A Catechism of The Grace Watcher Church
International Ministries
Chapter I.
Of the Holy Scripture.
I. 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
unexcusable;(a) yet are they not sufficient to give
that knowledge of God and of His will, which is
necessary unto salvation.(b) Therefore it pleased
the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to
reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto
His Church;(c) and afterwards, 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:(d) which maketh the Holy Scripture to
be most necessary;(e) those former ways of God’s
revealing His will unto His people being now
ceased.(f)
(a) Rom.
2:14, 15;
Rom.
1:19, 20;
Ps.
19:1, 2,
3;
Rom.
1:32, with chap. 2:1.
(b) I
Cor. 1:21; I
Cor. 2:13, 14.
(c) Heb.
1:1.
(d) Prov.
22:19, 20,
21;
Luke
1:3, 4;
Rom.
15:4; Matt.
4:4, 7,
10;
Isa.
8:19, 20.
(e) II Tim. 3:15; II Pet. 1:19.
(f) Heb.
1:1, 2.
II. Under the name of Holy
Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now
contained all the books of the Old and New
Testament, which are these:
Of the Old Testament:
Genesis
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 Songs
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Of the New Testament:
The Gospels according to
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
The Acts of the Apostles
Paul’s Epistles
To the Romans
Corinthians I.
Corinthians II.
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
Thessalonians I.
Thessalonians II.
To Timothy I.
To Timothy II.
To Titus
To Philemon
The Epistle to the Hebrews
The Epistle of James
The first and second Epistles of Peter
The first, second, and third Epistles of John
The Epistle of Jude
The Revelation of John
All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the
rule of faith and life.(g)
(g) Luke
16:29, 31;
Eph.
2:20; Rev.
22:18, 19;
II Tim. 3:16.
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.(h)
(h) Luke
24:27, 44;
Rom.
3:2; II Pet. 1:21.
IV. The authority of the
Holy Scripture, 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)
(i) II Pet. 1:19, 21; II Tim. 3:16; I
John 5:9; I
Thess. 2:13.
V. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of
the Church to a high and reverent esteem of the Holy
Scripture.(k) And the heavenliness of the matter,
the efficacy of the doctrine, 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, 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
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.(l)
(k) I
Tim. 3:15.
(l) I
John 2:20, 27;
John
16:13, 14;
I
Cor. 2:10, 11,
12;
Isa.
59:21.
VI. The whole counsel of
God concerning all things necessary for His own
glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either
expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and
necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture:
unto which nothing at any time is to be added,
whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or
traditions of men.(m) Nevertheless we acknowledge
the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be
necessary for the saving understanding of such
things as are revealed in the Word:(n) and that
there are some circumstances concerning the worship
of God, and government of the Church, common to
human actions and societies, which are to be ordered
by the light of nature and Christian prudence,
according to the general rules of the Word, which
are always to be observed.(o)
(m) II Tim. 3:15, 16, 17;
Gal.
1:8, 9;
II Thess. 2:2.
(n) John
6:45, I
Cor. 2:9 to 12.
(o) I
Cor. 11:13, 14;
I
Cor. 14:26, 40.
VII. All things in
Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor
alike clear unto all:(p) yet those things which are
necessary to be known, believed, and observed for
salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in
some place of Scripture or other, that not only the
learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the
ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient
understanding of them.(q)
(p) II Pet. 3:16.
(q) Psalm
119:105, 130.
VIII. 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
generally known to the nations), being immediately
inspired by God, and, by His singular care and
providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore
authentical;(r) so as, in all controversies of
religion, the Church is finally to appeal unto
them.(s) But, because these original tongues are not
known to all the people of God, who have right unto,
and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded,
in the fear of God, to read and search them,(t)
therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar
language of every nation unto which they come,(u)
that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all,
they may worship Him in an acceptable manner;(w)
and, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures,
may have hope.(x)
(r) Matt.
5:18.
(s) Isa.
8:20; Acts
15:15; John
5:39, 46.
(t) John
5:39.
(u) I
Cor. 14:6, 9,
11,
12,
24,
27,
28.
(w) Col.
3:16.
(x) Rom.
15:4.
IX. The infallible rule of
interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself:
and therefore, when there is a question about the
true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not
manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by
other places that speak more clearly.(y)
(y) II Pet. 1:20, 21; Acts
15:15, 16.
X. The supreme judge by which all controversies of
religion are to be determined, and all decrees of
councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of
men, and private spirits, are to be examined; and in
whose sentence we are to rest; can be no other but
the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.(z)
(z) Matt.
22:29, 31;
Eph.
2:20 with Acts
28:25.
Chapter II.
Of God, and of the Holy Trinity.
I. There is but one only,(a) living, and true
God:(b) who is infinite in being and perfection,(c)
a most pure spirit,(d) invisible,(e) without body,
parts,(f) or passions,(g) immutable,(h) immense,(i)
eternal,(k) incomprehensible,(l) almighty,(m) most
wise,(n) most holy,(o) most free,(p) most
absolute,(q) working all things according to the
counsel of His own immutable and most righteous
will,(r) for His own glory;(s) most loving,(t)
gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in
goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity,
transgression, and sin;(u) the rewarder of them that
diligently seek Him;(w) and withal, most just and
terrible in His judgments,(x) hating all sin,(y) and
who will by no means clear the guilty.(z)
(a) Deut.
6:4; I
Cor. 8:4, 6.
(b) I
Thess. 1:9; Jer.
10:10.
(c) Job
11:7, 8,
9;
Job
26:14.
(d) John
4:24.
(e) I
Tim. 1:17.
(f) Deut.
4:15, 16;
John
4:24, with Luke
24:39.
(g) Acts
14:11, 15.
(h) James
1:17; Mal.
3:6.
(i) I
Kings 8:27; Jer.
23:23, 24.
(k) Ps.
90:2; I
Tim. 1:17.
(l) Ps.
145:3.
(m) Gen.
17:1; Rev.
4:8.
(n) Rom.
16:27.
(o) Isa.
6:3; Rev.
4:8.
(p) Ps.
115:3.
(q) Exod.
3:14.
(r) Eph.
1:11.
(s) Prov.
16:4; Rom.
11:36.
(t) I
John 4:8, 16.
(u) Exod.
34:6, 7.
(w) Heb.
11:6.
(x) Neh.
9:32, 33.
(y) Ps.
5:5, 6.
(z) Nah.
1:2, 3;
Exod.
34:7.
II. God hath all life,(a)
glory,(b) goodness,(c) blessedness,(d) in and of
Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself
all-sufficient, not standing in need of any
creatures which He hath made,(e) nor deriving any
glory from them,(f) but only manifesting His own
glory in, by, unto, and upon them: He is the alone
fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to
whom are all things;(g) and hath most sovereign
dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon
them whatsoever Himself pleaseth.(h) In His sight
all things are open and manifest;(i) His knowledge
is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the
creature,(k) so as nothing is to Him contingent, or
uncertain.(l) He is most holy in all His counsels,
in all His works, and in all His commands.(m) To Him
is due from angels and men, and every other
creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience
He is pleased to require of them.(n)
(a) John
5:26.
(b) Acts
7:2.
(c) Ps.
119:68.
(d) I
Tim. 6:15; Rom.
9:5.
(e) Acts
17:24, 25.
(f) Job
22:2, 3.
(g) Rom
11:36.
(h) Rev.
4:11; I
Tim. 6:15; Dan.
4:25, 35.
(i) Heb.
4:13.
(k) Rom.
11:33, 34;
Ps.
147:5.
(l) Acts
15:18; Ezek.
11:5.
(m) Ps.
145:17; Rom.
7:12.
(n) Rev.
5:12, 13,
14.
III. In the unity of the
Godhead there be three persons, of one substance,
power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Ghost.(o) The Father is of none,
neither begotten, nor proceeding: the Son is
eternally begotten of the Father:(p) the Holy Ghost
eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.(q)
(o) I
John 5:7; Matt.
3:16, 17;
Matt.
28:19; II Cor.
13:14.
(p) John
1:14, 18.
(q) John
15:26; Gal.
4:6.
Chapter III.
Of God’s Eternal Decree.
I. God from all eternity did, by the most wise and
holy counsel of His own will, freely, and
unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass:(a) yet
so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin,(b)
nor is violence offered to the will of the
creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of
second causes taken away, but rather established.(c)
(a) Eph.
1:11; Rom.
11:33; Heb.
6:17; Rom.
9:15, 18.
(b) Jam.
1:13, 17;
I
John 1:5.
(c) Acts
2:23; Matt.
17:12; Acts
4:27, 28;
John
19:11; Prov.
16:33.
II. Although God knows
whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed
conditions,(d) yet hath He not decreed anything
because He foresaw it as future, or as that which
would come to pass upon such conditions.(e)
(d) Acts
15:18; I
Sam. 23:11, 12;
Matt.
11:21, 23.
(e) Rom.
9:11, 13,
16,
18.
III. By the decree of God,
for the manifestation of His glory, some men and
angels(f) are predestinated unto everlasting life,
and others fore-ordained to everlasting death.(g)
(f) I
Tim. 5:21; Matt.
25:41.
(g) Rom.
9:22, 23;
Eph.
1:5, 6;
Prov.
16:4.
IV. These angels and men,
thus predestinated, and fore-ordained, are
particularly and unchangeably designed, and their
number so certain and definite, that it cannot be
either increased or diminished.(h)
(h) II Tim. 2:19; John
13:18.
V. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto
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,(i) out of His mere free grace and love,
without any foresight of faith or good works, or
perseverance in either of them, or any other thing
in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him
thereunto:(k) and all to the praise of His glorious
grace.(l)
(i) Eph.
1:4, 9,
11;
Rom.
8:30; II Tim. 1:9;
I
Thess. 5:9.
(k) Rom.
9:11, 13,
16;
Eph.
1:4, 9.
(l) Eph.
1:6, 12.
VI. As God hath appointed
the elect unto glory, so hath He, by the eternal and
most free purpose of His will, fore-ordained all the
means thereunto.(m) Wherefore they who are elected,
being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ,(n) are
effectually called unto faith in Christ by His
Spirit working in due season, are justified,
adopted, sanctified,(o) and kept by His power
through faith, unto salvation.(p) Neither are any
other redeemed by Christ, effectually called,
justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the
elect only.(q)
(m) I
Pet. 1:2; Eph.
1:4, 5;
Eph.
2:10; II Thess.
2:13.
(n) I
Thess. 5:9, 10;
Titus
2:14.
(o) Rom.
8:30; Eph.
1:5; II Thess.
2:13.
(p) I
Pet. 1:5.
(q) John
17:9; Rom.
8:28 to the end; John
6:64, 65;
John
10:26; John
8:47; I
John 2:19.
VII. The rest of mankind
God was pleased, according to the unsearchable
counsel of His own will, whereby He extendeth or
withholdeth mercy, as He pleaseth, for the glory of
His sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by;
and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath, for their
sin, to the praise of His glorious justice.(r)
(r) Matt.
11:25, 26;
Rom.
9:17, 18,
21,
22;
II Tim. 2:19, 20; Jude
ver. 4; I
Pet. 2:8.
VIII. The doctrine of this
high mystery of predestination is to be handled with
special prudence and care,(s) that men attending the
will of God revealed in His Word, and yielding
obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of
their effectual vocation, be assured of their
eternal election.(t) So shall this doctrine afford
matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of
God,(u) and of humility, diligence, and abundant
consolation to all that sincerely obey the
Gospel.(w)
(s) Rom.
9:20; Rom.
11:33; Deut.
29:29.
(t) II Pet. 1:10.
(u) Eph.
1:6; Rom.
11:33.
(w) Rom.
11:5, 6,
20;
II Pet. 1:10; Rom.
8:33; Luke
10:20.
Chapter IV.
Of Creation.
I. It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost,(a) for the manifestation of the glory of His
eternal power, wisdom, and goodness,(b) in the
beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world,
and all things therein whether visible or invisible,
in the space of six days; and all very good.(c)
(a) Heb.
1:2; John
1:2, 3;
Gen.
1:2; Job.
26:13; Job.
33:4.
(b) Rom.
1:20; Jer.
10:12; Ps.
104:24; Ps.
33:5, 6.
(c) Gen.
1 chap.; Heb.
11:3; Col.
1:16; Acts
17:24.
II. After God had made all
other creatures, He created man, male and female,(d)
with reasonable and immortal souls,(e) endued with
knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after
His own image;(f) having the law of God written in
their hearts,(g) and power to fulfil it:(h) and yet
under a possibility of transgressing, being left to
the liberty of their own will, which was subject
unto change.(i) Beside this law written in their
hearts, they received a command, not to eat of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which while
they kept, they were happy in their communion with
God,(k) and had dominion over the creatures.(l)
(d) Gen.
1:27.
(e) Gen.
2:7 with Eccles.
12:7 & Luke
23:43 and Matt.
10:28.
(f) Gen.
1:26; Col.
3:10; Eph.
4:24.
(g) Rom.
2:14, 15.
(h) Eccles.
7:29.
(i) Gen.
3:6; Eccles.
7:29.
(k) Gen.
2:17; Gen.
3:8, 9,
10,
11,
23.
(l) Gen.
1:26, 28.
Chapter V.
Of Providence.
I. God the great Creator of all things doth
uphold,(a) direct, dispose, and govern all
creatures, actions, and things,(b) from the greatest
even to the least,(c) by His most wise and holy
providence,(d) according to His infallible
fore-knowledge,(e) and the free and immutable
counsel of His own will,(f) to the praise of the
glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and
mercy.(g)
(a) Heb.
1:3.
(b) Dan.
4:34, 35;
Ps.
135:6; Acts
17:25, 26,
28;
Job 38 to 41 chapters.
(c) Matt.
10:29, 30,
31.
(d) Prov.
15:3; Ps.
104:24; Ps.
145:17.
(e) Acts
15:18; Ps.
94:8, 9,
10,
11.
(f) Eph.
1:11; Ps.
33:10, 11.
(g) Isa.
63:14; Eph.
3:10; Rom.
9:17; Gen.
45:7; Ps.
145:7.
II. Although, in relation
to the fore-knowledge and decree of God, the first
Cause, all things come to pass immutably, and
infallibly:(h) yet, by the same providence, He
ordereth them to fall out, according to the nature
of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or
contingently.(i)
(h) Acts
2:23.
(i) Gen.
8:22; Jer.
31:35; Exod.
21:13 with Deut.
19:5; I
Kings 22:28, 34;
Isa.
10:6, 7.
III. God in His ordinary
providence maketh use of means,(k) yet is free to
work without,(l) above,(m) and against them at His
pleasure.(n)
(k) Acts
27:31, 44;
Isa.
55:10, 11;
Hos.
2:21, 22.
(l) Hos.
1:7; Matt.
4:4; Job
34:20.
(m) Rom.
4:19, 20,
21.
(n) II Kings 6:6; Dan.
3:27.
IV. The almighty power,
unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so
far manifest themselves in His providence, that it
extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all
other sins of angels and men;(o) and that not by a
bare permission,(p) but such as hath joined with it
a most wise and powerful bounding,(q) and otherwise
ordering and governing of them, in a manifold
dispensation, to His own holy ends;(r) yet so, as
the sinfulness thereof proceedeth only from the
creature, and not from God, who, being most holy and
righteous, neither is, nor can be, the author or
approver of sin.(s)
(o) Rom.
11:32, 33,
34;
II Sam. 24:1 with I
Chron. 21:1; I
Kings 22:22, 23;
I
Chron. 10:4, 13,
14;
II Sam. 16:10; Acts
2:23; Acts
4:27, 28.
(p) Acts
14:16.
(q) Ps.
76:10; II Kings
19:28.
(r) Gen.
50:20; Isa.
10:6, 7,
12.
(s) James
1:13, 14,
17;
I
John 2:16; Ps.
50:21.
V. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth
oftentimes leave for a season His own children to
manifold temptations, and the corruption of their
own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins,
or to discover unto them the hidden strength of
corruption, and deceitfulness of their hearts, that
they may be humbled;(t) and, to raise them to a more
close and constant dependence for their support upon
Himself, and to make them more watchful against all
future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just
and holy ends.(u)
(t) II Chron. 32:25, 26,
31; II Sam. 24:1.
(u) II Cor. 12:7, 8, 9; Ps.
73 throughout; Ps.
77:1 to 12; Mark
14:66 to the end, with John
21:15, 16,
17.
VI. As for those wicked
and ungodly men whom God, as a righteous Judge, for
former sins, doth blind and harden,(w) from them He
not only withholdeth His grace, whereby they might
have been enlightened in their understandings, and
wrought upon in their hearts;(x) but sometimes also
withdraweth the gifts which they had,(y) and
exposeth them to such objects as their corruption
makes occasions of sin;(z) and, withal, gives them
over to their own lusts, the temptations of the
world, and the power of Satan:(a) whereby it comes
to pass that they harden themselves, even under
those means which God useth for the softening of
others.(b)
(w) Rom.
1:24, 26,
28;
Rom.
11:7, 8.
(x) Deut.
29:4.
(y) Matt.
13:12; Matt.
25:29.
(z) Deut.
2:30; II Kings
8:12, 13.
(a) Ps.
81:11, 12;
II Thess. 2:10, 11, 12.
(b) Exod.
7:3 with Exod.
8:15, 32;
II Cor. 2:15, 16; Isa.
8:14; I
Pet. 2:7, 8;
Isa.
6:9, 10
with Acts
28:26, 27.
VII. As the providence of
God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after
a most special manner, it taketh care of His Church,
and disposeth all things to the good thereof.(c)
(c) I
Tim. 4:10; Amos
9:8, 9;
Rom.
8:28; Isa.
43:3, 4,
5,
14.
Chapter VI.
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment
thereof.
I. Our first parents, being seduced by the subtilty
and temptation of Satan, sinned, in eating the
forbidden fruit.(a) This their sin God was pleased,
according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit,
having purposed to order it to His own glory.(b)
(a) Gen.
3:13; II Cor. 11:3.
(b) Rom.
11:32.
II. By this sin they fell
from their original righteousness and communion,
with God,(c) and so became dead in sin,(d) and
wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of
soul and body.(e)
(c) Gen.
3:6, 7,
8;
Eccles.
7:29; Rom.
3:23.
(d) Gen.
2:17; Eph.
2:1.
(e) Tit.
1:15; Gen.
6:5; Jer.
17:9; Rom.
3:10 to 19.
III. They being the root
of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was
imputed,(f) and the same death in sin and corrupted
nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending
from them by ordinary generation.(g)
(f) Gen.
1:27, 28
& Gen.
2:16, 17
and Acts
17:26 with Rom.
5:12, 15,
16,
17,
18,
19
and I
Cor. 15:21, 22,
49.
(g) Ps.
51:5; Gen.
5:3; Job
14:4, Job
15:14.
IV. From this original
corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed,
disabled, and made opposite to all good,(h) and
wholly inclined to all evil,(i) do proceed all
actual transgressions.(k)
(h) Rom.
5:6; Rom.
8:7, Rom.
7:18; Col.
1:21.
(i) Gen.
6:5; Gen.
8:21; Rom.
3:10, 11,
12.
(k) James
1:14, 15;
Eph.
2:2, 3;
Matt.
15:19.
V. This corruption of nature, during this life, doth
remain in those that are regenerated;(l) and
although it be, through Christ, pardoned and
mortified, yet both itself and all the motions
thereof are truly and properly sin.(m)
(l) I
John 1:8, 10;
Rom.
7:14, 17,
18,
23;
James
3:2; Prov.
20:9; Eccles.
7:20.
(m) Rom.
7:5, 7,
8,
25;
Gal.
5:17.
VI. Every sin, both
original and actual, being a transgression of the
righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto,(n)
doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the
sinner;(o) whereby he is bound over to the wrath of
God,(p) and curse of the law,(q) and so made subject
to death,(r) with all miseries spiritual,(s)
temporal,(t) and eternal.(u)
(n) I
John 3:4.
(o) Rom.
2:15; Rom.
3:9, 19.
(p) Ephes.
2:3.
(q) Gal.
3:10.
(r) Rom.
6:23.
(s) Ephes.
4:18.
(t) Rom.
8:20; Lam.
3:39.
(u) Matt.
25:41, II Thess.
1:9.
Chapter VII.
Of God’s Covenant with Man.
I. The distance between God and the creature is go
great, that although reasonable creatures do owe
obedience unto Him as their Creator, yet they could
never have any fruition of Him as their blessedness
and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on
God’s part, which He hath been pleased to express by
way of covenant.(a)
(a) Isa.
40:13, 14,
15,
16,
17;
Job.
9:32, 33;
I
Sam. 2:25; Ps.
113:5, 6;
Ps.
100:2, 3;
Job.
22:2, 3;
Job
35:7, 8;
Luke
17:10; Acts
17:24, 25.
II. The first covenant
made with man was a covenant of works,(b) wherein
life was promised to Adam, and in him to his
posterity,(c) upon condition of perfect and personal
obedience.(d)
(b) Gal.
3:12.
(c) Rom.
10:5, Rom.
5:12 to 20.
(d) Gen.
2:17; Gal.
3:10.
III. Man by his fall
having made himself incapable of life by that
covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second,(e)
commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein He
freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by
Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in Him, that
they may be saved,(f) and promising to give unto all
those that are ordained unto life His Holy Spirit,
to make them willing and able to believe.(g)
(e) Gal.
3:21; Rom.
8:3; Rom.
3:20, 21;
Gen.
3:15; Isa.
42:6.
(f) Mark
16:15, 16;
John
3:16; Rom.
10:6, 9;
Gal.
3:11.
(g) Ezek.
36:26, 27;
John
6:44, 45.
IV. This covenant of grace
is frequently set forth in Scripture by the name of
a Testament, in reference to the death of Jesus
Christ the Testator, and to the everlasting
inheritance, with all things belonging to it,
therein bequeathed.(h)
(h) Heb.
9:15, 16,
17;
Heb.
7:22; Luke
22:20; I
Cor. 11:25.
V. This covenant was differently administered in the
time of the law, and in the time of the gospel:(i)
under the law, it was administered by promises,
prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal
lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to
the people of the Jews, all fore-signifying Christ
to come:(k) which were, for that time, sufficient
and efficacious, through the operation of the
Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith
in the promised Messiah,(l) by whom they had full
remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is
called, the Old Testament.(m)
(i) II Cor. 3:6, 7, 8, 9.
(k) Heb.
8, 9,
10
chapters; Rom.
4:11; Col.
2:11, 12;
I
Cor. 5:7.
(l) I
Cor. 10:1, 2,
3,
4;
Heb.
11:13; John
8:56.
(m) Gal.
3:7, 8,
9,
14.
VI. Under the gospel, when
Christ, the substance,(n) was exhibited, the
ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are
the preaching of the Word, and the administration of
the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper:(o)
which, though fewer in number, and administered with
more simplicity, and less outward glory; yet, in
them, it is held forth in more fulness, evidence,
and spiritual efficacy,(p) to all nations, both Jews
and Gentiles;(q) and is called the New Testament.(r)
There are not therefore two covenants of grace,
differing in substance, but one and the same, under
various dispensations.(s)
(n) Col.
2:17.
(o) Matt.
28:19, 20;
I
Cor. 11:23, 24,
25.
(p) Heb.
12:22 to 28; Jer.
31:33, 34.
(q) Matt.
28:19; Eph.
2:15, 16,
17,
18,
19.
(r) Luke
22:20.
(s) Gal.
3:14, 16;
Rom
3:21, 22,
23,
30;
Ps.
32:1 with Rom.
4:3, 6,
16,
17,
23,
24;
Heb.
13:8; Acts
15:11.
Chapter VIII.
Of Christ the Mediator.
I. It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose
and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, to
be the Mediator between God and man;(a) the
Prophet,(b) Priest,(c) and King,(d) the Head and
Saviour of His Church,(e) the Heir of all things,(f)
and Judge of the world:(g) unto whom He did from all
eternity give a people, to be His seed,(h) and to be
by Him in time redeemed, called, justified,
sanctified, and glorified.(i)
(a) Isa.
42:1; I
Pet. 19, 20;
John
3:16; I
Tim. 2:5.
(b) Acts
3:22.
(c) Heb.
5:5, 6.
(d) Ps.
2:6; Luke
1:33.
(e) Eph.
5:23.
(f) Heb.
1:2.
(g) Acts
17:31.
(h) John
17:6; Ps.
22:30, Isa.
53:10.
(i) I
Tim. 2:6; Isa.
55:4, 5;
I
Cor. 1:30.
II. The Son of God, the
second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal
God, of one substance and equal with the Father,
did, when the fulness of time was come, take upon
Him man’s nature,(k) with all the essential
properties and common infirmities thereof, yet
without sin:(l) being conceived by the power of the
Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her
substance.(m) So that two whole, perfect, and
distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were
inseparably joined together in one person, without
conversion, composition, or confusion.(n) Which
person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ,
the only Mediator between God and man.(o)
(k) John
1:1, 14;
I
John 5:20; Phil.
2:6; Gal.
4:4.
(l) Heb.
2:14, 16,
17;
Heb.
4:15.
(m) Luke
1:27, 31,
35;
Gal.
4:4.
(n) Luke
1:35; Col.
2:9; Rom.
9:5; I
Pet. 3:18; I
Tim. 3:16.
(o) Rom.
1:3, 4;
I
Tim. 2:5.
III. The Lord Jesus, in
His human nature thus united to the divine, was
sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above
measure,(p) having in Him all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge;(q) in whom it pleased the
Father that all fulness should dwell;(r) to the end
that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of
grace and truth,(s) He might be thoroughly furnished
to execute the office of a mediator and surety.(t)
Which office He took not unto Himself, but was
thereunto called by His Father,(u) who put all power
and judgment into His hand, and gave Him commandment
to execute the same.(w)
(p) Ps.
45:7; John
3:34.
(q) Col.
2:3.
(r) Col.
1:19.
(s) Heb.
7:26; John
1:14.
(t) Acts
10:38; Heb.
12:24; Heb.
7:22.
(u) Heb.
5:4, 5.
(w) John
5:22, 27;
Matt.
28:18; Acts
2:36.
IV. This office the Lord
Jesus did most willingly undertake;(x) which that He
might discharge, He was made under the law,(y) and
did perfectly fulfil it,(z) endured most grievous
torments immediately in His soul,(a) and most
painful sufferings in His body;(b) was crucified,
and died;(c) was buried, and remained under the
power of death; yet saw no corruption.(d) On the
third day He arose from the dead,(e) with the same
body in which He suffered,(f) with which also he
ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right
hand of His Father,(g) making intercession,(h) and
shall return to judge men and angels at the end of
the world.(i)
(x) Ps.
40:7, 8
with Heb.
10:5 to 10; John
10:18; Phil.
2:8.
(y) Gal.
4:4.
(z) Matt.
3:15; Matt.
5:17.
(a) Matt.
26:37, 38;
Luke
22:44; Matt.
27:46.
(b) Matt.
26, 27
chapters.
(c) Phil.
2:8.
(d) Acts.
2:23, 24,
27;
Acts
13:37; Rom.
6:9.
(e) I
Cor. 15:3, 4.
(f) John
20:25, 27.
(g) Mark
16:19.
(h) Rom.
8:34; Heb.
9:24; Heb.
7:25.
(i) Rom.
14:9, 10;
Acts
1:11; Acts
10:42; Matt.
13:40, 41,
42;
Jude ver. 6; II Pet. 2:4.
V. The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience, and
sacrifice of Himself, which He, through the eternal
Spirit, once offered up unto God, hath fully
satisfied the justice of His Father;(k) and
purchased, not only reconciliation, but an
everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven,
for all those whom the Father hath given unto
Him.(l)
(k) Rom.
5:19; Heb.
9:14, 16;
Heb.
10:14; Eph.
5:2; Rom.
3:25, 26.
(l) Dan.
9:24, 26;
Col.
1:19, 20;
Eph.
1:11, 14;
John
17:2; Heb.
9:12, 15.
VI. Although the work of
redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till
after His incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and
benefits thereof were communicated unto 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 of the woman which should bruise the
serpent’s head; and the Lamb slain from the
beginning of the world: being yesterday and to-day
the same, and forever.(m)
(m) Gal.
4:4, 5;
Gen.
3:15; Rev.
13:8; Heb.
13:8.
VII. Christ, in the work
of mediation, acteth according to both natures, by
each nature doing that which is proper to itself:(n)
yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that
which is proper to one nature, is sometimes in
Scripture attributed to the person denominated by
the other nature.(o)
(n) Heb.
9:14; I
Pet. 3:18.
(o) Acts
20:28; John
3:13; I
John 3:16.
VIII. To all those for
whom Christ hath purchased redemption, He doth
certainly and effectually apply and communicate the
same,(p) making intercession for them,(q) and
revealing unto them, in and by the Word, the
mysteries of salvation,(r) effectually persuading
them by His Spirit to believe and obey, and
governing their hearts by His Word and Spirit;(s)
overcoming all their enemies by His almighty power
and wisdom, in such manner, and ways, as are most
consonant to His wonderful and unsearchable
dispensation.(t)
(p) John
6:37, 39;
John
10:15, 16.
(q) I
John 2:1, 2;
Rom.
8:34.
(r) John
15:13, 15;
Eph.
1:7, 8,
9;
John
17:6.
(s) John
14:26; Heb.
12:2; II Cor. 4:13;
Rom.
8:9, 14;
Rom.
15:18, 19;
John
17:17.
(t) Ps.
110:1; I
Cor. 15:25, 26;
Mal.
4:2, 3;
Col.
2:15.
Chapter IX.
Of Free Will.
I. God hath endued the will of man with that natural
liberty, that is neither forced, nor by any absolute
necessity of nature determined to good or evil.(a)
(a) Matt.
17:12; James
1:14; Deut.
30:19.
II. Man, in his state of
innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do
that which was good, and well pleasing to God;(b)
but yet, mutably, so that he might fall from it.(c)
(b) Eccles.
7:29; Gen.
1:26.
(c) Gen.
2:16, 17;
Gen.
3:6.
III. Man, by his fall into
a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will
to any spiritual good accompanying salvation:(d) so
as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that
good,(e) and dead in sin,(f) is not able, by his own
strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself
thereunto.(g)
(d) Rom.
5:6; Rom
8:7; John
15:5.
(e) Rom.
3:10, 12.
(f) Eph.
2:1, 5;
Col.
2:13.
(g) John
6:44, 65;
Eph.
2:2, 3,
4,
5;
I
Cor. 2:14; Titus
3:3, 4,
5.
IV. When God converts a
sinner, and translates him into the state of grace,
He freeth him from his natural bondage under sin;(h)
and, by His grace alone, enables him freely to will
and to do that which is spiritually good;(i) yet so,
as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he
doth not perfectly, nor only, will that which is
good, but doth also will that which is evil.(k)
(h) Col.
1:13; John
8:34, 36.
(i) Phil.
2:13; Rom.
6:18, 22.
(k) Gal.
5:17; Rom.
7:15, 18,
19,
21,
23.
V. The will of man is made perfectly and immutably
free to do good alone, in the state of glory
only.(l)
(l) Eph.
4:13; Heb.
12:23; I
John 3:2; Jude ver. 24.
Chapter X.
Of Effectual Calling.
I. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life,
and those only, He is pleased in His appointed and
accepted time effectually to call,(a) by His Word
and Spirit,(b) out of that state of sin and death,
in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation
by Jesus Christ;(c) enlightening their minds
spiritually and savingly to understand the things of
God,(d) taking away their heart of stone, and giving
unto them a heart of flesh;(e) renewing their wills,
and, by His almighty power determining them to that
which is good,(f) and effectually drawing them to
Jesus Christ:(g) yet so, as they come most freely,
being made willing by His grace.(h)
(a) Rom.
8:30; Rom.
11:7; Eph.
1:10, 11.
(b) II Thess. 2:13, 14; II Cor. 3:3, 6.
(c) Rom.
8:2; Eph.
2:1, 2,
3,
4,
5;
II Tim. 1:9, 10.
(d) Acts
26:18; I
Cor. 2:10, 12;
Eph.
1:17, 18.
(e) Ezek.
36:26.
(f) Ezek.
11:19; Phil.
2:13; Deut.
30:6; Ezek.
36:27.
(g) Eph.
1:19; John
6:44, 45.
(h) Cant.
1:4; Ps.
110:3; John
6:37; Rom.
6:16, 17,
18.
II. This effectual call is
of God’s free and special grace alone, not from
anything at all foreseen in man,(i) who is
altogether passive therein, until being quickened
and renewed by the Holy Spirit,(k) he is thereby
enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the
grace offered and conveyed in it.(l)
(i) II Tim. 1:9; Tit.
3:4, 5;
Eph.
2:4, 5,
8,
9;
Rom.
9:11.
(k) I
Cor. 2:14; Rom.
8:7; Eph.
2:5.
(l) John
6:37; Ezek.
36:27; John
5:25.
III. Elect infants, dying
in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ
through the Spirit,(m) who worketh when, and where,
and how He pleaseth:(n) so also, are all other elect
persons who are uncapable of being outwardly called
by the ministry of the Word.(o)
(m) Luke
18:15, 16,
and Acts
2:38, 39
and John
3:3, 5
and I
John 5:12 & Rom.
8:9 compared.
(n) John
3:8.
(o) I
John 5:12; Acts
4:12.
IV. Others, not elected,
although they may be called by the ministry of the
Word,(p) and may have some common operations of the
Spirit,(q) yet they never truly come unto Christ,
and therefore cannot be saved:(r) much less can men,
not professing the Christian religion, be saved in
any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent
to frame their lives according to the light of
nature, and the law of that religion they do
profess.(s) And to assert and maintain that they
may, is very pernicious, and to be detested.(t)
(p) Matt.
22:14.
(q) Matt.
7:22; Matt.
13:20, 21;
Heb.
6:4, 5.
(r) John
6:64, 65,
66;
John
8:24.
(s) Acts
4:12; John
14:6; Eph.
2:12; John
4:22; John
17:3.
(t) II John ver. 9, 10,
11; I
Cor. 16:22; Gal.
1:6, 7,
8.
Chapter XI.
Of Justification.
I. Those whom God effectually calleth, He also
freely justifieth;(a) not by infusing righteousness
into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by
accounting and accepting their persons as righteous,
not for anything wrought in them, or done by them,
but for Christ’s sake alone; nor by imputing faith
itself, the act of believing, or any other
evangelical obedience to them, as their
righteousness, but by imputing the obedience and
satisfaction of Christ unto them,(b) they receiving
and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith;
which faith they have not of themselves, it is the
gift of God.(c)
(a) Rom.
8:30; Rom.
3:24.
(b) Rom.
4:5, 6,
7,
8;
II Cor. 5:19, 21; Rom.
3:22, 24,
25,
27,
28;
Tit.
3:5, 7;
Eph.
1:7; Jer.
23:6; I
Cor. 1:30, 31;
Rom.
5:17, 18,
19.
(c) Acts
10:43; Gal.
2:16; Phil.
3:19; Acts
13:38, 39;
Eph.
2:7, 8.
II. Faith, thus receiving
and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the
alone instrument of justification;(d) yet is it not
alone in the person justified, but is ever
accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no
dead faith, but worketh by love.(e)
(d) John
1:12; Rom.
3:28; Rom.
5:1.
(e) Jam.
2:17, 22,
26;
Gal.
5:6.
III. Christ, by His
obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of
all those that are thus justified, and did make a
proper, real, and full satisfaction to His Father’s
justice in their behalf.(f) Yet, inasmuch as He was
given by the Father for them;(g) and His obedience
and satisfaction accepted in their stead;(h) and
both freely, not for anything in them; their
justification is only of free grace;(i) that both
the exact justice, and rich grace of God, might be
glorified in the justification of sinners.(k)
(f) Rom.
5:8, 9,
10,
19;
I
Tim. 2:5, 6;
Heb.
10:10, 14;
Dan.
9:24, 26;
Isa.
53:4, 5,
6,
10,
11,
12.
(g) Rom.
8:32.
(h) II Cor. 5:21; Matt.
3:17; Eph.
5:2.
(i) Rom.
3:24; Eph.
1:7.
(k) Rom.
3:26; Eph.
2:7.
IV. God did, from all
eternity, decree to justify all the elect,(l) and
Christ did, in the fulness of time, die for their
sins, and rise again for their justification:(m)
nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy
Spirit doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto
them.(n)
(l) Gal.
3:8; I
Pet. 1:2, 19,
20;
Rom.
8:30.
(m) Gal.
4:4; I
Tim. 2:6; Rom.
4:25.
(n) Col.
1:21, 22;
Gal.
2:16; Tit.
3:3, 4,
5,
6,
7.
V. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those
that are justified:(o) and although they can never
fall from the state of justification;(p) yet they
may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly
displeasure, and not have the light of His
countenance restored unto them, until they humble
themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and
renew their faith and repentance.(q)
(o) Matt.
6:12; I
John 1:7, 9;
I
John 2:1, 2.
(p) Luke
22:32; John
10:28; Heb.
10:14.
(q) Ps.
89:31, 32,
33;
Ps.
51:7, 8,
9,
10,
11,
12;
Ps.
32:5; Matt.
26:75; I
Cor. 11:30, 32;
Luke
1:20.
VI. The justification of
believers under the old testament was, in all these
respects, one and the same with the justification of
believers under the new testament.(r)
(r) Gal.
3:9, 13,
14;
Rom.
4:22, 23,
24;
Heb.
13:8.
Chapter XII.
Of Adoption.
All those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in
and for His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers
of the grace of adoption:(a) by which they are taken
into the number, and enjoy the liberties and
privileges of the children of God,(b) have His name
put upon them,(c) receive the spirit of adoption,(d)
have access to the throne of grace with boldness,(e)
are enabled to cry, Abba, Father,(f) are pitied,(g)
protected,(h) provided for,(i) and chastened by Him
as by a Father;(k) yet never cast off,(l) but sealed
to the day of redemption,(m) and inherit the
promises,(n) as heirs of everlasting salvation.(o)
(a) Eph.
1:5.
(b) Gal.
4:4, 5;
Rom.
8:17; John
1:12.
(c) Jer.
14:9; II Cor. 6:18;
Rev.
3:12.
(d) Rom.
8:15.
(e) Eph.
3:12; Rom.
5:2.
(f) Gal.
4:6.
(g) Ps.
103:13.
(h) Prov.
14:26.
(i) Matt.
6:30, 32;
I
Pet. 5:7.
(k) Heb.
12:6.
(l) Lam.
3:31.
(m) Eph.
4:30.
(n) Heb.
6:12.
(o) I
Pet. 1:3, 4;
Heb.
1:14.
Chapter XIII.
Of Sanctification.
I. They who are once effectually called and
regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit
created in them, are further sanctified, really and
personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and
resurrection,(a) by His Word and Spirit dwelling in
them:(b) the dominion of the whole body of sin is
destroyed,(c) and the several lusts thereof are more
and more weakened and mortified;(d) and they more
and more quickened and strengthened in all saving
graces,(e) to the practice of true holiness, without
which no man shall see the Lord.(f)
(a) I
Cor. 6:11; Acts
20:32; Phil.
3:10; Rom.
6:5, 6.
(b) John
17:17; Eph.
5:26; II Thess.
2:13.
(c) Rom.
6:6, 14.
(d) Gal.
5:24; Rom.
8:13.
(e) Col.
1:11; Eph.
3:16, 17,
18,
19.
(f) II Cor. 7:1; Heb.
12:14.
II. This sanctification is
throughout, in the whole man;(g) yet imperfect in
this life, there abiding still some remnants of
corruption in every part:(h) whence ariseth a
continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh.(i)
(g) I
Thess. 5:23.
(h) I
John 1:10; Rom.
7:18, 23;
Phil.
3:12.
(i) Gal.
5:17; I
Pet. 2:11.
III. In which war,
although the remaining corruption, for a time, may
much prevail;(k) yet through the continual supply of
strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the
regenerate part doth overcome;(l) and so, the saints
grow in grace,(m) perfecting holiness in the fear of
God.(n)
(k) Rom.
7:23.
(l) Rom.
6:14; I
John 5:4; Eph.
4:15, 16.
(m) II Pet. 3:18; II Cor. 3:18.
(n) II Cor. 7:1.
Chapter XIV.
Of Saving Faith.
I. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled
to believe to the saving of their souls,(a) is the
work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts;(b) and
is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the
Word:(c) by which also, and by the administration of
the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and
strengthened.(d)
(a) Heb.
10:39.
(b) II Cor. 4:13; Eph.
1:17, 18,
19;
Eph.
2:8.
(c) Rom.
10:14, 17.
(d) I
Pet. 2:2; Acts
20:32; Rom.
4:11; Luke
17:5; Rom.
1:16, 17.
II. By this faith, a
Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is
revealed in the Word, for the authority of God
Himself speaking therein;(e) and acteth differently
upon that which each particular passage thereof
containeth; yielding obedience to the commands,(f)
trembling at the threatenings,(g) and embracing the
promises of God for this life, and that which is to
come.(h) But the principal acts of saving faith are
accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone
for justification, sanctification, and eternal life,
by virtue of the covenant of grace.(i)
(e) John
4:42; I
Thess. 2:13; I
John 5:10; Acts
24:14.
(f) Rom.
16:26.
(g) Isa.
66:2.
(h) Heb.
11:13; I
Tim. 4:8.
(i) John
1:12; Acts
16:31; Gal.
2:20; Acts
15:11.
III. This faith is
different in degrees, weak or strong;(k) may be
often and many ways assailed, and weakened, but gets
the victory;(l) growing up in many to the attainment
of a full assurance through Christ,(m) who is both
the author and finisher of our faith.(n)
(k) Heb.
5:13, 14;
Rom.
4:19, 20;
Matt.
6:30; Matt.
8:10.
(l) Luke
22:31, 32;
Eph.
6:16; I
John 5:4, 5.
(m) Heb.
6:11, 12;
Heb.
10:22; Col.
2:2.
(n) Heb.
12:2.
Chapter XV.
Of Repentance unto Life.
I. Repentance unto life is an evangelical grace,(a)
the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every
minister of the Gospel, as well as that of faith in
Christ.(b)
(a) Zech.
12:10; Acts
11:18.
(b) Luke
24:47; Mark
1:15; Acts
20:21.
II. By it, a sinner, out
of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but
also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins,
as contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of
God; and upon the apprehension of his mercy in
Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and
hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto
God,(c) purposing and endeavouring to walk with Him
in all the ways of His commandments.(d)
(c) Ezek.
18:30, 31;
Ezek.
36:31; Isa.
30:22; Ps.
51:4; Jer.
31:18, 19;
Joel
2:12, 13;
Amos
5:15; Ps.
119:128; II Cor.
7:11.
(d) Ps.
119:6, 59,
106;
Luke
1:6; II Kings
23:25.
III. Although repentance
be not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin,
or any cause of the pardon thereof,(e) which is the
act of God’s free grace in Christ;(f) yet is it of
such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect
pardon without it.(g)
(e) Ezek.
36:31, 32;
Ezek.
16:61, 62,
63.
(f) Hosea
14:2, 4;
Rom.
3:24; Eph.
1:7.
(g) Luke
13:3, 5;
Acts
17:30, 31.
IV. As there is no sin so
small, but it deserves damnation,(h) so there is no
sin so great, that it can bring damnation upon those
who truly repent.(i)
(h) Rom.
6:23; Rom.
5:12; Matt.
12:36.
(i) Isa.
55:7; Rom.
8:1; Isa.
1:16, 18.
V. Men ought not to content themselves with a
general repentance, but it is every man’s duty to
endeavour to repent of his particular sins,
particularly.(k)
(k) Ps.
19:13; Luke
19:8; I
Tim. 1:13, 15.
VI. As every man is bound
to make private confession of his sins to God,
praying for the pardon thereof;(l) upon which, and
the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy:(m) so,
he that scandalizeth his brother, or the Church of
Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or public
confession, and sorrow for his sin, to declare his
repentance to those that are offended,(n) who are
thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to
receive him.(o)
(l) Ps.
51:4, 5,
7,
9,
14;
Ps.
32:5, 6.
(m) Prov.
28:13; I
John 1:9.
(n) James
5:16; Luke
17:3, 4;
Joshua
7:19; Ps.
51 throughout.
(o) II Cor. 2:8.
Chapter XVI.
Of Good Works.
I. Good works are only such as God hath commanded in
His holy Word,(a) and not such as, without the
warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind
zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention.(b)
(a) Micah
6:8; Rom.
12:2; Heb.
13:21.
(b) Matt.
15:9; Isa.
29:13; I
Pet. 1:18; Rom.
10:2; John
16:2; I
Sam. 15:21, 22,
23.
II. These good works, done
in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits
and evidences of a true and lively faith:(c) and by
them believers manifest their thankfulness,(d)
strengthen their assurance,(e) edify their
brethren,(f) adorn the profession of the Gospel,(g)
stop the mouths of the adversaries,(h) and glorify
God,(i) whose workmanship they are, created in
Christ Jesus thereunto;(k) that, having their fruit
unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal
life.(l)
(c) James
2:18, 22.
(d) Ps.
116:12, 13;
I
Pet. 2:9.
(e) I
John 2:3, 5;
II Pet. 1:5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10.
(f) II Cor. 9:2; Matt.
5:16.
(g) Tit.
2:5, 9,
10,
11,
12;
I
Tim. 6:1.
(h) I
Pet. 2:15.
(i) I
Pet. 2:12; Phil.
1:11; John
15:8.
(k) Eph.
2:10.
(l) Rom.
6:22.
III. Their ability to do
good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly
from the Spirit of Christ.(m) And that they may be
enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have
already received, there is required an actual
influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them
to will and to do of His good pleasure:(n) yet are
they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were
not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special
motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent
in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.(o)
(m) John
15:4, 5;
Ezek.
36:26, 27.
(n) Phil.
2:13; Phil.
4:13; II Cor. 3:5.
(o) Phil.
2:12; Heb.
6:11, 12;
II Pet. 1:3, 5, 10, 11; Isa.
64:7; II Tim. 1:6;
Acts
26:6, 7;
Jude ver. 20, 21.
IV. 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 than God requires, as
that they fall short of much which in duty they are
bound to do.(p)
(p) Luke
17:10; Neh.
13:22; Job
9:2, 3;
Gal.
5:17.
V. We cannot, by our best works, 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,(q) but when we have done all we can, we have
done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants;(r)
and because, as they are good, they proceed from His
Spirit;(s) and as they are wrought by us, they are
defiled, and mixed with so much weakness and
imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity
of God’s judgment.(t)
(q) Rom.
3:20; Rom.
4:2, 4,
6;
Eph.
2:8, 9;
Tit.
3:5, 6,
7;
Rom.
8:18; Ps.
16:2; Job
22:2, 3;
Job
35:7, 8.
(r) Luke
17:10.
(s) Gal.
5:22, 23.
(t) Isa.
64:6; Gal.
5:17; Rom.
7:15, 18;
Ps.
143:2; Ps.
130:3.
VI. Yet notwithstanding,
the persons of believers being accepted through
Christ, their good works also are accepted in
Him,(u) not as though they were in this life wholly
unblamable and unreproveable in God’s sight;(w) but
that He, looking upon them in His Son, is pleased to
accept and reward that which is sincere, although
accompanied with many weaknesses and
imperfections.(x)
(u) Eph.
1:6; I
Pet. 2:5; Exod.
28:38; Gen.
4:4 with Heb.
11:4.
(w) Job.
9:20; Ps.
143:2.
(x) Heb.
13:20, 21;
II Cor. 8:12; Heb.
6:10; Matt.
25:21, 23.
VII. Works done by
unregenerate men, although, for the matter of them,
they may be things which God commands, and of good
use both to themselves and others:(y) yet, because
they proceed not from a heart purified by faith;(z)
nor are done in a right manner according to the
Word;(a) nor to a right end, the glory of God;(b)
they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or
make a man meet to receive grace from God.(c) And
yet, their neglect of them is more sinful, and
displeasing unto God.(d)
(y) II Kings 10:30, 31; I
Kings 21:27, 29;
Phil.
1:15, 16,
18.
(z) Gen.
4:5 with Heb.
11:4; Heb.
11:6.
(a) I
Cor. 13:3; Isa.
1:12.
(b) Matt.
6:2, 5,
16.
(c) Hag.
2:14; Tit.
1:15; Amos
5:22, 23;
Hosea
1:4; Rom.
9:16; Titus
3:5.
(d) Ps.
14:4; Ps.
36:3; Job
21:14, 15;
Matt.
25:41, 42,
43,
45;
Matt.
23:23.
Chapter XVII.
Of the Perseverance of the Saints.
I. They, whom God hath accepted in His Beloved,
effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit,
can neither totally, nor finally, fall away from the
state of grace: but shall certainly persevere
therein to the end, and be eternally saved.(a)
(a) Phil.
1:6; II Pet. 1:10;
John
10:28, 29;
I
John 3:9; I
Pet. 1:5, 9.
II. This perseverance of
the saints depends not upon their own free will, but
upon the immutability of the decree of election,
flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God
the Father;(b) upon the efficacy of the merit and
intercession of Jesus Christ;(c) the abiding of the
Spirit, and of the seed of God within them;(d) and
the nature of the covenant of grace:(e) from all
which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility
thereof.(f)
(b) II Tim. 2:18, 19; Jer.
31:3.
(c) Heb.
10:10, 14;
Heb.
13:20, 21;
Heb.
9:12, 13,
14,
15;
Rom.
8:33 to the end; John
17:11, 24;
Luke
22:32; Heb.
7:25.
(d) John
14:16, 17;
I
John 2:27; I
John 3:9.
(e) Jer.
32:40.
(f) John
10:28; II Thess.
3:3; I
John 2:19.
III. Nevertheless, they
may, through the temptations of Satan and of the
world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in
them, and the neglect of the means of their
preservation, fall into grievous sins;(g) and, for a
time, continue therein:(h) whereby they incur God’s
displeasure,(i) and grieve His Holy Spirit,(k) come
to be deprived of some measure of their graces and
comforts,(l) have their hearts hardened,(m) and
their consciences wounded,(n) hurt and scandalize
others,(o) and bring temporal judgments upon
themselves.(p)
(g) Matt.
26:70, 72,
74.
(h) Ps.
51 title and ver. 14.
(i) Isa.
64:5, 7,
9;
II Sam. 11:27.
(k) Eph.
4:30.
(l) Ps.
51:8, 10,
12;
Rev.
2:4; Cant.
5:2, 3,
4,
6.
(m) Isa.
63:17; Mark
6:52; Mark
16:14.
(n) Ps.
32:3, 4;
Ps.
51:8.
(o) II Sam. 12:14.
(p) Ps.
89:31, 32;
I
Cor. 11:32.
Chapter XVIII.
Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation.
I. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men
may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes, and
carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God,
and estate of salvation;(a) which hope of theirs
shall perish:(b) 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 are in the
state of grace,(c) and may rejoice in the hope of
the glory of God, which hope shall never make them
ashamed.(d)
(a) Job
8:13, 14;
Mic.
3:11; Deut.
29:19; John
8:41.
(b) Matt.
7:22, 23.
(c) I
John 2:3; I
John 3:14, 18,
19,
21,
24;
I
John 5:13.
(d) Rom.
5:2, 5.
II. This certainty is not
a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded
upon a fallible hope;(e) but an infallible assurance
of faith, founded upon the divine truth of the
promises of salvation,(f) the inward evidence of
those graces unto which these promises are made,(g)
the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing
with our spirits that we are the children of God:(h)
which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance,
whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption.(i)
(e) Heb.
6:11, 19.
(f) Heb.
6:17, 18.
(g) II Pet. 1:4, 5, 10,
11; I
John 2:3; I
John 3:14; II Cor.
1:12.
(h) Rom.
8:15, 16.
(i) Eph.
1:13, 14;
Eph.
4:30; II Cor. 1:21,
22.
III. 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:(k) 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 ordinary means, attain thereunto.(l)
And therefore it is the duty of everyone to give all
diligence to make his calling and election sure;(m)
that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and
joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to
God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties
of obedience, the proper fruits of this
assurance:(n) so far is it from inclining men to
looseness.(o)
(k) I
John 5:13; Isa.
50:10; Mark
9:24; Ps.
88 throughout; Ps.
77 to ver. 12.
(l) I
Cor. 2:12; I
John 4:13; Heb.
6:11, 12;
Eph.
3:17, 18,
19.
(m) II Pet. 1:10.
(n) Rom.
5:1, 2,
5;
Rom.
14:17; Rom.
15:13; Eph.
1:3, 4;
Ps.
4:6, 7;
Ps.
119:32.
(o) I
John 2:1, 2;
Rom.
6:1, 2;
Tit.
2:11, 12,
14;
II Cor. 7:1; Rom.
8:1, 12;
I
John 3:2, 3;
Ps.
130:4; I
John 1:6, 7.
IV. True believers may
have the assurance of their salvation divers ways
shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by
negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some
special sin, which woundeth the conscience and
grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement
temptation, by God’s withdrawing the light of His
countenance, and suffering even such as fear Him to
walk in darkness and to have no light:(p) yet are
they never so utterly destitute of that seed of God,
and life of faith, that love of Christ and the
brethren, that sincerity of heart, and conscience of
duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit,
this assurance may, in due time, be revived;(q) and
by the which, in the mean time, they are supported
from utter despair.(r)
(p) Cant.
5:2, 3,
6;
Ps.
51:8, 12,
14;
Eph.
4:30, 31;
Ps.
77:1 to 10; Matt.
26:69, 70,
71,
72;
Ps.
31:22; Ps.
88 throughout; Isa.
50:10.
(q) I
John 3:9; Luke
22:32; Job
13:15; Ps.
73:15; Ps.
51:8, 12;
Isa.
50:10.
(r) Mic.
7:7, 8,
9;
Jer.
32:40; Isa.
54:7, 8,
9,
10;
Ps.
22:1; Ps.
88 throughout.
Chapter XIX.
Of the Law of God.
I. God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works,
by which He bound him and all his posterity to
personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience;
promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened
death upon the breach of it: and endued him with
power and ability to keep it.(a)
(a) Gen.
1:26, 27
with Gen.
2:17; Rom.
2:14, 15;
Rom.
10:5; Rom.
5:12, 19;
Gal.
3:10, 12;
Eccles.
7:29; Job
28:28.
II. This law, after his
fall, continued to be a perfect rule of
righteousness, and, as such, was delivered by God
upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written
in two tables:(b) the four first commandments
containing our duty towards God; and the other six
our duty to man.(c)
(b) James
1:25; James
2:8, 10,
11,
12;
Rom.
13:8, 9;
Deut.
5:32; Deut.
10:4; Ex.
34:1.
(c) Matt.
22:37, 38,
39,
40.
III. Beside this law,
commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to
the people of Israel, as a church under age,
ceremonial laws, containing several typical
ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ,
His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits;(d)
and partly holding forth divers instructions of
moral duties.(e) All which ceremonial laws are now
abrogated, under the new testament.(f)
(d) Heb.
9 chap.; Heb.
10:1; Gal.
4:1, 2,
3;
Col.
2:17.
(e) I
Cor. 5:7; II Cor.
6:17; Jude ver. 23.
(f) Col.
2:14, 16,
17;
Dan.
9:27; Eph.
2:15, 16.
IV. To them also, as a
body politic, He gave sundry judicial laws, which
expired together with the State of that people; not
obliging any other now, further than the general
equity thereof may require.(g)
(g) Ex.
21 chap.; Ex.
22:1 to 29; Gen.
49:10 with I
Pet. 2:13, 14;
Matt.
5:17, with ver. 38, 39; I
Cor. 9:8, 9,
10.
V. The moral law doth for ever bind all, as well
justified persons as others, to the obedience
thereof;(h) and that, not only in regard of the
matter contained in it, but also in respect of the
authority of God the Creator, who gave it:(i)
neither doth Christ, in the Gospel, any way
dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.(k)
(h) Rom.
13:8, 9,
10;
Eph.
6:2; I
John 2:3, 4,
7,
8.
(i) James
2:10, 11.
(k) Matt.
5:17, 18,
19;
James
2:8; Rom.
3:31.
VI. Although true
believers be not under the law, as a covenant of
works, to be thereby justified, or condemned;(l) yet
is it 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 binds them
to walk accordingly;(m) discovering also the sinful
pollutions of their nature, hearts, and lives;(n) so
as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to
further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred
against sin;(o) together with a clearer sight of the
need they have of Christ, and the perfection of His
obedience.(p) It is likewise of use to the
regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that
it forbids sin:(q) and the threatenings of it serve
to show what even their sins deserve; and what
afflictions, in this life, they may expect for them,
although freed from the curse thereof threatened in
the law.(r) The promises of it, in like manner, show
them God’s approbation of obedience, and what
blessings they may expect upon the performance
thereof;(s) although not as due to them by the law,
as a covenant of works.(t) So as, a man’s doing
good, and refraining from evil, because the law
encourageth to the one and deterreth from the other,
is no evidence of his being under the law; and not
under grace.(u)
(l) Rom.
6:14; Gal.
2:16; Gal.
3:13; Gal.
4:4, 5;
Acts
13:39; Rom.
8:1.
(m) Rom.
7:12, 22,
25;
Ps.
119:4, 5,
6;
I
Cor. 7:19; Gal.
5:14, 16,
18,
19,
20,
21,
22,
23.
(n) Rom.
7:7; Rom.
3:20.
(o) James
1:23, 24,
25;
Rom.
7:9, 14,
24.
(p) Gal.
3:24; Rom.
7:24, 25;
Rom.
8:3, 4.
(q) Jam.
2:11; Ps.
119:101, 104,
128.
(r) Ezra
9:13, 14;
Ps.
89:30, 31,
32,
33,
34.
(s) Lev.
26:1 to 14 with II
Cor. 6:16; Eph.
6:2, 3;
Ps.
37:11 with Matt.
5:5; Ps.
19:11.
(t) Gal.
2:16; Luke
17:10.
(u) Rom.
6:12, 14;
I
Pet. 3:8, 9,
10,
11,
12,
with Ps.
34:12, 13,
14,
15,
16;
Heb.
12:28, 29.
VII. Neither are the
forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace
of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it;(w) 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.(x)
(w) Gal.
3:21.
(x) Ezek.
36:27; Heb.
8:10 with Jer.
31:33.
Chapter XX.
Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of
Conscience.
I. The liberty which Christ hath purchased for
believers under the Gospel consists in their freedom
from the guilt of sin, and condemning wrath of God,
the curse of the moral law;(a) and, in their being
delivered from this present evil world, bondage to
Satan, and dominion of sin;(b) from the evil of
afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the
grave, and everlasting damnation;(c) as also, in
their free access to God,(d) and their yielding
obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear, but a
child-like love and willing mind.(e) All which were
common also to believers under the law.(f) But,
under the new testament, the liberty of Christians
is further enlarged, in their freedom from the yoke
of the ceremonial law, to which the Jewish Church
was subjected;(g) and in greater boldness of access
to the throne of grace,(h) and in fuller
communications of the free Spirit of God, than
believers under the law did ordinarily partake
of.(i)
(a) Tit.
2:14; I
Thess. 1:10; Gal.
3:13.
(b) Gal.
1:4; Col.
1:13; Acts
26:18; Rom.
6:14.
(c) Rom.
8:28; Ps.
119:71; I
Cor. 15:54, 55,
56,
57;
Rom.
8:1.
(d) Rom.
5:1, 2.
(e) Rom.
8:14, 15;
I
John 4:18.
(f) Gal.
3:9, 14.
(g) Gal.
4:1, 2,
3,
6,
7;
Gal.
5:1; Acts
15:10, 11.
(h) Heb.
4:14, 16;
Heb.
10:19, 20,
21,
22.
(i) John
7:38, 39;
II Cor. 3:13, 17, 18.
II. God alone is Lord of
the conscience,(k) and hath left it free from the
doctrines and commandments of men, which are in any
thing contrary to His Word; or beside it, if matters
of faith or worship.(l) So that, to believe such
doctrines, or to obey such commands, out of
conscience,(m) is to betray true liberty of
conscience: and the requiring of an implicit faith,
and an absolute and blind obedience is to destroy
liberty of conscience, and reason also.(n)
(k) Jam.
4:12; Rom.
14:4.
(l) Acts
4:19; Acts
5:29; I
Cor. 7:23; Matt.
23:8, 9,
10;
II Cor. 1:24; Matt.
15:9.
(m) Col.
2:20, 22,
23;
Gal.
1:10; Gal.
2:4, 5;
Gal.
5:1.
(n) Rom.
10:17; Rom.
14:23; Isa.
8:20; Acts
17:11; John
4:22; Hos.
5:11; Rev.
13:12, 16,
17;
Jer.
8:9.
III. They who, upon
pretence of Christian liberty, do practice any sin,
or cherish any lust, do thereby destroy the end of
Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered
out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve the
Lord, without fear, in holiness and righteousness
before Him, all the days of our life.(o)
(o) Gal.
5:13; I
Pet. 2:16; II Pet.
2:19; John
8:34; Luke
1:74, 75.
IV. And because the powers
which God hath ordained, and the liberty which
Christ hath purchased, are not intended by God to
destroy, but mutually to uphold and preserve one
another; they who, upon pretence of Christian
liberty, shall oppose any lawful power, or the
lawful exercise of it, whether it be civil or
ecclesiastical, resist the ordinance of God.(p) And,
for their publishing of such opinions, or
maintaining of such practices, as are contrary to
the light of nature, or to the known principles of
Christianity, whether concerning faith, worship, or
conversation; or, to the power of godliness; or,
such erroneous opinions or practices, as either in
their own nature, or in the manner of publishing or
maintaining them, are destructive to the external
peace and order which Christ hath established in the
Church, they may lawfully be called to account, and
proceeded against by the censures of the Church,(q)
and by the power of the civil magistrate.(r)
(p) Matt.
12:25; I
Pet. 2:13, 14,
16;
Rom.
13:1 to 8; Heb.
13:17.
(q) Rom.
1:32 with I
Cor. 5:1, 5,
11,
13;
II John ver. 10, 11, and II Thess. 3:14, and I
Tim. 6:3, 4,
5,
and Tit.
1:10, 11,
13,
and Tit.
3:10 with Matt.
18:15, 16,
17;
I
Tim. 1:19, 20;
Rev.
2:2, 14,
15,
20;
Rev.
3:9.
(r) Deut.
13:6 to 12; Rom.
13:3, 4
with II John ver. 10, 11;
Ezra
7:23, 25,
26,
27,
28;
Rev.
17:12, 16,
17;
Neh.
13:15, 17,
21,
22,
25,
30;
II Kings 23:5, 6, 9, 20,
21; II Chron. 34:33; II Chron. 15:12, 13, 16; Dan.
3:29; I
Tim. 2:2; Isa.
49:23; Zech.
13:2, 3.
Chapter XXI.
Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath-day.
I. The light of nature showeth that there is a God,
who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is good,
and doth good unto all, and is therefore to be
feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and
served, with all the heart, and with all the soul,
and with all the might.(a) But the acceptable way 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 imaginations and
devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under
any visible representation, or any other way not
prescribed in the holy Scripture.(b)
(a) Rom.
1:20; Acts
17:24; Ps.
119:68; Jer.
10:7; Ps.
31:23; Ps.
18:3; Rom.
10:12; Ps.
62:8; Josh.
24:14; Mark
12:33.
(b) Deut.
12:32; Matt.
15:9; Acts
17:25; Matt.
4:9, 10;
Deut.
4:15 to 20; Exod.
20:4, 5,
6;
Col.
2:23.
II. Religious worship is
to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost;
and to Him alone;(c) not to angels, saints, or any
other creature:(d) and since the fall, not without a
Mediator; nor in the mediation of any other but of
Christ alone.(e)
(c) Matt.
4:10 with John
5:23 and II Cor.
13:14.
(d) Col.
2:18, Rev.
19:10; Rom.
1:25.
(e) John
14:6; I
Tim. 2:5; Eph.
2:18; Col.
3:17.
III. Prayer, with
thanksgiving, being one special part of religious
worship,(f) is by God required of all men:(g) and
that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the
name of the Son,(h) by the help of His Spirit,(i)
according to His will,(k) with understanding,
reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and
perseverance;(l) and, if vocal, in a known
tongue.(m)
(f) Phil.
4:6.
(g) Ps.
65:2.
(h) John
14:13, 14;
I
Pet. 2:5.
(i) Rom.
8:26.
(k) I
John 5:14.
(l) Ps.
47:7; Eccles.
5:1, 2;
Heb.
12:28; Gen.
18:27; James
5:16; James
1:6, 7;
Mark
11:24; Matt.
6:12, 14,
15;
Col.
4:2; Eph.
6:18.
(m) I
Cor. 14:14.
IV. Prayer is to be made
for things lawful;(n) and for all sorts of men
living, or that shall live hereafter:(o) but not for
the dead,(p) nor for those of whom it may be known
that they have sinned the sin unto death.(q)
(n) I
John 5:14.
(o) I
Tim. 2:1, 2;
John
17:20; II Sam.
7:29; Ruth
4:12.
(p) II Sam. 12:21, 22, 23
with Luke
16:25, 26;
Rev.
14:13.
(q) I
John 5:16.
V. The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear,(r)
the sound preaching(s) and conscionable hearing of
the Word, in obedience unto God, with understanding,
faith and reverence;(t) singing of psalms with grace
in the heart;(u) as also, the due administration and
worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by
Christ; are all parts of the ordinary religious
worship of God:(w) beside religious oaths,(x)
vows,(y) solemn fastings,(z) and thanksgivings, upon
special occasions,(a) which are, in their several
times and seasons, to be used in a holy and
religious manner.(b)
(r) Acts
15:21; Rev.
1:3.
(s) II Tim. 4:2.
(t) James
1:22; Acts
10:33; Matt.
13:19; Heb.
4:2; Isa.
66:2.
(u) Col.
3:16; Eph.
5:19; James
5:13.
(w) Matt.
28:19; I
Cor. 11:23 to 29; Acts
2:42.
(x) Deut.
6:13 with Neh.
10:29.
(y) Isa.
19:21 with Eccles.
5:4, 5.
(z) Joel
2:12; Esther
4:16; Matt.
9:15; I
Cor. 7:5.
(a) Ps.
107 throughout; Esther
9:22.
(b) Heb.
12:28.
VI. Neither prayer, nor
any other part of religious worship, is now under
the Gospel either tied unto, or made more acceptable
by any place in which it is performed, or towards
which it is directed:(c) but God is to be worshipped
everywhere,(d) in spirit and truth;(e) as in private
families(f) daily,(g) and in secret each one by
himself;(h) so, more solemnly, in the public
assemblies, which are not carelessly or wilfully to
be neglected, or forsaken, when God, by His Word or
providence, calls thereunto.(i)
(c) John
4:21.
(d) Mal.
1:11; I
Tim. 2:8.
(e) John
4:23, 24.
(f) Jer.
10:25; Deut.
6:6, 7;
Job
1:5; II Sam. 6:18,
20; I
Pet. 3:7; Acts
10:2.
(g) Matt.
6:11.
(h) Matt.
6:6; Eph.
6:18.
(i) Isa.
56:6, 7;
Heb.
10:25; Prov.
1:20, 21,
24;
Prov.
8:34; Acts
13:42; Luke
4:16; Acts
2:42.
VII. As it is the law of
nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time
be set apart for the worship of God; so, in His
Word, by 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 unto Him:(k) 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,(l) which, in Scripture, is called
the Lord’s Day,(m) and is to be continued to the end
of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.(n)
(k) Exod.
20:8, 10,
11;
Isa.
56:2, 4,
6,
7.
(l) Gen.
2:2, 3;
I
Cor. 16:1, 2;
Acts
20:7.
(m) Rev.
1:10.
(n) Exod.
20:8, 10,
with Matt.
5:17, 18.
VIII. This Sabbath is then
kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due
preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their
common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an
holy rest, all the day, from their own works, words,
and thoughts about their worldly employments and
recreations,(o) but also are taken up the whole time
in the public and private exercises of His worship,
and in the duties of necessity and mercy.(p)
(o) Exod.
20:8; Exod.
16:23, 25,
26,
29,
30;
Exod.
31:15, 16,
17;
Isa.
58:13; Neh.
13:15, 16,
17,
18,
19,
21,
22.
(p) Isa.
58:13; Matt.
12:1 to 13.
Chapter XXII.
Of Lawful Oaths and Vows.
I. A lawful oath is a part of religious worship,(a)
wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing
solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth,
or promiseth, and to judge him according to the
truth or falsehood of what he sweareth.(b)
(a) Deut.
10:20.
(b) Exod.
20:7; Lev.
19:12; II Cor.
1:23, II Chron. 6:22, 23.
II. The name of God only
is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it
is to be used with all holy fear and reverence.(c)
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.(d)
Yet, as in matters of weight and moment, an oath is
warranted by the Word of God, under the New
Testament, as well as under the Old;(e) so a lawful
oath, being imposed by lawful authority, in such
matters ought to be taken.(f)
(c) Deut.
6:13.
(d) Exod.
20:7; Jer.
5:7; Matt.
5:34, 37;
James
5:12.
(e) Heb.
6:16; II Cor. 1:23;
Isa.
65:16.
(f) I
Kings 8:31; Neh.
13:25; Ezra
10:5.
III. Whosoever taketh an
oath ought duly to consider the weightiness of so
solemn an act; and therein to avouch nothing, but
what he is fully persuaded is the truth.(g) Neither
may any man bind himself by oath to anything but
what is good and just, and what he believeth so to
be, and what he is able and resolved to perform.(h)
Yet is it a sin to refuse an oath touching anything
that is good and just, being imposed by lawful
authority.(i)
(g) Exod.
20:7; Jer.
4:2.
(h) Gen.
24:2, 3,
5,
6,
8,
9.
(i) Num.
5:19, 21;
Neh.
5:12; Exod.
22:7, 8,
9,
10,
11.
IV. An oath is to be taken
in the plain and common sense of the words, without
equivocation, or mental reservation.(k) It cannot
oblige to sin: but in anything not sinful, being
taken, it binds to performance, although to a man’s
own hurt.(l) Not is it to be violated, although made
to heretics, or infidels.(m)
(k) Jer.
4:2; Ps.
24:4.
(l) I
Sam. 25:22, 32,
33,
34;
Ps.
15:4.
(m) Ezek.
17:16, 18,
19;
Josh.
9:18, 19
with II Sam. 21:1.
V. A vow is of the like nature with a promissory
oath, and ought to be made with the like religious
care, and to be performed with the like
faithfulness.(n)
(n) Isa.
19:21; Eccles.
5:4, 5,
6;
Ps.
61:8; Ps.
66:13, 14.
VI. It is not to be made
to any creature, but to God alone:(o) and that it
may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out
of faith, and conscience of duty, in way of
thankfulness for mercy received, or for the
obtaining of what we want; whereby we more strictly
bind ourselves to necessary duties; or to other
things, so far and so long as they may fitly conduce
thereunto.(p)
(o) Ps.
76:11; Jer.
44:25, 26.
(p) Deut.
23:21, 22,
23;
Ps.
50:14; Gen.
28:20, 21,
22;
I
Sam. 1:11; Ps.
66:13, 14;
Ps.
132:2, 3,
4,
5.
VII. No man may vow to do
anything forbidden in the Word of God, or what would
hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not
in his own power, and for the performance whereof he
hath no promise of ability from God.(q) In which
respects, Popish monastical vows of perpetual single
life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are
so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that
they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which
no Christian may entangle himself.(r)
(q) Acts
23:12, 14;
Mark
6:26; Numb.
30:5, 8,
12,
13.
(r) Matt.
19:11, 12;
I
Cor. 7:2, 9;
Eph.
4:28; I
Peter 4:2; I
Cor. 7:23.
Chapter XXIII.
Of the Civil Magistrate.
I. God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world,
hath ordained civil magistrates, to be, under Him,
over the people, for His own glory, and the public
good: and, to this end, hath armed them with the
power of the sword, for the defence and
encouragement of them that are good, and for the
punishment of evil doers.(a)
(a) Rom.
13:1, 2,
3,
4;
I
Pet. 2:13, 14.
II. It is lawful for
Christians to accept and execute the office of a
magistrate, when called thereunto;(b) in the
managing whereof, as they ought especially to
maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the
wholesome laws of each commonwealth;(c) so for that
end, they may lawfully now, under the New Testament,
wage war, upon just and necessary occasion.(d)
(b) Prov.
8:15, 16;
Rom.
13:1, 2,
4.
(c) Ps.
2:10, 11,
12;
I
Tim. 2:2; Ps.
82:3, 4;
II Sam. 23:3; I
Pet. 2:13.
(d) Luke
3:14; Rom.
13:4; Matt.
8:9, 10;
Acts
10:1, 2;
Rev.
17:14, 16.
III. The civil magistrate
may not assume to himself the administration of the
Word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the
kingdom of heaven:(e) yet he hath authority, and it
is his duty, to take order, that unity and peace be.
preserved in the Church, that the truth of God be
kept pure and entire; that all blasphemies and
heresies be suppressed; all corruptions and abuses
in worship and discipline prevented or reformed; and
all the ordinances of God duly settled,
administrated, and observed.(f) For the better
effecting whereof, he hath power to call synods, to
be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever
is transacted in them be according to the mind of
God.(g)
(e) II Chron. 26:18 with
Matt.
18:17 and Matt.
16:19; I
Cor. 12:28, 29;
Eph.
4:11, 12;
I
Cor. 4:1, 2;
Rom.
10:15; Heb.
5:4.
(f) Isa.
49:23; Ps.
122:9; Ezra
7:23, 25,
26,
27,
28;
Lev.
24:16; Deut.
13:5, 6,
12;
I
Kings 18:4; I
Chron. 13:1 to 9; II
Kings 23:1 to 26; II
Chron. 34:33; II Chron.
15:12, 13.
(g) II Chron. 19:8, 9,
10, 11; II Chron. 29 and
30; Matt.
2:4, 5.
IV. It is the duty of
people to pray for magistrates,(h) to honour their
persons,(i) to pay them tribute or other dues,(k) to
obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to
their authority, for conscience’ sake.(l)
Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make
void the magistrates’ just and legal authority, nor
free the people from their due obedience to them:(m)
from which ecclesiastical persons are not
exempted,(n) much less hath the Pope any power and
jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over
any of their people; and, least of all, to deprive
them of their dominions, or lives, if he shall judge
them to be heretics, or upon any other pretence
whatsoever.(o)
(h) I
Tim. 2:1, 2.
(i) I
Pet. 2:17.
(k) Rom.
13:6, 7.
(l) Rom.
13:5; Tit.
3:1.
(m) I
Pet. 2:13, 14,
16.
(n) Rom.
13:1; I
Kings 2:35; Acts
25:9, 10,
11;
II Pet. 2:1, 10, 11; Jude
ver. 8, 9, 10, 11.
(o) II Thess. 2:4; Rev.
13:15, 16,
17.
Chapter XXIV.
Of Marriage and Divorce.
I. 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.(a)
(a) Gen.
2:24; Matt.
19:5, 6;
Prov.
2:17.
II. Marriage was ordained
for the mutual help of husband and wife,(b) for the
increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of
the Church with an holy seed;(c) and for preventing
of uncleanness.(d)
(b) Gen.
2:18.
(c) Mal.
2:15.
(d) I
Cor. 7:2, 9.
III. It is lawful for all
sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment
to give their consent.(e) Yet is it the duty of
Christians to marry only in the Lord:(f) and
therefore such as profess the true reformed religion
should not marry with infidels, papists, or other
idolaters: neither should such as are godly be
unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are
notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain
damnable heresies.(g)
(e) Heb.
13:4; I
Tim. 4:3; I
Cor. 7:36, 37,
38;
Gen.
24:57, 58.
(f) I
Cor. 7:39.
(g) Gen.
34:14; Exod.
34:16; Deut.
7:3, 4;
I
Kings 11:4; Neh.
13:25, 26,
27;
Mal.
2:11, 12;
II Cor. 6:14.
IV. Marriage ought not to
be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity
forbidden by the Word;(h) 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.(i) The man may not marry
any of his wife’s kindred nearer in blood than he
may of his own; nor the woman of her husband’s
kindred nearer in blood than of her own.(k)
(h) Lev.
18 ch.; I
Cor. 5:1; Amos
2:7.
(i) Mark
6:18; Lev.
18:24, 25,
26,
27,
28.
(k) Lev.
20:19, 20,
21.
V. Adultery or fornication committed after a
contract, being detected before marriage, giveth
just occasion to the innocent party to dissolve that
contract.(l) In the case of adultery after marriage,
it is lawful for the innocent party to sue out a
divorce:(m) and, after the divorce, to marry
another, as if the offending party were dead.(n)
(l) Matt.
1:18, 19,
20.
(m) Matt.
5:31, 32.
(n) Matt.
19:9; Rom.
7:2, 3.
VI. Although the
corruption of man be such as is apt to study
arguments unduly to put asunder those whom God hath
joined together in marriage: yet nothing but
adultery, or such wilful desertion as can no way be
remedied by the Church or civil magistrate, is cause
sufficient of dissolving the bond of marriage:(o)
wherein, a public and orderly course of proceeding
is to be observed; and the persons concerned in it
not left to their own wills and discretion, in their
own case.(p)
(o) Matt.
19:8, 9;
I
Cor. 7:15; Matt.
19:6.
(p) Deut.
24:1, 2,
3,
4.
Chapter XXV.
Of the Church.
I. The catholic or universal Church which is
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.(a)
(a) Eph.
1:10, 22,
23;
Eph.
5:23, 27,
32;
Col.
1:18.
II. The visible Church,
which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel
(not confined to one nation as before under the
law), consists of all those throughout the world
that profess the true religion;(b) and of their
children:(c) and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus
Christ,(d) the house and family of God,(e) out of
which there is no ordinary possibility of
salvation.(f)
(b) I
Cor. 1:2; I
Cor. 12:12, 13;
Ps.
2:8; Rev.
7:9; Rom.
15:9, 10,
11,
12.
(c) I
Cor. 7:14; Acts
2:39; Ezek.
16:20, 21;
Rom.
11:16; Gen.
3:15; Gen.
17:7.
(d) Matt.
13:47; Isa.
9:7.
(e) Eph.
2:19; Eph.
3:15.
(f) Acts
2:47.
III. Unto this catholic
visible Church Christ hath given the ministry,
oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering
and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the
end of the world: and doth by His own presence and
Spirit, according to His promise, make them
effectual thereunto.(g)
(g) I
Cor. 12:28; Eph.
4:11, 12,
13;
Matt.
28:19, 20;
Isa.
59:21.
IV. This catholic Church
hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.(h)
And particular Churches, which are members thereof,
are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of
the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances
administered, and public worship performed more or
less purely in them.(i)
(h) Rom.
11:3, 4;
Rev.
12:6, 14.
(i) Rev.
2 and 3;
I
Cor. 5:6, 7.
V. The purest Churches under heaven are subject both
to mixture and error:(k) and some have so
degenerated, as to become no Churches of Christ, but
synagogues of Satan.(l) Nevertheless, there shall be
always a Church on earth, to worship God according
to His will.(m)
(k) I
Cor. 13:12; Rev.
2 and 3;
Matt.
13:24, 25,
26,
27,
28,
29,
30,
47.
(l) Rev.
18:2; Rom.
11:18, 19,
20,
21,
22.
(m) Matt.
16:18; Ps.
72:17; Ps.
102:28; Matt.
28:19, 20.
VI. There is no other head
of the Church, but the Lord Jesus Christ;(n) nor can
the Pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof; but
is that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of
perdition, that exalteth himself, in the Church,
against Christ and all that is called God.(o)
(n) Col.
1:18; Eph.
1:22.
(o) Matt.
23:8, 9,
10;
II Thess. 2:3, 4, 8, 9; Rev.
13:6.
Chapter XXVI.
Of the Communion of the Saints.
I. All saints, that are united to Jesus Christ their
Head by His Spirit and by faith, have fellowship
with Him in His grace, sufferings, death,
resurrection, and glory:(a) and, being united to one
another in love, they have communion in each other’s
gifts and graces,(b) and are obliged to the
performance of such duties, public and private, as
do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward
and outward man.(c)
(a) John
1:3; Eph.
3:16, 17,
18,
19;
John
1:16; Eph.
2:5, 6;
Phil.
3:10; Rom.
6:5, 6;
II Tim. 2:12.
(b) Eph.
4:15, 16;
I
Cor. 12:7; I
Cor. 3:21, 22,
23;
Col.
2:19.
(c) I
Thess. 5:11, 14;
Rom.
1:11, 12,
14;
I
John 3:16, 17,
18;
Gal.
6:10.
II. Saints by profession
are bound to maintain a holy fellowship and
communion in the worship of God; and in performing
such other spiritual services as tend to their
mutual edification;(d) as also in relieving each
other in outward things, according to their several
abilities, and necessities. Which communion, as God
offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all
those who, in every place, call upon the name of the
Lord Jesus.(e)
(d) Heb.
10:24, 25;
Acts
2:42, 46;
Isa.
2:3; I
Cor. 11:20.
(e) Acts
2:44, 45;
I
John 3:17; II Cor.
8 and 9 chapters; Acts
11:29, 30.
III. This communion which
the saints have with Christ, doth not make them, in
any wise, partakers of the substance of His Godhead;
or to be equal with Christ, in any respect: either
of which to affirm is impious and blasphemous.(f)
Nor doth their communion one with another, as
saints, take away, or infringe the title or
propriety which each man hath in his goods and
possessions.(g)
(f) Col.
1:18, 19;
I
Cor. 8:6; Isa.
42:8; I
Tim. 6:15, 16;
Ps.
45:7, with Heb.
1:8, 9.
(g) Exod.
20:15; Eph.
4:28; Acts
5:4.
Chapter XXVII.
Of the Sacraments.
I. Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the
covenant of grace,(a) immediately instituted by
God,(b) to represent Christ and His benefits; and to
confirm our interest in Him;(c) as also, to put a
visible difference between those that belong unto
the Church, and the rest of the world;(d) and
solemnly to engage them to the service of God in
Christ, according to His Word.(e)
(a) Rom.
4:11; Gen.
17:7, 10.
(b) Matt.
28:19; I
Cor. 11:23.
(c) I
Cor. 10:16; I
Cor. 11:25, 26;
Gal.
3:17.
(d) Rom.
15:8; Exod.
12:48; Gen.
34:14.
(e) Rom.
6:3, 4;
I
Cor. 10:16, 21.
II. There is in every
sacrament a spiritual relation, or sacramental
union, between the sign and the thing signified:
whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects
of the one are attributed to the other.(f)
(f) Gen.
17:10; Matt.
26:27, 28;
Tit.
3:5.
III. The grace which is
exhibited in or by the sacraments rightly used, is
not conferred by any power in them; neither doth the
efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or
intention of him that doth administer it:(g) but
upon the work of the Spirit,(h) and the word of
institution, which contains, together with a precept
authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to
worthy receivers.(i)
(g) Rom.
2:28, 29;
I
Pet. 3:21.
(h) Matt.
3:11; I
Cor. 12:13.
(i) Matt.
26:27, 28;
Matt.
28:19, 20.
IV. There are only two
sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the
Gospel; that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of
the Lord: neither of which may be dispensed by any
but by a minister of the Word lawfully ordained.(k)
(k) Matt.
28:19; I
Cor. 11:20, 23,
I
Cor. 4:1; Heb.
5:4.
V. The sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard to
the spiritual things thereby signified and
exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those
of the New.(l)
(l) I
Cor. 10:1, 2,
3,
4.
Chapter XXVIII.
Of Baptism.
I. Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament,
ordained by Jesus Christ,(a) not only for the solemn
admission of the party baptized into the visible
Church;(b) but also, to be unto him a sign and seal
of the covenant of grace,(c) of his ingrafting into
Christ,(d) of regeneration,(e) of remission of
sins,(f) and of his giving up unto God through Jesus
Christ, to walk in the newness of life.(g) Which
sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be
continued in His Church until the end of the
world.(h)
(a) Matt.
28:19.
(b) I
Cor. 12:13.
(c) Rom.
4:11 with Col.
2:11, 12.
(d) Gal.
3:27; Rom.
6:5.
(e) Tit.
3:5.
(f) Mark
1:4.
(g) Rom.
6:3, 4.
(h) Matt.
28:19, 20.
II. The outward element to
be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the
party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister
of the Gospel, lawfully called thereunto.(i)
(i) Matt.
3:11; John
1:33; Matt.
28:19, 20.
III. Dipping of the person
into the water is not necessary; but Baptism is
rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water
upon the person.(k)
(k) Heb.
9:10, 19,
20,
21,
22;
Acts
2:41; Acts
16:33; Mark
7:4.
IV. Not only those that do
actually profess faith in and obedience unto
Christ,(l) but also the infants of one or both
believing parents, are to be baptized.(m)
(l) Mark
16:15, 16;
Acts
8:37, 38.
(m) Gen.
17:7, 9,
10
with Gal.
3:9, 14
and Col.
2:11, 12
& Acts
2:38, 39
& Rom.
4:11, 12;
I
Cor. 7:14; Matt.
28:19; Mark
10:13, 14,
15,
16;
Luke
18:15.
V. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect
this ordinance,(n) yet grace and salvation are not
so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person
can be regenerated or saved without it;(o) or, that
all that are baptized are undoubtedly
regenerated.(p)
(n) Luke
7:30 with Exod.
4:24, 25,
26.
(o) Rom.
4:11; Acts
10:2, 4,
22,
31,
45,
47.
(p) Acts
8:13, 23.
VI. The efficacy of
Baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein
it is administered;(q) yet notwithstanding, by the
right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is
not only offered, but really exhibited and
conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of
age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto,
according to the counsel of God’s own will, in His
appointed time.(r)
(q) John
3:5, 8.
(r) Gal.
3:27; Titus
3:5; Eph.
5:25, 26;
Acts
2:38, 41.
VII. The sacrament of
Baptism is but once to be administered unto any
person.(s)
(s) Titus
3:5.
Chapter XXIX.
Of the Lord’s Supper.
I. Our Lord Jesus, in the night wherein He was
betrayed, instituted the sacrament of His body and
blood, called the Lord’s Supper, to be observed in
His Church, unto the end of the world, for the
perpetual remembrance of the sacrifice of Himself in
His death; the sealing all benefits thereof unto
true believers, their spiritual nourishment and
growth in Him, their further engagement in and to
all duties which they owe unto Him; and to be a bond
and pledge of their communion with Him, and with
each other, as members of His mystical body.(a)
(a) I
Cor. 11:23, 24,
25,
26;
I
Cor. 10:16, 17,
21;
I
Cor. 12:13.
II. In this sacrament,
Christ is not offered up to His Father; nor any real
sacrifice made at all for remission of sins of the
quick or dead;(b) but only a commemoration 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:(c) so that
the Popish sacrifice of the mass (as they call it)
is most abominably injurious to Christ’s one, only
sacrifice, the alone propitiation for all the sins
of His elect.(d)
(b) Heb.
9:22, 25,
26,
28.
(c) I
Cor. 11:24, 25,
26;
Matt.
26:26, 27.
(d) Heb.
7:23, 24,
27;
Heb.
10:11, 12,
14,
18.
III. The Lord Jesus hath,
in this ordinance, appointed His ministers to
declare His word of institution to the people; to
pray, and bless the elements of bread 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;(e) but to none who
are not then present in the congregation.(f)
(e) Matt.
26:26, 27,
28
& Mark
14:22, 23,
24
and Luke
22:19, 20
with I
Cor. 11:23, 24,
25,
26.
(f) Acts.
20:7; I
Cor. 11:20.
IV. Private masses, or
receiving this sacrament by a priest or any other
alone;(g) as likewise, the denial of the cup to the
people,(h) worshipping the elements, the lifting
them up or carrying them about for adoration, and
the reserving them for any pretended religious use;
are all contrary to the nature of this sacrament,
and to the institution of Christ.(i)
(g) I
Cor. 10:16.
(h) Mark
14:23; I
Cor. 11:25, 26,
27,
28,
29.
(i) Matt.
15:9.
V. The outward elements in this sacrament, duly set
apart to the uses ordained by Christ, have such
relation to Him crucified, as that, truly, yet
sacramentally only, they are sometimes called by the
name of the things they represent, to wit, the body
and blood of Christ;(k) albeit in substance and
nature they still remain truly and only bread and
wine, as they were before.(l)
(k) Matt.
26:26, 27,
28.
(l) I
Cor. 11:26, 27,
28;
Matt.
26:29.
VI. That doctrine which
maintains 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 even to common sense and
reason; overthroweth the nature of the sacrament,
and hath been, and is the cause of manifold
superstitions; yea, of gross idolatries.(m)
(m) Acts
3:21 with I
Cor. 11:24, 25,
26;
Luke
24:6, 39.
VII. Worthy receivers
outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this
sacrament,(n) do then also, inwardly by faith,
really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally,
but spiritually, receive and feed upon Christ
crucified, and all benefits of His death: the body
and blood of Christ being then, not corporally or
carnally, in, with, or under the bread and wine;
yet, as really, but spiritually, present to the
faith of believers in that ordinance, as the
elements themselves are to their outward senses.(o)
(n) I
Cor. 11:28.
(o) I
Cor. 10:16.
VIII. Although ignorant
and wicked men receive the outward elements in this
sacrament: yet they receive not the thing signified
thereby, but by their unworthy coming thereunto are
guilty of the body and blood of the Lord to their
own damnation. Wherefore, all ignorant and ungodly
persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with
Him, so are they unworthy of the Lord’s table; and
cannot, without great sin against Christ while they
remain such, partake of these holy mysteries,(p) or
be admitted thereunto.(q)
(p) I
Cor. 11:27, 28,
29;
II Cor. 6:14, 15, 16.
(q) I
Cor. 5:6, 7,
13;
II Thess. 3:6, 14, 15; Matt.
7:6.
Chapter XXX.
Of Church Censures.
I. The Lord Jesus, as King and Head of His Church,
hath therein appointed a government, in the hand of
Church officers, distinct from the civil
magistrate.(a)
(a) Isa.
9:6, 7;
I
Tim. 5:17; I
Thess. 5:12; Acts
20:17, 28;
Heb.
13:7, 17,
24;
I
Cor. 12:28; Matt.
28:18, 19,
20.
II. To these officers the
keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed: by
virtue whereof, they have power respectively to
retain, and remit sins; to shut that kingdom against
the impenitent, both by the Word and censures; and
to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of
the Gospel, and by absolution from censures, as
occasion shall require.(b)
(b) Matt.
16:19; Matt.
18:17, 18;
John
20:21, 22,
23;
II Cor. 2:6, 7, 8.
III. Church censures are
necessary, for the reclaiming and gaining of
offending brethren, for deterring of others from the
like offences, for purging out of that leaven which
might infect the whole lump, for vindicating the
honour of Christ, and the holy profession of the
Gospel, and for preventing the wrath of God, which
might justly fall upon the Church, if they should
suffer His covenant and the seals thereof to be
profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders.(c)
(c) I
Cor. 5 chap.; I
Tim. 5:20; Matt.
7:6; I
Tim. 1:20; I
Cor. 11:27 to the end, with Jude ver. 23.
IV. For the better
attaining of these ends, the officers of the Church
are to proceed by admonition; suspension from the
sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for a season; and by
excommunication from the Church; according to the
nature of the crime, and demerit of the person.(d)
(d) I
Thess. 5:12; II
Thess. 3:6, 14, 15; I
Cor. 5:4, 5,
13;
Matt.
18:17; Tit.
3:10.
Chapter XXXI.
Of Synods and Councils.
I. For the better government, and further
edification of the Church, there ought to be such
assemblies as are commonly called synods or
councils.(a)
(a) Acts
15:2, 4,
6.
II. As magistrates may
lawfully call a synod of ministers, and other fit
persons, to consult and advise with, about matters
of religion;(b) so, if magistrates be open enemies
to the Church, the ministers of Christ of
themselves, by virtue of their office, or they, with
other fit persons upon delegation from their
Churches, may meet together in such assemblies.(c)
(b) Isa.
49:23; I
Tim. 2:1, 2;
II Chron. 19:8, 9, 10, 11;
II Chron. 29, 30 chaps.; Matt.
2:4, 5;
Prov.
11:14.
(c) Acts
15:2, 4,
22,
23,
25.
III. It belongs to synods
and councils, ministerially to determine
controversies of faith and cases of conscience; to
set down rules and directions for the better
ordering of the public worship of God, and
government of his Church; to receive complaints in
cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to
determine the same: which decrees and
determinations, if consonant to the Word of God, are
to be received with reverence and submission; not
only for their agreement with the Word, but also for
the power whereby they are made, as being an
ordinance of God appointed thereunto in His Word.(d)
(d) Acts
15:15, 19,
24,
27,
28,
29,
30,
31;
Acts
16:4; Matt.
18:17, 18,
19,
20.
III. All synods or
councils, since the Apostles’ times, whether general
or particular, may err; and many have erred.
Therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith,
or practice; but to be used as a help in both.(e)
(e) Eph.
2:20; Acts
17:11; I
Cor. 2:5; II Cor.
1:24.
IV. Synods and councils
are to handle, or conclude, nothing, but that which
is ecclesiastical: and are not to intermeddle with
civil affairs which concern the commonwealth; unless
by way of humble petition, in cases extraordinary;
or by way of advice, for satisfaction of conscience,
if they be thereunto required by the civil
magistrate.(f)
(f) Luke
12:13, 14;
John
18:36.
Chapter XXXII.
Of the State of Man After Death, and of the
Resurrection of the Dead.
I. The bodies of men, after death, return to dust
and see corruption:(a) but their souls (which
neither die nor sleep) having an immortal
subsistence, immediately return to God who gave
them:(b) the souls of the righteous, being then made
perfect in holiness, are received into the highest
heavens, where they behold the face of God, in light
and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their
bodies.(c) And the souls of the wicked are cast into
hell, where they remain in torments and utter
darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great
day.(d) Beside these two places, for souls separated
from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.
(a) Gen.
3:19; Acts
13:36.
(b) Luke
23:43; Eccles.
12:7.
(c) Heb.
12:23; II Cor. 5:1,
6, 8; Phil.
1:23, with Acts
3:21 & Eph.
4:10.
(d) Luke
16:23, 24;
Acts
1:25; Jude ver. 6, 7; I
Pet. 3:19.
II. At the last day, such
as are found alive shall not die, but be changed:(e)
and all the dead shall be raised up, with the
selfsame bodies, and none other, although with
different qualities, which shall be united again to
their souls for ever.(f)
(e) I
Thess. 4:17; I
Cor. 15:51, 52.
(f) Job
19:26, 27;
I
Cor. 15:42, 43,
44.
III. The bodies of the
unjust shall, 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.(g)
(g) Acts
24:15; John
5:28, 29;
I
Cor. 15:43; Phil.
3:21.
Chapter XXXIII.
Of the Last Judgment.
I. God hath appointed a day, wherein He will judge
the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ,(a) to
whom all power and judgment is given of the
Father.(b) In which day, not only the apostate
angels shall be judged,(c) but likewise all persons
that have lived upon earth shall appear before the
tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their
thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive according
to what they have done in the body, whether good or
evil.(d)
(a) Acts
17:31.
(b) John
5:22, 27.
(c) I
Cor. 6:3; Jude ver. 6; II
Pet. 2:4.
(d) II Cor. 5:10; Eccles.
12:14; Rom.
2:16; Rom.
14:10, 12;
Matt.
12:36, 37.
II. The end of God’s
appointing this day is for the manifestation of the
glory of His mercy, in the eternal salvation of the
elect; and of His justice, in the damnation of the
reprobate who are wicked and disobedient. For then
shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and
receive that fulness of joy and refreshing, which
shall come from the presence of the Lord: but the
wicked who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments,
and be punished with everlasting destruction from
the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His
power.(e)
(e) Matt.
25:31 to the end; Rom.
2:5, 6;
Rom.
9:22, 23;
Matt.
25:21; Acts
3:19; II Thess.
1:7, 8, 9, 10.
III. 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;(f) so will He have that day unknown to
men, that they may shake off all carnal security,
and be always watchful, because they know not at
what hour the Lord will come; and may be ever
prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly,
Amen.(g)
(f) II Pet. 3:11, 14; II Cor. 5:10, 11; II Thess. 1:5, 6, 7; Luke
21:27, 28;
Rom.
8:23, 24,
25.
(g) Matt.
24:36, 42,
43,
44;
Mark
13:35, 36,
37;
Luke
12:35, 36;
Rev.
22:20.