The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule
- of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, 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 inexcusable;
- yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will
- which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at
- sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare
- that his will unto his church; and afterward 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;
- which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former
- ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased. ( 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20;
- Romans 1:19-21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalms 19:1-3; Hebrews 1:1; Proverbs
- 22:19-21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19,20 )
-
-
Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now
- contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, 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 Solomon
-
-
Isaiah
-
-
Jeremiah
-
-
Lamentations,
-
-
-
-
-
Ezekiel
-
-
Daniel
-
-
Hosea
-
-
Joel
-
-
Amos
-
-
Obadiah
-
-
Jonah
-
-
Micah
-
-
Nahum
-
-
Habakkuk
-
-
Zephaniah
-
-
Haggai
-
-
Zechariah
-
-
Malachi
-
Of the New Testament:
-
-
Matthew
-
-
Mark
-
-
Luke
-
-
-
-
-
John
-
-
The Acts of the Apostles
-
-
Paul’s Epistle to the Romans
-
-
I Corinthians
-
-
II Corinthians
-
-
Galatians
-
-
Ephesians
-
-
Philippians, Colossians
-
-
I Thessalonians
-
-
II Thessalonians
-
-
I Timothy
-
-
II Timothy
-
-
To Titus
-
-
To Philemon
-
-
The Epistle to the Hebrews
-
-
Epistle of James
-
-
The first and second Epistles of Peter
-
-
The first, second, and third Epistles of John
-
-
-
-
-
The Epistle of Jude
-
-
The Revelation
-
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and
- life. ( 2 Timothy 3:16)
-
-
The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are
- no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no
- authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made
- use of than other human writings. ( Luke 24:27, 44; Romans 3:2 )
-
-
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed,
- dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon
- God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received
- because it is the Word of God. ( 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 John 5:9
- )
-
-
We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an
- high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the
- matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and 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, and many
- other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections 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. ( John 16:13,14; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12; 1 John 2:20, 27)
-
-
The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his
- own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set
- down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which
-
-
-
- nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the
- Spirit, or traditions of men. 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, 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. ( 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Galatians 1:8,9; John 6:45; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12; 1
- Corinthians 11:13, 14; 1 Corinthians 14:26,40)
-
-
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto
- all; 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 ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of
- them. ( 2 Peter 3:16; Psalms 19:7; Psalms 119:130)
-
-
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 authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church
- is finally to appeal to them. But because these original tongues are not
- known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in
- the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read and
- search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar
- language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God
- dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable
- manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have
- hope. ( Romans 3:2; Isaiah 8:20; Acts 15:15; John 5:39; 1 Corinthians 14:6, 9, 11,
- 12, 24, 28; Colossians 3:16 )
-
-
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 by other
-
-
-
- places that speak more clearly. ( 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Acts 15:15, 16)
-
-
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 Scripture delivered by
- the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally
- resolved. ( Matthew 22:29, 31, 32; Ephesians 2:20; Acts 28:23)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 2 CHAPTER 2: OF GOD AND OF THE HOLY TRINITY
-
-
The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose
- subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection;
- whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most
- pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only
- hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach
- unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty,
- every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute;
- working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and
- most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful,
- long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity,
- transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him,
- and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and
- who will by no means clear the guilty. ( 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12;
- Exodus 3:14; John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:15, 16; Malachi
- 3:6; 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23; Psalms 90:2; Genesis 17:1; Isaiah
- 6:3; Psalms 115:3; Isaiah 46:10; Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36; Exodus
- 34:6, 7; Hebrews 11:6; Nehemiah 9:32, 33; Psalms 5:5, 6; Exodus 34:7;
- Nahum 1:2, 3 )
-
-
God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is
- alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any
- creature which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, 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, and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to
- do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in
- his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite,
- infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him
- contingent or uncertain; he is most holy in all his counsels, in all his
- works, and in all his commands; to him is due from angels and men,
- whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto
- the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them. ( John 5:26; Psalms 148:13; Psalms 119:68; Job 22:2, 3; Romans
- 11:34-36; Daniel 4:25, 34, 35; Hebrews 4:13; Ezekiel 11:5; Acts 15:18;
- Psalms 145:17; Revelation 5:12-14 )
-
-
-
-
-
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father,
- the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity,
- each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the
- Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally
- begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and
- the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who
- is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several
- peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of
- the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and
- comfortable dependence on him. ( 1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Exodus 3:14; John
- 14:11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:14,18; John 15:26; Galatians 4:6 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 3 CHAPTER 3: OF GOD’S DECREE
-
-
God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise
- and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things,
- whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author
- of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to
- the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second
- causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears his wisdom
- in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his
- decree. ( Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15, 18; James
- 1:13; 1 John 1:5; Acts 4:27, 28; John 19:11; Numbers 23:19; Ephesians
- 1:3-5 )
-
-
Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon
- all supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed anything, because he
- foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such
- conditions. ( Acts 15:18; Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18 )
-
-
By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and
- angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus
- Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in
- their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice. ( 1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:34; Ephesians 1:5, 6; Romans 9:22, 23;
- Jude 4 )
-
-
These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are
- particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain
- and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished. ( 2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18 )
-
-
Those of mankind that are predestinated to 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, out of his mere free
- grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition
- or cause moving him thereunto. ( Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians
- 5:9; Romans 9:13, 16; Ephesians 2:5, 12 )
-
-
As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal
- and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto;
- wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by
- Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working
- in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power
- through faith unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ,
- or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the
- elect only. ( 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 10; Romans
- 8:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:5; John 10:26; John 17:9; John
- 6:64 )
-
-
The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled
- with special prudence and care, 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;
- so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration
- of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that
- sincerely obey the gospel. ( 1 Thessalonians 1:4, 5; 2 Peter 1:10; Ephesians 1:6; Romans 11:33;
- Romans 11:5, 6, 20; Luke 10:20 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 4 CHAPTER 4: OF CREATION
-
-
In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the
- manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness,
- to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or
- invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good. ( John 1:2, 3; Hebrews 1:2; Job 26:13; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16;
- Genesis 1:31 )
-
-
After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and
- female, with reasonable and immortal souls, rendering them fit unto
- that life to God for which they were created; being made after the
- image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; having
- the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it, and yet
- under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their
- own will, which was subject to change. ( Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:26; Romans
- 2:14, 15; Genesis 3:6 )
-
-
Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not
- to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which whilst they kept,
- they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over
- the creatures. ( Genesis 2:17; Genesis 1:26, 28 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 5 CHAPTER 5: OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
-
-
God the good Creator of all things, in his infinite power and wisdom
- doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from
- the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, to
- the end for the which they were created, according unto his infallible
- foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will; to
- the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness,
- and mercy. ( Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11; Isaiah 46:10, 11; Psalms 135:6; Matthew
- 10:29-31; Ephesians 1:11 )
-
-
Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first
- cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there
- is not anything befalls any by chance, or without his providence; yet
- by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the
- nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. ( Acts 2:23; Proverbs 16:33; Genesis 8:22)
-
-
God, in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is free to
- work without, above, and against them at his pleasure. ( Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10, 11; Hosea 1:7; Romans 4:19-21; Daniel
- 3:27 )
-
-
The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of
- God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that his determinate
- counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions
- both of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, which also
- he most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and
- governeth, in a manifold dispensation to his most holy ends; yet so, as
- the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures, and not
- from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be
- the author or approver of sin. ( Romans 11:32-34; 2 Samuel 24:1, 1 Chronicles 21:1; 2 Kings 19:28;
- Psalms 76;10; Genesis 1:20; Isaiah 10:6, 7, 12; Psalms 1:21; 1 John 2:16
- )
-
-
The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a
-
-
-
- season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions 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; 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 other
- just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his
- appointment, for his glory, and their good. ( 2 Chronicles 32:25, 26, 31; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Romans 8:28 )
-
-
As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous
- judge, for former sin doth blind and harden; from them he not only
- withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in
- their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts; but sometimes
- also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such
- objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives
- them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the
- power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves,
- under those means which God useth for the softening of others. ( Romans 1:24-26, 28; Romans 11:7, 8; Deuteronomy 29:4; Matthew
- 13:12; Deuteronomy 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12, 13; Psalms 81:11, 12; 2
- Thessalonians 2:10-12; Exodus 8:15, 32; Isaiah 6:9, 10; 1 Peter 2:7, 8 )
-
-
As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after
- a more special manner it taketh care of his church, and disposeth of all
- things to the good thereof. ( 1 Timothy 4:10; Amos 9:8, 9; Isaiah 43:3-5 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 6 CHAPTER 6: OF THE FALL OF MAN, OF SIN, AND OF THE
-PUNISHMENT THEREOF
-
-
Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a
- righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened
- death upon the breach thereof, yet he did not long abide in this honour;
- Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her
- seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress
- the law of their creation, and the command given unto them, in eating
- the forbidden fruit, which God was pleased, according to his wise and
- holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory. ( Genesis 2:16, 17; Genesis 3:12,13; 2 Corinthians 11:3 )
-
-
Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and
- communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all:
- all becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and
- parts of soul and body. ( Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12, etc; Titus 1:15; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah
- 17:9; Romans 3:10-19 )
-
-
They being the root, and by God’s appointment, standing in the
- room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and
- corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them
- by ordinary generation, being now conceived in sin, and by nature
- children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, and all
- other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus
- set them free. ( Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22, 45, 49; Psalms 51:5; Job
- 14:4; Ephesians 2:3; Romans 6:20 Romans 5:12; Hebrews 2:14, 15; 1
- Thessalonians 1:10 )
-
-
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed,
- disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil,
- do proceed all actual transgressions. ( Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21; James 1:14, 15; Matthew 15:19 )
-
-
The corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are
- regenerated; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified,
-
-
-
- yet both itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin. ( Romans 7:18,23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8; Romans 7:23-25;
- Galatians 5:17 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 7 CHAPTER 7: OF GOD’S COVENANT
-
-
The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although
- reasonable creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they
- could never have attained the reward of life but by some voluntary
- condescension on God’s part, which he hath been pleased to express by
- way of covenant. ( Luke 17:10; Job 35:7,8 )
-
-
Moreover, man having brought himself under the curse of the law by
- his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a 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; and promising to give
- unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life, his Holy Spirit, to
- make them willing and able to believe. ( Genesis 2:17; Galatians 3:10; Romans 3:20, 21; Romans 8:3; Mark
- 16:15, 16; John 3:16; Ezekiel 36:26, 27; John 6:44, 45; Psalms 110:3 )
-
-
This covenant is revealed in the gospel; first of all to Adam in the
- promise of salvation by the seed of the woman, and afterwards by
- farther steps, until the full discovery thereof was completed in the
- New Testament; and it is founded in that eternal covenant transaction
- that was between the Father and the Son about the redemption of
- the elect; and it is alone by the grace of this covenant that all the
- posterity of fallen Adam that ever were saved did obtain life and blessed
- immortality, man being now utterly incapable of acceptance with God
- upon those terms on which Adam stood in his state of innocency. ( Genesis 3:15; Hebrews 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 11:6,
- 13; Romans 4:1, 2, &c.; Acts 4:12; John 8:56 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 8 CHAPTER 8: OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR
-
-
It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord
- Jesus, his only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between
- them both, to be the mediator between God and man; the prophet,
- priest, and king; head and saviour of the church, the heir of all things,
- and judge of the world; unto whom he did from all eternity give a people
- to be his seed and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified,
- sanctified, and glorified. ( Isaiah 42:1; 1 Peter 1:19, 20; Acts 3:22; Hebrews 5:5, 6; Psalms 2:6;
- Luke 1:33; Ephesians 1:22, 23; Hebrews 1:2; Acts 17:31; Isaiah 53:10;
- John 17:6; Romans 8:30 )
-
-
The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, being very and
- eternal God, the brightness of the Father’s glory, of one substance and
- equal with him who made the world, who upholdeth and governeth all
- things he hath made, did, when the fullness of time was come, take
- upon him man’s nature, with all the essential properties and common
- infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the Holy Spirit
- in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon
- her: and the power of the Most High overshadowing her; and so was
- made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and
- David according to the Scriptures; so that two whole, perfect, and
- distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without
- conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and
- very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man. ( John 1:14; Galatians 4;4; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 2:14, 16, 17; Hebrews
- 4:15; Matthew 1:22, 23; Luke 1:27, 31, 35; Romans 9:5; 1 Timothy 2:5
- )
-
-
The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, in
- the person of the Son, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy
- Spirit above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and
- knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell,
- to the end that being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and
- truth, he might be throughly furnished to execute the office of mediator
- and surety; which office he took not upon himself, but was thereunto
- called by his Father; who also put all power and judgement in his hand,
- and gave him commandment to execute the same. ( Psalms 45:7; Acts 10:38; John 3:34; Colossians 2:3; Colossians 1:19;
- Hebrews 7:26; John 1:14; Hebrews 7:22; Hebrews 5:5; John 5:22, 27;
- Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:36 )
-
-
This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake, which that he
- might discharge he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil
- it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have
- borne and suffered, being made sin and a curse for us; enduring most
- grievous sorrows in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body;
- was crucified, and died, and remained in the state of the dead, yet saw
- no corruption: on the third day he arose from the dead with the same
- body in which he suffered, with which he also ascended into heaven,
- and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father making intercession,
- and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world. ( Psalms 40:7, 8; Hebrews 10:5-10; John 10:18; Gal 4:4; Matthew 3:15;
- Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew
- 26:37, 38; Luke 22:44; Matthew 27:46; Acts 13:37; 1 Corinthians 15:3,
- 4; John 20:25, 27; Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24;
- Acts 10:42; Romans 14:9, 10; Acts 1:11; 2 Peter 2:4 )
-
-
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 God, procured reconciliation, and purchased an
- everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom
- the Father hath given unto Him. ( Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:14; Romans 3:25, 26; John 17:2; Hebrews
- 9:15 )
-
-
Although the price of redemption was not actually paid by Christ till
- after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefit thereof were
- communicated to 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 which should bruise the
- serpent’s head; and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,
- being the same yesterday, and to-day and for ever. ( 1 Corinthians 4:10; Hebrews 4:2; 1 Peter 1:10, 11; Revelation 13:8;
- Hebrews 13:8 )
-
-
-
-
-
Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures, by
- each nature doing that which is proper to itself; 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. ( John 3:13; Acts 20:28 )
-
-
To all those for whom Christ hath obtained eternal redemption, he
- doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same, making
- intercession for them; uniting them to himself by his Spirit, revealing
- unto them, in and by his Word, the mystery of salvation, persuading
- them to believe and obey, governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit,
- and 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; and all of free and absolute grace, without
- any condition foreseen in them to procure it. ( John 6:37; John 10:15, 16; John 17:9; Romans 5:10; John 17:6;
- Ephesians 1:9; 1 John 5:20; Romans 8:9, 14; Psalms 110:1; 1 Corinthians
- 15:25, 26; John 3:8; Ephesians 1:8 )
-
-
This office of mediator between God and man is proper only to Christ,
- who is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God; and may not
- be either in whole, or any part thereof, transferred from him to any
- other. ( 1 Timothy 2:5 )
-
-
This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our
- ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetical office; and in respect of
- our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services,
- we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto
- God; and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to return to
- God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we
- need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and
- preserve us to his heavenly kingdom. ( John 1:18; Colossians 1:21; Galatians 5:17; John 16:8; Psalms 110:3;
- Luke 1:74, 75 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 9 CHAPTER 9: OF FREE WILL
-
-
God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power
- of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of
- nature determined to do good or evil. ( Matthew 17:12; James 1:14; Deuteronomy 30:19 )
-
-
Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do
- that which was good and well-pleasing to God, but yet was unstable,
- so that he might fall from it. ( Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 3:6 )
-
-
Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to
- any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being
- altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able by his
- own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto. ( Romans 5:6; Romans 8:7; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Titus 3:3-5; John 6:44 )
-
-
When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace,
- he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin, and by his grace
- alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually
- good; yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions, he doth
- not perfectly, nor only will, that which is good, but doth also will that
- which is evil. ( Colossians 1:13; John 8:36; Philippians 2:13; Romans 7:15, 18, 19, 21,
- 23 )
-
-
This will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone
- in the state of glory only. ( Ephesians 4:13 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 10 CHAPTER 10: OF EFFECTUAL CALLING
-
-
Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, he is pleased in his
- appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and
- Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to
- grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually
- and savingly to understand the things of God; taking away their heart
- of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills,
- and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good,
- and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most
- freely, being made willing by his grace. ( Romans 8:30; Romans 11:7; Ephesians 1:10, 11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13,
- 14; Ephesians 2:1-6; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17, 18; Ezekiel 36:26;
- Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:27; Ephesians 1:19; Psalm 110:3; Song of
- Solomon 1:4 )
-
-
This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from
- anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in
- the creature, being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and
- trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit; he is
- thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered
- and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised
- up Christ from the dead. ( 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:5; John
- 5:25; Ephesians 1:19, 20 )
-
-
Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ
- through the Spirit; who worketh when, and where, and how he pleases;
- so also are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called
- by the ministry of the Word. ( John 3:3, 5, 6; John 3:8 )
-
-
Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the
- Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not
- being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly
- come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men that
- receive not the Christian religion be saved; be they never so diligent to
- frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that
- religion they do profess. ( Matthew 22:14; Matthew 13:20, 21; Hebrews 6:4, 5; John 6:44, 45,
- 65; 1 John 2:24, 25; Acts 4:12; John 4:22; John 17:3 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 11 CHAPTER 11: OF JUSTIFICATION
-
-
Those whom God effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth, 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; not
- by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical
- obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ’s
- active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in his death
- for their whole and sole righteousness by faith, which faith they have
- not of themselves; it is the gift of God. ( Romans 3:24; Romans 8:30; Romans 4:5-8; Ephesians 1:7; 1
- Corinthians 1:30, 31; Romans 5:17-19; Philippians 3:8, 9; Ephesians
- 2:8-10; John 1:12; Romans 5:17 )
-
-
Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is
- the alone instrument of justification; yet it is not alone in the person
- justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is
- no dead faith, but worketh by love. ( Romans 3:28; Galatians 5:6; James 2:17, 22, 26 )
-
-
Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all
- those that are justified; and did, by the sacrifice of himself in the blood
- of his cross, undergoing in their stead the penalty due unto them, make
- a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice in their behalf; yet,
- inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them, and his obedience and
- satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything
- in them, their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact
- justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of
- sinners. ( Hebrews 10:14; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; Isaiah 53:5, 6; Romans 8:32; 2
- Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:26; Ephesians 1:6,7; Ephesians 2:7 )
-
-
God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, and Christ
- did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their
- justification; nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the
- Holy Spirit doth in time due actually apply Christ unto them. ( Galatians 3:8; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Timothy 2:6; Romans 4:25; Colossians
- 1:21,22; Titus 3:4-7 )
-
-
-
-
-
God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified, and
- although they can never fall from the state of justification, yet they
- may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure; and in that
- condition they have not usually the light of his countenance restored
- unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon,
- and renew their faith and repentance. ( Matthew 6:12; 1 John 1:7, 9; John 10:28; Psalms 89:31-33; Psalms
- 32:5; Psalms 51; Matthew 26:75 )
-
-
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. ( Galatians 3:9; Romans 4:22-24 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 12 CHAPTER 12: OF ADOPTION
-
-
All those that are justified, God vouchsafed, in and for the sake of
- his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption,
- by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and
- privileges of the children of God, have his name put upon them, receive
- the spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness,
- are enabled to cry Abba, Father, are pitied, protected, provided for,
- and chastened by him as by a Father, yet never cast off, but sealed to
- the day of redemption, and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting
- salvation. ( Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:4, 5; John 1:12; Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians
- 6:18; Revelation 3:12; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 2:18;
- Psalms 103:13; Proverbs 14:26; 1 Peter 5:7; Hebrews 12:6; Isaiah 54:8,
- 9; Lamentations 3:31; Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 1:14; Hebrews 6:12 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 13 CHAPTER 13: OF SANCTIFICATION
-
-
They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated,
- having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue
- of Christ’s death and resurrection, are also farther sanctified, really and
- personally, through the same virtue, by His Word and Spirit dwelling
- in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the
- several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified, and
- they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces,
- to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the
- Lord. ( Acts 20:32; Romans 6:5, 6; John 17:17; Ephesians 3:16-19; 1
- Thessalonians 5:21-23; Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:24; Colossians 1:11; 2
- Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14 )
-
-
This sanctification is throughout the whole man, yet imperfect in this
- life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part,
- whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting
- against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. ( 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 7:18, 23; Galatians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:11
- )
-
-
In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may
- much prevail, yet through the continual supply of strength from the
- sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome; and so
- the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing
- after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands
- which Christ as Head and King, in His Word hath prescribed them. ( Romans 7:23; Romans 6:14; Ephesians 4:15, 16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2
- Corinthians 7:1 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 14 CHAPTER 14: OF SAVING FAITH
-
-
The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the
- saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts,
- and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also,
- and by the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper, prayer,
- and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened. ( 2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:14, 17; Luke 17:5; 1
- Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32 )
-
-
By this faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in
- the Word for the authority of God himself, and also apprehendeth an
- excellency therein above all other writings and all things in the world, as
- it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ
- in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit
- in his workings and operations: and so is enabled to cast his soul upon
- the truth thus believed; and also acteth differently upon that which
- each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the
- commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises
- of God for this life and that which is to come; but the principal acts
- of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving,
- and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal
- life, by virtue of the covenant of grace. ( Acts 24:14; Psalms 27:7-10; Psalms 119:72; 2 Timothy 1:12; John
- 14:14; Isaiah 66:2; Hebrews 11:13; John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Galatians
- 2:20; Acts 15:11 )
-
-
This faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak or
- strong, yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature
- of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace
- of temporary believers; and therefore, though it may be many times
- assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory, growing up in many
- to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the
- author and finisher of our faith. ( Hebrews 5:13, 14; Matthew 6:30; Romans 4:19, 20; 2 Peter 1:1;
- Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 5:4, 5; Hebrews 6:11, 12; Colossians 2:2; Hebrews
- 12:2 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 15 CHAPTER 15: OF REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE AND
-SALVATION
-
-
Such of the elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived
- in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures,
- God in their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life. ( Titus 3:2-5 )
-
-
Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not, and the best
- of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption
- dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great
- sins and provocations; God hath, in the covenant of grace, mercifully
- provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through
- repentance unto salvation. ( Ecclesiastes 7:20; Luke 22:31, 32 )
-
-
This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being
- by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth,
- by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation
- of it, and self-abhorrency, praying for pardon and strength of grace,
- with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before
- God unto all well-pleasing in all things. ( Zechariah 12:10; Acts 11:18; Ezekiel 36:31; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Psalms
- 119:6; Psalms 119:128 )
-
-
As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives,
- upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof, so it
- is every man’s duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly. ( Luke 19:8; 1 Timothy 1:13, 15 )
-
-
Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the
- covenant of grace for the preservation of believers unto salvation; that
- although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; yet there
- is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on them that repent;
- which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary. ( Romans 6:23; Isaiah 1:16-18 Isaiah 55:7 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 16 CHAPTER 16: OF GOOD WORKS
-
-
Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his Holy Word,
- and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of
- blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intentions. ( Micah 6:8; Hebrews 13:21; Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13 )
-
-
These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the
- fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith; and by them believers
- manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their
- brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the
- adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in
- Christ Jesus thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness they may
- have the end eternal life. ( James 2:18, 22; Psalms 116:12, 13; 1 John 2:3, 5; 2 Peter 1:5-11;
- Matthew 5:16; 1 Timothy 6:1; 1 Peter 2:15; Philippians 1:11; Ephesians
- 2:10; Romans 6:22 )
-
-
Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly
- from the Spirit of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto,
- besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an
- actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to
- do of his good pleasure; yet they are 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. ( John 15:4, 5; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 2:13; Philippians 2:12;
- Hebrews 6:11, 12; Isaiah 64:7 )
-
-
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. ( Job 9:2, 3; Galatians 5:17; Luke 17:10 )
-
-
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; but when we have done all we can, we have done but
- our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because as they are good
- they proceed from his Spirit, 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 punishment. ( Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Romans 4:6; Galatians 5:22, 23; Isaiah
- 64:6; Psalms 143:2 )
-
-
Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through
- Christ, their good works also are accepted in him; not as though
- they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in God’s
- sight, 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. ( Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5; Matthew 25:21, 23; Hebrews 6:10 )
-
-
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; yet because they proceed not from a heart
- purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the word,
- nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and
- cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive grace from God,
- and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing to God. ( 2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27, 29; Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4, 6; 1
- Corinthians 13:1; Matthew 6:2, 5; Amos 5:21, 22; Romans 9:16; Titus
- 3:5; Job 21:14, 15; Matthew 25:41-43 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 17 CHAPTER 17: OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE
-SAINTS
-
-
Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and
- sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto,
- can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall
- certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing
- the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence he still
- begets and nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and
- all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms
- and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to
- take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened
- upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan,
- the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded
- and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure
- to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy
- their purchased possession, they being engraven upon the palm of his
- hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all
- eternity. ( John 10:28, 29; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:19; Psalms
- 89:31, 32; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Malachi 3:6 )
-
-
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, upon the efficacy of the
- merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him, the oath
- of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them,
- and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the
- certainty and infallibility thereof. ( Romans 8:30 Romans 9:11, 16; Romans 5:9, 10; John 14:19; Hebrews
- 6:17, 18; 1 John 3:9; Jeremiah 32:40 )
-
-
And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the
- world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect
- of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time
- continue therein, whereby they incur God’s displeasure and grieve his
- Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their
- hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize
- others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they
-
-
-
- renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus
- to the end. ( Matthew 26:70, 72, 74; Isaiah 64:5, 9; Ephesians 4:30; Psalms 51:10,
- 12; Psalms 32:3, 4; 2 Samuel 12:14; Luke 22:32, 61, 62 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 18 CHAPTER 18: OF THE ASSURANCE OF GRACE AND
-SALVATION
-
-
Although temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly
- deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being
- in the favour of God and state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall
- perish; 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, and
- may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never
- make them ashamed. ( Job 8:13, 14; Matthew 7:22, 23; 1 John 2:3; 1 John 3:14, 18, 19, 21,
- 24; 1 John 5:13; Romans 5:2, 5 )
-
-
This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion
- grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith
- founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the
- Gospel; and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit
- unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the Spirit of
- adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God;
- and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy. ( Hebrews 6:11, 19; Hebrews 6:17, 18; 2 Peter 1:4, 5, 10, 11; Romans
- 8:15, 16; 1 John 3:1-3 )
-
-
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; 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 means, attain thereunto: and therefore
- it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and
- election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy
- in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength
- and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this
- assurance; -so far is it from inclining men to looseness. ( Isaiah 50:10; Psalms 88; Psalms 77:1-12; 1 John 4:13; Hebrews 6:11,
- 12; Romans 5:1, 2, 5; Romans 14:17; Psalms 119:32; Romans 6:1,2;
- Titus 2:11, 12, 14 )
-
-
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, yet are they never
- destitute of the 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, and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from
- utter despair. ( Song of Songs 5:2, 3, 6; Psalms 51:8, 12, 14; Psalms 116:11; Psalms
- 77:7, 8; Psalms 31:22; Psalms 30:7; 1 John 3:9; Luke 22:32; Psalms 42:5,
- 11; Lamentations 3:26-31 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 19 CHAPTER 19: OF THE LAW OF GOD
-
-
God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience written in his heart, and
- a particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of
- good and evil; 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. ( Genesis 1:27; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:10, 12 )
-
-
The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be
- a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall, and was delivered by God
- upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables,
- the four first containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our
- duty to man. ( Romans 2:14, 15; Deuteronomy 10:4 )
-
-
Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the
- people of Israel ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances,
- partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and
- benefits; and partly holding forth divers instructions of moral duties, all
- which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time of reformation,
- are, by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only law-giver, who was
- furnished with power from the Father for that end abrogated and taken
- away. ( Hebrews 10:1; Colossians 2:17; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Colossians 2:14, 16,
- 17; Ephesians 2:14, 16 )
-
-
To them also he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together
- with the state of that people, not obliging any now by virtue of that
- institution; their general equity only being of moral use. ( 1 Corinthians 9:8-10 )
-
-
The moral law doth for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others,
- to the obedience thereof, 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; neither doth Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve, but
- much strengthen this obligation. ( Romans 13:8-10; James 2:8, 10-12; James 2:10, 11; Matthew 5:17-19;
- Romans 3:31 )
-
-
Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works,
- to be thereby justified or condemned, yet it is 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;
- discovering also the sinful pollutions of their natures, hearts, and
- lives, so as examining themselves thereby, they may come to further
- conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against, sin; together with
- a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of
- his obedience; it is likewise of use to the regenerate to restrain their
- corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threatenings of it serve to
- shew what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they
- may expect for them, although freed from the curse and unallayed
- rigour thereof. The promises of it likewise shew them God’s approbation
- of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance
- thereof, though not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works;
- so as 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. ( Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:16; Romans 8:1; Romans 10:4; Romans
- 3:20; Romans 7:7, etc; Romans 6:12-14; 1 Peter 3:8-13 )
-
-
Neither are the aforementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of
- the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it, 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. ( Galatians 3:21; Ezekiel 36:27 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 20 CHAPTER 20: OF THE GOSPEL, AND OF THE EXTENT OF
-THE GRACE THEREOF
-
-
The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto
- life, God was pleased to give forth the promise of Christ, the seed of the
- woman, as the means of calling the elect, and begetting in them faith
- and repentance; in this promise the gospel, as to the substance of it,
- was revealed, and [is] therein effectual for the conversion and salvation
- of sinners. ( Genesis 3:15; Revelation 13:8 )
-
-
This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only by the
- Word of God; neither do the works of creation or providence, with the
- light of nature, make discovery of Christ, or of grace by him, so much
- as in a general or obscure way; much less that men destitute of the
- revelation of Him by the promise or gospel, should be enabled thereby
- to attain saving faith or repentance. ( Romans 1:17; Romans 10:14,15,17; Proverbs 29:18; Isaiah 25:7; Isaiah
- 60:2, 3 )
-
-
The revelation of the gospel unto sinners, made in divers times and
- by sundry parts, with the addition of promises and precepts for the
- obedience required therein, as to the nations and persons to whom it
- is granted, is merely of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God;
- not being annexed by virtue of any promise to the due improvement
- of men’s natural abilities, by virtue of common light received without
- it, which none ever did make, or can do so; and therefore in all ages,
- the preaching of the gospel has been granted unto persons and nations,
- as to the extent or straitening of it, in great variety, according to the
- counsel of the will of God. ( Psalms 147:20; Acts 16:7; Romans 1:18-32 )
-
-
Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ
- and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet
- that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or
- regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work
- of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new
- spiritual life; without which no other means will effect their conversion
- unto God. ( Psalms 110:3; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 1:19, 20; John 6:44; 2
- Corinthians 4:4, 6 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 21 CHAPTER 21: OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY AND LIBERTY OF
-CONSCIENCE
-
-
The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel,
- consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath
- of God, the rigour and curse of the law, and in their being delivered
- from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin,
- from the evil of afflictions, the fear and sting of death, the victory of
- the grave, and ever- lasting damnation: as also in their free access to
- God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear,
- but a child-like love and willing mind. All which were common also
- to believers under the law for the substance of them; but under the
- New Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged, in their
- freedom from the yoke of a ceremonial law, to which the Jewish church
- was subjected, and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace,
- and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers
- under the law did ordinarily partake of. ( Galatians 3:13; Galatians 1:4; Acts 26:18; Romans 8:3; Romans 8:28; 1
- Corinthians 15:54-57; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Romans 8:15; Luke 1:73-75;
- 1 John 4:18; Galatians 3:9, 14; John 7:38, 39; Hebrews 10:19-21 )
-
-
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the
- doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary
- to his word, or not contained in it. So that to believe such doctrines,
- or obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of
- conscience; and the requiring of an implicit faith, an absolute and blind
- obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason also. ( James 4:12; Romans 14:4; Acts 4:19, 29; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Matthew
- 15:9; Colossians 2:20, 22, 23; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 1:24 )
-
-
They who upon pretence of Christian liberty do practice any sin, or
- cherish any sinful lust, as they do thereby pervert the main design of
- the grace of the gospel to their own destruction, so they wholly destroy
- the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the
- hands of all our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in
- holiness and righeousness before Him, all the days of our lives. ( Romans 6:1, 2; Galatians 5:13; 2 Peter 2:18, 21 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 22 CHAPTER 22: OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP AND THE
-SABBATH DAY
-
-
The light of nature shews that there is a God, who hath lordship
- and sovereignty over all; is just, 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 all the soul, and with all the might.
- 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 imagination and devices of men, nor the
- suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other
- way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures. ( Jeremiah 10:7; Mark 12:33; Deuteronomy 12:32; Exodus 20:4-6 )
-
-
Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy
- Spirit, and to him alone; not to angels, saints, or any other creatures;
- and since the fall, not without a mediator, nor in the mediation of any
- other but Christ alone. ( Matthew 4:9, 10; John 6:23; Matthew 28:19; Romans 1:25; Colossians
- 2:18; Revelation 19:10; John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5 )
-
-
Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is by God
- required of all men. But that it may be accepted, it is to be made
- in the name of the Son, by the help of the Spirit, according to his
- will; with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and
- perseverance; and when with others, in a known tongue. ( Psalms 95:1-7; Psalms 65:2; John 14:13, 14; Romans 8:26; 1 John
- 5:14; 1 Corinthians 14:16, 17 )
-
-
Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living,
- or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those of whom
- it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death. ( 1 Timothy 2:1, 2; 2 Samuel 7:29; 2 Samuel 12:21-23; 1 John 5:16 )
-
-
The reading of the Scriptures, preaching, and hearing the Word of
- God, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and
- spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; as also
- the administration of baptism, and the Lord’s supper, are all parts
-
-
-
- of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him,
- with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn
- humiliation, with fastings, and thanksgivings, upon special occasions,
- ought to be used in an holy and religious manner. ( 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:2; Luke 8:18; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians
- 5:19; Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Esther 4:16; Joel 2:12;
- Exodus 15:1-19, Psalms 107 )
-
-
Neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship, is now under the
- gospel, tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is
- performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped
- everywhere in spirit and in truth; as in private families daily, and in
- secret each one by himself; so more solemnly in the public assemblies,
- which are not carelessly nor wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when
- God by his word or providence calleth thereunto. ( John 4:21; Malachi 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:8; Acts 10:2; Matthew 6:11;
- Psalms 55:17; Matthew 6:6; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42 )
-
-
As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God’s
- appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in
- 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, 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, which
- is called the Lord’s day: and is to be continued to the end of the world
- as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week
- being abolished. ( Exodus 20:8; 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10 )
-
-
The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due
- preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand,
- do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words
- and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are
- also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his
- worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy. ( Isaiah 58:13; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Matthew 12:1-13 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 23 CHAPTER 23: OF LAWFUL OATHS AND VOW
-
-
A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the person swearing
- in truth, righteousness, and judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness
- what he sweareth, and to judge him according to the truth or falseness
- thereof. ( Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 10:20; Jeremiah 4:2; 2 Chronicles 6:22, 23
- )
-
-
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; 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; yet as in matter of
- weight and moment, for confirmation of truth, and ending all strife, an
- oath is warranted by the word of God; so a lawful oath being imposed
- by lawful authority in such matters, ought to be taken. ( Matthew 5:34, 37; James 5:12; Hebrews 6:16; 2 Corinthians 1:23;
- Nehemiah 13:25 )
-
-
Whosoever taketh an oath warranted by the Word of God, ought duly
- to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch
- nothing but what he knoweth to be truth; for that by rash, false, and
- vain oaths, the Lord is provoked, and for them this land mourns. ( Leviticus 19:12; Jeremiah 23:10 )
-
-
An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words,
- without equivocation or mental reservation. ( Psalms 24:4 ) (Ps. 24:4)
-
-
A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is
- to be made and performed with all religious care and faithfulness; but
- 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. ( Psalms 76:11; Genesis 28:20-22; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9; Ephesians 4:28;
- Matthew 19:11 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 24 CHAPTER 24: OF THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE
-
-
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 defence and encouragement of them that do good, and for
- the punishment of evil doers. ( Romans 13:1-4 )
-
-
It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate
- when called there unto; in the management whereof, as they ought
- especially to maintain justice and peace, according to the wholesome
- laws of each kingdom and commonwealth, so for that end they may
- lawfully now, under the New Testament wage war upon just and
- necessary occasions. ( 2 Samuel 23:3; Psalms 82:3, 4; Luke 3:14 )
-
-
Civil magistrates being set up by God for the ends aforesaid; subjection,
- in all lawful things commanded by them, ought to be yielded by us in
- the Lord, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake; and we ought to
- make supplications and prayers for kings and all that are in authority,
- that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness
- and honesty. ( Romans 13:5-7; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Timothy 2:1, 2 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 25 CHAPTER 25: OF MARRIAGE
-
-
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. ( Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:5,6 )
-
-
Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife, for
- the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and the preventing of
- uncleanness. ( Genesis 2:18; Genesis 1:28; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 9 )
-
-
It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment
- to give their consent; yet it is the duty of Christians to marry in the
- Lord; and therefore such as profess the true religion, should not marry
- with infidels, or idolaters; neither should such as are godly, be unequally
- yoked, by marrying with such as are wicked in their life, or maintain
- damnable heresy. ( Hebrews 13:4; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Corinthians 7:39; Nehemiah 13:25-27
- )
-
-
Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity,
- forbidden in the Word; 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. ( Leviticus 18; Mark 6:18; 1 Corinthians 5:1 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 26 CHAPTER 26: OF THE CHURCH
-
-
The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal
- work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called 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. ( Hebrews 12:23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:10, 22, 23; Ephesians
- 5:23, 27, 32 )
-
-
All persons throughout the world, professing the faith of the gospel, and
- obedience unto God by Christ according unto it, not destroying their
- own profession by any errors everting the foundation, or unholiness of
- conversation, are and may be called visible saints; and of such ought
- all particular congregations to be constituted. ( 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 11:26; Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:20-22 )
-
-
The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error;
- and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but
- synagogues of Satan; nevertheless Christ always hath had, and ever
- shall have a kingdom in this world, to the end thereof, of such as believe
- in him, and make profession of his name. ( 1 Corinthians 5; Revelation 2; Revelation 3; Revelation 18:2; 2
- Thessalonians 2:11, 12; Matthew 16:18; Psalms 72:17; Psalm 102:28;
- Revelation 12:17 )
-
-
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the
- appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order
- or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign
- manner; [!] neither 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;
- whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. ( Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11, 12; 2
- Thessalonians 2:2-9 )
-
-
In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord
- Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of
-
-
-
- his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father,
- that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he
- prescribeth to them in his word. Those thus called, he commandeth
- to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual
- edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he
- requireth of them in the world. ( John 10:16; John 12:32; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 18:15-20 )
-
-
The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly manifesting
- and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience
- unto that call of Christ; and do willingly consent to walk together,
- according to the appointment of Christ; giving up themselves to the
- Lord, and one to another, by the will of God, in professed subjection
- to the ordinances of the Gospel. ( Romans. 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 2:41, 42; Acts 5:13, 14; 2
- Corinthians 9:13 )
-
-
To each of these churches thus gathered, according to his mind declared
- in his word, he hath given all that power and authority, which is in any
- way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline,
- which he hath instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules
- for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power. ( Matthew 18:17, 18; 1 Corinthians 5:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 2
- Corinthians 2:6-8 )
-
-
A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to
- the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers
- appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so
- called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and
- execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them
- to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and
- deacons. ( Acts 20:17, 28; Philippians 1:1 )
-
-
The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and
- gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church,
- is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church
- itself; and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of
-
-
-
- hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted
- therein; and of a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set
- apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands. ( Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 6:3, 5, 6 )
-
-
The work of pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ, in
- his churches, in the ministry of the word and prayer, with watching for
- their souls, as they that must give an account to Him; it is incumbent
- on the churches to whom they minister, not only to give them all
- due respect, but also to communicate to them of all their good things
- according to their ability, so as they may have a comfortable supply,
- without being themselves entangled in secular affairs; and may also be
- capable of exercising hospitality towards others; and this is required by
- the law of nature, and by the express order of our Lord Jesus, who hath
- ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel. ( Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17, 18; Galatians 6:6, 7; 2
- Timothy 2:4; 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 9:6-14 )
-
1
-
-
Although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches,
- to be instant in preaching the word, by way of office, yet the work of
- preaching the word is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others
- also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it, and approved and called
- by the church, may and ought to perform it. ( Acts 11:19-21; 1 Peter 4:10, 11 )
-
1
-
-
As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches,
- when and where they have opportunity so to do; so all that are
- admitted unto the privileges of a church, are also under the censures
- and government thereof, according to the rule of Christ. ( 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14, 15 )
-
1
-
-
No church members, upon any offence taken by them, having performed
- their duty required of them towards the person they are offended
- at, ought to disturb any church-order, or absent themselves from the
-
-
-
- assemblies of the church, or administration of any ordinances, upon the
- account of such offence at any of their fellow members, but to wait
- upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church. ( Matthew 18:15-17; Ephesians 4:2, 3 )
-
1
-
-
As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually
- for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ, in all places,
- and upon all occasions to further it (every one within the bounds of
- their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces) so the
- churches (when planted by the providence of God so as they may enjoy
- opportunity and advantage for it) ought to hold communion among
- themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification. ( Ephesians 6:18; Psalms 122:6; Romans 16:1, 2; 3 John 8-10 )
-
1
-
-
In cases of difficulties or differences, either in point of doctrine or
- administration, wherein either the churches in general are concerned, or
- any one church, in their peace, union, and edification; or any member
- or members of any church are injured, in or by any proceedings in
- censures not agreeable to truth and order: it is according to the
- mind of Christ, that many churches holding communion together, do,
- by their messengers, meet to consider, and give their advice in or
- about that matter in difference, to be reported to all the churches
- concerned; howbeit these messengers assembled, are not intrusted with
- any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the
- churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any churches
- or persons; or to impose their determination on the churches or officers. ( Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23, 25; 2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 John 4:1 )
-
-
-
-
Chapter 27 CHAPTER 27: OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
-
-
All saints that are united to Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit,
- and faith, although they are not made thereby one person with him,
- have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory;
- and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each
- others gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such
- duties, public and private, in an orderly way, as do conduce to their
- mutual good, both in the inward and outward man. ( 1 John 1:3; John 1:16; Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:5, 6; Ephesians
- 4:15, 16; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Corinthians 3:21-23; 1 Thessalonians
- 5:11, 14; Romans 1:12; 1 John 3:17, 18; Galatians 6:10 )
-
-
Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and
- communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other
- spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving
- each other in outward things according to their several abilities, and
- necessities; which communion, according to the rule of the gospel,
- though especially to be exercised by them, in the relation wherein
- they stand, whether in families, or churches, yet, as God offereth
- opportunity, is to be extended to all the household of faith, even
- all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus;
- nevertheless their communion one with another as saints, doth not take
- away or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods
- and possessions. ( Hebrews 10:24, 25; Hebrews 3:12, 13; Acts 11:29, 30; Ephesians 6:4;
- 1 Corinthians 12:14-27; Acts 5:4; Ephesians 4:28 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 28 CHAPTER 28: OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
-
-
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of positive and sovereign
- institution, appointed by the Lord Jesus, the only lawgiver, to be
- continued in his church to the end of the world. ( Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:26 )
-
-
These holy appointments are to be administered by those only who are
- qualified and thereunto called, according to the commission of Christ. ( Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 4:1 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter 29 CHAPTER 29: OF BAPTISM
-
-
Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus
- Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with
- him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of
- remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to
- live and walk in newness of life. ( Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2;12; Galatians 3:27; Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16;
- Romans 6:4 )
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Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and
- obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of
- this ordinance. ( Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36, 37; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8 )
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The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the
- party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
- of the Holy Spirit. ( Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 8:38 )
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Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due
- administration of this ordinance. ( Matthew 3:16; John 3:23 )
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-
-
-
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Chapter 30 CHAPTER 30: OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
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The supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night
- wherein he was betrayed, to be observed in his churches, unto the end
- of the world, for the perpetual remembrance, and shewing forth the
- sacrifice of himself in his death, confirmation of the faith of believers
- in all the benefits thereof, their spiritual nourishment, and growth in
- him, their further engagement in, and to all duties which they owe to
- him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and
- with each other. ( 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17, 21 )
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In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor any real
- sacrifice made at all for remission of sin of the quick or dead, but only
- a memorial 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. So that the popish sacrifice of the mass, as they call it, is most
- abominable, injurious to Christ’s own sacrifice the alone propitiation
- for all the sins of the elect. ( Hebrews 9:25, 26, 28; 1 Corinthians 11:24; Matthew 26:26, 27 )
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The Lord Jesus hath, in this ordinance, appointed his ministers 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. ( 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, etc. )
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The denial of the cup to the people, worshipping the elements, the
- lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and reserving
- them for any pretended religious use, are all contrary to the nature of
- this ordinance, and to the institution of Christ. ( Matthew 26:26-28; Matthew 15:9; Exodus 20:4, 5 )
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The outward elements in this ordinance, duly set apart to the use
- ordained by Christ, have such relation to him crucified, as that truly,
- although in terms used figuratively, they are sometimes called by the
- names of the things they represent, to wit, the body and blood of
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- Christ, albeit, in substance and nature, they still remain truly and only
- bread and wine, as they were before. ( 1 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Corinthians 11:26-28 )
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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 ordinance, and hath been, and
- is, the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries. ( Acts 3:21; Luke 24:6, 39; 1 Corinthians 11:24, 25 )
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Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this
- ordinance, do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not
- carnally and corporally, but spiritually receive, and feed upon Christ
- crucified, and all the benefits of his death; the body and blood of Christ
- being then not corporally or carnally, but spiritually present to the
- faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to
- their outward senses. ( 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 )
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All ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion
- with Christ, so are they unworthy of the Lord’s table, and cannot,
- without great sin against him, while they remain such, partake of these
- holy mysteries, or be admitted thereunto; yea, whosoever shall receive
- unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and
- drinking judgment to themselves. ( 2 Corinthians 6:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 11:29; Matthew 7:6 )
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Chapter 31 CHAPTER 31: OF THE STATE OF MAN AFTER DEATH AND
-OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
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The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption;
- but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal
- subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of
- the righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are received into
- paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God in
- light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the
- souls of the wicked are cast into hell; where they remain in torment
- and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day; besides
- these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture
- acknowledgeth none. ( Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians
- 5:1, 6,8; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23; Jude 6, 7; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke
- 16:23, 24 )
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At the last day, such of the saints as are found alive, shall not sleep,
- but be changed; 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 forever. ( 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Job 19:26, 27; 1
- Corinthians 15:42, 43 )
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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. ( Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29; Philippians 3:21 )
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Chapter 32 CHAPTER 32: OF THE LAST JUDGMENT
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God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in
- righteousness, by Jesus Christ; to whom all power and judgment is
- given of the Father; in which day, not only the apostate angels shall
- be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon the 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. ( Acts 17:31; John 5:22, 27; 1 Corinthians 6:3; Jude 6; 2 Corinthians
- 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:10, 12; Matthew
- 25:32-46 )
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-
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 eternal 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 glory with everlasting rewards, in the
- presence of the Lord; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not
- the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast aside into everlasting torments,
- and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the
- Lord, and from the glory of his power. ( Romans 9:22, 23; Matthew 25:21, 34; 2 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 25:46;
- Mark 9:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 )
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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, so will he have the 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 ever be prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus; come quickly.
- Amen. ( 2 Corinthians 5:10, 11; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7; Mark 13:35-37; Luke
- 12:35-40; Revelation 22:20 )