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whe- ther we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. f Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircuracised : that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circum- cised ; that righteousness might be imputed imto them also. With Col. ii. 11. In whom also ye are circum- cised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the tlesli by the circum- cision of Christ ; Ver. 12. Bmied with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. ^ Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Chi'ist have put on Christ. Rom. vi. 5. For if we have been planted together m the like- ness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. « Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of right- eousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. J Mark i. 4. Jolm did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. s Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death ? Ver. 4. Therefore we are bmied with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ Avas raised up from the dead by the glorj'^ of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ^ Matt, xxviii. 19. {See in lettrr ^ foregoing Chapter. '\ Ver. 20. Teaching 112 TTTE CONFESSION OF FAITH. cnAP xxviii. II The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel, lawfully called thereunto.^ III. Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but bap- tism is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkhng water upon the p.^rson.'^ IV. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ,^ but also the infants of one or both beheving parents are to be baptized.™ t iiom to observe all things whatsoever I have commauded you : and, lo, I am v/ith you alway, even imto the end of the world. Amen. II. > Matt. iii. 11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance : but he that cometh after me is raiglitier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear : he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. John i. 33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remain- ing on him, the same is he which bap- tizcth with the Holy Ghost. Matt, xxviii. 19. [See in letter ^ foregoing C/'iapter.] Ver. 20. [See in letter \] III. k Heb. ix. 10, 19, 20, 21, 22. Acts ii. 41. Then they that gladly re- ceived his word were baptized : and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts xvi. 33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stiipes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. Mark vii. 4. And when they come from the mar- ket, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. IV. 1 Mark xvi. 15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the worLl, and preach the gospel to every crea- ture. Ver. 16. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Ac^s viii. 37. And Phihp said, If thou bolievcst with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I Ix^lieve that Jesus Christ is the !Son of God. Ver. 33. And he commanded the chariot to stand still : and they went down both into the water, both riiilip and theeuuu:h; and he bap- tized him. ™ Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their gene- rations, for an evei-lasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee, in their generations. With Gal. iii. 9. So then they Avhich be of faith are blessed with faithful Abra- ham. Ver. 14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. And Cob ii. 11. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ ; Ver. 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And Acts ii. 38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be bap- tized evei-y one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 39. For the pro- mise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And Rom iv 11 And he received the sign of cii'cumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised : that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circum- cised ; that righteo'.isness might be imputed mito them also : Ver. 12. And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being j'et uncircumcised. 1 Cor. vii. 14. For the unbelieving hus- band is sanctified by the wife, and CHAP, xxvm. THE CONFESSION OF FAITIT. 113 V. Althoug-h It be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance," yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated or saved without it,° or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.? VI. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time \vherein it is administered ;