CONFESSION OF FAITH, Agreed upon by the Affembly of Divines at Westminster: Examined and Approved Anno 1647, by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND; and Ratified by ACT of PARLIAMENT 1690.

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CHA P. I.

Of the Holy Scripture.

LTHOUGH the Light of Nature,and the Works of Creation and Providence do fo far manifeft the Goodness, Wisdom, and Power of God, as to leave Men unexcufable; yet

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I. Rom. 2. 14. For when the excufe. Pfal. 19. 1. The heavens Gentiles which have not the law, declare the glory of God, and the do by nature the things contained firmament fheweth his handy-work. in the law, these having not the v. 2. Day unto day uttereth speech, law, are a law unto themselves; and night unto night sheweth knowv. 15. Which fhew the work of the ledge. v. 3. There is no fpeech, nor law written in their hearts, their language, where their voice is not confcience alfo bearing witness, and heard. Rom. 1. 32. Who knowing their thoughts the mean while accu- the judgment of God, (that they fing, or else excufing one another, which commit fuch things are worRom. 1. 19. Because that which thy of death) not only do the fame, may be known of God, is manifest but have pleasure in them that do in them; for God hath fhewed it un- them. With Rom, 2. 1. Therefore to them. v. 20. For the invisible thou art inexcufable, O man, whothings of him from the creation foever thou art that judgeft; for of the world, are clearly feen, being wherein thou judgeft another, thou understood by the things that are condemneft thy felf; for thou that made, even his eternal power and judgeft doft the fame things. Godhead; fo that they are without

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b I Cor.

are they not fufficient to give that Knowledge of God and of his Will, which is neceffary unto Salvation. Therefore it pleafed the Lord, at fundry times,and in divers manners,to reveal himself,and to declare that his Will unto his Church ; and afterwards for the better Preferving and Propagating of the Truth, and for the more fure Eftablifhment and Comfort of the Church against the Corruption of the Flesh, and the Malice ofSatan and of the World, to commit the fame wholly unto Writing: which maketh the Holy Scripture to be moft neceffa

ry; b I Cor. 1. 21. For after that, in things from the very firft, to write the wisdom of God, the world by unto thee in order, most excellent wisdom knew not God, it pleafed Theophilus, v. 4. That thou mightst God by the foolishness of preaching know the certainty of those things, to fave them that believe. 1 Cor. 2. wherein thou hast been instructed. 13. Which things alfo we fpeak, Rom. 15.4. For whatsoever things not in the words which mans wif- were written aforetime, were writdom teacheth, but which the holy ten for our learning; that we through Ghost teacheth, comparing fpiri- patience and comfort of the fcritual things with spiritual. v. 14. ptures might have hope. Matth. 4. But the natural man receiveth not 4. But he answered and faid, the things of the Spirit of God; It is written, Man fhall not live by for they are foolishness unto him; bread alone, but by every word neither can he know them, be- that proceedeth out of the mouth of cause they are fpiritually difcerned. God. v. 7. Jefus faid unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. v. 10. Then faith Jefus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Ifa. 8. 19. And when they fhall fay unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar fpirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter, fhould not a people feek unto their God? for the living to the dead? v. 20. To the law and to the teftimony: if they fpeak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them,

Heb. 1. 1. God who at fundry times, and in divers manners fpake in time paft unto the fathers by the prophets.

d Frov. 22. 19. That thy truft 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 counfels and knowledge; v. 21. That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightft anfwer the words of truth to them that fend unto thee? Luke 1. 3. It feemed good to me alfo, having had perfect understanding of all

ry; thofe former ways of God's revealing his Will unto his People, being now ceased £.

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

Of the NEW TESTAMENT.

The Gospels according to CORINTHIANS II. To PHILEMON.

MATTHEW.

MARK.

LUKE.

JOHN.

GALATIANS,

EPHESIANS.

PHILIPPIANS.

COLOSSIANS.

The Epiftle to the HE

BREWS.

The Epiftle of JAMES,
The first and fecond Epiftles

of PETER.
The first, fecond, and third
Epiftles of Jo H N.
The Epiftle of JUDE.
The REVELATION.

All

and the day-ftar arife in your hearts.

f Heb. I. I. God who at fundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time paft unto the fathers by the prophets, v. z. Hath in these laft days fpoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom alfo he made the worlds.

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All which are given by Inspiration of God, to be the Rule of Faith and Life %.

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 otherwife approved, or made use of, than other human Writings h.

IV. The Authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the Teftimony of any Man,or Church; but wholly upon God (who is Truth it felf) the Author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God i.

nefs.

V. We

8 Luke 16. 29. Abraham faith &tion, for inftruction in righteousunto him, They have Mofes and the prophets, let them hear them. v.31. And he faid unto him, If they hear not Mofes and the prophets, neither will they be perfwaded, though one rofe from the dead. Eph. 2. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the chief corner-ftone. Rev. 22. 18. For I teftify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man fhall add unto these things, God fhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. v. 19. And if any man fhall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God fhall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 2 Tim. 3. 16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for corre

III. h Luk. 24.27. And beginning at Mofes, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the fcriptures, the things concerning himself. v. 44. And he faid unto them, Thefe are the words which I fpake 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 pfalms concerning me. Rom. 3.2. Much every way: chiefly becaufe unto them were committed the oracles of God. 2 Pet. 1. 21, For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the holy Ghoft.

IV. i 2 Pet. 1. 19. We have also a more fure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that fhineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ftar arise in your hearts.

V. We may be moved and induced by the Tcftimony of the Church, to an high and reverent Esteem of the Holy Scripture. And the Heavenlinefs of the Matter, the Efficacy of the Doctrine, the Majefty 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 Salvation, the many other incomparable Excellencies, and the intire Perfection thereof, are Arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence it felf to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding our full Perfwafion and Affurance 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'.

v. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the holy Ghoft. 2 Tim. 3. 16. All fcripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteousness. 1 John 5. 9. If we receive the witnefs of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God, which he hath teftified of his Son. 1 Thef. 2. 13. For this caufe also thank we God without ceafing, because when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

V. 1 Tim.3.15. But if I tarry long, that thou mayft know how thou oughteft to behave thy felf in the houfe of God, which is the church

VI. The

of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

1 1 John 2. 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 16. 13. Howbeit, when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himfelf, but whatsoever he shall hear, that fhall he speak; and he will fhew you things to come, v. 14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and fhall fhew it unto you. I Cor. 2. 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit fearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. v. 11. For what man knoweth the things of a