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
being very and eternall God of one Substance and equall with the Father did when the fulnesse of time was come take upon Him mans nature k Iohn 1 1 14. 1 Iohn 5. 20. Phil. 2. 6. Gal. 4. 4 with all the Essentiall properties and common infirmities thereof yet without sin l Heb. 1. 14 16 17. Heb. 4. 15 being conceived by the Power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary of her substance m Luke 1. 27 31 35. Gal. 4. 4. So that two whole perfect and distinct Natures the God-head and the Man-hood were inseparably joyned together in one Person without Conversion Composition or Confusion n Luke 1. 35 Col. 2. 9 Rom. 9. 5 1 Pet. 3. 18 1 Tim. 3. 16 Which person is very God and very Man yet one Christ the only Mediator between God and Man o Rom. 1. 3 4 1 Tim. 2. 5 III. The Lord Iesus in his humane nature thus united to the divine was sanctified and anointed with the holy Spirit above measure p Psal 45. 7 Iohn 3. 34 having in him all the treasures of Wisdom and knowledge q Col. 2. 3 in whom it pleased the Father that all fulnesse should dwell r Col. 1. 19 to the end that being holy harmless undefiled and full of grace and truth Å¿ Heb. 7. 16 Iohn 1. 14 he might be thorowly furnished to execute the Office of a Mediator and surety t Acts 10. â—8 Heb. 12. 24 Heb. 7. 22 Which Office he took not unto himself but was thereunto called by his Father u Heb. 5. 4 5 who put all power and judgement into his hand and gave him commandment to execute the same * Ioh. 5. 22 27. Mat. 28 18 Act. 2. 36 IV. This Office the Lord Iesus did most willingly undertake x Psal 40. 7 8. with Heb. 10. 5. to 11 Iohn 10. 18 Phil. 2. 8 which that he might discharge he was made under the Law y Gal. 4. 4. and did perfectly fulfill it z Mat. 3. 15 Mat. 5. 17 indured most grievous torments immediatly in his Soul a Mat. 26. 37 38. Luke 22 44. Mat. 27 46. Mat. 26. 27 chapters and most painfull sufferings in his body b was crucified and died c Phil. 28. was buried and remained under the power of death yet saw no corruption d Act. 2. 23 24 27. Act. 13. 37. Rom. 6. 9. On the third day he arose from the dead e 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. with the same body in which he suffered f Iohn 20. 25 27. with which also he ascended into Heaven and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father g Mark 16 19. making intercession h Rom. 8. 34 Heb. 9. 24. Heb. 7. 25. and shall return to judge men and Angels at the end of the World i Rom. 14. 9 10. Acts 1. 11. Acts 10. 42. Mat. 13. 40 41 42. Iude v. 6. 2 Pet. 2. 4 V. The Lord Iesus by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself which he through the eternall Spirit once offered up unto God hath fully satisfied the justice of his Father k Rom. 5. Heb. 9. 14. 16. Heb. 10. 1 4. Eph. 5. 2 Rom. 3. 25 26. and purchased not only reconciliation but an everlasting inheritance in the Kingdome of Heaven for all those whom the Father hath given unto him l Dan 9. â—4 26. Col. 1. 19 20. Eph 1. 11 14. Iohn 17. 2. Heb. 9. 12 15. VI. Although the work of Redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after his Incarnation yet the vertue efficacy 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 sacrifices wherein he was revealed and signified to be the seed of the Woman which should bruise the Serpents head and the Lamb slaine from the beginning of the world being yesterday and to day the same and for ever m Gal 14 5. Gen. 3. 15. Rev. 13. 8. Heb. 13. 8. VII Christ in the work of Mediation acteth according to both Natures by each Nature doing that which is proper to it self n Heb. 9. 14. 1 Pet. â— 18. 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 o Acts 20. 25 Ioh 3. 1 â— Ioh. 3. 16. VIII To all those for whom Christ hath purchased Redemption he doth certainly and estectually apply and communicate the same p Ioh. 6. 3â— 39. Ioh. â—0 15 16. making intercession for them q 1 Ioh. 2 1. 2 Rom 8. 34 and revealing unto them in and by the Word the mysteries of salvation r Ioh. 15 13 15. Eph. 1. 7 8 9. Iohn 17. 6. effectually perswading them by his Spirit to beleeve and obey and governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit Å¿ Iohn 14. 16. Heb. 12 2. 2 Cor. 4. 13. Rom. 8. 9. 14. Rom. 15. 18 19. Ioh. 17. 17. overcoming all their enemies by his Almighty Power and Wisdom in such manner and wayes as are most consonant to his wonderfull and unsearchable dispensation t Psal 110. 1 1 Cor. 15. 25 26. Mal. 4. 2 3. Col. 2. 15. CHAP. IX Of Free-will GOD hath indued the Will of man with that naturall liberty that is neither forced nor by any absolute necessity of nature determined to do good or evâ—â— a Mat. 17. 12. Iam. 1. 14. Deut. 30. 19 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 b Eccles 7 29. Gen. 1 26. but yet mutably so that hee might fall from it c Gen. 2. 16 17. Gen. 3. 6 III. Man by his fall inâ—o a state of sin hath wholly lost all ability of Will to any spirituall good accompanying salvation d Rom. 5. 6 Rom. 8. 7 Iohn 15. 5 so as a naturall man being altogether averse from that good e Rom. 3. â—0 12. and dead in sin f Eph. 2. 1. 5 Col. 2. 13 is not able by his own strength to convert himself or to prepare himself thereunto g Ioh. 6. 44 65. Eph 2 â— 2. 3. 4 5. 1 Cor. 8. 14 Titus 3. 3 4 5. IV. When God converts a sinner and tanslates him into the state of grace he freeth him from his naturall bondage under sin h Col. 1. 13 Ioh. 8. 34 36 and by his grace alone inables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good i Phil. 2. 13 Rom. 6. 18 22. 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 evill k Gal. 5. 17 Rom. 7. 15 19 21 V. The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone in the
Cor. 1. 9 Q. What is effectuall Calling A. Effectuall Calling is the work of Gods almighty power and grace i Ioh. 5. 25 Eph. 1. 18 19 20. 2 Tim. 1. 8. 9 where by out of his free and especiall love to his Elect and from nothing in them moving him thereunto k Tit. 3. 4 5 Eph. 2. 4 5 7 8 9. Rom. 9. 11. he doth in his accepted time invite and draw them to Iesus Christ by his Word and Spirit l 2 Cor. 5. 20 with 2 Cor. 6. 1 2 Ioh. 6. 44 2 Thes 2. 13 14 savingly inlightning their minds m Acts 26 18 1 Cor. 2. 10 12 renewing powerfully determining their wils n Ezek. 11 19. Eze. 36. 26 27 Iohn 6. 4â— so as they although in themselves dead in sin are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call and accept and imbrace the grace offered and conveyed therein o Eph 2. 5 Phil. 2. 13 Deut. 30. 6 Q. Are the Elect only effectually called A. All the Elect and they onely are effectually called p Acts 13. 48 although others may be and often are outwardly called by the ministery of the Word q Mat. 22. 14 and have some common operations of the Spirit r Mat. 7. 22 Mat. 13. 20 21. Heb. 6. 4 5 who for their wilfull neglect and contempt of the grace offered to them being justly left in their unbelief do never truly come to Iesus Christ Å¿ Ioh. 12. 38 39 40 Acts 28. 25 26 27 Ioh. 6. 64 65. Ps 81 11 12. Q. What is the Communion in Grace which the members of the Invisible Church have with Christ A. The Communion in grace which the members of the Invisible Church have with Christ is their partaking of the vertue of his Mediation in their justification t Rom. 8. 30 Adoption u Eph. 1. 5 Sanctification and whatever else in this life manifests their Vnion with him w 1 Cor 1. 30 Q. What is Iustification A. â—ustification is an act of Gods free grace unto sinners x Rom. 3. 22 24. 25 Rom. 4. 5 in which he pardoneth all their sins accepteth accounteth their persons righteous in his sight y 2 Cor. 2. 5 19 21 Rom. 3. 22 24 25 27 28 not for any thing wrought in them or done by them z Tit. 3 5. 1 Eph. 1. 7 but only for the perfect obedience full satisfaction of Châ—ist by God imputed to them a Rom. 5. 17 18 19 and received by faith alone b Acts 10. 43 Gal. 2. 16 Phil. 3. 9 Q. How is Iustification an act of Gods free Grace A. Although Christ by his Obedience and death did make a proper reall and full satisfaction to Gods Iustice in the behalf of them that are justified c Rom. 5 8 9 10 19 yet in as much as God accepteth the satisfaction from a Surety which he might have demanded of them did provide this Surety his own only son d 1 Tim. 2 5 6 Heb. 10. 10 Mat. 20. 28 Dan. 9. 24 26 Isa 53. 4 5 6 10 11 12 Heb. 7. 22 Rom. 8. 32 1 Pet. 1. 18 19 imputing his righteousnesse to them e 2 Cor. 5. 21 requiâ—ing no thing of them for their Iustification but Faith f Rom. 3. 24 25 which also is his gift g Eph. 2. 28 their Iustification is to them of free grace h Eph. 1. 7 Q. What is Iustifying Faith A. Iustifying Faith is a saving grace i Heb. 10. 39 wrought in the heart of a Sinner by the Spirit k 2 Cor. 4. 13 Eph. 1. 17 18 19 and work of God l Ro. 10. 14 17 whereby he being convinced of his sin and misery and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition m Acts 2. 3 Acts 16. 30 Ioh. 16. 8 9 Rom. 5. 6 Eph 2. 1 Acts 4. 12 not only assenteth to the truth of the promise of the Gospel n Eph. 1. 13 but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousnes therein held forth for pardon of sin o Ioh. 1. 12 Acts 16. 31 Acts 10 43 and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation p â—hil 3. 19 A8 15. 11 Q. How doth Faith justifie a sinner in the sight of God A. Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God not because of those other graces which do alwayes accompany it or of good works that are the fruits of it q Gaâ— 3. 11 Rom. 3. 28. nor as if the grace of Faith or any act thereof were imputed to him for his justification r Rom. 4. 5 with Rom. 10 10 but only as it is an Instrument by which he receiveth and applyeth Christ and his righteousnesse Å¿ Ioh. 1 12 Phil. 3. 9 Gal. 2. 16 Q What is Adoption A. Adoption is an act of the free grace of God t Ioh. 3. 1 in and for his onely Son Iesus Christ u Eph. 1. 5 Gal. 4. 4 6 whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of his children w Ioh 1. 12 have his name put upon them x 2 Cor. 6 18 Rev 3 12 the Spirit of his Son given to them y Gal 4 6 are under his fatherly care and dispensations z Psal 10 13 Prov 14 26 Mat 6 32 admitted to all the liberties priviledges of the sons of God made heires of all the promises and fellow heires with Christ in glory a Heb. 6 13 Rom 8 17 Q. What is Sanctification A. Sanctication is a work of Gods grace whereby they whom God hath before the foundation of the world chosen to be holy are in time through the powerfull working of his Spirit b Eph. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 6. 11. 2 Thes 2. 13. applying the death refurrection of Christ unto them c Rom. 6. 4 5 6. renewd in their whole man after the image of God d Eph. 4. 23. 24. having the seeds of repentance unto life of al other saving graces put into their hearts e Acts 11. 18. 1 Iohn 3. 9. and those graces so stirred up increased strengthened f Iude v. 20. Heb. 6. 11 12. Eph. 3. 16 17. 18. 9. Col 1. 10 11. as that they more and more die unto sin and rise unto newnesse of life g Rom. 6. 4 6 14. Gal. 5. 24. Q What is repentance unto life A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace h 2 Tim. 2. 25 wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit i Zach. 12 10. Word of God k Acts 11. 18. 20 2â— whereby out of the sight and sense not only of the danger l Ezek. 18. 28. 30 32. Luk. 15. 17 18 Hos 2. 6 7 but also of the filthinesse and odiousnesse of his sins m Ezek. 36. 31 Isa