to both Natures by each Nature doing that which is proper to it self 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 VIII To all those for whom Christ hath purchased Redemption he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same making intercession for them and revealing unto them in and by the Word the mysteries of Salvation effectually perswading them by his Spirit to believe and obey and governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit overcoming all their enemies by his Almighty Power and Wisdom in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his Wonderful and unsearchable dispensation CHAP. IX Of Free Will GOD hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty that is neither forced nor by any absolute necessity of Nature determined to do good or evil II. Man in his state of innocency had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good and well-pleasing to God but yet mutably so that he might fall from it III. Man by his fall into a state of sin hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying Salvation so as a natural man being altogether averse from that good and dead in sin is not able by his own strength to convert himself or to prepare himself thereunto IV. When God converts a sinner and translates him into the state of grace he freeth him from his natural Bondage under sin and by his grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good yet so as that by reason of his remaining Corruption he doth not perfectly nor only will that which is good but doth also will that which is evil V. The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone in the state of Glory only CHAP. X. Of Effectual Calling ALL those whom God hath predestinated unto life and those only he is pleased in his appointed and accepted time effectually to Call by his Word and Spirit out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ inlightning their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God taking away their heart of stone and giving unto them an heart of flesh renewing their wills and by his Almighty power determining them to that which is good and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ yet so as they come most freely being made willing by his grace II. This Effectual Call is of Gods free and special grace alone not from any thing at all foreseen in man who is altogether passive therein until being quickned and renewed by the Holy Spirit he 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 uncapable of being outwardly called by the Ministry of the Word IV. Others not elected although they may be called by the Ministry of the Word and may have some common operations of the Spirit yet they never truly come unto Christ and therefore cannot be saved much less can men not professing the Christian Religion be saved in any other way whatsoever be they never so diligent to frame their lives 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 detasted CHAP. XI Of Justification THose whom God effectually calleth he also freely justifieth 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 Christs sake alone nor by imputing Faith it self 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 resting on him and his Righteousness by Faith which Faith they have not of themselves it is the gift of God II. Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness is the alone instrument of Justification yet it is not alone in the person justified but it is ever accompanied with all other saving graces and is no dead 〈◊〉 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 Fathers Justice in their behalf Yet in as much as he was given by the Father for them and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead and both freely not for any thing in them their justification is only of free grace that both the exact Justice and rich Grace of God might be glorified in the Justification of sinners IV. God did from all Eternity Decree to Justifie all the Elect and 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 fall 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 VI. The Justification of Believers under the Old Testament was in all these respects one and the same with the Justification of Believers under the New Testament CHAP. XII Of Adoption ALL those that are justified God vouchsafeth in and for his only Son Jesus Christ to make partakers of the grace of Adoption by which they are taken into the number and enjoy the Liberties and Priviledges of the Children of God have his Name put upon them receive the spirit of Adoption have access to the Throne of Grace with boldness are enabled to cry Abba Father are pitied protected provided for and chastned by him as by a Father yet never cast off but sealed to the day of Redemption and inherit the Promises as heirs of everlasting Salvation CHAP. XIII Of Sanctification THey who are effectually called and regenerated having a new heart and a new spirit created in them are further sanctified really and personally through the vertue of Christ's Death and Resurrection by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed the several lusts thereof are more more weakened mortified and they more and more quickned and strengthned 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
imperfect in this life there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part whence ariseth a continual and irreconciliable 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 Regenerat part doth overcome and so the Saints grow in grace perfecting holiness in the fear of God CHAP. XIV Of Saving Faith THe Grace of Faith whereby the Elect are enable to believe to the saving of their Souls is the Work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts and is ordinarly wrought by the Ministry of the Word by which also and by the Administration of the Sacraments and Prayer it is increased and strengthned II. By this Faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word from the Authority of God himself speaking therein and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth yielding obedience to the Commands trembling at the threatnings and imbracing the Promises of God for this life and that which is to come But the principal acts of Saving Faith are Accepting Receiving and Resting upon Christ alone for Justification Sanctification and Eternal Life by vertue of the Covenant of Grace III. This Faith is different in degrees weak or strong may be often and many ways assailed and weakned but gets the victory growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ who is both the Author and Finisher of our Faith CHAP. XV. Of Repentance unto Life REpentance unto Life in an Evangelical Grace the Doctrine 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 danger but also of the filthiness and odiousness 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 endeavouring to walk with him in all the ways of his Commandments III. Although Repentance be not to be rested on as any satisfaction for sin or any cause of the pardon thereof which is the act of Gods free grace in Christ yet it is 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 with a general repentance but it is every mans duty to endeavour to repent of his particular sins particularly VI. As every man is bound to make privat confession of 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 privat or publick confession and sorrow for his sins to declare his Repentance to those that are offended who are thereupon to be reconciled to him and in love to receive him CHAP. XVI Of Good Works GOOD Works are only such as God hath commanded in his Holy Word and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind Zeal or upon any pretence of good intention II. These good works done in obedience to God's Commandments are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith and by them Believers manifest their thankfulness strengthen their assurance edifie their brethren adorn the profession of the Gospel stop the mouths of the adversaries and glorifie God whose workmanship they are created in Christ Jesus thereunto that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life 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 required an actual influence of the same holy Spirit to work 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 is possible in this life is so far from being able to supererogate and to do more than God requires as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do 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 satisfie 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 mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that they cannot endure the severity of Gods Judgement VI. Yet notwithstanding the Persons of Believers being accepted through Christ their good works also are accepted in him not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable 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 VII 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 yet because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith nor are done in a right manner according to the Word nor to a right end the glory of God they are therefore sinful and cannot please God or make a man meet to receive grace from God and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God CHAP. XVII Of the Perseverance of the Saints THey whom God hath accepted in his Beloved effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit can neither totally nor finally fall 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 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 infallibility thereof III. Nevertheless they may through the temptations of
ACT Ratifying the CONFESSION of FAITH And Settling PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-GOVERNMENT Edinburgh the Seventh Day of June 1690. EDINBVRH Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson Printer to the King and Queens most Excellent Majesties Anno. Dom. 1690. ACT Ratifying the Confession of Faith and Setting Presbyterian Church-Government Edinburgh the seventh day of June 1690. OUR Soveraign Lord and Lady the King and Queens Majesties and three Estates of Parliament Conceiving it to be their bound duty after the great deliverance that God hath lately wrought for this Church and Kingdom in the first place to settle and secure therein the true Protestant Religion according to the truth of GODS 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 advancement of true Piety and Godliness and the establishing of peace and Tranquility within this Realm And that by an Article of the Claim of Right it is Declared that Prelacy and the Superiority of any Office in the Church above Presbyters is and hath been a great and insupportable Grievance and Trouble to this Nation and contrary to the Inclinations of the generality of the people ever since the Reformation they having reformed from Popery by Presbyters and therefore ought to be Abolished Likeas by an Act of the last Session of this Parliament Prelacy is Abolished Therefore their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the said three Estates do hereby Revive Ratifie and perpetually Confirm all Laws Statutes and Acts of Parliament made against Popery and Papists and for the maintainance and preservation of the true reformed Protestant Religion and for the true Church of Christ within this Kingdom in so far they Confirm the same or are made in favours thereof Likeas they by these presents Ratify and Establish the Confession of Faith now read in their presence and Voted and Aproven by them as the publick and vowed Confession of this Church containing the sum and substance of the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches which Confession of Faith is subjoyned 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 and Established by the 114 Act Ja. 6. Parl. 12. anno 1592. Intituled Ratification of the Liberty of the true Kirk c. And thereafter received by the General consent of this Nation to be the only Government of Christ's Church within this Kingdom Reviving Renewing and Confirming the foresaid Act of Parliament in the whole Heads thereof except that part of it relating to Patronages which is hereafter to be taken into Consideration and Rescinding Annulling and making void the Acts of Parliament following viz. Act anent Restitution of Bishops Ja. 6. Par. 18. Cap. 2. Act Ratifying the Acts of the Assembly 1610. Ja. 6. Par. 21. Cap. 1. Act anent the Election of Arch-bishops and Bishops Ja. 6. Par. 22. Cap. 1. Act Intituled Ratification of the five Articles of the General Assembly at Perth Ja. 6. Par. 23. Cap. 1. Act Intituled For the Restitution and Re-establishment of the Antient Government of the Church by Arch-bishops and Bishops Cha. 2. Par. 1. Sess 2. Act 1st Act anent the Constitution of a National Synod Ch. 2. Par. 1. Sess 3. Act 5. Act against such as refuse to Depone against Delinquents Ch. 2. Par. 2. Sess 2. Act. 2. Act Intituled Act Acknowledging and asserting the Right of Succession to the Imperial Crown of Scotland Ch. 2. Par. 3. Act 2. Act Intituled Act anent Religion and the Test Ch. 2. Par. 3. Act 6. With all other Acts Laws Statutes Ordinances and Proclamations and that in so far allanerly as the saids Acts and others generally and particularly above mentioned are contrary or prejudicial to inconsistent with or derogatory from the Protestant Religion and Presbyterian Government now Established and Allowing and Declaring That the Church Government be Established in the hands of and exercised by these Presbyterian Ministers who were Outed since the first of January 1661. for Non-conformity to Prelacy or not complying with the Courses of the Time and are now Restored by the late Act of Parliament and such Ministers and Elders only as they have admitted or received or shall hereafter admit or receive And also that all the said Presbyterian Ministers have and shall have Right to the Maintainance Rights and other Priviledges by Law provided to the Ministers of Christ's Church within this Kingdom as they are or shall be Legally admitted to particular Churches Likeas In pursuance of the Premisses Their Majesties Do hereby appoint the first meeting of the General Assembly of this Church as above Established to be at Edinburgh the third Thursday of October next to come in this instant year 1690. And because many Conform Ministers either have deserted or were removed from Preaching in their Churches preceeding the thirteenth day of April 1689. And others were Deprived for not giving Obedience to the Act of the Estates made the said 13 of April 1689 Intituled Proclamation against the owning of the late King James and Appointing Publick Prayers for King William and Queen Mary Therefore Their Majesties with Advice and Consent foresaid do hereby Declare all the Churches either Deserted or from which the Conform-ministers were Removed or Deprived as said is to be Vacant and that the Presbyterian Ministers exercising their Ministry within any of these Parishes or where the Last Incumbent is dead by the Desire or Consent of the Paroch shall continue their Possession and have Right to the Benefices and Stipends according to their Entry in the year 1689 and in time coming ay and while the Church as now Established take further Course therewith And to the Effect the Disorders that have hapned in this Church may be Redressed Their Majesties with Advice and Consent foresaid do hereby allow the General Meeting and Representatives of the foresaid Presbyterian Ministers and Elders in whose hands the Exercise of the Church Government is Established either by themselves or by such Ministers and Elders as shall be Appointed and Authorized Visitors by them according to the Custome and Practice of Presbyterian Government throughout the whole Kingdom and several parts thereof to try and purge out all Insufficient Negligent Scandalous and Erroneous Ministers by due course of Ecclesiastical Process and Censures and likewayes for Redressing all other Church-Disorders And further it is hereby provided that whatsoever Minister being Conveened before the said General-Meeting and Representatives of the Presbyterian Ministers and Elders or the Visitors to be Appointed by them shall either prove Contumacious in not appearing or be found Guilty and shall be therefore Censured whether by Suspension or Deposition they shall Ipso Facto be Suspended from or Deprived of their Stipends and Benefices And Ordains this Act to be Printed and Published Extracted forth