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Commissioners from the General Affembly of the church of SCOTLAND.

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Affembly at Edinburgh, August 27th, 1647. Seff. 23. A&t approving the Confeffion 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 Confeffion of faith agreed upon by the affembly of divines fitting at Weftminster, with the affiftance of commiffioners from the kirk of Scotland; Which Confeffion was fent from our commiffioners at London, to the commiffioners of the kirk met at Edinburgh in January laff, and hath been in this affemby twice publickly read over,examined and confidered; copies thereof being alfo printed that it might be particularly perufed by all the members of this aflembly, unto whom frequent intimation was publickly made, to put in their doubts and objections, if they had any: And the faid Confeffion 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 neceffary, and fo much longed for, that the faid, Confeffion be,with all poffible diligence and expedition, approved and eftablished in both kingdoms, as a principal part of the intended uniformity in religion, and as a fpecial means for the more effectual fuppreffing of the many dangerous errors and here lies of thefe 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 moft orthodox,and grounded upon the word ofGod) and alfo,as to the point of uniformity, agreeing for our part, that it be a common Confeflion of Faith for the three kingdoms. The affembly doth alfo blefs the Lord, and thankfully acknowledge his great mercy, in that fo excellent a Confeffion of Faith is prepared, and thus far agreed uponin both kingdoms;which we look upon as a great strengthning of the true reformed religion,against the common enemies ther

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of. But, left our intention and meaning be in fome particulars mifun derflood, it is hereby exprefly declared and provided, that the not mentioning in this Confeffion, the feveral forts of ecclefiaftical officers and affemblies, fhall be no prejudice to the truth of Chrift, in these particulars, to be expreffed fully in the directory of government. It is further declared, that the affembly understandeth fome parts of the fecond article of the thirty one chapter, only of kirks not fettled, or conftituted in point of government: And that altho', in fuch kirks, a fynod of minifters, and other fit perfons, 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 themfelves, and by virtue of their office,meet together fynodically in fuch kirks, not yet conftituted; yet neither of these ought tobe done, in kirks conftituted and fettled it being always free to the magiftrate to advise with fynods of minifters and ruling-elders, meeting upon delegation from their churches, either ordinarly, or, being indicted by his authority, occafionally and pro re nata; it being alfo free to affemble together fynodically, as well pro re nata as at the ordinary times,upon delegation from the churches, by the intrinfical power received from, Chrift,as often as it is neceffary for the good of the church fo to affemble, in cafe the magiftrate, to the detriment of the church, withhold or deny his confent; the neceffity of occafional affemblies being first remonstrate unto him by humble fupplication.

A. KER.

Charles I. Parl. 2. Seff. 2. Act 16.

Act anent the Catechifms, Confeffion of Faith, and ratification thereof.

At Edinburgh, February 7th, 1649.

Tfeffion of the fecond triennial parliament, by vertue of an act HE eftates of parliament now prelently conveened in this fecond of the commitee of eftates, who had power and authority from the laft parliament for conveening the parliament, having feriously confidered the Catechifms, viz. the larger and fhorter ones, with the Con feffion of Faith, with three acts of approbation thereof by the commiffioners of the general affembly, prefented unto them by the commiflioners of the faid general affembly; Do ratify and approve the faid Catechifms, Confeffion 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

Affembly of DIVINES

A T

WESTMINSTER,

With the Affiftance of

COMMISSIONERS

FROM THE

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,

A S

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 Affembly 1647, and ratified and eftablished 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.

The CONTENTS.

1. OF the holy Scripture.

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 thereaf

VII. Of Gods covenant with man.

VIII. Of Chrift the Mediator.

IX. Of Free-will.

X. of Effectual calling.

XI. Of juftification.
XII. Of Adoption.

XIII. Of Sanctification.

XIV. Of Saving faith.

XV. Of Repentance unto life.

XVI. Of good works.

XVII. Of the perfeverance of the faints,

XVIII. Of affurance of grace and falvation,

XIX. Of the law of God.

XX. Of Chriftian liberty, and liberty of Confcience,
XXI. Of religious worship, and the fabbath-day.
XXII. Of lawful oaths and vows.

XXIII. Of the civil magiftrate.

XXIV. Of marriage and divorce,

XXV. Of the church.

XXVI. Of communion of faints,
XXVII. Of the facraments.

XXVIII. Of baptifm.

XXIX. Of the Lord's Supper,

XXX. Of Church-cenfures.

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

છે,

THE

CONFESSION OF FAITH,

Agreed upon by the Affembly of Divines at Weftminster: Examined and approved, Anno 1647, by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND; And ratified by Act of PARLIAMENT 1649.

A

CHAP. I. Of the Holy Scripture,

LTHOUGH the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence, do fo far manifeft the goodnefs, wifdom, 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 neceffary unto falvation b. Therefore it pleafed the Lord, at fundry

1. a Rom. 2. 14. For when the Gentiles which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, thefe having not the law, are a law unto themselves: v. 15. Which thew the work of the law written in their hearts, their confcience alfo bearing witnes,& their thoughts the mean while accufingor elle excufingoneanother. Rom.1.19.Becaufe that which may be known of God, is manifeft in them; For God hath thewed it unto them. 7. 20. For the invifible things of him from the creation of of the world,are clearlyfeen,being underflood by the things that are made,even his eternal power and Godhead; fo that they are without excufe. Pfal. 19. 1. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament Theweth his handy

to

work. v. 2.Day unto day uttereth fpeech,andnightunto night fheweth knowledge, v. 3. There is no fpeech, nor language,where therevoice is not heard. Rom.1.32. Who knowing the judgment of God, (that they which commit fuch things are worthy of death) not only do the fame, but have pleafure in them that do them. With Rom.2.1. Thereforethou artinexcufable, O man, whofoever thou art that judgelt; for wherein thou judgelt another, thou condemneft thy felf; for thouthat judgeft doth the fame things.

bi Cor. 1. 21.For after that, in the wifdom of God, the world by wifdom knew not God, it pleafed God by thefoolishness of preaching to fave them that believe. ¡Cor.2. 13. Which things alfo we fpeak, B 4

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