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THE

CONFESSION OF FAITH;

AGREED UPON BY THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,

AS A PART OF THE COVENANTED UNIFORMITY IN RELIGION

BETWIXT THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE KINGDOMS

OF SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND.

APPROVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1647, AND RATIFIED AND ESTABLISHED BY ACTS OF PARLIAMENT 1649 AND 1690, AS THE PUBLICK AND AVOWED CONFESSION OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

WITH

THE PROOFS FROM THE SCRIPTURE.

THE CONTENTS.

СНАР.

II.

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III. Of God's Eternal Decree.
IV. Of Creation.

V. Of Providence.

VI. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment

thereof.

VII. Of God's Covenant with Man.
VIII. Of Christ the Mediator.
IX. Of Free Will.

X. Of Effectual Calling.
XI. Of Justification.

XII. Of Adoption.

XIII. Of Sanctification.

XIV. Of Saving Faith.

XV. Of Repentance unto Life.

XVI. Of Good Works.

XVII. Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

CHAP.

XVIII. Of Assurance of Grace and Salvation.

XIX. Of the Law of God.

XX. Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience. XXI. Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath-day.

XXII. Of lawful Oaths and Vows. XXIII. Of the Civil Magistrate. XXIV. Of Marriage and Divorce.

XXV. Of the Church.

XXVI. Of Communion of Saints. XXVII. Of the Sacraments. XXVIII. Of Baptism.

XXIX. Of the Lord's Supper.

XXX. Of Church Censures.

XXXI. Of Synods and Councils.

XXXII. Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resur

rection of the Dead.

XXXIII. Of the last Judgment.

CONFESSION OF FAITH,

Agreed upon by the ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES at Westminster: Examined and approved, Anno 1647, by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND; and ratified by ACTS OF PARLIAMENT 1649 and 1690

I.

CHAP. I. Of the Holy Scripture.

ALTHOUGH the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence, do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation: therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his Church; 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; which maketh the holy demnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

I. a Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Ver. 15. Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another. Rom. i. 19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them: for God hath showed it unto them. Ver. 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Ps. xix. 1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handy-work. Ver. 2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. Ver. 3. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Rom. i. 32. Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. With Rom. ii. 1. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou con

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b 1 Cor. i. 21. For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Cor. ii. 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Ver. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Heb. i. 1. God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.

a Prov. xxii. 19. That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Ver. 20. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge; Ver. 21. That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? Luke i. 3. It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most ex

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scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased."

II. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the Books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:

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The Gospels according to

Matthew.

OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

Paul's Epistles Thessalonians II. The first and seto the Romans. To Timothy I.

Corinthians I. To Timothy II.

To Titus.

To Philemon.

The Epistle to

cond Epistles

of Peter. The first, second,

Mark.

Corinthians II.

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and third Epis

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tles of John.

The Acts of the Philippians.

the Hebrews.

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Apostles.

Colossians.

Thessalonians I.

The Epistle of
James.

Jude.

The Revelation.

All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and

life.

Ver. 20. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

e 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Pet. i. 19. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.

cellent Theophilus, Ver. 4. That thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed. Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning; that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope. Matt. iv. 4. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Ver. 7. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Ver. 10. Then f Heb. i. 1. God, who at sundry saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, times, and in divers manners, spake Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt in time past unto the fathers by the worship the Lord thy God, and him prophets, Ver. 2. Hath in these last only shalt thou serve. Isa. viii. 19. And days spoken unto us by his Son, whom when they shall say unto you, Seek he hath appointed heir of all things, unto them that have familiar spirits, by whom also he made the worlds. and unto wizards that peep and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

II. & Luke xvi. 29. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. Ver.

III. The Books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon 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 human writings.h

IV. The authority of the holy scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God, (who is truth itself,) the author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the word of God.1

V. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to an high and reverend esteem of the holy scripture, and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, 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 only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the word of God; yet, notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with

the word in our hearts.1

31. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead. Eph, ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. Rev. xxii. 18. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: Ver. 19. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 2 Tim. iii. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteous

ness.

III. Luke xxiv. 27. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Ver. 44. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Rom. iii. 2. Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 2 Pet. i. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man;

but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

IV. 12 Pet. i. 19. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day. star arise in your hearts. Ver. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Tim. iii. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 1 John v. 9. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 1 Thess. ii. 13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

V. 1 Tim. iii. 15. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

11 John ii. 20. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. Ver. 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you; and ye need not that

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