|
Chapter 1
Of the Holy
Scriptures
1. The Holy Scripture is the =
only
sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, =
and
obedience, 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 are they not sufficient to give that knowledge=
of
God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased =
the
Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to decl=
are
that his will unto his church; and afterward 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 Scriptures to be most necessary, th=
ose
former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.=
(2Tim. 3:15-17; Isa. 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31;
Eph. 2:20; Rom. 1:19-21, 2:14,15; Psalm 19:1-3; Heb.1:1; Prov. 22:19-21; =
Rom.
15:4; 2 Pet. 1:19,20)
2. 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:
OF TH=
E OLD
TESTAMENT: Ge=
nesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, =
II
Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah,
Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomen,
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations,Ezekiel, Danie=
l,
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Hag=
gai,
Zachariah, Malachi
OF TH=
E NEW
TESTAMENT: Ma=
tthew,
Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Epistle to the Romans,=
I
Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossian=
s, I
Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, To Titus, To
Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistle of James, The first and sec=
ond
Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epi=
stle
of Jude, The Revelation
All of which are =
given
by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
(2 Tim. 3:16)
3. The books commonly called
Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or r=
ule
of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of Go=
d,
nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings=
.
(Luke 24:27, 44; Rom. 3:2)
4. The authority of the Holy
Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depend=
eth
not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is
truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because=
it
is the Word of God.
(2 Pet. 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Thess. 2:1=
3; 1
John 5:9)
5. We may be moved and induce=
d by
the testimony of the church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the =
Holy
Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctr=
ine,
and 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, and many other incomparable excellencies, and
entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evid=
ence
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.
(John 16:13,14; 1 Cor. 2:10-12; 1 John 2:2=
0,
27)
6. The whole counsel of God
concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith=
and
life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy
Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new
revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowle=
dge
the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the savi=
ng
understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word, and that there =
are
some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the c=
hurch,
common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the lig=
ht
of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the W=
ord,
which are always to be observed.
(2 Tim. 3:15-17; Gal. 1:8,9; John 6:45; 1 =
Cor.
2:9-12; 1 Cor. 11:13, 14; 1 Cor. 14:26,40)
7. All things in Scripture ar=
e not
alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things whi=
ch
are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so
clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that n=
ot
only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may
attain to a sufficient understanding of them.
(2 Pet. 3:16; Ps. 19:7; Psalm 119:130)
8. 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 the writing of it was most gener=
ally
known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by his sing=
ular
care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as=
in
all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them. B=
ut
because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who
have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in t=
he
fear of God to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated =
into
the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of
God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable
manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.=
(Rom. 3:2; Isa. 8:20; Acts 15:15; John 5:3=
9; 1
Cor. 14:6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 28; Col. 3:16)
9. The infallible rule of
interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore when t=
here
is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not
manifold, but one), it must be searched by other places that speak more
clearly.
( 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; Acts 15:15, 16)<=
/p>
10. <=
/span>The supreme judge, by whic=
h all
controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of counci=
ls,
opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are t=
o be
examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the H=
oly
Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our
faith is finally resolved.
(Matt. 22:29, 31, 32; Eph. 2:20; Acts 28:2=
3)
Chapter 2
Of God and of =
the
Holy Trinity
1. The Lord our God is but o=
ne
only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinit=
e in
being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but
himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions,=
who
only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach un=
to;
who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way
infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all thi=
ngs
according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for=
his
own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in
goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and with=
al
most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by =
no
means clear the guilty.
(1 Cor. 8:4, 6; Deut. 6:4; Jer. 10:10; Isa.
48:12; Exod. 3:14; John 4:24; 1 Tim. 1:17; Deut. 4:15, 16; Mal. 3:6; 1 Ki=
ngs
8:27; Jer. 23:23; Ps. 90:2; Gen. 17:1; Isa. 6:3; Ps. 115:3; Isa. 46:10; P=
rov.
16:4; Rom. 11:36; Exod.34:6, 7; Heb. 11:6; Neh. 9:32, 33; Ps. 5:5, 6; Exo=
d.
34:7; Nahum 1:2, 3)
2. God, having all life, glor=
y,
goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and unto himself
all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which he hath made, =
nor
deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by,
unto, and upon them; he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, thro=
ugh
whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most sovereign dominion over
all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself =
pleaseth; in his sight all things are open and mani=
fest,
his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature,=
so
as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain; he is most holy in all his
counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands; to him is due from
angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures t=
hey
owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of th=
em.
(John 5:26; Ps. 148:13; Ps. 119:68; Job 22=
:2,
3; Rom. 11:34-36; Dan. 4:25, 34, 35; Heb. 4:13; Ezek. 11:5; Acts 15:18; P=
s.
145:17; Rev. 5:12-14)
3. In this divine and infinite
Being there are three subsistences, the Fathe=
r, the
Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each
having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is=
of
none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of t=
he
Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infin=
ite,
without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nat=
ure
and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and
personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all
our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.
(1 John 5:7; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Ex=
od.
3:14; John 14:11; I Cor. 8:6; John 1:14,18; John 15:26; Gal. 4:6)<=
/p>
Chapter 3
Of God's Decre=
e
1. God hath decreed in himsel=
f,
from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, fre=
ely
and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby=
is
God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is
violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or
contingency of second causes taken way, but rather established; in which
appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in
accomplishing his decree.
(Isa. 46:10; Eph. 1:11; Heb. 6:17; Rom. 9:=
15,
18; James 1:13; 1 John 1:5; Acts 4:27, 28; John 19:11; Num. 23:19; Eph.
1:3-5)
2. Although God knoweth
whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions, yet hat=
h he
not decreed anything, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which w=
ould
come to pass upon such conditions.
(Acts 15:18; Rom. 9:11, 13, 16, 18)=
3. By the decree of God, for=
the
manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or
foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his
glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just
condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.
(I Tim. 5:21; Matt. 25:34; Eph. 1:5, 6; Ro=
m.
9:22, 23; Jude 4)
4. These angels and men thus
predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designe=
d,
and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increa=
sed
or diminished.
(2 Tim. 2:19; John 13:18)
5. Those of mankind that are
predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid,
according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and
good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, =
out
of his mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature =
as a
condition or cause moving him thereunto.
(Eph. 1:4, 9, 11; Rom. 8:30; 2 Tim. 1:9; I
Thess. 5:9; Rom. 9:13, 16; Eph. 2:5, 12)
6. As God hath appointed the=
elect
unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will,
foreordained all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elected, bei=
ng
fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith=
in
Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted,
sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation; neither a=
re
any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted,
sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
(1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Thess. 5:9, =
10;
Rom. 8:30; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:5; John 10:26, 17:9, 6:64)
7. The doctrine of the high m=
ystery
of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that m=
en
attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience
thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assure=
d of
their eternal election; so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise,
reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant
consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
(1 Thess. 1:4, 5; 2 Pet. 1:10; Eph. 1:6; R=
om.
11:33; Rom. 11:5, 6, 20; Luke 10:20)
Chapter 4
Of Creation
1. In the beginning it pleas=
ed God
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of h=
is
eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world, and all
things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, a=
nd
all very good.
(John 1:2, 3; Heb. 1:2; Job 26:13; Rom. 1:=
20;
Col. 1:16; Gen. 1:31)
2. After God had made all ot=
her
creatures, he created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal
souls, rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were creat=
ed;
being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true
holiness; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it, and yet under a possibility of transgres=
sing,
being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.=
(Gen. 1:27; Gen. 2:7; Eccles. 7:29; Gen. 1=
;26;
Rom. 2:14, 15; Gen. 3:6)
3. Besides the law written in=
their
hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of go=
od
and evil, which whilst they kept, they were happy in their communion with
God, and had dominion over the creatures.
(Gen. 2:17; Gen. 1:26, 28)
Chapter 5 =
;
Of Divine Providence
1. God the good Creator of all
things, in his infinite power and wisdom doth uphold, direct, dispose, and
govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by =
his
most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created,
according unto his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable
counsel of his own will; to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power,
justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.
(Heb. 1:3; Job 38:11; Isa. 46:10, 11; Ps.
135:6; Matt. 10:29-31; Eph. 1;11)
2. Although in relation to t=
he
foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass
immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by
chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of
second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.
(Acts 2:23; Prov. 16:33; Gen. 8:22)=
3. God, in his ordinary provi=
dence maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, a=
bove,
and against them at his pleasure.
(Acts 27:31, 44; Isa. 55:10, 11; Hosea 1:7;
Rom. 4:19-21; Dan. 3:27)
4. The almighty power, unsear=
chable
wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his
providence, that his determinate counsel extendeth
itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels
and men; and that not by a bare permission, which also he most wisely and
powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and governeth,=
in a
manifold dispensation to his most holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of
their acts proceedeth only from the creatures=
, and
not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be t=
he
author or approver of sin.
(Rom. 11:32-34; 2 Sam. 24:1, 1 Chron. 21:1=
; 2
Kings 19:28; Ps. 76;10; Gen. 1:20; Isa. 10:6, 7, 12; Ps. 1;21; 1 John 2:1=
6)
5. The most wise, righteous,=
and
gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manif=
old
temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for
their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corrup=
tion
and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise
them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himse=
lf;
and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and f=
or
other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is =
by
his appointment, for his glory, and their good.
(2 Chron. 32:25, 26, 31; 2 Cor. 12:7-9; Ro=
m.
8:28)
6. As for those wicked and un=
godly
men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harde=
n;
from them he not only withholdeth his grace,
whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrou=
ght
upon their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth
the gifts which they had, and exposeth them t=
o such
objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives them
over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of
Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those
means which God useth for the softening of ot=
hers.
(Rom. 1;24-26, 28, 11:7, 8; =
Deut.
29:4; Matt. 13:12; Deut. 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12, 13; Ps. 81:11, 12; 2 Thess.
2:10-12; Exod. 8:15, 32; Isa. 6:9, 10; 1 Pet. 2:7, 8)
7. As the providence of God d=
oth in
general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner it taketh care of his church, and disposeth
of all things to the good thereof.
(1 Tim. 4:10; Amos 9:8, 9; Isa. 43:3-5)
Chapter 6
Of the Fall of=
Man,
Of Sin, And of the Punishment Thereof
1. Although God created man
upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto li=
fe
had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof, yet he did =
not
long abide in this honour; Satan using the su=
btlety
of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any
compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the
command given unto them, in eating the forbidden fruit, which God was
pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel to permit, having purpose=
d to
order it to his own glory.
(Gen. 2:16, 17; Gen. 3:12,13; 2 Cor. 11:3)=
2. Our first parents, by this=
sin,
fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in =
them
whereby death came upon all: all becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled=
in
all the faculties and parts of soul and body.
(Rom. 3:23; Rom 5:12,etc; Tit. 1:15; Gen. =
6:5;
Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10-19)
3. They being the root, and by
God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the gui=
lt
of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their poste=
rity
descending from them by ordinary generation, being now conceived in sin, =
and
by nature children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, =
and
all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jes=
us
set them free.
(Rom. 5:12-19; 1 Cor. 15:21, 22, 45, 49; P=
s.
51:5; Job 14:4; Eph. 2:3; Rom. 6:20, 5:12; Heb. 2:14, 15; 1 Thess. 1:10)<=
/span>
4. From this original corrupt=
ion,
whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all goo=
d,
and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all
actual transgressions.
(Rom. 8:7; Col. 1:21; James 1:14, 15; Matt.
15:19)
5. The corruption of nature, =
during
this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be
through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and the first mot=
ions
thereof, are truly and properly sin.
(Rom. 7:18,23; Eccles. 7:20; 1 John 1:8; R=
om.
7:23-25; Gal. 5:17)
Chapter 7 =
;
Of God's Coven=
ant
1. The distance between God a=
nd the
creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience=
to
him as their creator, yet they could never have attained the reward of li=
fe
but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which he hath been ple=
ased
to express by way of covenant.
( Luke 17:10; Job 35:7,8)
2. Moreover, man having broug=
ht
himself under the curse of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to ma=
ke a
covenant of grace, wherein he freely offereth=
unto
sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in hi=
m,
that they may be saved; and promising to give unto all those that are
ordained unto eternal life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and abl=
e to
believe.
(Gen. 2:17; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 3:20, 21; Rom.
8:3; Mark 16:15, 16; John 3:16; Ezek. 36:26, 27; John 6:44, 45; Ps. 110:3=
)
3. This covenant is revealed =
in the
gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of t=
he
woman, and afterwards by farther steps, until the full discovery thereof =
was
completed in the New Testament; and it is founded in that eternal covenant
transaction that was between the Father and the Son about the redemption =
of
the elect; and it is alone by the grace of this covenant that all the
posterity of fallen Adam that ever were saved did obtain life and blessed
immortality, man being now utterly incapable of acceptance with God upon
those terms on which Adam stood in his state of inno=
cency.
(Gen. 3:15; Heb. 1:1; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 1:2;
Heb. 11;6, 13; Rom. 4:1, 2, &c.; Acts 4:12; John 8:56)
Chapter 8 =
;
Of Christ the
Mediator
1. It pleased God, in His ete=
rnal
purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son,
according to the covenant made between them both, to be the mediator betw=
een
God and man; the prophet, priest, and king; head and saviour
of the church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world; unto whom =
he
did from all eternity give a people to be his seed and to be by him in ti=
me
redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.
(Isa. 42:1; 1 Pet. 1:19, 20; Acts 3:22; He=
b.
5:5, 6; Ps. 2:6; Luke 1:33; Eph. 1:22, 23; Heb. 1:2; Acts 17:31; Isa. 53:=
10;
John 17:6; Rom. 8:30)
2. The Son of God, the second
person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness of=
the
Father's glory, of one substance and equal with him who made the world, w=
ho upholdeth and governeth=
all
things he hath made, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon h=
im
man's nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities
thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb =
of
the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her: and the power of t=
he
Most High overshadowing her; and so was made of a woman of the tribe of
Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures; so t=
hat
two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together=
in
one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is
very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and =
man.
(John 1:14; Gal. 4;4; Rom. 8:3; Heb. 2:14,=
16,
17, 4:15; Matt. 1:22, 23; Luke 1:27, 31, 35; Rom. 9:5; 1 Tim. 2:5)=
3. The Lord Jesus, in his hum=
an
nature thus united to the divine, in the person of the Son, was sanctified
and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure, having in Him all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all
fullness should dwell, to the end that being holy, harmless, undefiled, a=
nd
full of grace and truth, he might be thoroughly furnished to execute the
office of mediator and surety; which office he took not upon himself, but=
was
thereunto called by his Father; who also put all power and judgment in his
hand, and gave him commandment to execute the same.
(Ps. 45:7; Acts 10:38; John 3:34; Col. 2:3;
Col. 1:19; Heb. 7:26; John 1:14; Heb. 7:22; Heb. 5:5; John 5:22, 27; Matt.
28:18; Acts 2;36)
4. This office the Lord Jesus=
did
most willingly undertake, which that he might discharge he was made under=
the
law, and did perfectly fulfil it, and underwe=
nt the
punishment due to us, which we should have borne and suffered, being made=
sin
and a curse for us; enduring most grievous sorrows in his soul, and most
painful sufferings in his body; was crucified, and died, and remained in =
the
state of the dead, yet saw no corruption: on the third day he arose from =
the
dead with the same body in which he suffered, with which he also ascended
into heaven, and there sitteth at the right h=
and of
his Father making intercession, and shall return to judge men and angels =
at
the end of the world.
(Ps. 40:7, 8; Heb. 10:5-10; John 10:18; Gal
4:4; Matt. 3:15; Gal. 3:13; Isa. 53:6; 1 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:21; Matt. 26=
:37,
38; Luke 22:44; Matt. 27:46; Acts 13:37; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4; John 20:25, 27; =
Mark
16:19; Acts 1:9-11; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; Acts 10:42; Rom. 14:9, 10; Acts
1:11; 2 Pet. 2:4)
5. The Lord Jesus, by his per=
fect
obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit o=
nce
offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of God, procured
reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom o=
f heaven,
for all those whom the Father hath given unto Him.
(Heb. 9:14, 10:14; Rom. 3:25, 26; John 17:=
2;
Heb. 9:15)
6. Although the price of
redemption was not actually paid by Christ till after his incarnation, yet
the virtue, efficacy, and benefit thereof were communicated to 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 which should bruise the serpent's head; and the Lamb slain from =
the
foundation of the world, being the same yesterday, and to- day and for ev=
er.
(1 Cor. 4:10; Heb. 4:2; 1 Pet. 1:10, 11; R=
ev.
13:8; Heb. 13:8)
7. Christ, in the work of
mediation, acteth according to both natures, =
by
each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet by reason of the un=
ity
of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scriptu=
re,
attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.
(John 3:13; Acts 20:28)
8. To all those for whom Chri=
st
hath obtained eternal redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply=
and
communicate the same, making intercession for them; uniting them to himse=
lf
by his Spirit, revealing unto them, in and by his Word, the mystery of
salvation, persuading them to believe and obey, governing their hearts by=
his
Word and Spirit, and overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power a=
nd
wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful and
unsearchable dispensation; and all of free and absolute grace, without any
condition foreseen in them to procure it.
(John 6:37, 10:15, 16, 17:9; Rom. 5:10; Jo=
hn
17:6; Eph. 1:9; 1 John 5:20; Rom. 8:9, 14; Ps. 110:1; 1 Cor. 15:25, 26; J=
ohn
3:8; Eph. 1:8)
9. This office of mediator b=
etween
God and man is proper only to Christ, who is the prophet, priest, and kin=
g of
the church of God; and may not be either in whole, or any part thereof, transferred from him to =
any
other.
(Tim. 2:5)
10. <=
/span>This number and order of o=
ffices
is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of his
prophetical office; and in respect of our alienation from God, and
imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office to
reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God; and in respect to our
averseness and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue and
security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office to
convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly
kingdom.
(John 1:18; Col. 1:21; Gal. 5:17; John 16:=
8;
Ps. 110:3; Luke 1:74, 75)
Chapter 9
Of Free Will
1. God hath endued the will o=
f man
with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is nei=
ther
forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.
(Matt. 17:12; James 1:14; Duet. 30:19)
2. Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do =
that
which was good and well-pleasing to God, but yet was unstable, so that he
might fall from it.
(Eccles. 7:29; Gen. 3:6)
3. Man, by his fall into a st=
ate of
sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompany=
ing
salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, a=
nd
dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to
prepare himself thereunto.
(Rom. 5:6, 8:7; Eph. 2:1, 5; Tit. 3:3-5; J=
ohn
6:44)
4. When God converts a sinner=
, and
translates him into the state of grace, he freeth
him from his natural bondage under sin, and by his grace alone enables him
freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that b=
y reason
of his remaining corruptions, he doth not perfectly, nor only will, that
which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.
(Col. 1:13; John 8:36; Phil. 2:13; Rom. 7:=
15,
18, 19, 21, 23)
5. This will of man is made
perfectly and immutably free to good alone in the state of glory only.
(Eph. 4:13)
Chapter 10
Of Effectual C=
alling
1. Those whom God hath
predestinated unto life, he is pleased in his appointed, and accepted tim=
e,
effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and
death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ;
enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly
to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and gi=
ving
unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty pow=
er
determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to J=
esus
Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.=
(Rom. 8:30, 11:7; Eph. 1:10, 11; 2 Thess.
2:13, 14; Eph. 2:1-6; Acts 26:18; Eph. 1:17, 18; Ezek. 36:26; Deut. 30:6;
Ezek. 36:27; Eph. 1:19; Ps. 110:3; Cant. 1:4)
2. This effectual call is of =
God's
free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, n=
or
from any power or agency in the creature, being wholly passive therein, b=
eing
dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy
Spirit; he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the gra=
ce
offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which rai=
sed
up Christ from the dead.
(2 Tim. 1:9; Eph. 2:8; 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2=
:5;
John 5:25; Eph. 1:19, 20)
3. Elect infants dying in inf=
ancy
are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who worketh when, and where, and how he pleases; so als=
o are
all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the
ministry of the Word.
(John 3:3, 5, 6; John 3:8)
4. Others not elected, altho=
ugh
they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common
operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, =
they
neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved:
much less can men that receive not the Christian religion be saved; be th=
ey
never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature a=
nd the
law of that religion they do profess.
(Matt. 22:14, 13:20, 21; Heb 6:4, 5; John
6:44, 45, 65; 1 John 2:24, 25; Acts 4:12; John 4:22, 17:3)
Chapter 11
Of Justificati=
on
1. Those whom God effectuall=
y calleth, he also freely justif=
ieth,
not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and=
by
accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wro=
ught
in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone; not by imputing fa=
ith
itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them,=
as
their righteousness; but by imputing Christ's active obedience unto the w=
hole
law, and passive obedience in his death for their whole and sole
righteousness by faith, which faith they have not of themselves; it is the
gift of God.
(Rom. 3:24, 8:30; Rom. 4:5-8; Eph. 1:7; 1 =
Cor.
1:30, 31; Rom. 5:17-19; Phil. 3:8, 9; Eph. 2:8-10; John 1:12; Rom. 5:17)<=
/span>
2. Faith thus receiving and r=
esting
on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;
yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with=
all
other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worke=
th
by love.
(Rom. 3:28; Gal. 5:6; James 2:17, 22, 26)<=
/span>
3. Christ, by his obedience a=
nd
death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and =
did,
by the sacrifice of himself in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their
stead the penalty due unto them, make a proper, real, and full satisfacti=
on
to God's justice in their behalf; yet, inasmuch as he was given by the Fa=
ther
for them, and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and
both freely, not for anything in them, their justification is only of free
grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorifi=
ed
in the justification of sinners.
(Heb. 10:14; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; Isa. 53:5, 6;
Rom. 8:32; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 3:26; Eph. 1:6, 7, 2:7)
4. God did from all eternity =
decree
to justify all the elect, and Christ did in the fullness of time die for
their sins, and rise again for their justification; nevertheless, they are
not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit doth in time due actually
apply Christ unto them.
(Gal. 3:8; 1 Pet. 1:2; 1 Tim. 2:6; Rom. 4:=
25;
Col. 1:21, 22; Tit. 3:4-7)
5. God doth continue to forgi=
ve the
sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from t=
he
state of justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God's
fatherly displeasure; and in that condition they have not usually the lig=
ht
of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, conf=
ess
their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.
(Matt. 6:12; 1 John 1:7, 9; John 10:28; Ps.
89:31-33; Ps. 32:5; Ps. 51; Matt. 26:75)
6. The justification of beli=
evers
under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with=
the
justification of believers under the New Testament.
(Gal. 3:9; Rom. 4:22-24)
Chapter 12&nbs=
p;
Of Adoption
All those that are
justified, God vouchsafed, in and for the sake of his only Son Jesus Chri=
st,
to make partakers of the grace of adoption, by which they are taken into =
the
number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God, ha=
ve
his name put upon them, receive the spirit of adoption, have access to the
throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry Abba, Father, are pitie=
d,
protected, provided for, and chastened by him as by a Father, yet never c=
ast
off, but sealed to the day of redemption, and inherit the promises as hei=
rs
of everlasting salvation.
(Eph. 1:5; Gal. 4:4, 5; John 1:12; Rom. 8:=
17;
2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 3:12; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 2:18; Ps. 103:13; Prov.
14:26; 1 Pet. 5:7; Heb. 12:6; Isa. 54:8, 9; Lam. 3:31; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 1:=
14,
6:12)
Chapter 13&nbs=
p;
Of Sanctificat=
ion
1. They who are united to Chr=
ist,
effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit
created in them through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection, are
also farther sanctified, really and personally, through the same virtue, =
by
His Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of s=
in
is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and
mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving
graces, to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall =
see
the Lord.
(Acts 20:32; Rom. 6:5, 6; John 17:17; Ep=
h.
3:16-19; 1 Thess. 5:21-23; Rom. 6:14; Gal. 5;24; Col. 1:11; 2 Cor. 7:1; H=
eb.
12:14)
2. This sanctification is
throughout the whole man, yet imperfect in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every =
part,
whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable=
war;
the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
(1 Thess. 5:23; Rom. 7:18, 23; Gal. 5:17; 1
Pet. 2:11)
3. In which war, although the
remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet through the continu=
al
supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate =
part
doth overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the
fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to=
all
the commands which Christ as Head and King, in His Word hath prescribed t=
hem.
(Rom. 7:23; Rom. 6:14; Eph. 4:15, 16; 2 Co=
r.
3:18, 7:1)
Chapter 14&nbs=
p;
Of Saving Fait=
h
1. The grace of faith, where=
by the
elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of=
the
Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the minist=
ry
of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the
Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased =
and strengthened.
(2 Cor. 4:13; Eph. 2:8; Rom. 10:14, 17; Lu=
ke
17;5; 1 Pet. 2:2; Acts 20:32)
2. By this faith a Christian
believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the authority=
of
God himself, and also apprehendeth an excellency therein above all other writings and all
things in the world, as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes,
the excellency of Christ in his nature and of=
fices,
and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his workings and operati=
ons:
and so is enabled to cast his soul upon the truth thus believed; and also=
acteth differently upon that which each particular
passage thereof containeth; yielding obedienc=
e to
the commands, trembling at the threatenings, =
and
embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come; but
the principal acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ,
accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification,
sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
(Acts 24:14; Ps. 19:7-10, 119:72; 2 Tim. 1=
:12;
John 15:14; Isa. 66:2; Heb. 11:13; John 1:12; Acts16:31; Gal. 2:20; Acts
15:11)
3. This faith, although it be
different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, yet it is in the least
degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving
grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers; and theref=
ore,
though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victor=
y,
growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, =
who is
both the author and finisher of our faith.
(Heb. 5:13, 14; Matt. 6:30; Rom. 4:19, 20;=
2
Pet. 1:1; Eph. 6:16; 1 John 5:4, 5; Heb. 6:11, 12; Col. 2:2; Heb. 12:2)
Chapter 15&nbs=
p;
Of Repentance =
Unto
Life and Salvation
1. Such of the elect as are
converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, a=
nd
therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their effectual calling=
giveth them repentance unto life.
(Titus 3:2-5)
2. Whereas there is none that=
doth
good and sinneth not, and the best of men may,
through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them,
with the prevalency of temptation, fall into =
great
sins and provocations; God hath, in the covenant of grace, mercifully
provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repenta=
nce
unto salvation.
(Eccles. 7:20; Luke 22:31, 32)
3. This saving repentance is =
an
evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensib=
le
of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself
for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency,
praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk befor=
e God
unto all well-pleasing in all things.
(Zech. 12:10; Acts 11:18; Ezek. 36:31; 2 C=
or.
7:11; Ps. 119:6, 128)
4. As repentance is to be con=
tinued
through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of de=
ath,
and the motions thereof, so it is every man's duty to repent of his
particular known sins particularly.
(Luke 19:8; 1 Tim. 1:13, 15)
5. Such is the provision whic=
h God
hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of
believers unto salvation; that although there is no sin so small but it
deserves damnation; yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring
damnation on them that repent; which makes the constant preaching of
repentance necessary.
(Rom. 6:23; Isa. 1:16-18, 55:7)
Chapter 16&nbs=
p;
Of Good Works<=
/span>
1. Good works are only such a=
s God
hath commanded in his Holy Word, and not such as without the warrant ther=
eof
are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good
intentions.
(Mic. 6:8; Heb. 13:21; Matt. 15:9; Isa. 29=
:13)
2. These good works, done in
obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true a=
nd
lively faith; and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strength=
en
their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel,
stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship th=
ey
are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that having their fruit unto holi=
ness
they may have the end eternal life.
(James 2:18, 22; Ps. 116:12, 13; 1 John 2:=
3,
5; 2 Pet. 1:5-11; Matt. 5:16; 1 Tim. 6:1; 1 Pet. 2:15; Phil. 1:11; Eph. 2=
:10;
Rom. 6:22)
3. Their ability to do good w=
orks
is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ; and th=
at
they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already recei=
ved,
there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in
them to will and to do of his good pleasure; yet they are not hereupon to
grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upo=
n a
special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up
the grace of God that is in them.
(John 15:4, 5; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 2:13; Phi=
l.
2:12; Heb. 6:11, 12; Isa. 64:7)
4. They who in their obedience
attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far =
from
being able to supererogate, and to do more th=
an God
requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to=
do.
(Job 9:2, 3; Gal. 5:17; Luke 17:10)=
5. We cannot by our best wor=
ks
merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the
great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the
infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither
profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done=
all
we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and bec=
ause
as they are good they proceed from his Spirit, and as they are wrought by=
us
they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that t=
hey
cannot endure the severity of God's punishment.
(Rom. 3:20; Eph. 2:8, 9; Rom. 4:6; Gal. 5:=
22,
23; Isa. 64:6; Ps. 143:2)
6. Yet notwithstanding the pe=
rsons
of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are
accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in
God's sight, but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to acc=
ept
and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weakness=
es
and imperfections.
(Eph. 1:6; 1 Pet. 2:5; Matt. 25:21, 23; He=
b.
6:10)
7. Works done by unregenerate=
men,
although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, an=
d of
good use both to themselves and others; yet because they proceed not from=
a
heart purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the
word, nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and
cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive grace from God, and yet
their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing to God.
(2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27, 29; Gen. 4:=
5;
Heb. 11:4, 6; 1 Cor. 13:1; Matt. 6:2, 5; Amos 5:21, 22; Rom. 9:16; Tit. 3=
:5;
Job 21:14, 15; Matt. 25:41-43)
Chapter 17&nbs=
p;
Of The Perseve=
rance
of the Saints
1. Those whom God hath accept=
ed in
the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given t=
he
precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall fr=
om
the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and=
be
eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repenta=
nce,
whence he still begets and nourisheth in them
faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto
immortality; and though many storms and floods arise and beat against the=
m,
yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock wh=
ich
by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and th=
e temptations
of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time =
be
clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall =
be
sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy
their purchased possession, they being engraven
upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the bo=
ok
of life from all eternity.
(John 10:28, 29; Phil. 1:6; 2 Tim. 2:19; 1
John 2:19; Ps. 89:31, 32; 1 Cor. 11:32; Mal. 3:6)
2. This perseverance of the s=
aints
depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the de=
cree
of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Fathe=
r,
upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union
with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God
within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereo=
f.
(Rom. 8:30, 9:11, 16; Rom. =
5:9, 10;
John 14:19; Heb. 6:17, 18; 1 John 3:9; Jer. 32:40)
3. And though they may, throu=
gh the
temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency=
of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their
preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein,
whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to =
have
their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their
consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgm=
ents
upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved
through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.
(Matt. 26:70, 72, 74; Isa. 64:5, 9; Eph. 4=
:30;
Ps. 51:10, 12; Ps. 32:3, 4; 2 Sam. 12:14; Luke 22:32, 61, 62)
Chapter 18
Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation<=
/span>
1. Although
temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive
themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and state of salvation, which hope of
theirs shall perish; yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love
him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all=
good
conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they ar=
e in
the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which
hope shall never make them ashamed.
(Job 8:13, 14; Matt. 7:22, 23; 1 John 2:3,
3:14, 18, 19, 21, 24, 5:13; Rom. 5:2, 5)
2. This certainty is not a b=
are
conjectural and probable persuasiongrounded u=
pon a
fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the blood =
and
righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward
evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and =
on
the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that=
we
are the children of God; and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both
humble and holy.
(Heb. 6:11, 19; Heb. 6:17, 18; 2 Pet. 1:4,=
5,
10, 11; Rom. 8:15, 16; 1 John 3:1-3)
3. This infallible assurance =
doth
not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait
long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it; yet
being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him=
of
God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means,
attain thereunto: and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all
diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart m=
ay
be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness=
to
God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the pro=
per
fruits of this assurance; -so far is it from inclining men to looseness.<=
/span>
(Isa. 50:10; Ps. 88; Ps. 77:1-12; 1 John 4=
:13;
Heb. 6:11, 12; Rom. 5:1, 2, 5, 14:17; Ps. 119:32; Rom. 6:1,2; Tit. 2:11, =
12,
14)
4. True believers may have the
assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermit=
ted;
as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin wh=
ich woundeth the conscience and gr=
ieveth
the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing t=
he
light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in
darkness and to have no light, yet are they never destitute of the seed of
God and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sinceri=
ty
of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spi=
rit,
this assurance may in due time be revived, and by the which, in the meant=
ime,
they are preserved from utter despair.
(Cant. 5:2, 3, 6; Ps. 51:8, 12, 14; Ps.
116:11; 77:7, 8, 31:22; Ps. 30:7; 1 John 3:9; Luke 22:32; Ps. 42:5, 11; L=
am.
3:26-31)
Chapter 19&nbs=
p;
Of the Law of =
God
1. God gave to Adam a law of
universal obedience written in his heart, and a particular precept of not
eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; by which he b=
ound
him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual
obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon t=
he
breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.
(Gen. 1:27; Eccles. 7:29; Rom. =
10:5;
Gal. 3:10, 12)
2. The same law that was firs=
t written
in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after=
the
fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and
written in two tables, the four first containing our duty towards God, and
the other six, our duty to man.
(Rom. 2:14, 15; Deut. 10:4)
3. Besides this law, commonly
called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel ceremonial
laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguri=
ng
Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly holding
forth divers instructions of moral duties, all which ceremonial laws being
appointed only to the time of reformation, are, by Jesus Christ the true
Messiah and only law-giver, who was furnished with power from the Father =
for
that end abrogated and taken away.
(Heb. 10:1; Col. 2:17; I Cor. 5:7; Col. 2:=
14,
16, 17; Eph. 2:14, 16)
4. To them also he gave sundry
judicial laws, which expired together with the state of that people, not
obliging any now by virtue of that institution; their general equity only
being of modern use.
(1 Cor. 9:8-10)
5. The moral law doth for eve=
r bind
all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof, and t=
hat
not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of =
the
authority of God the Creator, who gave it; neither doth Christ in the Gos=
pel
any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.
(Rom. 13:8-10; James 2:8, 10=
-12;
James 2:10, 11; Matt. 5:17-19; Rom. 3:31)
6. Although true believers b=
e not
under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemne=
d,
yet it is of great use to them as well as to others, in that as a rule of
life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and bi=
nds
them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their
natures, hearts, and lives, so as examining themselves thereby, they may =
come
to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against, sin; toget=
her
with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of
his obedience; it is likewise of use to the regenerate to restrain their
corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threate=
nings
of it serve to shew what even their sins dese=
rve,
and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed
from the curse and unallayed rigour
thereof. The promises of it likewise shew them
God's approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon t=
he
performance thereof, though not as due to them by the law as a covenant of
works; so as man's doing good and refraining from evil, because the law <=
span
class=3DSpellE>encourageth to the one and det=
erreth
from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law and not under
grace.
(Rom. 6:14; Gal. 2:16; Rom. 8:1, 10:4; Rom.
3:20, 7:7, etc; Rom. 6:12-14; 1 Pet. 3:8-13)
7. Neither are the aforementi=
oned
uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply
with it, the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do
that freely and cheerfully which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done.
(Gal. 3:21; Ezek. 36:27)
Chapter 20&=
;
Of the Gospel,=
and
of the Extent of the Grace Thereof
1. The covenant of works bei=
ng
broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleased to give f=
orth
the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the
elect, and begetting in them faith and repentance; in this promise the
gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and [is] therein effectu=
al
for the conversion and salvation of sinners.
(Gen. 3:15; Rev. 13:8)
2. This promise of Christ, and
salvation by him, is revealed only by the Word of God; neither do the wor=
ks
of creation or providence, with the light of nature, make discovery of
Christ, or of grace by him, so much as in a general or obscure way; much =
less
that men destitute of the revelation of Him by the promise or gospel, sho=
uld
be enabled thereby to attain saving faith or repentance.
(Rom. 1;17; Rom. 10:14,15,17; Prov. 29:18;
Isa. 25:7; 60:2, 3)
3. The revelation of the gosp=
el
unto sinners, made in divers times and by sundry parts, with the addition=
of
promises and precepts for the obedience required therein, as to the natio=
ns
and persons to whom it is granted, is merely of the sovereign will and go=
od
pleasure of God; not being annexed by virtue of any promise to the due
improvement of men's natural abilities, by virtue of common light received
without it, which none ever did make, or can do so; and therefore in all
ages, the preaching of the gospel has been granted unto persons and natio=
ns,
as to the extent or straitening of it, in great variety, according to the
counsel of the will of God.
(Ps. 147:20; Acts 16:7; Rom. =
1;18-32)
4. Although the gospel be th=
e only
outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such,
abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses =
may
be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an
effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the
producing in them a new spiritual life; without which no other means will
effect their conversion unto God.
(Ps. 110:3; 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 1:19, 20; Jo=
hn
6:44; 2 Cor. 4:4, 6)
Chapter 21
Of Christian L=
iberty
and Liberty
of Conscience
1. The liberty which Christ h=
ath
purchased for believers under the gospel, consists in their freedom from =
the
guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the rigou=
r
and curse of the law, and in their being delivered from this present evil
world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin, from the evil of affliction=
s,
the fear and sting of death, the victory of the grave, and ever- lasting
damnation: as also in their free access to God, and their yielding obedie=
nce
unto Him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love and willing mind=
. .
All which were common also to believers under the law for the substance of
them; but under the New Testament the liberty of Christians is further
enlarged, in their freedom from the yoke of a ceremonial law, to which the
Jewish church was subjected, and in greater boldness of access to the thr=
one
of grace, and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than
believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.
(Gal. 3:13; Gal. 1:4; Acts 26:18; Rom. 8:3;
Rom. 8:28; 1 Cor. 15:54-57; 2 Thess. 1:10; Rom. 8:15; Luke 1:73-75; 1 John
4:18; Gal. 3;9, 14; John 7:38, 39; Heb. 10:19-21)
2. God alone is Lord of the
conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of =
men
which are in any thing contrary to his word, or not contained in it. So t=
hat
to believe such doctrines, or obey such commands out of conscience, is to
betray true liberty of conscience; and the requiring of an implicit faith=
, an
absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience and rea=
son
also.
(James 4:12; Rom. 14:4; Acts 4:19, 29; 1=
Cor.
7:23; Matt. 15:9; Col. 2:20, 22, 23; 1 Cor. 3:5; 2 Cor. 1:24)
3. They who upon pretence of
Christian liberty do practice any sin, or cherish any sinful lust, as the=
y do
thereby pervert the main design of the grace of the gospel to their own
destruction, so they wholly destroy the end of Christian liberty, which i=
s,
that being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies, we might serve =
the
Lord without fear, in holiness and righeousness
before Him, all the days of our lives.
(Rom. 6:1, 2; Gal. 5:13; 2 P=
et. 2:18,
21)
Chapter 22
Of Religious W=
orship
and the Sabbath Day.
1. The light of nature shews that there is a God, who hath lordship and
sovereignty over all; is just, good and doth good unto all; and is theref=
ore
to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with a=
ll
the heart and all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable wa=
y of
worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself,
and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped
according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of
Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed=
in
the Holy Scriptures.
(Jer. 10:7; Mark 12:33; Deut. 12:32; Exod.
20:4-6)
2. Religious worship is to be=
given
to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and t=
o him
alone; not to angels, saints, or any other creatures; and since the fall,=
not
without a mediator, nor in the mediation of any other but Christ alone.
(Matt. 4:9, 10; John 6:23; Matt. 28:19; Ro=
m.
1:25; Col. 2:18; Rev. 19:10; John 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5)
3. Prayer, with thanksgiving,
being one part of natural worship, is by God required of all men. But tha=
t it
may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son, by the help of =
the
Spirit, according to his will; with understanding, reverence, humility,
fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a known
tongue.
(Ps. 95:1-7, 65:2; John 14:13, 14; Rom. 8:=
26;
1 John 5:14; 1 Cor. 14:16, 17)
4. Prayer is to be made for t=
hings
lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but
not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have si=
nned
the sin unto death.
(1 Tim. 2:1, 2; 2 Sam. 7:29; 2 Sam. 12:21-=
23;
1 John 5:16)
5. The reading of the Scriptu=
res,
preaching, and hearing the Word of God, teaching and admonishing one anot=
her
in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to
the Lord; as also the administration of baptism, and the Lord's supper, a=
re
all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to hi=
m,
with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn
humiliation, with fastings, and thanksgivings=
, upon
special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.
(1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2; Luke 8:18; Col.
3:16; Eph. 5:19; Matt. 28:19, 20; 1 Cor. 11:26; Esther 4:16; Joel 2:12; E=
xod.
15:1-19, Ps. 107)
6. Neither prayer nor any oth=
er
part of religious worship, is now under the gospel, tied unto, or made mo=
re
acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is
directed; but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth; =
as
in private families daily, and in secret each one by himself; so more
solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly nor wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God by h=
is
word or providence calleth thereunto. =
(John 4:21; Mal. 1:11; 1 Tim. 2:8; Acts 10=
:2;
Matt. 6:11; Ps. 55:17; Matt. 6:6; Heb. 10:25; Acts 2:42)
7. As it is the law of natur=
e,
that in general a proportion of time, by God's appointment, be set apart =
for
the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual
commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he hath particularly appointed=
one
day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy un=
to
him, 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, which is called the Lord's day: and is to=
be
continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observati=
on
of the last day of the week being abolished.
(Exod. 20:8; 1 Cor. 16:1, 2; Acts 20:7; Re=
v.
1:10)
8. The =
sabbath
is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their
hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand<=
/span>,
do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and
thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also ta=
ken
up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and=
in
the duties of necessity and mercy.
(Isa. 58:13; Neh. 13:15-22; Matt. 12:1-13)=
Chapter 23
We believe that (Acts 16:25, Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16) singing t=
he
praises of God, is a holy ordinance of Christ, and not a part of natural
religion, or a moral duty only; but that it is brought under divine
institution, it being enjoined on the churches of Christ to sing psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs; and that the whole church in their public
assemblies, as well as private Christians, ought to (Heb. 2:12, Jam. 5:13)
sing God's praises according to the best light they have received. Moreov=
er,
it was practiced in the great representative church, by (Matt.26:30, Matt.
14:26) our Lord Jesus Christ with His disciples, after He had instituted =
and
celebrated the sacred ordinance of His Holy Supper, as commemorative toke=
n of
redeeming love.
Chapter 24
Of Lawful Oath=
s and
Vows
1. A lawful oath is a part of
religious worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness, a=
nd judgement, solemnly calleth God
to witness what he sweareth, and to judge him
according to the truth or falseness thereof.
(Exod. 20:7; Deut. 10:20; Jer. 4:2; 2 Chro=
n.
6:22, 23)
2. The name of God only is th=
at by
which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used, with all holy fear
and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and
dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be
abhorred; yet as in matter of weight and moment, for confirmation of trut=
h,
and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God; a lawful =
oath
being imposed by lawful authority in such matters, ought to be taken.
(Matt. 5:34, 37; James 5:12; Heb. 6:16, 2 =
Cor.
1:23; Neh. 13:25)
3. Whosoever taketh
an oath warranted by the Word of God, ought duly to consider the weightin=
ess
of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he knoweth to be truth; for that by rash, false, and v=
ain
oaths, the Lord is provoked, and for them this land mourns.
(Levit. 19:12; Jer. 23:10)
4. An oath is to be taken in =
the
plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation or mental
reservation.
(Ps. 24:4)
5. A vow, which is not to be =
made
to any creature, but to God alone, is to be made and performed with all
religious care and faithfulness; but popish monastic=
al
vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, =
are
so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitio=
us
and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.
(Ps. 76:11; Gen. 28:20-22; 1 Cor. 7:2, 9; =
Eph.
4:28; Matt. 19:11)
Chapter 25
Of the Civil
Magistrate
1. God, the supreme Lord and =
King
of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him, over t=
he
people, for his own glory and the public good; and to this end hath armed
them with the power of the sword, for defence=
and
encouragement of them that do good, and for the punishment of evil doers.=
(Rom. 13:1-4)
2. It is lawful for Christian=
s to
accept and execute the office of a magistrate when called there unto; in =
the
management whereof, as they ought especially to maintain justice and peac=
e,
according to the wholesome laws of each kingdom and commonwealth, so for =
that
end they may lawfully now, under the New Testament wage war upon just and
necessary occasions.
(2 Sam. 23:3; Ps. 82:3, 4; Luke 3:14)
3. Civil magistrates being s=
et up
by God for the ends aforesaid; subjection, in all lawful things commanded=
by
them, ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but for
conscience sake;and we
ought to make supplications and prayers for kings and all that are in
authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all
godliness and honesty.
(Rom. 13:5-7; 1 Pet. 2:17; 1=
Tim.
2:1, 2)
Chapter 26
Of Marriage
1. Marriage is to be between =
one
man and one woman; neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one
wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time.
(Gen. 2:24; Mal. 2:15; Matt. 19:5,6)
2. Marriage was ordained for =
the
mutual help of husband and wife, for the increase of mankind with a
legitimate issue, and the preventing of uncleanness.
(Gen. 2:18; Gen. 1:28; 1 Cor. 7:2, 9)
3. It is lawful for all sort=
s of
people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent; yet it=
is
the duty of Christians to marry in the Lord; and therefore such as profess
the true religion, should not marry with infidels, or idolaters; neither
should such as are godly, be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are
wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresy.
(Heb. 13:4; 1 Tim. 4:3; 1 Cor. 7:39; Neh. =
13:25-27)
4. Marriage ought not to be w=
ithin
the degrees of consanguinity or affinity, forbidden in the Word; nor can =
such
incestuous marriages ever be made lawful, by any law of man or consent of
parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.
(Levit. 18; Mark 6:18; 1 Cor. 5;1)<=
/p>
Chapter 27
Of the Church<=
/span>
1. The catholic or universal
church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth =
of
grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect,
that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head
thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness
of him that filleth all in all.
(Heb. 12:23; Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:10, 22, 23,
5:23, 27, 32)
2. All persons throughout the
world, professing the faith of the gospel, and obedience unto God by Chri=
st
according unto it, not destroying their own profession by any errors everting the foundation, or un=
holiness
of conversation, are and may be called visible saints; and of such ought =
all
particular congregations to be constituted.
(1 Cor. 1:2; Acts 11:26; Rom. =
1:7;
Eph. 1:20-22)
3. The purest churches under =
heaven
are subject to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to beco=
me
no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan; nevertheless Christ always
hath had, and ever shall have a kingdom in this world, to the end thereof=
, of
such as believe in him, and make profession of his name.
(1 Cor. 5; Rev. 2, 3; Rev. 18:2; 2 Thess.
2:11, 12; Matt. 16:18; Ps. 72:17, 102:28; Rev. 12:17)
4. The Lord Jesus Christ is t=
he
Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power =
for
the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested =
in a
supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be
head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perditi=
on,
that exalteth himself in the church against C=
hrist,
and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightne=
ss
of his coming.
(Col. 1:18; Matt. 28:18-20; Eph. 4:11, 12;=
2
Thess. 2:2-9)
5. In the execution of this p=
ower
wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus =
calleth out of the world unto himself, through the
ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his=
Father, that they may walk before him in all the way=
s of
obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his
word. Those thus called, he commandeth to walk
together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edificati=
on,
and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth
of them in the world.
(John 10:16; John 12:32; Matt. 28:20; Matt.
18:15-20)
6. The members of these churc=
hes
are saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their
profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ; and do
willingly consent to walk together, according to the appointment of Chris=
t;
giving up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God,=
in
professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel.
(Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; Acts 2:41, 42, 5:13,
14; 2 Cor. 9:13)
7. To each of these churches =
thus
gathered, according to his mind declared in his word, he hath given all t=
hat
power and authority, which is in any way needful for their carrying on th=
at
order in worship and discipline, which he hath instituted for them to
observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and
executing of that power.
(Matt. 18:17, 18; 1 Cor. 5:4, 5, 5:13 2 Co=
r.
2:6-8)
8. A particular church, gathe=
red
and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of
officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen a=
nd
set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar
administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continu=
ed to
the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons.
(Acts 20:17, 28; Phil. 1:1)
9. The way appointed by Chris=
t for
the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the
office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by=
the
common suffrage of the church itself; and solemnly set apart by fasting a=
nd
prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there=
be
any before constituted therein; and of a deacon that he be chosen by the =
like
suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.
(Acts 14:23; 1 Tim. 4:14; Acts 6:3, 5, 6)<=
/span>
10. <=
/span>The work of pastors being
constantly to attend the service of Christ, in his churches, in the minis=
try
of the word and prayer, with watching for their souls, as they that must =
give
an account to Him; it is incumbent on the churches to whom they minister,=
not
only to give them all due respect, but also to communicate to them of all
their good things according to their ability, so as they may have a
comfortable supply, without being themselves entangled in secular affairs;
and may also be capable of exercising hospitality towards others; and thi=
s is
required by the law of nature, and by the express order of our Lord Jesus=
, who
hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.=
(Acts 6:4; Heb. 13:17; 1 Tim. 5:17, 18; Ga=
l.
6:6, 7; 2 Tim. 2:4; 1 Tim. 3:2; 1 Cor. 9:6-14)
11. Although it be incumbent =
on the
bishops or pastors of the churches, to be instant in preaching the word, =
by
way of office, yet the work of preaching the word is not so peculiarly
confined to them but that others also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit
for it, and approved and called by the church, may and ought to perform i=
t.
(Acts 11:19-21; 1 Pet. 4:10, 11)
12. <=
/span>As all believers are bound=
to
join themselves to particular churches, when and where they have opportun=
ity
so to do; so all that are admitted unto the privileges of a church, are also under the censures and government
thereof, according to the rule of Christ.
(1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14, 15)
13. No church members, upon a=
ny
offence taken by them, having performed their duty required of them towar=
ds
the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church-order, or ab=
sent
themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any
ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow membe=
rs,
but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church. =
(Matt. 18:15-17; Eph. 4:2, 3)
14. <=
/span>As each church, and all the
members of it, are bound to pray continually for the good and prosperity =
of
all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions to furt=
her
every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise=
of their
gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God,=
so
as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold communi=
on
among themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edificati=
on.
(Eph. 6:18; Ps. 122:6; Rom. =
16:1, 2;
3 John 8-10)
15. <=
/span>In cases of difficulties or
differences, either in point of doctrine or administration, wherein either
the churches in general are concerned, or any one church, in their peace,
union, and edification; or any member or members of any church are injure=
d,
in or by any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order: it=
is
according to the mind of Christ, that many churches holding communion
together, do, by their messengers, meet to consider, and give their advic=
e in
or about that matter in difference, to be reported to all the churches
concerned; howbeit these messengers assembled, are not intrusted
with any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over t=
he
churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any churches or
persons; or to impose their determination on the churches or officers.
(Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23, 25; 2 Cor. 1:24;=
1
John 4:1)
Chapter 28
Of the Communi=
on of
Saints
1. All saints that are united=
to
Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit, and faith, although they are not
made thereby one person with him, have fellowship in his graces, sufferin=
gs,
death, resurrection, and glory; and, being united to one another in love,
they have communion in each others gifts and graces, and are obliged to t=
he
performance of such duties, public and private, in an orderly way, as do
conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man. =
(1 John 1:3; John 1:16; Phil. 3:10; Rom. =
6:5, 6;
Eph. 4:15, 16; 1 Cor. 12:7; 3:21-23; 1 Thess. 5:11, 14; Rom. 1:12; 1 John
3:17, 18; Gal. 6:10)
2. Saints by profession are b=
ound
to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in
performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edificat=
ion;
as also in relieving each other in outward things according to their seve=
ral
abilities, and necessities; which communion, according to the rule of the
gospel, though especially to be exercised by them, in the relation wherein
they stand, whether in families, or churches, yet, as God offereth
opportunity, is to be extended to all the household of faith, even all th=
ose
who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus; nevertheless the=
ir
communion one with another as saints, doth not take away or infringe the
title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.
(Heb. 10:24, 25, 3:12, 13; Acts 11:29, 30;
Eph. 6:4; 1 Cor. 12:14-27; Acts 5:4; Eph. 4:28)
Chapter 29
Of Baptism and=
the
Lord's Supper.
1. Baptism and the Lord's Sup=
per
are ordinances of positive and sovereign institution, appointed by the Lo=
rd
Jesus, the only lawgiver, to be continued in his church to the end of the
world.
(Matt. 28:19, 20; 1 Cor. 11;26)
2. These holy appointments a=
re to
be administered by those only who are qualified and thereunto called,
according to the commission of Christ.
(Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 4:1)
Chapter 30
Of Baptism
1. Baptism is an ordinance of=
the
New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a
sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his be=
ing
engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, thro=
ugh
Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.
(Rom.
6:3-5; Col. 2;12; Gal. 3:27; Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:4)
2. Those who do actually pro=
fess
repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ,
are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.
(Mark 16:16; Acts 8;36, 37, 2:41, 8:12, 18=
:8)
3. The outward element to be =
used
in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the n=
ame
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
(Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 8:38)
4. Immersion, or dipping of t=
he
person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance=
.
(Matt. 3:16; John 3:23)
Chapter 31
We believe that laying on of hands (with prayer) upon baptiz=
ed
believers, as such, is an ordinance of Christ, and ought to be submitted =
unto
by all such persons that are admitted to partake of the Lord's Supper; and
that the end of this ordinance is not fro the extraordinary gifts of the
Spirit, but for a farther reception of the Spirit of promise, or for addi=
tion
of the graces of the Spirit, and the influences thereof; to confirm
strengthen, and comfort them in Jesus Christ; it being ratified and estab=
lished
by the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit in the primitive times to abide =
in
the Church, as meeting together on the first day of the week was, that be=
ing
the day of worship, or Christian Sabbath, under the gospel; and as preach=
ing
the Word was, and as baptism was, and prayer was, and singing psalms was,=
for
as the whole gospel was confirmed by signs and wonders, and divers miracl=
es
and gifts of the Holy Ghost in general, so was every ordinance in like ma=
nner
confirmed in particular.
Chapter 32
Of the Lord's =
Supper
1. The supper of the Lord Jes=
us was
instituted by him the same night wherein he was betrayed, to be observed =
in
his churches, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance, a=
nd shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death,
confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof, their
spiritual nourishment, and growth in him, their further engagement in, an=
d to
all duties which they owe to him; and to be a bond and pledge of their
communion with him, and with each other.
(1 Cor. 11:23-26; 1 Cor. 10:16, 17,21)
2. In this ordinance Christ i=
s not
offered up to his Father, nor any real sacrifice made=
at all for remission of sin of the quick or dead, but only a memorial of =
that
one offering up of himself by himself upon the cross, once for all; and a
spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God for the same. So that =
the
popish sacrifice of the mass, as they call it, is most abominable, injuri=
ous
to Christ's own sacrifice the alone propitiation for all the sins of the
elect.
(Heb. 9:25, 26, 28; 1 Cor. 11;24; Matt. 26=
:26,
27)
3. The Lord Jesus hath, in th=
is
ordinance, appointed his ministers to pray, and bless the elements of bre=
ad
and wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to a holy use, and =
to
take and break the bread; to take the cup, and, they communicating also
themselves, to give both to the communicants.
(1 Cor. 11:23-26, etc.)
4. The denial of the cup to t=
he
people, worshipping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them a=
bout
for adoration, and reserving them for any pretended religious use, are all
contrary to the nature of this ordinance, and to the institution of Chris=
t.
(Matt. 26:26-28, 15:9, Exod. 20:4, 5)
5. The outward elements in th=
is
ordinance, duly set apart to the use ordained by Christ, have such relati=
on
to him crucified, as that truly, although in terms used figuratively, they
are sometimes called by the names of the things they represent, to wit, t=
he
body and blood of Christ, albeit, in substance and nature, they still rem=
ain
truly and only bread and wine, as they were before.
(1 Cor. 11;27; 1 Cor. 11:26-28)
6. That doctrine which mainta=
ins a
change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ's
body and blood, commonly called transubstantiation, by consecration of a
priest, or by any other way, is repugnant not to Scripture alone, but eve=
n to
common sense and reason, overthroweth the nat=
ure of
the ordinance, and hath been, and is, the cause of manifold superstitions,
yea, of gross idolatries.
(Acts 3:21; Luke 14:6, 39; 1 Cor. 11:24, 2=
5)
7. Worthy receivers, outwardly
partaking of the visible elements in this ordinance, do then also inwardl=
y by
faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually
receive, and feed upon Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his deat=
h;
the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally, but
spiritually present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the
elements themselves are to their outward senses.
(1 Cor. 10:16, 11:23-26)
8. All ignorant and ungodly
persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ, so are they
unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot, without great sin against him,
while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries, or be admitted t=
hereunto;
yea, whosoever shall receive unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood=
of
the Lord, eating and drinking judgment to themselves.
(2 Cor. 6:14, 15; 1 Cor. 11:29; Matt. 7:6)=
Chapter 33
Of the State o=
f Man after Deat=
h and Of
the Resurrection of the Dead.
1. The bodies of men after de=
ath
return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls, which neither die nor
sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave
them. The souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are
received into paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the face of
God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; =
and
the souls of the wicked are cast into hell; where they remain in torment =
and
utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day; besides these =
two
places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.
(Gen. 3:19; Acts 13:36; Eccles. 12:7; Luke
23:43; 2 Cor. 5:1, 6,8; Phil. 1:23; Heb. 12;23; Jude 6, 7; 1 Peter 3:19; =
Luke
16:23, 24)
2. At the last day, such of t=
he
saints as are found alive, shall not sleep, but be
changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and
none other; although with different qualities, which shall be united agai=
n to
their souls forever.
(1 Cor. 15:51, 52; 1 Thess. 4:17; Job 19:2=
6,
27; 1 Cor. 15:42, 43)
3. The bodies of the unjust s=
hall,
by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the
bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour, and
be made conformable to his own glorious body.
(Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29; Phil. 3:21)
Chapter 34
Of the Last Ju=
dgment
1. God hath appointed a day w=
herein
he will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ; to whom all po=
wer
and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only the apostate
angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon the
earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of t=
heir
thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have do=
ne
in the body, whether good or evil.
(Acts 17:31; John 5:22, 27; 1 Cor. 6:3; Ju=
de
6; 2 Cor. 5:10; Eccles. 12:14; Matt. 12:36; Rom. 14:10, 12; Matt. 25:32-4=
6)
2. The end of God's appointin=
g this
day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal s=
alvation
of the elect; and of his justice, in the eternal damnation of the reproba=
te,
who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into
everlasting life, and receive that fulness of=
joy
and glory with everlasting rewards, in the presence of the Lord; but the
wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall =
be
cast aside into everlasting torments, and punished with everlasting
destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his pow=
er.
(Rom. 9:22, 23; Matt. 25:21, 34; 2 Tim. 4:=
8;
Matt. 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thess. 1;7-10)
3. As
Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day =
of
judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation=
of
the godly in their adversity, so will he have the day unknown to men, that
they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because t=
hey
know not at what hour the Lord will come, and may ever be prepared to say,
Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Amen.
(2 Cor. 5:10, 11; 2 Thess. 1:5-7; Mark
13:35-37; Luke 12:35-40; Rev. 22:20)
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