Assembly at Edinburgh, August 27th, 1647. Seff. 23. Act approving the Confession of Faith. A Confeffion of Faith for the kirks of God, in the three kingdoms, being the chiefeft part of that uniformity in religion, which, by the folemn league and covenant, we are bound to endeavour; and there being accordingly a Confeflion of faith agreed upon by the assembly of divines fitting at Westminster, with the assistance of commissioners from the kirk of Scotland; Which Confeffion was fent from our commiflioners at London, to the commissioners of the kirk met at Edinburgh in January last, and hath been in this assemby twice publickly read over, examined and confidered; copies thereof being also printed that it might be particularly perused by all the members of this aslembly, unto whom frequent intimation was publickly made, to put in their doubts and objections, if they had any: And the faid Confeflion being, upon due examination thereof, found by the affembly to be moft agreeable to the word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received doctrine, worship, difcipline and government of this kirk. And lastly, it being fo necessary, and fo much longed for, that the faid, Confession be, with all possible diligence and expedition, approved and established in both kingdoms, as a principal part of the intended uniformity in religion, and as a special means for the more effectual fuppreffing of the many dangerous errors and herefies of these times. The general affembly doth therefore, after mature deliberation, agree anto and approve the faid Confeffion, as to the truth of the matter (judging it to be most orthodox, and grounded upon the word of God) and also,as to the point of uniformity, agreeing for our part, that it be a common Confeflion of Faith for the three kingdoms. The assembly doth also bless the Lord, and thankfully acknowledge his great mercy, in that so excellent a Confeffion of Faith is prepared, and tifus far agreed uponin both kingdoms, which we look upon as a great strengthning of the true reformed religion, against the common enemies ther : of. But, left our intention and meaning be in some particulars mifun derftood, it is hereby exprefly declared and provided, that the not mentioning in this Confession, the several forts of ecclesiastical officers and afsemblies, shall beno prejudice to the truth of Christ, in these particulars, to be expreffed fully in the directory of government. It is further declared, that the affembly understandeth some parts of the second article of the thirty one chapter, only of kirks not fettled, or conftituted in point of governntent: And that altho', in fuch kirks, a fynod of minifters, and other fit persons, may be called by the magiftrate's authority and nomination, without any other call, to confult and advife with, about matters of religion; and although likewife the minifters of Chrift, without delegation from their churches, may of themselves, and by virtue of their office, meet together synodically in suchkirks, not yet constituted; yet neither of these ought tobe done, in kirks conftituted and settled it being always free to the magiftrate to advise with synods of ministers and ruling-elders, meeting upon delegation from their churches, either ordinarly, or, being indicted by his authority, occafionally and pro re nata; it being also free to assemble together synodically, as well pro re nata as at the ordinary times, upon delegation from the churches, by the intrinfical power received from, Christ, as often as it is necessary for the good of the church to to assemble, in cafe the magiftrate, to the detriment of the church, withhold or deny his consent; the necessity of occafional affemblies being first remonstrate unto him by humble fupplication. A. KER, 1 Charles I. Parl. 2. Seff. 2. Act 16. Actanent the Catechisms, Confession of Faith, and ratification thereof. At Edinburgh, February 7th, 1649. THE eftates of parliament now presently conveened in this fecond feflion of the second triennial parliament, by vertue of an act of the commitee of eftates, who had power and authority from the last parliament for conveening the parliament, having serioufly confidered the Catechisms, viz. the larger and shorter ones, with the Con fession of Faith, with three acts of approbation thereof by the commiffioners of the general assembly, presented unto them by the commiflioners of the faid general assembly; Do ratify and approve the faid Catechisms, Confession of Faith, and Acts of approbation of the fame, produced as it is; and ordains them to be recorded, published and practifed. 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 Act of Parliament 1649, as the public and avowed Confeffion of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND. With the proofs From the Scripture. GLASGOW, Printed by JAMES KNOX 1752 CHAP. I. The CONTENTS. F the holy Scripture. OF II. Of God, and of the holy Trinity. III. Of Gods eternal decree. IV. Of Creation. V. Of Providence. VI. Of the fall of man, of fin, 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. XV. Of Repentance unto life. XVI. Of good works. XVII. Of the perseverance of the faints, XVIII. Of affurance of grace and falvation, XIX. Of the law of God. XX. Of Christian liberty, and liberty of Conscience, XXII. Of lawful oaths and voως. XXIII. Of the civil magistrate. XXIV. Of marriage and divorce, XXVI. Of communion of faints, XXVII. Of the facraments. XXVIII. Of baptifm. 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 resurrection of the dead. XXXIII. Of the last judgment. THE THE 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 At of PARLIAMENT 1649. A CHAP. I. Of the Holy Scripture, LTHOUGH 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 inexcufable a; yet are they not fufficient give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation b. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at 1. a Rom. 2. 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: 2. 15. Which thew the work of the law written in their hearts, their confcience alfo bearing witneis, & their thoughts the mean while accufingor elfe excufingoneanother. Rom.1.19. Because that whichmay be known of God, is manifeft in them; For God hath thewed it unto them. v. 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of of the world, are clearlyseen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excufe. Pfal. 19.1. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament Theweth his handy to fundry work. ". 2. Day unto day uttereth fpeech,andnightunto night theweth knowledge, v. 3. There is no speech, nor language, where therevoice is not heard. Rom.1.32. Who knowing the judgment of God, (that they which commit such things are worthy of death) not only do the fame, but have pleasure in them that do them. With Rom.2.1. Thereforethou artinexcufable, O man, whofoever thou art that judgelt; for wherein thou judgelt another, thou condemnest thy felf; for thouthat judgest doth the fame things. b. Cor. 1. 21. For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by thefoolishnessof preaching to save them that believe. Cor.2. 13. Which things alfo we speak, B 4 not |