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
although made to hereticks or infidels m Ezek 17 16 18 19 Iâ—sh 9. 18. 19 with 2 Sam. 21 â— V. A Vow is of the like nature with a Promissary Oath and ought to be made with the like Religious care and to be performed with the like faithfulnesse n Isai 19. 11 Eccles 5. 4 5 6. Psal 61. 8 Psal 66. 13 14 VI. It is not to be made to any Creature but to God alone o Psal 76. 11 Ier. 44. 25 26. and that it may be accepted it is to made voluntarily out of Faith and conscience of Duty in way of Thankfulnesse for mercy received or for the obtaining of what we want whereby we more strictly binde ourselves to necessary duties or to other things so far and so long as they may fitly conduce thereunto p Deut. 23. 21 22 23 Psal 50. 14 Gen. 28. 20 21 22 1 Sam. 1. 11 Psal 66. 13 14. Psal 132 2 3 4 5. VII No man may Vow to do any thing forbidden in the Word of God or what would hinder any duty therein commanded or which is not in his own power and for the performance whereof he hath no promise of ability from God q Acts 23. 12 14 Mark 6. 26 Numb 30. 5 8. 12 13. In which respects Popish Monasticall Vows of perpetuall single life professed Poverty Regular Obedience are so far from being degrees of higher Perfection that they are superstitious and sinfull snares in which no Christian may intangle himself r Mat. 19. 11 12 1 Cor. 7. 2. 9 Eph. 4. 28 1 Pet. 4. 2 1 Cor. 7. 23 CHAP. XXIII Of the Civill Magistrate GOD the supream Lord and King of all the World hath Ordained Civill Magistrates to be under him over the people for his own Glory and and the publike good and to this end hath armed them with the Power of the sword for the defence and incouragement of them that are good and for the punishment of evill doers a Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4 1 Pet. 2 13 14. II. It is lawfull for Christians to accept and execute the Office of a Magistrate when called thereunto b Pro. 8. 15. 16 Rom. 13 1 2 4 in the managing whereof as they ought especially to maintain Piety justice Peace according to the wholsom Laws of each Commonwealth c Psal 2. 10 11 12 1 Tim. 2. 2 Psal 82. 3 4 2 Sam. 23. 3 1 Pet. 2. 1â— so for that end they may lawfully now under the New Testament wage War upon just and necessary occasion d Luke 3. 14 Rom. 13. â—4 Mat. 8. 9 10 Acts 10. 1 2 Rev. 17. 14 III. The Civill Magistrate may not assume to himselfe the administration of the Word and Sacraments or the power of the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven e 2 Chro. 26 18 with Mat. 18. 17 Mat. 16 19 and 1 Cor. 12. 28 29 Eph. 4. 11 12. 1 Cor. 4. 1 2. Rom. 10 15. Heb 5. 4. yet he hath Authority and it is his duty to take order that Vnity and Peace be preserved in the Church that the Truth of God be kept pure and intire that all Blasphemies and Heresies be suppressed all corruptions and abuses in Worship and discipline prevented or reformed and all the Ordinances of God duely setled administred and observed f Isa 49. 23 Psal 22. 9 Ezra â— 23 25 26 27 28 Levit. 24. 15 Deut. 13. 5 6. 12 2 Kings 18. 4 1 Chro. 13 1 to 9. 2 Kings 23. to 26 2 Chro. 34. 33. 2 Chron. 15. 12. 13. For the better effecting whereof he hath power to call Synods to be present at them and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God g 2 Chro. 9 8 9 10 11 2 Chron. 29 30. Chapters Mat. 2. 4 5 IV. It is the duety of People to pray for Magistrates h 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 to honour their persons i 1 Pet 2 1â— to pay them tribute and other dues k Rom. 13. 6 7. to obey their lawfull commands and to be subject to their Authority for consciencesake l Rom. 13. 5 Tit. 1. 3 Infidelity or difference in Religion doth not make void the Magistrates just and legâ—ll Authority not free the people from their due obedience to him m 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 16 from which Ecclesiasticall persons are not exempted n Rom. 13 16. Kings 2 35. Acts 25 9 10 11 2 Pet. 2. 1 10. 11 Iude ver 8 9 10 11 much lesse hath the Pope any power and jurisdiction over them in their Dominions or over any of their people and least of all to deprive them of their Dominions or lives if he shall judge them to be Hereticks or upon any other pretence whatsoever o 2 Thes 2. 4 Rev. 13. 15 16 17. CHAP. XXIV Of Marriage and Divorce MArriage is to be between one Man and one Woman neither is it lawfull for any man to have more then one Wife nor for any Woman to have more then one Husband at the same time a Gen. 2. 24 Mat. 19. 5 6 Pro. 2. 17 II. Marriage was ordained for the mutuall help of Husband and Wife b Gen. 2 18 for the increase of man-kinde with a legitimate issue and of the Church with an holy seed c Mal. 2. 15 and for preventing of uncleannesse d 1 Cor. 7 29 III. It is lawfull for all sorts of people to marry who are able with judgement to give their consent e Heb 13 4 1 Tim 4. 3 1 Cor. 36 37 38 Gen 24. 57 5â— Yet is it the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord f 1 Cor. 7. 39 And therfore such as professe the true reformed Religion should not marry with Infidels Papists or other Idolaters Neither should suâ—h as are godly be unequally yoked by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life or maintain damnable Heresies g Gen. 34. 14 Exod. 3â— 16 Deut. â— 3 4 1 Kings 11 4. Neh. 13. 25 26 27. Mal. 2 1â— 12 2 Cor. 6. 14 IV. Mariage ought not to be within the degrees of Consanguinity or Affinity forbidden in the Word h â—evit 18 Chapter 1 Cor. 5. 1 Amo. 2. 7. Nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawfull by any Law of man or consent of Parties so as those persons may live together as man and wife i Mark 6. 18 Lev. 18. 24 25 26 27 28. The man may not marry any of his wives kindred nearer in bloud then he may of his own nor the woman of her husbands kinred nearer in bloud then of her own k Levit. 20 19 20 21. V. Adultery or fornication committed after a Contract being detected before marriage giveth just occasion to the innocent party to dissolve that contract l Mat. 1. 18 19 20. In the case of Adultery after marriage it is lawfull for the Innocent party to
read although there follow no immediate explication of what is read the Word expounded and applyed Catechising the Sacraments administred Collection made for the poor dismissing the people with a blessing Of Church Government and the several sorts of Assemblies for the same CHrist hath instituted a Government and Governors Ecclesiastical in the Church to that purpose the Apostles did immediately receive the keys from the hand of Jesus Christ and did use and exercise them in all the Churches of the world upon all occasions And Christ hath since continually furnished some in his Church with gifts of Government and with commission to execute the same when called thereunto It is lawful and agreeable to the Word of God that the Church be governed by several sorts of Assemblies which are Congregational Classical and Synodical Of the power in Common of all these Assemblies IT is lawful and agreeable to the word of God that the several Assemblies before mentioned have power to convent and call before them any person within their several bounds whom the Ecclesiastical business which is before them doth concern proved by Math. Chap. 18. They have power to hear and determine such causes and differences as do orderly come before them It is lawful and agreeable to the Word of God that all the said Assemblies have some power to dispence Church-censures Of Congregational Assemblies that is The meeting of the ruling Officers of a particular Congregation for the Government thereof THe ruling Officers of a particular Congregation have power authoritatively to call before them any member of the Congregation as they shall see just occasion To enquire into the knowledg and spiritual estate of the several members of the Congregation To admonish and rebuke Which three branches are proved by Heb. 13. 17. 1 Thess 5. 12 13. Ezek. 34. 4. Authoritative suspension from the Lords Table of a person not yet cast out of the Church is agreeable to the Scripture First Because the Ordinance it self must not be prophaned Secondly Because we are charged to withdraw from these that walk disorderly Thirdly Because of the great sin and danger both to him that comes unworthily and also to the whole Church Mat. 7. 6. 2 Thess 3. 6 14 15. 1 Cor. 11. 27. to the end of the chap. compared with Jude vers 23. 1 Tim. 5. 22. And there was power and authority under the Old Testament to keep unclean persons from holy things Levit. 13. 5. Numb 9. 7. 2 Chron. 23. 19. The like power and authority by way of Analogy continues under the New Testament The Ruling Officers of a particular Congregation have power authoritatively to suspend from the Lords Table a person not yet cast out of the Church First Because those who have authority to judg of and admit such as are fit to receive the Sacrament have authority to keep back such as shall be found unworthy Secondly Because it is an Ecclesiastical business of ordinary practise belonging to that Congregation When Congregations are divided and fixed they need all mutual help one from another both in regard of their intrinsecal weaknesses and mutual dependence As also in regard of enemies from without Of Classical Assemblies THe Scripture doth hold out a Presbytery in a Church both in the first Epistle to Timothy Chap. 4. vers 14. and in Acts 15. verses 2 4 6. A Presbytery consisteth of Ministers of the Word and such other publique Officers as are agreeable to and warranted by the Word of God to be Church Governors to joyn with the Ministers in the Government of the Church as appeareth Rom. 12. 7 8. 1 Cor. 12. 28. The Scripture doth hold forth that many particular Congregations may be under one Presbyterial Government This Proposition is proved by instances First Of the Church of Jerusalem which consisteth of more Congregations then one and all these Congregations were under one Presbyterial Government This appeareth thus First The Church of Jerusalem consisteth of more Congregations then one as is manifest first By the multitude of Beleevers mentioned in divers Both before the dispersion of the Beleevers there by means of the persecution mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles Chap. 8. in the beginning thereof witness Chap. 1. verse 11. and 2. v. 41 46 47. and 4. 4. and 5 14. and Chap. 6. of the same book of the Acts verses 1 7. And also after the dispersion Acts 9. 31. Chap. 12. â—4 and Chap. 21. ver 20. of the same book Secondly By the many Apostles and other Preachers in the Church of Jerusalem And if there were but one Congregation there then each Apostle preached but seldom which will not consist with Chap. 6. verse 2. of the same book of the Acts of the Apostles Thirdly The diversity of languages amongst the Beleevers mentioned both in the second and sixth Chapters of the Acts doth argue more Congregations then one in that Church Secondly All those Congregations were under one Presbyterial Government because First They were one Church Acts 8. 1. and Chapter 2. 47. compared with Chap. 5. 11 and 12. 5. and 15. 4. of the same book Secondly The Elders of the Church are mentioned Acts 11. 30. and 15. 4 6 22. and 21. 17 18. of the same book Thirdly The Apostles did the ordinary Acts of Presbyters as Presbyters in that Kirk which proveth a Presbyterial Church before the dispersion Acts 6. Fourthly The several Congregations in Jerusalem being one Church the Elders of that Church are mentioned as meeting together for acts of Government Acts 11. 30. and 15. 4 6 22. and 21. 17 18. and so forward which proves that those several Congregations were under one Presbyterial Government And whether these Congregations were fixed or not fixed in regard of Officers or Members it is all one as to the truth of the Proposition Nor doth there appear any material difference betwixt the several Congregations in Ierusalem and the many Congregations now in the ordinary condition of the Church as to the point of fixedness required of Officers or Members Thirdly Therefore the Scripture doth hold forth that many Congregations may be under one Presbyterial Government Secondly By the instance of the Church of Ephesus for 1 That they were more Congregations then one in the Church of Ephesus appears by Acts 20 31. where is mention of Pauls continuance at Ephesus in Preaching for the space of three years and Acts 19 18 19 20. where the special effect of the Word is mentioned and verse 10 and 17 of the same Chapter where is a distinction of Iews and Greeks and 1 Cor. 16. 8 9. where a reason of Pauls stay at Ephesus until Pentecost and verse 19 where is mention of a particular Church in the house of Aquila and Priscilla then at Ephesus as appears Acts 18. 19 24 26. all which laid together doth prove that the multitudes of Beleevers did make more Congregations then one in the Church of Ephesus 2. That there were many Elders over these many Congregations
of God in him and whether he be of such holiness of life as is requisite in a Minister of the Gospel and to examine him touching his learning and sufficiency and touching the evidences of his Calling to the holy Ministry and in particular his fair and direct Calling to that place The Rules for Examination are these 1. That the party examined be dealt withall in a brotherly way with mildness of spirit and with special respect to the gravity modesty and quality of every one 2. He shall be examined touching his skil in the Original Tongues and his tryal to be made by reading the Hebrew and Greek Testaments and rendring some portion of some into Latin and if he be defective in them enquiry shall be made the more strictly after his other learning and whether he hath skill in Logick and Phylosophy 3. What Authors in Divinity he hath read and is best acquainted with and tryal shall be made in his knowledg of the grounds of Religion and ability to defend the Orthodox Doctrine contained in them against all unsound and erronious opinions especially these of the present age of his skill in the sense and meaning of such places of Scripture as shall be proposed unto him in cases of Conscience and in the Chronology of the Scripture and the Ecclesiastical History 4. If he hath not before preached in publique with approbation of such as are able to judg he shal at a competent time assigned him expound before the Presbytery such a place of Scripture as shall be given him 5. He shall also within a competent time frame a discourse in Latin upon such a common place or Controversie in Divinity as shall be assigned him and exhibite to the Presbytery such Theses as express the sum thereof and maintain a Dispute upon them 6. He shall Preach before the People the Presbytery or some of the Ministers of the Word appointed by them being present 7. The proportion of his gifts in relation to the place unto which he is called shall be considered 8. Beside the tryal of his gifts in Preaching he shall undergo an examination in the Premises two several days and more if the Presbytery shall judg it necessary 9. And as for him that hath been formerly ordained a Minister and is to be removed to another charge he shall bring a Testimonial of his Ordination and of his abilities and Conversation whereupon his fitness for that place shall be tryed by his Preaching there if it shall be judged necessary by a further examination of him In all which he being approved he is to be sent to the Church where he is to serve there to Preach three several days and to converse with the people that they may have tryal of his Gifts for their edification may have time and occasion to enquire into and the better to know his life and Conversation In the last of these three days appointed for the tryal of his gifts in Preaching there shall be sent from the Presbytery to the Congregation a publick intimation in writing which shall be publickly read before the people and after affixed to the Church door to signifie that such a day a competent number of the Members of that Congregation nominated by themselves shall appear before the Presbytery to give their consent and approbation to such a man to be their Minister or otherwise to put in with all Christian discretion and meekness what exceptions they have against him if upon the day appointed there be no just exception against him but the people give their consent then the presbytery shall proceed to ordination Upon the day appointed for Ordination which is to be performed in that Church where he that is to be ordained is to serve a solemn Fast shall be kept by the Congregation that they may the more earnestly joyn in Prayer for a blessing upon the Ordinance of Christ and the labours of his Servant for their good The Presbytery shall come to the place or at least three or four Ministers of the Word shall be sent thither from the Presbytery of which one appointed by the Presbytery shall preach to the people concerning the office and duty of Ministers of Christ and how the people ought to receive them for their work sake After the Sermon the Minister who hath Preached shall in the face of the Congregation demand of him who is now to be ordained concerning his faith in Christ Jesus and his perswasion of the truth of the Reformed Religion according to the Scripture His sincere intentions and ends in desiring to enter into this Calling His diligence in Praying Reading Meditation Preaching Ministring the Sacraments Discipline and doing all Ministerial Duties towards his Charge His Zeal and Faithfulness in maintaining the Truth of the Gospel and Unity of the Church against Error and Schism His care that himself and his Family may be unblameable and examples to the Flock His willingness and humility in meekness of Spirit to submit unto the admonitions of his Brethren and Discipline of the Church And his resolution to continue in his duty against all trouble and persecution In all which having declared himself professed his willingness and promised his endeavours by the help of God The Minister likewise shall demand of the People concerning their willingness to receive and acknowledg him as the Minister of Christ and to obey and submit unto him as having rule over them in the Lord and to maintain encourage and assist him in all the parts of his Office Which being mutually promised by the People the Presbytery or the Ministers sent from them for Ordination shall solemnly set him apart to the Office and Work of the Ministry by laying their hands on him which is to be accompanied with a short Prayer or Blessing to this effect Thankefully acknowledging the great mercy of God in sending Jesus Christ for the redemption of his people and for his ascension to the right hand of God the Father and thence pouring out his Spirit and giving gifts to Men Apostles Evangelists Prophets Pastors and Teachers for the gathering and building up of his Church and for sitting and inclining this man to this great Work To entreat him to fit him with his holy Spirit to give him who in his name we thus set apart to this holy service to fulfil the Work of his Ministry in all things that he may both save himself and his people committed to his charge This or the like form of prayer and blessing being ended let the Minister who preached briefly exhort him to consider of the greatness of his Office and Work the danger of negligence both to himself and his people the blessing which will accompany his faithfulness in this life and that to come and withal exhort the people to carry themselves to him as to their Minister in the Lord according to their solemn promise made before and so by prayer commending both him and his Flock to the Grace of