their owne consciences minding thereby first under the externall cloake of Religion to corrupt and subvert secretlie Gods true Religion within the Kirk and afterward when time may serve to become open enemies and persecutors of the same under vaine hope of the Popes dispensation devised against the Word of God to his greater confusion and their double condemnation in the day of the LORD IESUS Wee therefore willing to take away all suspition of hypocrisie and of such double dealing with God and his Kirk Protest and call The Searcher of all hearts for witnesse that Our mindes and hearts doe fully agree with this our Confession Promise Oath and Subscription so that Wee are not mooved for any wordly respect but are perswaded onely in our Consciences through the knowledge and love of Gods true Religion printed in Our hearts by the holy Spirit as wee shall answeer to him in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall bee disclosed And because wee perceave that the quietnes and stabilitie of our Religion and Kirk doth depend upon the sasetie and good behaviour of the Kings Majestie as upon a comfortable instrument of Gods mercie graunted to this Countrey for the maintaining of his Kirk and ministration of Iustice amongst us wee protest and promise with our hearts under the same Oath Hand-writ and paines that wee shall defend his Person and Authoritie with our goods bodies and lives in the defence of Christ his Evangell Liberties of our Countrie ministration of Iustice and punishment of iniquitie against all enemies within this Realme or without as wee desire our God to bee a strong and mercifull Defender to us in the day of our death and comming of our Lord Jesus Christ To whom with the Father and the holy Spirit bee all Honour and Glorie Eternallie LIKE as many Acts of Parlament not onely in generall doe abrogate annull and rescind all Lawes Statutes Acts Constitutions Canons civill or municipall with all other Ordinances and practique penulties whatsoever made in prejudice of the true Religion and Professours thereof Or of the true Kirk discipline jurisdiction and freedome thereof Or in favours of Idolatrie and Superstition Or of the Papisticall Kirk As Act. 3. Act. 31. Parl. 1. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12. of King lames the sixt That Papistrie Superstition may bee utterly suppressed according to the intention of the Acts of Parlament reported in the 5. Act. Parl. 20. K. James 6. And to that end they ordaine all Papists Priests to bee punished by manifolde Civill and Ecclesiasticall paines as adversaries to Gods true Religion preached and by Law established within this Realme Act. 24. Parl. 11. K. Iames. 6. as common enemies to all Christian government Act. 18. Parl. 16. K. James 6. as rebellers and gainstanders of our Souveraigne Lords Authoritie Act 47. Parl. 3. K. Iames 6. and as Idolaters Act. 104. Parl. 7. K. Iames 6. but also in particular by and attour the Confession of Faith doe abolish and condemne the Popes Authoritie and Iurisdiction our of this Land and ordaines the maintainers thereof to be punished Act. 2. Parl. 1. Act. 51. Parl. 3. Act. 106. Parl. 7. Act. 114. Parl. 12. K. James 6. doe condemue the Popes erroneous doctrine or any other erroneous doctrine repugnant to any of the Articles of the true Christian religion publickely preached and by law established in this Realme And ordaines the spreaders and makers of Bookes or Libells or Letters or Writts of that nature to be punished Act. 46. Parl. 3. Act. 106. Parl. 7. Act. 24. Parl. 11. King Iames 6. doe condemne all Baptisme conforme to the Popes Kirke and the Idolatrie of the Masse and ordaines all sayers willfull hearers and concealers of the Masse the maintainers and resetrers of the Priests Iesuites traffiquing Papists to bee punished without any exception or restriction Act. 5. Parl. 1. Act. 120. Parl. 12. Act. 164. Parl. 13. Act. 193. Parl. 14. Act. 1. Parl. 19. Act. 5. Parl. 20. K. Iames 6. doe condemne all erroneous bookes and writtes conteining erroneous doctrine against the Religion presentlie professed or conteining superstitious Rites and Ceremonies Papisticall whereby the people are greatly abused and ordaines the home bringers of them to be punished Act. 25. Parl. 11. K. Iames 6. doe condemne the monuments and dregs of bygane Idolatrie as goeing to the Crosses observing the Feasticall dayes of Saincts and such other superstitious and Papisticall Rites to the dishonour of God contempt of true Religion fostering of great errour among the people and ordaines the users of them to be punished for the second fault as Idolaters Act. 104. Parl. 7. K. Iames 6. Like as many acts of Parliament are conceaved for maintenance of Gods true and Christian Religion and the puritie thereof in Doctrine and Sacraments of the true Church of God the libertie and freedome thereof in her Nationall Synodall Assemblies Presbyteries Sessions Pollicie Discipline and Jurisdiction thereof as that puritie of religion and libertie of the Church was used professed exercised preached and confessed according to the reformation of Religion in this Realme As for instance the 99. Act. Parl. 7. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. P. 12. Act. 160. Parl. 13. of K. Iames 6. Ratified by the 4. Act of K. Charles So that the 6. Act. Parl. 1. and 68. Act. Parl. 6. of K. Iames 6. in the yeare of God 1579. declares the Ministers of the blessed Evangell whom God of his mercie had raised up or hereafter should raise agreeing with them that then lived in Doctrine and administration of the Sacraments and the people that professed Christ as he was than offered in the Evangell and doth communicate with the holy Sacraments as in the reformed Kirkes of this Realme they were publicklie administrate according to the Confession of Faith to bee the true and holy Kirk of Christ Iesus within this Realme and decerns and declares all and sundrie who either gaine sayes the Word of the Evangell received and approved as the heads of the confession of Faith professed in Parlament in the yeare of God 1560. specified also in the first Parlament of K. Iames 6. and ratified in this present Parlament more particularlie doe specifie or that refuses the administration of the holy Sacraments as they were then ministrated to bee no members of the said Kirk within this Realme and true Religion presentlie professed so long as they keep themselues so devyded from the societie of Christs body And the subsequent Act 69. Parl. 6. of K. Iames 6. declares That there is no other face of Kirk nor other face of Religion then was presentlie at that time by the favour of God established within this Realm which therefore is ever styled Gods true Religion Christs true Religion the true Christian Religion a perfect Religion Which by manifold acts of Parlamēt all within this Realme are boūd to professe to subscribe the articles therof the Confession of Faith to recant all doctrine and
THE Confession of Faith Of the KIRK of SCOTLAND SVBSCRIBED By the Kings Majestie and his Housholde in the yeare of God 1580. With a Designation of such acts of Parlament as are expedient for justefying the Vnion after mentioned And subscribed by the Nobles Barrons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons in the yeare of God 1638. IOSHVA Chap. 24. vers 25. So Joshua made a Covenant with the people the same day and gave them an Ordinance and Law in Sichem 2 KINGS 11.17 And Jehojada made a Covenant betweene the Lord and the King and the people that they should bee the Lords people likewise betweene the King and the people ISAIAH 44.5 One shall say I am the Lord another shall be called by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord c. The Kings Majesties Charge to all Commissioners and Ministers within this Realme in the yeare of God 1580. SEeing that Wee and our Housholde have Subscribed and given this publick Confession of our Faith to the good example of our Subjects We commaund and charge all Commissioners and Ministers to crave the same Confession of their Parochinars and proceed against the refusers according to our Lawes and order of the Kirk delivering their names and lawfull proces to the Ministers of our House with all haste and diligence under the paine of fourtie pound to be taken from their stipend that Wee with the advice of our Counsell may take order with such proud contemners of GOD and our Lawes Subscribed with our hand at Halyrudhouse 1580. The 2. day of March the 14. yeare of our Reigne The Confession of Faith OF The Kirke of SCOTLAND THe Confession of Faith subscribed at first by the Kings Majestie and his Houshold in the yeare of God 1580. Thereafter by Persons of all rankes in the yeare 1581 By ordinance of the Lords of the Secret Counsell and Acts of the generall Assembly Subscribed againe by all sorts of Persons in the yeare 1590 By a new Ordinance of Counsell at the desire of the generall Assembly With a generall Band for maintenance of the true Religion and the Kings Person And now subscribed in the yeare 1638. By Vs Noblemen Barrons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons vnder subscribing Together with our resolution and promises for the causes after specified To maintaine the sayd true Religion and the Kings Majestie according to the Confession foresayd and Acts of Parlament The Tenor whereof heere followeth WEE All and every one of Us underwritten Protest that after long and due Examination of our owne Consciences in matters of true false Religion are now throughly resolved of the Trueth by the Word and Spirit of God therefore we believe with our hearts confesse with our mouths subscribe with our hands and constantly affirme before God and the whole World that this onely is the true Christian Faith and Religion pleasing God and bringing Salvation to man which now is by the mercie of God revealed to the world by the preaching of the blessed Evangell And received believed and defended by many and sundry notable Kirkes and Realmes but chieflie by the Kirk of Scotland the Kings Majestie and three estates of this Realme as Gods eternall Trueth and only ground of our Salvation as more particularlie is expressed in the Confession of our Faith stablished and publicklie confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliaments and now of a long time hath beene openlie professed by the Kings Majestie and whole body of this Realme both in Burgh and Land To the which Confession and forme of Religion wee willinglie agree in our consciences in all points as unto Gods undoubted Trueth and Veritie grounded onely upon his written Word And therefore we abhorre and detest all contrarie Religion and Doctrine But chieflie all kinde of Papistrie in generall and particular heads even as they are now damned and confuted by the Word of God and Kirk of Scotland but in speciall wee detest and refuse the usurped authoritie of that Roman Antichrist upon the Scriptures of God upon the Kirk the civill Magistrate and consciences of men All his tyrannous lawes made upon indifferent things against our Christian libertie His erroneous Doctrine against the sufficiencie of the written Word the perfection of the Law the office of Christ and his blessed Evangell His corrupted Doctrine concerning originall sinne our naturall inabilitie and rebellion to Gods Law our Iustification by faith only our imperfect Sanctification and obedience to the Law the nature number and use of the Holy Sacraments His five bastard Sacraments with all his Rites Ceremonies and false Doctrine added to the ministration of the true Sacraments without the Word of God His cruell judgement against Infants departing without the Sacrament his absolute necessitie of Baptisme his blasphemous opinion of Transubstantiation or reall presence of Christs body in the Elements and receiving of the same by the wicked or bodies of men His dispensations with solemne Oathes Perjuries and degrees of Marriage forbidden in the Word his crueltie against the innocent divorced his divellish Masse his blasphemous Priesthood his profane Sacrifice for the sinnes of the dead and the quicke his Canonization of men calling upon Angels or Saints departed worshipping of Imagerie Relicts and Crosses dedicating of Kirks Altars Dayes Vowes to creatures his Purgatorie Prayers for the dead praying or speaking in a strange language with his Processions and blasphemous Letanie and multitude of Advocates or Mediators his manifold Orders Auricular Confession his desperate and uncertaine Repentance his generall and doubtsome Faith his satisfactions of men for their sinnes his Iustification by works opus operatum works of Supererogation Merits Pardons Peregrinations and Stations his holy water baptising of Bells conjuring of Spirits crossing saning anointing conjuring hallowing of Gods good creatures with the superstitious opinion joyned therewith his wordlie Monarchie and wicked Hierarchie his three solemne vowes with all his shavellings of sundrie sorts his erroneous and bloudie decres made at Trent with all the subscribers and approvers of that cruell and bloudie Band conjured against the Kirk of God and finallie wee detest all his vaine Allegories Rites Signes and Traditions brought in the Kirk without or against the Word of God and Doctrine of this true reformed Kirk to the which wee joyne our selves willinglie in Doctrine Faith Religion Discipline and use of the Holy Sacraments as lively members of the same in Christ our Head promising and swearing by the Great Name of the Lord our God that wee shall continue in the obedience of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Kirk and shall defend the same according to our Vocation and Power all the dayes of our lives under the paines contained in the Law and danger both of Body and Soule in the day of Gods fearefull Iudgement and seeing that many are stirred up by Sathan and that Roman Antichrist to promise sweare subscribe and for a time use the holy Sacraments in the Kirk deceitfullie against
GOD or aprobation of the corruptions of the publicke Governement of the Kirk or civill places and power of Kirkmen till they be tryed and allowed in free assemblies and in Parlaments to labour by all meanes lawfull to recover the puritie and libertie of the Gospell as it was established and professed before the Foresaid novations and because after due examination wee plainelie perceave and undoubtedlie believe that the Innovations and evils conteined in our Supplications Complaints and Protestations have no warrant of the Word of God are contrarie to the Articles of the Foresaid Confessions to the intention and meaning of the blessed reformers of Religion in this Land to the above writtin Acts of Parlament and doe sensiblie tend to the re-establishing of the Popish Religion and tyrannie and to the subversion and ruine of the true Reformed Religion and of our Liberties Lawes and Estates Wee also declare that the Foresaid Confessions are to be interpreted and ought to be understood of the Foresaid novations and evils no lesse than if every one of them had beene expressed in the Foresaid confessions and that wee are obliged to detest and abhore them amongst other particular heads of Papistrie abjured therein And therefore from the knowledge and consciences of our duetie to God to our King and Countrey without any wordly respect or inducement so farre as humane infirmitie will suffer wishing a further measure of the grace of God for this effect We promise and sweare by the Great Name of the Lord our GOD to continue in the Profession and Obedience of the Foresaid Religion That we shall defend the same and resist all these contrarie errours and corruptions according to our vocation and to the uttermost of that power that GOD hath put in our hands all the dayes of our life and in like manner with the same heart wee declare before GOD and Men That wee have no intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may turne to the dishonour of GOD or to the diminution of the Kings greatnesse and authoritie But on the contrarie wee promise and sweare that wee shall to the uttermost of our power with our meanes and lives stand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne the Kings Majestie his Person and Authoritie in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true Religion Liberties and Lawes of the Kingdome As also to the mutuall defence and assistance every one of us of another in the same cause of maintaining the true Religion and his Majesties Authoritie with our best counsell our bodies meanes and whole power against all sorts of persons whatsoever So that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us for that cause shall bee taken as done to us all in generall and to every one of us in particular And that wee shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer our selves to bee divided or withdrawn by whatsoever suggestion allurement or terrour from this blessed and loyall Conjunction nor shall cast in any let or impediment that may stay or hinder any such resolution as by common consent shall be found to conduce for so good ends But on the contrarie shall by all lawfull meanes labour to further and promove the same and if any such dangerous and divisive motion be made to us by Word or Writ We and every one of us shall either suppresse it or if need bee shall incontinent make the same known that it may be timeously obviated neither do we fear the soule aspersions of rebellion combination or what else our adversaries from their craft and malice would put upon us seeing what we doe is so well warranted and ariseth from an unfeined desire to maintaine the true worship of God the Majestie of our King and peace of the Kingdome for the common happinesse of our selves and the posteritie And because wee cannot look for a blessing from God upon our proceedings except with our Profession and Subscription wee joine such a life and conversation as beseemeth Christians who have renewed their Covenant with God Wee therefore faithfully promise for our selves our followers and all other under us both in publick in our particular families and personall carriage to endevour to keepe our selves within the bounds of Christian libertie and to be good examples to others of all Godlinesse Sobernesse and Righteousnesse and of every duetie we owe to God and Man and that this our Union and Conjunction may be observed without violation we call the living GOD the Searcher of our Hearts to witnes who knoweth this to be our sincere Desire and unfained Resolution as we shall answere to JESVS CHRIST in the great day and under the paine of Gods everlasting wrath and of infamie and losse of all honour and respect in this World Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with a happie successe that Religion and Righteousnesse may flourish in the Land to the glory of GOD the honour of our King and peace and comfort of us all In witnesse whereof wee have subscribed with our hands all the premisses c.