Saints or any other creature d Col. 2. 18 Rev. 19. 10 Rom. 1. 25 and since the Fall not without a Mediator nor in the mediation of any other but of Christ alone e Iohn 14. 6 1 Tim. 2. 5. Eph. 7. 18 Col. 3. 17 III. Prayer with thanksgiving being one speciall part of Religious Worship f Phil. 4. 6 is by GOD required of all men g Psal 65 2 and that it may be accepted it is to be made in the Name of the Son h Iohn 14. 13. 14. 1 Pet. 2. 5 by the help of his Spirit i Rom. 8. 26. according to his Will k Ioh. 5. 14 with understanding reverence humility fervency faith love and perseverance l Psal 47. 7 Eccles 5. 1 2 Heb. 12. 28 Gen. 18. 27 Iames 5. 16. Iam. 1 6 7 Mark 11. 24. Mar 6. 12. 14. 15. Col 4. 2. Ep. 6. 18 and if vocall in a known tongue m Cor. 14. 14 IV. Prayer is to be made for things lawfull n 1 Ioh 5 14 and for all sorts of men living or that shall live hereafter o 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 Ioh. 17 20 2. Sa. 7. 29 Ruth 4. 12 but not for the dead p 2 Sam. 12 21 22. 23. with Luk. 16. 25 26 Rev. 14 3 nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death q 1 Ioh. 5. â—6 V. The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear r Act. 15. 21 Rev. 1. 3 the sound Preaching Å¿ 2. Tim. 4. 2 and conscionable hearing of the Word in obedience to God with understanding faith and reverence t Iam. 1. 22 Acts 10. â—5 Mat. 13. 19. He 4. 2. Isa 66. 2 singing of Psalms with grace in the heart u Col. 3. 16 Ephes 5. 19 Iam. 5. 13 as also the due administration worthy receiving of the Sacraments instituted by Christ are all parts of the ordinary Religious Worship of God w Mat. 28. 19 1 Cor. 11. 13 to 29. Acts 2. 42 Beside Religious Oaths x Deut. 6. 13 with Neh. 10. 29. Vows y Isa 19. 21 with Eccl. 5. 4 5 Solemn Fastings z Ioel 2 12 Esther 4. 16 Mat. 9. 15 1 Cor. 7. 5 and Thanksgivings upon special occasions a Psal 107 throughout Ester 9. 22 which are in their severall times and seasons to be used in an holy and religious manner b Heb. 11. 28 VI. Neither Prayer nor any other part of Religious Worship is now under the Gospel either tyed unto or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed or towards which it is directed c Iohn 4. 21 but God is to be worshipped every where d Mal. 1. 11 1 Tim. 2. 8 in Spirit and Truth e Iohn 4 23 24 as in private Families f Ier. 10. 25 Deut. 6. 6 7 Iob 1. 5 2 Sam. 6. 18 20. 1 Pet. 3 7. Acts 10. 2 daily g Mat. 6. 11 and in secret each one by himselâ— h Mat. 6. 6 Eph. â— 18 so more solâ—mnly in the publique Assemblies which are not carelessy or wilfully to be neglected or forsaken when God by his Word or Providence calleth thereunto i Isa 56. 7 Heb. 10 25 Prov. 1. 20 21 24 Prov. 8. 34 Acts 13 42 Luk. 4. 16 Acts 2. 42 VII As it is of the Law of Nature that in general a due proportion of time be set a part for the Worship of God so in his Word by a positive Morall and perpetuall Commandment binding all men in all ages he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath to be kept holy unto him k Exod. 20 8 0 11 Isa 56. 2 4 6 7. 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 l Gen. 2. 2 3 1 Cor. 16. 1 2 Acts 20. 7 which in Scripture is called the LORDS Day m Rev. 1. 10 and is to be continued to the end of the World as the Christian Sabbath n Exod. 20. 8. 10. with Mat. 5 17 18 VIII This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord when men after a due preparing of their hearts ordering of their common affairs before-hand do not only observe an holy rest all the Day from their own works words and thoughts about their worldly imployments and recreations o Exod. 20. 8 Exod. 16. 23 25 26 29 30 Ex. 31. 15 16 17 Isa 58. 13. Nehem. 131 16 17 18 19 21 22 but also are taken up the whole time in the publique and private Exercises of his Worship in the duties of necessity and mercy p Isa 58. 13 Mat. 12. 2 to 13 CHAP. XXII Of lawfull Oaths and Vows A Lawfull Oath is a part of Religious Worship a Deut. 12 20 wherein upon just occasion the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witnesse what he asserteth or promiseth and to judge him according to the truth or falshood of what he sweareth b Exod. 20. 7 Levit. 19. 12 2 Cor. 1. 23 2 Chron. 6 22 23 II. The Name of God only is that by which men ought to sweare and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence c Deut. 6. 13 Therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadfull Name or to swear at all by any other thing is sinfull and to be abhorred d Exod 10. â— Ier. 1. 7 Mat 5. 34 37 Iam. 5. 12 Yet as in matters of weight and moment an Oath is warranted by the Word of God under the New Testament as well as under the Old e Heb. 6. 16 2 Cor. 1. 2â— Isaâ— 6â— 1â— so a lawfull Oath being imposed by lawfull Authority in such matters ought to be taken f 1 Kings â— 31. Neh 13 25. Ezra 10 5. III. Whosoever taketh an Oath ought duely to consider the weightinesse of so solemn an Act and therein to avouch nothing but what he is fully perswaded is the truth g Exod. 20. 7 Ier 4. 2 Neither maâ— any man binde himself by Oath to any thing but what is good and just and what he believeth so to be and what he iâ— able and resolved to perform h Gen 24. 2 3 5 6. 8 9. Yet is it a sin to refuse an Oath touching any thing that is good and just being imposeâ— by lawfull Authority i Num. 5. 19 21 Neh. 5 12. Exâ—d 22 7 8 9 10 11 IV. An Oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words without equivocation or mentall reservation k Ier. 4. 2 Psal 24. 4 It cannot oblige to sin but in any thing not sinfull being taken it binds to performance although to a mans own hurt l 1 Sam. 25 22. â—2 33 34 Psal 15. 4 nor is it to be violated
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH AND CATECHISMS Agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster TOGETHER With their Humble ADVICE Concerning Church Government And Ordination of Ministers LONDON Printed for Robert Bostock at the Sign of the Kings Head in Pauls Church-yard THE Confession of Faith Agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster To be a part of the Uniformity in Religion between the Churches of Christ in the three Kingdoms CHAP. I. Of the holy Scripture ALthough the light of Nature and the works of Creation and Providence do so farre manifest the Goodnesse Wisdom and Power of God as to leave men unexcusable a Rom. 2 14. 15. Rom. 1. 19 20. Psal 19. 1 2 3. Rom. 1. 32. with chap. 2 1. yet are they sufficient to give that knowledge of God and of his Will which is necessary unto salvation b 1 Cor. 1 21. 1 Cor. 2 13 14. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself and to declare that his Will unto his Church c Heb. 1. 1 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 d Pro. 22 19. 20 21 Luke 1. 3. 4 Rom. 15. 4 Mat. 4. 4 7 10. Isai 8 19 â—0 which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary e 2 Tim. 3 15. 2 Pet. 1 19. those former wayes of Gods revealing his Will unto his people being now ceased f Heb. 1. â— 2. II. Vnder the name of Holy Scripture or the Word of God written are now contained all the Books of the Old and New Testament which are these Of the Old Testament GEnesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers DeuteronomiE Joshua Judges Ruth I. Samuel II. Samuel I. Kings II. Kings I. Chronicles II. Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Iob Psalmes Proverbs Ecclesiastes The Song of Songs Isaiah Ieremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Ioel Amos Obadiah Ionah Micah Nahum Habbakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Of the New Testament The Gospel according to MAtthew Mark Luke Iohn The Acts of the Apostles Pauls Epistles to the Romanes Corinthians Corinthians I. Corinthians II. Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians I. Thessalonians II. To Timothy I. To Timothy II. To Titus To Philemon The Epistle to the Hebrews The Epistle of Iames The first and second Epistles of Peter The first second and third Epist of Iohn The Epistle of Iude The Revelat. of Iohn All which are given by inspiration of God to be the Rule of faith and life g Luk. 16. 29. 31. Eph. 2. 20. Rev 22. 18 19. 2 Tim. 3. 16. III. The Books commonly called Apocrypha not being of Divine inspiration are no part of the Cannon of the Scripture and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other humane Writings h Luk. 24. 27 44. Rom. 3. 2. â— Pet 1. 21. IV. The authority of the Holy Scripture for which it ought to be beleeved and obeyed dependeth not upon the Testimonie of any man or Church but wholly upon God who is Truth it self the Author thereof and therefore it is to be receive d because it is the Word of God i 2 Pet. 1. 19 21. 2 Tim. 3. 16 1 Iohn 5. 9 1 Thes 2. 13 V. Wee may be moved and induced by the Testimonie of the Church to an high and reverend esteem of the holy Scripture k 1 Tim. 3. 15. And the heavenlinesse of the Matter the efficacie of the Doctrine the majesty of the Stile 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 onely way of mans salvation the many other incomparable Excellencies and the intire perfection thereof are Arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence it self to be the Word of God yet notwithstanding our full perswasion and assurance of the infallible truth and Divine authority thereof is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witnesse by and with the Word in our hearts l 1 Iohn 2. 20 27. Iohn 16. 13 14. 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. 12. Isa 59. 21. VI. The whole Councell of GOD concerning all things necessary for his own Glory mans salvation Faith and Life is either expressely set down in Scripture or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture unto whâ—ch nothing at any time is to be added whether by new revelations of the Spirit or traditions of men m 2 Tim. 3 15. 16 17. Gal 1. 8. 9. 2 Thes 3. 2. Neverthelesse 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 n Ioh. 6. 4â— 1 Cor. 2 9 10 12. and that there are some circumstances concerning the Worship of God and Government of the Church common to humane actions and Societies which are to be ordered by the light of Nature and Christian Prudence according to the generall Rules of the Word which are alwayes to be observed o 1 Cor. 11. 13 14. 1 Cor. 14 26. 40. VII All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves nor alike clear unto all p 2 Pet. 3. 16. yet those things which are necessary to be known believed 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 meanes may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them q Psal 119 105. 130. VIII The Old Testament in Hebrew which was the Native Language of the people of God of old and the New Testament in Greek which at the time of writing of it was most generally known to the Nations being immediatly inspired by God and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all Ages are therefore Authenticall r Mat. 5. 18 so as in all Controversies of Religion the Church is finally to appeal unto them Å¿ Isa 8. 20 Act. 15. 15 Iohn 5. 39 46. But because these Originall 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 t Iohn 5. 39. therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar Language of every Nation unto which they come u 1 Cor. 14 6 9 11 12 24 27 28. that the Word of GOD dwelling plentifully in all they may worship him in an acceptable manner w Col. 3. 16 and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope x Rom. 15. 4 IX The infallible Rule of Interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture it self and therefore when there is a Question
by Christ our Lord in the Gospel that is to say Baptism and the Supper of the Lord neither of which may be dispensed by any but by a Minister of the Word lawfully ordained k Mat. â—8 19 1 Cor. 11. 20 23. 1 Cor. 4. 1 Heb. 5. 4 V. The Sacraments of the Old Testament in regard of the spirituall things thereby signified and exhibited were for substance the same with those of the New l 2 Cor. 10 1â— 2 3 4. â— CHAP. XXVIII Of Baptism BAptism is a Sacrament of the New Testament Ordained by Iesus Christ a Mat. 28. 19 not only for the solemn Admission of the party Baptized into the Visible Church b 1 Cor. 12 13 but also to be unto him a signe and seal of the Covenant of Grace c Rom. 4. 11 with Col. 2. 11 12 of his ingrafting into Christ d Gal 3. 27 Rom. 6. 5 of Regeneration e Tit. 3. 5 of Remission of sins f Mark 1. 4 and of his giving up unto God through Iesus Christ to walk in newnes of life g Rom. 6. 3 4. Which Sacrament is by Christs own appointment to bee continued in his Church untill the end of the World h Mat. 28. â—9 20. 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 i Mat. 3. 11 Iohn 1. 33 Mat. 28. 19 20. III. Dipping of the person into the Water is not necessary but Baptism is rightly administred by powring or sprinkling Water upon the person k Heb 9. 10 19 20 21 22 Acts 2. 41 Acts 16. 33 Mark 7. 4 IV. Not only those that do actually professe Faith in and obedience unto Christ l Mark 16 15 16. Acts 8. 37 38. but also the infants of one or both believing Parents are to be baptized m Gen. 17. 7 9. with Gal. 3. 9 14 Col. 2. 11 12 Acts 2. 38 39. Rom. 4. 11 12 1 Cor. 7. 14 Mat. 28. 19 Mark 10. 13 14 15 16 Luke 18. 15 V. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this Ordinance n Luke 7. 30 with Exo. 4. 24 25 26 yet Grace and Salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it as that no person can be regenerated or saved without it o Rom. 4. 11 Acts 10. 2. 4 23 31 45 47 or that all that are Baptized are undoubtedly regenerated p Acts 8. 13 23. VI. The efficacy of Baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administred q Iohn 3. 5 8 yet notwithstanding by the right use of this Ordinance the grace promised is not only offered but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost to such whether of age or infants as that grace belongeth unto according to the Councell of Gods own Will in his appointed time r Gal. 3. 27 Tit. 3. 5. Eph 5. 25 26 Acts 2. 38. 41. VII The Sacrament of Baptism is but once to be administred unto any person Å¿ Tit. 3. 5. CHAP. XXIX Of the LORDS Supper OVr Lord Iesus in the night wherein he was betrayed Instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood called the Lords Supper to be observed in his Church unto the end of the world for the perpetuall Remembrance of the sacrifice of Himself in his Death the sealing all benefits thereof unto true Believers their Spiritual nourishment and growth in him their further engagement in and to all duties which they owe unto him and to be a bond and pledge of their Communion with him and with each other as members of his mysticall Body a 1 Cor 11 23 25. 26 2. Cor. 10. 16. 2â— 21 2 Cor. 12. 13 II. In this Sacrament Christ is not offered up to his Father nor any reall Sacrifice made at all for remission of sins of the quick or dead b Heb. 9. 22 25 26 28 but only a Commemoration of that one offering up of Himself by Himself upon the Crosse once for all and a spiritual Oblation of all possible praise unto God for the same c 1 Cor. 11 24 25 26 Mat. 26 26 27. So that the Popish Sacrifice of the Masse as they call it is most abominably injurious to Christs one onely Sacrifice the alone Propitiation for all the sins of the Elect d Heb. 7. 23 24 27. Heb. 10. 11 12 14 18. III. The Lord Iesus hath in this Ordinance appointed his Ministers to declare his word of institution to the people to pray and blesse the Elements of Bread and Wine thereby to set them apart from a Common to an Holy Vse and to Take and Break the Bread to Take the Cup they communicating also themselves to give both to the Communicants e Mat. 26 26 27 28 Mark 14. 22 23 24. and Luke 22. 19 20. with 1 Cor. 11 23 24 25 26 but to none who are not then present in the Congregation f Acts 20. 7 1 Cor. 11. 20 IV. Private Masses or receiving this Sacrament by a Priest or any other alone g 1 Cor. 10. 6 as likewise the denyall of the Cup to the people h Mark 4. 23 1 Cor. 11. 25 26 27 28 29 worshipping the Elements the lifting them up or carrying he about for adoration and the reserving them for any pretended religious use are all contrary to the nature of this Sacrament and to the Institution of Christ i Mat. 15. 9 V. The outward Elements in this Sacrament duly set apart to the uses ordained by Christ have such relation to him crucified as that truly yet Sacramentally onely they are sometimes called by the name of the things they represent to wit the Body and Blood of Christ k Mat. 26 26. 27 28 albeit in substance and nature they still remain truly and only Bread and Wine as they were before l 1 Cor. 11 26 27 28 Mat. 26. 29 VI. That Doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of Bread and Wine into the substance of Christs Body Blood commonly called Transubstantiation by Consecration of a Priest or by any other way is repugnant not to Scripture alone but even to common Sense and Reason overthroweth the nature of the Sacrament and hath bin is the cause of manifold Supertitions ye of grosse Idolatries m Act. 3. 21 with 1 Cor. 11. 24 25 26 Luk. 24. 6 39. VII Worthy Receivers outwardly partaking of the visible Elements in this Sacrament n 1 Cor. 11 28. do then also inwardly by faith really and indeed yet not carnally and corporally but Spiritually receive and feed upon Christ crucified and all benefits of his death The Body and Blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally in with or under the Bread and Wine yet as really but Spiritually
publickly for the proof of which 1. That the Priests and Levites in the Iewish Church were trusted with the publick reading of the Word as is proved Deut. 31 9 10 11. Neh. 8. 1 2 and 13. 2. That the Ministers of the Gospel have as ample a Charge and Commission to dispence the Word as well as other Ordinances as the Priests and Levites had under the Law proved Isa 66. 21. Mat. 23 34. where our Saviour intituleth the Officers of the New Testament whom he will send forth by the same names of the Teachers of the Old Which Propositions prove that therefore the duty being of a moral nature it followeth by just consequence that the publick reading of the Scriptures belongeth to the Pastors Office To feed the Flock by Preaching of the Word according to which he is to teach convince reprove exhort and comfort 1 Tim. 3. 2. 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. Tit. 19. To Chatechise which is a plain laying down the Principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5. 12. or of the Doctrine of Christ and is a part of Preaching To dispence other divine Mysteries 1 Cor. 4 1 2. To administer the Sacraments Mat. 28 19 20. Mark 16. 15 16. 1 Cor. 11 23 24 25. compareth with 1 Cor. 10. 16. To bless the People from God Num. 6. 23 24 25 26. compared with Rev 14. 5 where the same blessings and Persons from whom they come are expresly mentioned Isai 66. 21. Where under the names of Priests and Levites to be continued under the Gospel are meant Evangelicall Pastors who therefore are by Office to bless the People Deut. 10. 8. 2 Cor. 13 14. Eph. 1. 2. To take care of the Poor Acts 1â— 30. 4. 34 35 36 37. 6. 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 16. 1 2 3 4. Gal. 2 9 10. And he hath also a ruling power over the Flock as a Pastor 1 Tim. 5. 17. Acts 20. 17. and 28. 1 Thes 5 12. Heb. 13. 7. 17. Teacher or Doctor THe Scripture doth hold out the name and title of Teacher as well as of the Pastor 1 Cor. 12. verse 28. Ephes 4. verse 11. Who is also a Minister of the Word as well as the Pastor and hath power of administration of the Sacraments The Lord having given different gifts and divers excercises according to these gifts in the Ministry of the Word Rom. 12. 6 7 8. 1 Cor. 12 1 4 5 6 7. Though these different gifts may meet in and accordingly be exercised by one and the same Minister 1 Cor. 14. 3. 2 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1. 9 yet where be several Ministers in the same Congregation they may be designed to several imployments according to the different gifts in which each of them doth most excel Rom 12. 6 7 8. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. And he that doth more excel in exposition of Scripture in teaching sound Doctrine and in convincing gain sayers then he doth in application and is accordingly imployed therein may be called a Teacher or Doctor the places alledged by the Notation of the Word doth prove the Proposition Nevertheless where is but one Minister in a particular Congregation he is to perform so far as he is able the whole work of the Ministry as appeareth in the 2 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 1 9 before alledged 1 Tim. 6 2. A Teacher or Doctor is of most excellent use in Schools and Universities as of old in the Schools of the Prophets and at Jerusalem where Gamaliel and others taught as Doctors Oâ—her Church-Governors AS there were in the Jewish Church Elders of the People joyned with the Priests and Levites in the Government of the Church as appeareth in the 2 Chron. 19. 8 9 10. So Christ who hath instituted a Government and Governors Ecclesiastical in the Church hath furnished some in his Church beside the Ministers of the Word with gifts for Government and with commission to execute the same when called thereunto who are to joyn with the Minister in the Government of the Church Rom. 12. 7 8. 1 Cor. 12. 28. which Officers reformed Churches commonly call Elders Deacons THe Scripture doth hold out Deacons as distinct Officers in the Church Phil 1. 1. 1 Tim. 3. 8. whose Office is perpetual 1 Tim. 3. 8. to verse 15. Acts 6. 1 2 3 4. To whose Office it belongs not to preach the Word or administer the Sacraments but to take special care in distributing to the necessities of the poor Acts 6. 1 2 3 4. and the verses following Of particular Congregations IT is lawful and expedient that there be fixed Congregations that is a certain company of Christians to meet in one Assembly ordinarily for publique Worship When Beleevers multiply to such a number that they cannot conveniently meet in one place it is lawful and expedient that they should be divided into distinct and fixed Congregations for the better administration of such Ordinances as belong unto them and the discharge of mutual duties 1 Cor. 14. 26. Let all things be done unto edifying and verses 33. 40. The ordinary way of dividing Christians into distinct Congregations and most expedient for edification is by the respective bounds of their dwellings First Because they who dwell together being bound to all kind of Moral duties Deut. 15 7 11 one to another have the better opportunity thereby to discharge them which Mat. 22. 39 Mat. 5 17 Moral tye is perpetual for Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it Secondly The Communion of Saints must be so ordered as may stand with the most convenient use of the Ordinances and discharge of Moral duties without respect of persons 1 Cor. 14 26. Let all things be done unto edifying Heb. 10 24 25. James 2. 1 2. Thirdly The Pastor and People must so nearly co-habite together as that they may mutually perform their duties each to other with most conveniency In this company some must be set apart to bear Office Of the Officers of a particular Congregation FOr Officers in a single Congregation there ought to be one at the least both to labour in the Word and Doctrine and to rule Prov. 29 18. 1 Tim. 5 17. Heb 13 7. It is also requisite that there should be others to joyn in Government 1 Cor. 12 28. And likewise it is requisite that there be others to take special care for the relief of the poor Acts 6 2 3. The number of each of which is to be proportioned according to the condition of the Congregation These Officers are to meet together at convenient and set times for the well-ordering of the affairs of that Congregation each according to his Office It is most expedient that in these meetings one whose Office is to labour in the Word and Doctrine do moderate in their proceedings 1 Tim. 5 17. Of the Ordinance in a particular Congregation THe Ordinances in a single Congregation are Prayer Thanksgiving and singing of Psalms 1 Tim. 2 ver 1. 1 Cor. 14 15 16. The Word