THE

CONFESSION OF FAΙΤΗ.

Agreed upon by the Affembly of Divines at Westminfler: Examined and approved, Anno 1647, by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND; And ratified by Act of PARLIAMENT 1749.

A

CHAP. I. Of the Holy Scripture.

LTHOUGH the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence, do fo far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable a; yet are they not fufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation b: Therefore it pleased

1. a Rom, ii. 14. For when the Gentiles which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves: v. 15. Which shew the works of the law written in their hearts, their confcience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excufing one another. Rom. i. 19. Because that which may be known of God, is manifested in them; for God hath shewn it unto them. v. 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world, are clearly feen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excufe. Pfal. xix. 1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his bandy-work, v. 2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and B 3

night unto night sheweth knowledge. v. 3. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Rom. i, 32. Who knowing the judgment of God, (that they which commit such things are worthy of death) not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. With Rom. ii. 1. Therefore thou art inexcufable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doft the fame things.

b1 Cor. i. 21. For after that, in thewisdom of God, the world by wifdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Cor. ii. 13. Which things also wespeak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the holy Ghost teacheth,

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pleased the Lord, at fundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto the church c; and afterward, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more fure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the fame wholly unto writing d: which maketh the holy scripture to be most nee cessary e; those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people, being now ceased f.

II. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the word of God writ

comparing spiritual things with fpiritual. v. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually difcerned. c Heb. i. 1. God who at fundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.

ceedeth out of the mouth of God. v. 7. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. v. 10. Then faith Jesus to him, Get thee hence Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Ifa. viii, 19. And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter; should not a people seek un to their God? for the living to the dead! v. 20. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

d Prov. xxii. 19. That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. v. 20. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge; v. 21. That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? Luke i. 3. It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus. v. 4. That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou haft been instructed. Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime, Heb. i. 1. God, who at fundry

were written for our learning; that we thro' patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Matth. iv. 4. But he answered and faid, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that pro

ea Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scripe tures, which areable tomake theewife unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus, 2 Pet. i. 19. We have also a more fure word of pro. phecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that thineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ftar arife in your hearts.

times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, v. 2. Hath in these laft days spoken unto us by his fon whom he bath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world. & Luke written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New

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

III. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of

divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the scripture; and therefore are of no authority in the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings b.

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

* V. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church, to an high and reverend esteem of the holy fcripture k, and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine,

that heareth the words of the prophe. cy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. v. 19. And if any man shall take awayfrom the wordsof thebook ofthis prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 2Tim, iii. 16. All fcripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correcti on, for inftruction, in righteousness. III. b Luke xxiv. 27. And begin. ning at Mofes, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning him. self. v. 44. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Mofes, and in the prophets, and in the Plalms, concerning me. Rom. iii. 2. Much every way: chiefly because unto them were committed the oracles of God, 2 Pet, i. 21. For the prophecy camenot in old time by the will of men, but holy men of God spakeas they were moved by the holy chost.

IV. i 2 Pet. i. 9. We have also a more fure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arife in your hearts. v. 21. Fortheprophecy came not in oldtime by the will of man, but holy men of Godspake as they were moved by the HolyGhost, 2 Tim.iii. 16. All fcripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, I John v. 9. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God, is greater: for this is the witness of God, which he hath teftified of his Son. I Theff. ii. 13. Far this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men,but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

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

II John

trine, the majesty of the stile, the confent 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 falvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the word of God; yet notwithstanding our full perfuafion 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 cur hearts!.

VI. The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necefsary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expresly set down in scripture, or by good and neceffary consequence may be deduced from scripture: unto which nothing at any a time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit or traditions of men m. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the

11 John ii. 20. But ye have an unction from the holy One, and ye know all things. v. 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: But as the fame anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie; and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. John xvi. 13. Howbeit, when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but whatfoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will thew you things to come. v. 14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. I Cor. ii. 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. v. 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, fave the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God know eth no man, but the spirit of God. v. 12. Now we have received, not the fpirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that wemight know the things that are freely given us of

God. Ifa, lix. 21. As for me, this is my covenant with them, faith the Lord, My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy feed, nor out of the mouth of thy feed's feed, faith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.

VI. m 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto falvation, thro' faith which is in Chrift Jesus. v. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Gal. i. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. v. 9. As we faid before, so say I now again; If any man preach any other gospel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 2 Theff. ii. 2. That

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