A CONFESSION OF FAITH Put forth by the ELDERS and BRETHREN Of many CONGREGATIONS OF Christians baptized upon Profession of their Faith in London and the Country With the Heart man believeth unto Righteousness and with the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation Rom. 10. 10. Search the Scriptures John 5. 39. Printed in the Year 1677. TO THE Judicious and Impartial READER Courteous Reader IT is now many years since divers of us with other sober Christians then living and walking in the way of the Lord that we professe did conceive our selves to be under a necessity of Publishing a Confession of our Faith for the information and satisfaction of those that did not throughly understand what our principles were or had entertained prejudices against our Profession by reason of the strange representation of them by some men of note who had taken very wrong measures and accordingly led others into misapprehensions of us and them and this was first put forth about the year 1643. in the name of seven Congregations then gathered in London since which time diverse impressions thereof have been dispersed abroad and our end proposed in good measure answered inasmuch as many and some of those men eminent both for piety and learning were thereby satisfied that we were no way guilty of those Heterodoxies and fundamental errors which had too frequently been charged upon us without ground or occasion given on our part And forasmuch as that Confession is not now commonly to be had and also that many others have since embraced the same truth which is owned therein it was judged necessary by us to joyn together in giving a testimony to the world of our firm adhering to those wholesome Principles by the publication of this which is now in your hand And forasmuch as our method and manner of expressing our sentiments in this doth vary from the former although the substance of the matter is the same we shall freely impart to you the reason and occasion thereof One thing that greatly prevailed with us to undertake this work was not only to give a full account of our selves to those Christians that differ from us about the subject of Baptism but also the profit that might from thence arise unto those that have any account of our labors in their instruction and establishment in the great truths of the Gospel in the clear understanding and steady belief of which our comfortable walking with God and fruitfulness before him in all our ways is most neerly concerned and therefore we did conclude it necessary to expresse our selves the more fully and distinctly and also to fix on such a method as might be most comprehensive of those things which we designed to explain our sense and belief of and finding no defect in this regard in that fixed on by the assembly and after them by those of the Congregational way we did readily conclude it best to retain the same order in our present confession and also when we observed that those last mentioned did in their confession for reasons which seemed of weight both to themselves and others choose not only to express their mind in words concurrent with the former in sense concerning all those articles wherein they were agreed but also for the most part without any variation of the terms we did in like manner conclude it best to follow their example in making use of the very same words with them both in these articles which are very many wherein our faith and doctrine is the same with theirs and this we did the more abundantly to manifest our consent with both in all the fundamental articles of the Christian Religion as also with many others whose orthodox confessions have been published to the world on the behalf of the Protestants in divers Nations and Cities and also to convince all that we have no itch to clogge Religion with new words but do readily acquiesce in that form of sound words which hath been in consent with the holy Scriptures used by others before us hereby declaring before God Angels Men our hearty agreement with them in that wholesome Protestant Doctrine which with so clear evidence of Scriptures they have asserted some things indeed are in some places added some terms omitted and some few changed but these alterations are of that nature as that we need not doubt any charge or suspition of unsoundness in the faith from any of our brethren upon the account of them In those things wherein we differ from others we have exprest our selves with all candor and plainness that none might entertain jealousie of ought secretly lodged in our breasts that we would not the world should be acquainted with yet we hope we have also observed those rules of modesty and humility as will render our freedom in this respect inoffensive even to those whose sentiments are different from ours We have also taken care to affix texts of Scripture in the margin for the confirmation of each article in our confession in which work we have studiously indeavoured to select such as are most clear and pertinent for the proof of what is asserted by us and our earnest desire is that all into whose hands this may come would follow that never enough commended example of the noble Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily that they might find out whether the things preached to them were so or not There is one thing more which we sincerely professe and earnestly desire credence in viz. That contention is most remote from our design in all that we have done in this matter and we hope the liberty of an ingenuous unfolding our principles and opening our hearts unto our Brethren with the Scripture grounds on which our faith and practise leanes will by none of them be either denyed to us or taken ill from us Our whole design is accomplished if we may obtain that Justice as to be measured in our principles and practise and the judgement of both by others according to what we have now published which the Lord whose eyes are as a flame of fire knoweth to be the doctrine which with our hearts we must firmly believe and sincerely indeavour to conform our lives to And oh that other contentions being laid asleep the only care and contention of all upon whom the name of our blessed Redeemer is called might for the future be to walk humbly with their God and in the exercise of all Love and Meekness towards each other to perfect holyness in the fear of the Lord each one endeavouring to have his conversation such as becometh the Gospel and also suitable to his place and capacity vigorously to promote in others the practice of true Religion and undefiled in the sight of God and our Father And that in this backsliding day we might not spend our breath in fruitless complaints of the evils of others but may every one begin at home to reform in the first place our own hearts and wayes and then
unto him f Joh. 1. 1. 14. Gal. 4. 4. mans nature with all the Essential properties and com mon infirmities thereof g Rom. 8. 3. Heb. 2. 14. 16 17. ch 4. 15. yet withou sin being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Womb of the Virgin Mary the Holy Spirit coming down upon her and the power of the most High overshadowing her h Luk. 1. 27 31. 35. and so was made of a Woman of the Tribe of Judah of the Seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures So that two whole perfect and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one Person without conversion composition or confusion which Person is very God and very Man yet one i Rom. 9. 5. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Christ the only Mediator between God and Man 3. The Lord Jesus in his humane nature thus united to the divine in the Person of the Son was sanctified anointed k Ps 45. 7. Act. 10. 38 Joh. 3. 34. with the Holy Spirit above measure having in him l Col. 2. 3. all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in whom it pleased the Father that m Col. 1. 19 all fullness should dwell To the end that being n Heb. 7. 26. holy harmless undefiled and full o Joh 1. 14. of Grace and Truth he might be throughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and p Heb. 7. 22. Surety which office he took not upon himself but was thereunto q Heb. 5. 5. called by his Father who also put r Joh. 5. 22. 27. Mat. 28. 18. Act. 2. 36. all power and judgement in his hand and gave him Commandement to execute the same 4. This office the Lord Jesus did most s Ps 40. 7 8. Heb. 10. 5-11 Joh. 10. 18. willingly undertake which that he might discharge he was made under the Law t Gal. 4. 4. Mat. 3. 15. and did perfectly fulfill it and underwent the u Gal. 3. 13. Isa 53. 6. 1 Pet. 3. 18. punishment due to us which we should have born and suffered being made x 2 Cor. 5 21. Sin and a Curse for us enduring most grievous sorrows y Mat. 26. 37 38. Luk. 22. 44. Mat. 27. 46. in his Soul and most painful sufferings in his body was crucified and died and remained in the state of the dead yet saw no z Act. 13. 37. corruption on the a 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. third day he arose from the dead with the same b Joh. 20. 25. 27. body in which he suffered with which he also c Mark 16 19. Act. 1. 9 10 11. ascended into heaven and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father d Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 9. 24 making intercession and shall e Act. 10. 42. Rom. 14. 9 10. Act. 1. 10 return to judge Men and Angels at the end of the World 5. The Lord Jesus by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself which he through the Eternal Spirit once offered up unto God f Heb. 9. 14. ch 10. 14. Rom. 3. 25 26. hath fully satisfied the Justice of God procured reconciliation and purchased an Everlasting inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven g Joh. 17. 2. Heb. 9. 15. for all those whom the Father hath given unto him 6. Although the price of Redemption was not actually paid by Christ till after his Incarnation * 1 Cor. 4. 10. Heb. 4. 2. yet the vertue efficacy and benefit thereof were communicated to the 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. Elect in all ages successively from the beginning of the World in and by those Promises Types and Sacrifices wherein he was revealed and signified to be the Seed of the Woman which should bruise the Serpents head h Rev. 13. 8. and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World i Heb. 13. 8. Being the same yesterday and to day and for ever 7. Christ in the work of Mediation acteth according 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 k Joh. 3. 13. Act. 20. 28. denominated by the other nature 8. To all those for whom Christ hath obtained eternal redemption he doth certainly and effectually l Joh. 6. 37. ch 10. 15. 16. ch 17. 9. Rom. 5. 10. apply and communicate the same making intercession for them uniting them to himself by his spirit m Joh. 17 6. Eph. 1. 9. 1 Joh. 5. 20. revealing unto them in and by the word the mystery of salvation perswading them to believe and obey n Rom. 8. 9. 14. governing their hearts by his word and spirit and o Ps 110. 1. 1 Cor. 15. 25 26. overcoming all their enemies by his Almighty power and wisdom in such manner and wayes as are most consonant to his wonderful and p Joh. 3. 8 Eph. 1. 8. unsearchable dispensation and all of free and absolute Grace without any condition foreseen in them to procure it 9. This office of Mediator between God and Man is proper q 1 Tim. 2. 5. onely to Christ who is the Prophet Priest and King of the Church of God and may not be either in whole or any part thereof transfer'd from him to any other 10. This number and order of Offices is necessary for in respect of our r Joh. 1. 18. ignorance we stand in need of his prophetical Office and in respect of our alienation from God s Col. 1. 21. Gal. 5. 17. and imperfection of the best of our services we need his Priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God and in respect of our averseness and utter inability to return to God and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries we need his Kingly office t Joh. 16. 8. Ps 110. 3 Luk. 1. 74. 75. to convince subdue draw uphold deliver and preserve us to his Heavenly Kingdome CHAP. IX Of Free Will 1. GOD hath indued the Will of Man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice that it is a Mat. 17. 12. Jam. 1 14. Deut. 30. 19. neither forced nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil 2. Man in his state of innocency had freedom and power to will and to do that b Eccl. 7. 29. which was good and well-pleasing to God but yet c Gen. 3. 6 was mutable so that he might fall from it 3. Man by his fall into a state of sin hath wholly lost d Rom. 5. 6. ch 8. 7. all ability of Will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation so as a natural man being altogether averse from that good e Eph. 2. 1. 5. and dead in Sin is not able by his own strength to f Tit. 3 3 4 5. Joh. 6. 44. convert himself or to
obedience to him with understanding faith reverence and godly fear moreover solemn humiliation x Esth 4. 16. Joel 2. 12 with fastings and thanksgiving upon y Exo. 15. 1. c. Ps 107. special occasions ought to be used in an holy and religious manner 6. Neither Prayer nor any other part of Religious worship is now under the Gospel tied unto or made more acceptable by any place in which it is z Joh. 4. 21. Mal. 1. 11. 1 Tim 2. 8. performed or towards which it is directed but God is to be worshipped every where in Spirit and in truth as in a Act. 10. 2. private families b Mat. 6. 11. Ps 55. 17. daily and c Mat. 6. 6 in secret each one by himself so more solemnly in the publick Assemblies which are not carelessely nor willfully to be d Heb. 10. 25. Act. 2. 42. neglected or forsaken when God by his word or providence calleth thereunto 7. As it is of the Law of nature that in general a proportion of time by Gods appointment be set a part for the Worship of God so by his Word in a positive-moral and perpetual Commandement binding all men in all Ages he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a e Exo. 20. 8. Sabbath to be kept holy unto him which from the beginning of the World to the Resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week f 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. Act. 20. 7. Rev. 1. 10. which is called the Lords day and is to be continued to the end of the World as the Christian Sabbath the observation of the last day of the week being abolished 8. The Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord when men after a due preparing of their hearts and ordering their common affairs aforehand do not only observe an holy g Isa 58. 13. Neh 13. 15-23 rest all the day from their own works words and thoughts about their wordly employment and recreations but also are taken up the whole time in the publick and private exercises of his worship and in the duties h Mat. 12. 1-13 of necessity and mercy CHAP. XXIII Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 1. A lawful Oath is a part of religious worship a Exo. 20 7. Deut. 10 20. Jer. 4. 2. wherein the person swearing in Truth Righteousness and Judgement solemnly calleth God to witness what he sweareth b 2 Cro. 6 22 23. and to judge him according to the Truth or falseness thereof 2. The Name of God only is that by which men ought to swear and therein it is to be used with all Holy Fear and reverence therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name or to swear at all by any other thing is sinful and to be c Mat. 5. 34. 37. Jam. 5. 12 abhorred yet as in matter of weight and moment for confirmation of truth d Heb. 6. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 23. and ending all strife an Oath is warranted by the word of God so a lawful Oath being imposed e Neh. 13. 25. by lawful Authority in such matters ought to be taken 3. Whosoever taketh an Oath warranted by the word of God ought duely to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act and therein to avouch nothing but what he knoweth to be the truth for that by rash false and vain Oaths the f Levit. 19. 12. Jer. 23. 10 Lord is provoked and for them this Land mournes 4. An Oath is to be taken in the plain and g Ps 24. 4. common sense of the words without equivocation or mental reservation 5. A Vow which is not to be made to any Creature but to God alone h Psal 76. 11. Gen. 28. 20 21 22. is to be made and performed with all Religious care and faithfulness But Popish Monastical Vows i 1 Cor. 7. 2. 9. of perpetual single life professed k Eph. 4. 28. poverty and regular obedience are so far from being degrees of higher perfection that they are superstitious l Mat. 19. 11. and sinful snares in which no Christian may intangle himself CHAP. XXIV Of the Civil Magistrate 1. GOd the supream Lord and King of all the World hath ordained Civil a Rom. 13 1 2 3 4. Magistrates to be under him over the people for his own glory and the publick good and to this end hath armed them with the power of the Sword for defence and encouragement of them that do good and for the punishment of evil doers 2. It is lawful for Christians to Accept and Execute the Office of a Magistrate when called thereunto in the management whereof as they ought especially to maintain b 2 Sam. 23. 3. Ps 82. 3 4. Justice and Peace according to the wholsome Laws of each Kingdome and Common-wealth so for that end they may lawfully now under the New-Testament c Luk. 3. 14. wage war upon just and necessary occasions 3. Civil Magistrates being set up by God for the ends aforesaid subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yeilded by us in the Lord not only for wrath d Rom. 13. 5 6 7. 1 Pet. 2. 17. but for Conscience sake and we ought to make supplications and prayers for Kings and all that are in Authority e 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty CHAP. XXV Of Marriage 1. MArriage is to be between one Man and one Woman a Gen. 2. 24. Mal. 2 15. Mat. 19. 5 6. neither is it lawful for any man to have more then one Wife nor for any Woman to have more then one Husband at the same time 2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help b Gen. 2. 18. of Husband and Wife c Gen 1. 28. for the increase of Man-kind with a legitimate issue and for d 1 Cor. 7 2 9. preventing of uncleanness 3. It is lawful for e Heb. 13 4. 1 Tim. 4 3. all sorts of people to Marry who are able with judgment to give their consent yet it is the duty of Christians f 1 Cor. 7. 39. to marry in the Lord and therefore such as profess the true Religion should not Marry with Infidels g Neh. 13 25 26 27. or Idolaters neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked by marrying with such as are wicked in their life or maintain damnable Heresie 4. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity h Levit. 18. or Affinity forbidden in the word nor can such incestuous Marriage ever be made lawful by any law of Man or consent of parties i Mat. 6. 18. 1 Cor. 5. 1. so as those persons may live together as Man and Wife CHAP. XXVI Of the Church 1. THe Catholick or universal Church which with respect