lbc1689
LBC 1689 (What We Believe)
CHAPTER TITLES
1. Of the Holy Scriptures
2. Of God and the Holy Trinity
3. Of God's Decree
4. Of Creation
5. Of Divine Providence
6. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the
Punishment thereof
7. Of God's Covenant
8. Of Christ the Mediator
9. Of Free Will
10. Of Effectual Calling
11. Of Justification
12. Of Adoption
13. Of Sanctification
14. Of Saving Faith
15. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation
16. Of Good Works
17. Of the Perseverance of the Saints
18. Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
19. Of the Law of God
20. Of the Gospel and the Extent of Grace
thereof
21. Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of
Conscience
22. Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
23. Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
24. Of the Civil Magistrate
25. Of Marriage
26. Of the Church
27. Of the Communion of Saints
28. Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
29. Of Baptism
30. Of the Lord's Supper
31. Of the State of Man after Death, and of
the Resurrection of the Dead
32. Of the Last Judgment
THE BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH
CHAPTER 1
OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
Paragraph 1. The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient,
certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and
obedience,1 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 they
are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will
which is necessary unto salvation.2
Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in diversified
manners to reveal Himself, and to declare (that) His will unto His
church;3 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 makes the Holy Scriptures to be most
necessary, those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His
people being now completed.4
1 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Isa. 8:20; Luke 16:29,31; Eph.
2:20
2 Rom. 1:19-21, 2:14,15; Psalm 19:1-3
3 Heb. 1:1
4 Prov. 22:19-21; Rom. 15:4; 2 Pet. 1:19,20
Paragraph 2. 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 |
1 Kings |
Ecclesiastes |
Amos |
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:
Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians |
Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon |
Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation |
All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule
of faith and life.5
5 2 Tim. 3:16
Paragraph 3. 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.6
6 Luke 24:27,44; Rom. 3:2
Paragraph 4. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it
ought to be believed, depends 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.7
7 2 Pet. 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1
John 5:9
Paragraph 5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the
church of God to a 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 does 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.8
8 John 16:13,14; 1 Cor. 2:10-12; 1 John 2:20,27
Paragraph 6. 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.9
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,10 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.11
9 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Gal. 1:8,9
10 John 6:45; 1 Cor. 2:9-12
11 1 Cor. 11:13,14; 1 Cor. 14:26,40
Paragraph 7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in
themselves, nor alike clear unto all;12 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.13
12 2 Pet. 3:16
13 Ps. 19:7; Psalm 119:130
Paragraph 8. The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native
language of the people of God of old),14 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.15
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,16 and
search them,17 therefore they are to be
translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which
they come,18 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.19
14 Rom. 3:2
15 Isa. 8:20
16 Acts 15:15
17 John 5:39
18 1 Cor. 14:6,9,11,12,24,28
19 Col. 3:16
Paragraph 9. 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 are not
many, but one), it must be searched by other places that speak
more clearly.20
20 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; Acts 15:15, 16
Paragraph 10. 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.21
21 Matt. 22:29, 31, 32; Eph. 2:20; Acts 28:23
CHAPTER 2
OF GOD AND OF THE HOLY TRINITY
Paragraph 1. The Lord our God is but one only living and true
God;1 whose subsistence is in and of Himself,2
infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be
comprehended by any but Himself;3 a most pure
spirit,4 invisible, without body, parts, or
passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which
no man can approach unto;5 who is immutable,6
immense,7 eternal,8
incomprehensible, almighty,9 every way infinite,
most holy,10 most wise, most free, most absolute;
working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable
and most righteous will,11 for His own glory;12
most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in
goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;
the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him,13
and withal most just and terrible in His judgments,14
hating all sin,15 and who will by no means clear
the guilty.16
1 1 Cor. 8:4,6; Deut. 6:4
2 Jer. 10:10; Isa. 48:12
3 Exod. 3:14
4 John 4:24
5 1 Tim. 1:17; Deut. 4:15,16
6 Mal. 3:6
7 1 Kings 8:27; Jer. 23:23
8 Ps. 90:2
9 Gen. 17:1
10 Isa. 6:3
11 Ps. 115:3; Isa. 46:10
12 Prov. 16:4; Rom. 11:36
13 Exod. 34:6,7; Heb. 11:6
14 Neh. 9:32,33
15 Ps. 5:5,6
16 Exod. 34:7; Nahum 1:2,3
Paragraph 2. God, having all life,17 glory,18
goodness,19 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,20
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,21 and He hath most sovereign
dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon
them, whatsoever Himself pleases;22 in His sight
all things are open and manifest,23 His knowledge
is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as
nothing is to Him contingent or uncertain;24 He
is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works,25
and in all His commands; to Him is due from angels and men,
whatsoever worship,26 service, or obedience, as
creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever He is further
pleased to require of them.
17 John 5:26
18 Ps. 148:13
19 Ps. 119:68
20 Job 22:2,3
21 Rom. 11:34-36
22 Dan. 4:25,34,35
23 Heb. 4:13
24 Ezek. 11:5; Acts 15:18
25 Ps. 145:17
26 Rev. 5:12-14
Paragraph 3. In this divine and infinite Being there are three
subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit,27
of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole
divine essence, yet the essence undivided:28 the
Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is
eternally begotten of the Father;29 the Holy
Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son;30
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.
27 1 John 5:7; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
28 Exod. 3:14; John 14:11; I Cor. 8:6
29 John 1:14,18
30 John 15:26; Gal. 4:6
CHAPTER 3
OF GOD’S DECREE
Paragraph 1. 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;1
yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath
fellowship with any therein;2 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;3
in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and
faithfulness in accomplishing His decree.4
1 Isa. 46:10; Eph. 1:11; Heb. 6:17; Rom. 9:15,18
2 James 1:13; 1 John 1:5
3 Acts 4:27,28; John 19:11
4 Num. 23:19; Eph. 1:3-5
Paragraph 2. Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to
pass, upon all supposed conditions,5 yet hath He
not decreed anything, because He foresaw it as future, or as that
which would come to pass upon such conditions.6
5 Acts 15:18
6 Rom. 9:11,13,16,18
Paragraph 3. 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,7 to the praise
of His glorious grace;8 others being left to act
in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His
glorious justice.9
7 I Tim. 5:21; Matt. 25:34
8 Eph. 1:5,6
9 Rom. 9:22,23; Jude 4
Paragraph 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.10
10 2 Tim. 2:19; John 13:18
Paragraph 5. 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,11
without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause
moving Him thereunto.12
11 Eph. 1:4, 9, 11; Rom. 8:30; 2 Tim. 1:9; I
Thess. 5:9
12 Rom. 9:13,16; Eph. 2:5,12
Paragraph 6. 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;13 wherefore
they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by
Christ,14 are effectually called unto faith in
Christ, by His Spirit working in due season, are justified,
adopted, sanctified,15 and kept by His power
through faith unto salvation;16 neither are any
other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified,
adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.17
13 1 Pet. 1:2; 2; Thess. 2:13
14 1 Thess. 5:9, 10
15 Rom. 8:30; 2 Thess. 2:13
16 1 Pet. 1:5
17 John 10:26, 17:9, 6:64
Paragraph 7. 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;18
so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise,19
reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility,20
diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the
gospel.21
18 1 Thess. 1:4,5; 2 Pet. 1:10
19 Eph. 1:6; Rom. 11:33
20 Rom. 11:5,6,20
21 Luke 10:20
CHAPTER 4
OF CREATION
Paragraph 1. In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit,1 for the manifestation of the glory
of His eternal power,2 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.3
1 John 1:2,3; Heb. 1:2; Job 26:13
2 Rom. 1:20
3 Col. 1:16; Gen. 1:31
Paragraph 2. After God had made all other creatures, He created
man, male and female,4 with reasonable and
immortal souls,5 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;6
having the law of God written in their hearts,7
and power to fulfill it, and yet under a possibility of
transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which
was subject to change.8
4 Gen. 1:27
5 Gen. 2:7
6 Eccles. 7:29; Gen. 1;26
7 Rom. 2:14,15
8 Gen. 3:6
Paragraph 3. Besides the law written in their hearts, they
received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and
evil,9 which while they kept, they were happy in
their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.10
9 Gen. 2:17
10 Gen. 1:26,28
CHAPTER 5
OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
Paragraph 1. God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite
power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all
creatures and things,1 from the greatest even to
the least,2 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.3
1 Heb. 1:3; Job 38:11; Isa. 46:10,11; Ps. 135:6
2 Matt. 10:29-31
3 Eph. 1;11
Paragraph 2. Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree
of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and
infallibly;4 so that there is not anything
befalls any by chance, or without His providence;5
yet by the same providence He ordered them to fall out according
to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or
contingently.6
4 Acts 2:23
5 Prov. 16:33
6 Gen. 8:22
Paragraph 3. God, in his ordinary providence makes use of means,7
yet is free to work without,8 above,9
and against them10 at His pleasure.
7 Acts 27:31, 44; Isa. 55:10, 11
8 Hosea 1:7
9 Rom. 4:19-21
10 Dan. 3:27
Paragraph 4. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and
infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in His
providence, that His determinate counsel extends itself even to
the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and
men;11 and that not by a bare permission, which
also He most wisely and powerfully binds, and otherwise orders and
governs,12 in a manifold dispensation to His most
holy ends;13 yet so, as the sinfulness of their
acts proceeds 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.14
11 Rom. 11:32-34; 2 Sam. 24:1; 1 Chron. 21:1
12 2 Kings 19:28; Ps. 76:10
13 Gen. 1:20; Isa. 10:6,7,12
14 Ps. 1;21; 1 John 2:16
Paragraph 5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God does
often times 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.15 So that
whatsoever befalls any of His elect is by His appointment, for His
glory, and their good.16
15 2 Chron. 32:25,26,31; 2 Cor. 12:7-9
16 Rom. 8:28
Paragraph 6. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the
righteous judge, for former sin does blind and harden;17
from them He not only withholds His grace, whereby they might have
been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their
hearts;18 but sometimes also withdraws the gifts
which they had,19 and exposes them to such
objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin;20
and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of
the world, and the power of Satan,21 whereby it
comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which
God uses for the softening of others.22
17 Rom. 1;24-26,28, 11:7,8
18 Deut. 29:4
19 Matt. 13:12
20 Deut. 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12,13
21 Ps. 81:11,12; 2 Thess. 2:10-12
22 Exod. 8:15,32; Isa. 6:9,10; 1 Pet. 2:7,8
Paragraph 7. As the providence of God does in general reach to
all creatures, so after a more special manner it takes care of His
church, and disposes of all things to the good thereof.23
23 1 Tim. 4:10; Amos 9:8,9; Isa. 43:3-5
CHAPTER 6
OF THE FALL OF MAN, OF SIN, AND OF THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF
Paragraph 1. 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,1
yet he did not long abide in this honor; 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 to them, in eating the
forbidden fruit,2 which God was pleased,
according to His wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed
to order it to His own glory.
1 Gen. 2:16,17
2 Gen. 3:12,13; 2 Cor. 11:3
Paragraph 2. Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their
original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them
whereby death came upon all:3 all becoming dead
in sin,4 and wholly defiled in all the faculties
and parts of soul and body.5
3 Rom. 3:23
4 Rom 5:12, etc.
5 Titus 1:15; Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10-19
Paragraph 3. 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,6
being now conceived in sin,7 and by nature
children of wrath,8 the servants of sin, the
subjects of death,9 and all other miseries,
spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them
free.10
6 Rom. 5:12-19; 1 Cor. 15:21,22,45,49
7 Ps. 51:5; Job 14:4
8 Eph. 2:3
9 Rom. 6:20, 5:12
10 Heb. 2:14,15; 1 Thess. 1:10
Paragraph 4. From this original corruption, whereby we are
utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and
wholly inclined to all evil,11 do proceed all
actual transgressions.12
11 Rom. 8:7; Col. 1:21
12 James 1:14,15; Matt. 15:19
Paragraph 5. The corruption of nature, during this life, does
remain in those that are regenerated;13 and
although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both
itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.14
13 Rom. 7:18,23; Eccles. 7:20; 1 John 1:8
14 Rom. 7:23-25; Gal. 5:17
CHAPTER 7
OF GOD’S COVENANT
Paragraph 1. 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.1
1 Luke 17:10; Job 35:7,8
Paragraph 2. Moreover, man having brought himself under the curse
of the law by his fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of
grace,2 wherein He freely offers unto sinners
life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in
Him, that they may be saved;3 and promising to
give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life, His Holy
Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.4
2 Gen. 2:17; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 3:20,21
3 Rom. 8:3; Mark 16:15,16; John 3:16;
4 Ezek. 36:26,27; John 6:44,45; Ps. 110:3
Paragraph 3. This covenant is revealed in the gospel; first of
all to Adam in the promise of salvation by the seed of the woman,5
and afterwards by farther steps, until the full discovery thereof
was completed in the New Testament;6 and it is
founded in that eternal covenant transaction that was between the
Father and the Son about the redemption of the elect;7
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.8
5 Gen. 3:15
6 Heb. 1:1
7 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2
8 Heb. 11;6,13; Rom. 4:1,2, &c.; Acts 4:12;
John 8:56
CHAPTER 8
OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR
Paragraph 1. 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;1 the prophet,2 priest,3 and king;4 head and savior of the
church,5 the heir of all things,6 and judge of the world;7 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.8
1 Isa. 42:1; 1 Pet. 1:19,20
2 Acts 3:22
3 Heb. 5:5,6
4 Ps. 2:6; Luke 1:33
5 Eph. 1:22,23
6 Heb. 1:2
7 Acts 17:31
8 Isa. 53:10; John 17:6; Rom. 8:30
Paragraph 2. 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 upholds and governs all things He has made, did, when
the fullness of time was complete, take upon Him man's nature,
with all the essential properties and common infirmities of it,9
yet without sin;10 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;11 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.12
9 John 1:14; Gal. 4;4
10 Rom. 8:3; Heb. 2:14,16,17, 4:15
11 Matt. 1:22, 23
12 Luke 1:27,31,35; Rom. 9:5; 1 Tim. 2:5
Paragraph 3. 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,13 having in
Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge;14
in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell,15
to the end that being holy, harmless, undefiled,16
and full of grace and truth,17 He might be
throughly furnished to execute the office of mediator and surety;18
which office He took not upon himself, but was thereunto called by
His Father;19 who also put all power and
judgement in His hand, and gave Him commandment to execute the
same.20
13 Ps. 45:7; Acts 10:38; John 3:34
14 Col. 2:3
15 Col. 1:19
16 Heb. 7:26
17 John 1:14
18 Heb. 7:22
19 Heb. 5:5
20 John 5:22,27; Matt. 28:18; Acts 2;36
Paragraph 4. This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly
undertake,21 which that He might discharge He was
made under the law,22 and did perfectly fulfill
it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have
born and suffered,23 being made sin and a curse
for us;24 enduring most grievous sorrows in His
soul, and most painful sufferings in His body;25
was crucified, and died, and remained in the state of the dead,
yet saw no corruption:26 on the third day He
arose from the dead27 with the same body in which
He suffered,28 with which He also ascended into
heaven,29 and there sits at the right hand of His
Father making intercession,30 and shall return to
judge men and angels at the end of the world.31
21 Ps. 40:7,8; Heb. 10:5-10; John 10:18
22 Gal 4:4; Matt. 3:15
23 Gal. 3:13; Isa. 53:6; 1 Pet. 3:18
24 2 Cor. 5:21
25 Matt. 26:37,38; Luke 22:44; Matt. 27:46
26 Acts 13:37
27 1 Cor. 15:3,4
28 John 20:25,27
29 Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-11
30 Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24
31 Acts 10:42; Rom. 14:9,10; Acts 1:11; 2 Pet.
2:4
Paragraph 5. The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience and
sacrifice of Himself, which He through the eternal Spirit once
offered up to God, has fully satisfied the justice of God,32
procured reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance
in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father has given
unto Him.33
32 Heb. 9:14, 10:14; Rom. 3:25,26
33 John 17:2; Heb. 9:15
Paragraph 6. Although the price of redemption was not actually
paid by Christ until 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;34
and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,35
being the same yesterday, and today and for ever.36
34 1 Cor. 4:10; Heb. 4:2; 1 Pet. 1:10, 11
35 Rev. 13:8
36 Heb. 13:8
Paragraph 7. Christ, in the work of mediation, acts 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.37
37 John 3:13; Acts 20:28
Paragraph 8. To all those for whom Christ has obtained eternal
redemption, He does certainly and effectually apply and
communicate the same, making intercession for them;38
uniting them to Himself by His Spirit, revealing to them, in and
by His Word, the mystery of salvation, persuading them to believe
and obey,39 governing their hearts by His Word
and Spirit,40 and overcoming all their enemies by
His almighty power and wisdom,41 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.42
38 John 6:37, 10:15,16, 17:9; Rom. 5:10
39 John 17:6; Eph. 1:9; 1 John 5:20
40 Rom. 8:9,14
41 Ps. 110:1; 1 Cor. 15:25,26
42 John 3:8; Eph. 1:8
Paragraph 9. 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.43
43 Tim. 2:5
Paragraph 10. This number and order of offices is necessary; for
in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of His prophetical
office;44 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;45 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.46
44 John 1:18
45 Col. 1:21; Gal. 5:17
46 John 16:8; Ps. 110:3; Luke 1:74,75
CHAPTER 9
OF FREE WILL
Paragraph 1. God has 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.1
1 Matt. 17:12; James 1:14; Deut. 30:19
Paragraph 2. Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and
power to will and to do that which was good and well-pleasing to
God,2 but yet was unstable, so that he might fall
from it.3
2 Eccles. 7:29
3 Gen. 3:6
Paragraph 3. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has wholly
lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying
salvation;4 so as a natural man, being altogether
averse from that good, and dead in sin,5 is not
able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself
thereunto.6
4 Rom. 5:6, 8:7
5 Eph. 2:1,5
6 Titus 3:3-5; John 6:44
Paragraph 4. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into
the state of grace, He frees him from his natural bondage under
sin,7 and by His grace alone enables him freely
to will and to do that which is spiritually good;8
yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions, he does not
perfectly, nor only will, that which is good, but does also will
that which is evil.9
7 Col. 1:13; John 8:36
8 Phil. 2:13
9 Rom. 7:15,18,19,21,23
Paragraph 5. This will of man is made perfectly and immutably
free to good alone in
the state of glory only.10
10 Eph. 4:13
CHAPTER 10
OF EFFECTUAL CALLING
Paragraph 1. Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, He is
pleased in His appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call,1
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;2
enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand
the things of God;3 taking away their heart of
stone, and giving to them a heart of flesh;4
renewing their wills, and by His almighty power determining them
to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus
Christ;5 yet so as they come most freely, being
made willing by His grace.6
1 Rom. 8:30, 11:7; Eph. 1:10,11; 2 Thess. 2:13,14
2 Eph. 2:1-6
3 Acts 26:18; Eph. 1:17,18
4 Ezek. 36:26
5 Deut. 30:6; Ezek. 36:27; Eph. 1:19
6 Ps. 110:3; Cant. 1:4
Paragraph 2. 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,7 being
wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until
being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit;8
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.9
7 2 Tim. 1:9; Eph. 2:8
8 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:5; John 5:25
9 Eph. 1:19, 20
Paragraph 3. Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and
saved by Christ through the Spirit;10 who works
when, and where, and how He pleases;11 so also
are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called
by the ministry of the Word.
10 John 3:3, 5, 6
11 John 3:8
Paragraph 4. Others not elected, although they may be called by
the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of
the Spirit,12 yet not being effectually drawn by
the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and
therefore cannot be saved:13 much less can men
that do not receive 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.14
12 Matt. 22:14, 13:20,21; Heb 6:4,5
13 John 6:44,45,65; 1 John 2:24,25
14 Acts 4:12; John 4:22, 17:3
CHAPTER 11
OF JUSTIFICATION
Paragraph 1. Those whom God effectually calls, he also freely
justifies,1 not by infusing righteousness into
them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting
their persons as righteous;2 not for anything
wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone;3
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,4 which faith they have not of themselves;
it is the gift of God.5
1 Rom. 3:24, 8:30
2 Rom. 4:5-8, Eph. 1:7
3 1 Cor. 1:30,31, Rom. 5:17-19
4 Phil. 3:8,9; Eph. 2:8-10
5 John 1:12, Rom. 5:17
Paragraph 2. Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his
righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;6
yet is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied
with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but works by
love.7
6 Rom. 3:28
7 Gal.5:6, James 2:17,22,26
Paragraph 3. Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully
discharge the debt of all those who are justified; and did, by the
sacrifice of himself in the blood of his cross, undergoing in
their stead the penalty due to them, make a proper, real, and full
satisfaction to God’s justice in their behalf;8
yet, in as much 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,9 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.10
8 Heb. 10:14; 1 Pet. 1:18,19; Isa. 53:5,6
9 Rom. 8:32; 2 Cor. 5:21
10 Rom. 3:26; Eph. 1:6,7, 2:7
Paragraph 4. God did from all eternity decree to justify all the
elect,11 and Christ did in the fullness of time
die for their sins, and rise again for their justification;12
nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy
Spirit in time does actually apply Christ to them.13
11 Gal. 3:8, 1 Pet. 1:2, 1 Tim. 2:6
12 Rom. 4:25
13 Col. 1:21,22, Titus 3:4-7
Paragraph 5. God continues to forgive the sins of those that are
justified,14 and although they can never fall
from the state of justification,15 yet they may,
by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure;16
and in that condition they usually do not have the light of his
countenance restored to them, until they humble themselves,
beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.17
14 Matt. 6:12, 1 John 1:7,9
15 John 10:28
16 Ps. 89:31-33
17 Ps. 32:5, Ps. 51, Matt. 26:75
Paragraph 6. 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.18
18 Gal. 3:9; Rom. 4:22-24
CHAPTER 12
OF ADOPTION
Paragraph 1. All those that are justified, God conferred, in and
for the sake of his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of
the grace of adoption,1 by which they are taken
into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the
children of God,2 have his name put on them,3
receive the spirit of adoption,4 have access to
the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry Abba,
Father,5 are pitied,6 protected,7
provided for,8 and chastened by him as by a
Father,9 yet never cast off,10
but sealed to the day of redemption,11 and
inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.12
1 Eph. 1:5; Gal. 4:4,5
2 John 1:12; Rom. 8:17
3 2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 3:12
4 Rom. 8:15
5 Gal. 4:6; Eph. 2:18
6 Ps. 103:13
7 Prov. 14:26; 1 Pet. 5:7
8 Heb. 12:6
9 Isa. 54:8, 9
10 Lam. 3:31
11 Eph. 4:30
12 Heb. 1:14, 6:12
CHAPTER 13
OF SANCTIFICATION
Paragraph 1. 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,1
through the same virtue, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them;2
the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,3
and the several lusts of it are more and more weakened and
mortified,4 and they more and more quickened and
strengthened in all saving graces,5 to the
practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the
Lord.6
1 Acts 20:32; Rom. 6:5,6
2 John 17:17; Eph. 3:16-19; 1 Thess. 5:21-23
3 Rom. 6:14
4 Gal. 5:24
5 Col. 1:11
6 2 Cor. 7:1; Heb. 12:14
Paragraph 2. This sanctification is throughout the whole man,7
yet imperfect in this life; there abides still some remnants of
corruption in every part,8 wherefrom arises a
continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the
Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.9
7 1 Thess. 5:23
8 Rom. 7:18, 23
9 Gal. 5:17; 1 Pet. 2:11
Paragraph 3. In which war, although the remaining corruption for
a time may much prevail,10 yet, through the
continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of
Christ, the regenerate part does overcome;11 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 has
prescribed to them.12
10 Rom. 7:23
11 Rom. 6:14
12 Eph. 4:15,16; 2 Cor. 3:18, 7:1
CHAPTER 14
OF SAVING FAITH
Paragraph 1. 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,1 and is ordinarily
wrought by the ministry of the Word;2 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.3
1 2 Cor. 4:13; Eph. 2:8
2 Rom. 10:14,17
3 Luke 17:5; 1 Pet. 2:2; Acts 20:32
Paragraph 2. By this faith a Christian believes to be true
whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the authority of God
himself,4 and also apprehends an excellency
therein above all other writings and all things in the world,5
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 consequently believed;6
and also acts differently upon that which each particular passage
thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands,7
trembling at the threatenings,8 and embracing the
promises of God for this life and that which is to come;9
but the principle 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.10
4 Acts 24:14
5 Ps. 19:7-10, 69:72
6 2 Tim. 1:12
7 John 15:14
8 Isa. 116:2
9 Heb. 11:13
10 John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Gal 2:20; Acts 15:11
Paragraph 3. This faith, although it be in different stages, and
may be weak or strong,11 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;12 and therefore, though it may be many
times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory,13
growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through
Christ,14 who is both the author and finisher of
our faith.15
11 Heb. 5:13,14; Matt. 6:30; Rom. 4:19,20
12 2 Pet. 1:1
13 Eph. 6:16; 1 John 5:4,5
14 Heb. 6:11,12; Col. 2:2
15 Heb. 12:2
CHAPTER 15
OF REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE AND SALVATION
Paragraph 1. Such of the elect that are converted at riper years,
having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served
divers pleasures, God in their effectual calling gives them
repentance to life.1
1 Titus 3:2-5
Paragraph 2. Whereas there is none that does good and does not
sin,2 and the best of men may, through the power
and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the
prevalency of temptation, fall in to great sins and provocations;
God has, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that
believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance
unto salvation.3
2 Eccles. 7:20
3 Luke 22:31,32
Paragraph 3. This saving repentance is an evangelical grace,4
whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the
manifold evils of his sin, does, by faith in Christ, humble
himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and
self-abhorrancy,5 praying for pardon and strength
of grace, with a purpose and endeavor, by supplies of the Spirit,
to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.6
4 Zech. 12:10; Acts 11:18
5 Ezek. 36:31; 2 Cor. 7:11
6 Ps. 119:6,128
Paragraph 4. 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.7
7 Luke 19:8; 1 Tim. 1:13,15
Paragraph 5. Such is the provision which God has 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,8 yet there is no sin so great
that it shall bring damnation to them that repent,9
which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.
8 Rom. 6:23
9 Isa. 1:16-18, 55:7
CHAPTER 16
OF GOOD WORKS
Paragraph 1. Good works are only such as God has commanded in his
Holy Word,1 and not such as without the warrant
thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense
of good intentions.2
1 Mic. 6:8; Heb. 13:21
2 Matt. 15:9; Isa. 29:13
Paragraph 2. These good works, done in obedience to God’s
commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively
faith;3 and by them believers manifest their
thankfulness,4 strengthen their assurance,5
edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel,6
stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glory God,7
whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto,8
that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end
eternal life.9
3 James 2:18,22
4 Ps. 116:12,13
5 1 John 2:3,5; 2 Pet. 1:5-11
6 Matt. 5:16
7 1 Tim. 6:1; 1 Pet. 2:15; Phil. 1:11
8 Eph. 2:10
9 Rom 6:22
Paragraph 3. Their ability to do good works is not all of
themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ;10
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 and to will and to do of his
good pleasure;11 yet they are 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.12
10 John 15:4,5
11 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 2:13
12 Phil. 2:12; Heb. 6:11,12; Isa. 64:7
Paragraph 4. 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.13
13 Job 9:2, 3; Gal. 5:17; Luke 17:10
Paragraph 5. 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;14
but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and
are unprofitable servants; and because they are good they proceed
from his Spirit,15 and as they are wrought by us
they are defiled and mixed with so much weekness and imperfection,
that they cannot endure the severity of God’s punishment.16
14 Rom. 3:20; Eph. 2:8,9; Rom. 4:6
15 Gal. 5:22,23
16 Isa. 64:6; Ps. 43:2
Paragraph 6. Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being
accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in
him;17 not as thought they were in this life
wholly unblamable 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
imperfection.18
17 Eph. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:5
18 Matt. 25:21,23; Heb. 6:10
Paragraph 7. Works done by unregenerate men, although for the
matter of them they may things which God commands, and of good use
both to themselves and to others;19 yet because
they proceed not from a heart purified by faith,20
nor are done in a right manner according to the Word,21
nor to a right end, the glory of God,22 they are
therfore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to
receive the grace from God,23 and yet their
neglect fo them is more sinful and displeasing to God.24
19 2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27,29
20 Gen. 4:5; Heb. 11:4,6
21 1 Cor. 13:1
22 Matt. 6:2,5
23 Amos 5:21,22; Rom. 9:16; Titus 3:5
24 Job 21:14,15; Matt. 25:41-43
CHAPTER 17
OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Paragraph 1. Those whom God has 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, from which source he still
begets and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope,
and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality;1
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,2 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 engraved upon
the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the
book of life from all eternity.3
1 John 10:28,29; Phil. 1:6; 2 Tim. 2:19; 1 John
2:19
2 Ps. 89:31,32; 1 Cor. 11:32
3 Mal. 3:6
Paragraph 2. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon
their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of
election,4 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,5
the oath of God,6 the abiding of his Spirit, and
the seed of God within them,7 and the nature of
the covenant of grace;8 from all which ariseth
also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
4 Rom. 8:30, 9:11,16
5 Rom. 5:9, 10; John 14:19
6 Heb. 6:17,18
7 1 John 3:9
8 Jer. 32:40
Paragraph 3. 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,9 whereby
they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit,10
come to have their graces and comforts impaired,11
have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded,12
hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon
themselves,13 yet shall they renew their
repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the
end.14
9 Matt. 26:70,72,74
10 Isa. 64:5,9; Eph. 4:30
11 Ps. 51:10,12
12 Ps. 32:3,4
13 2 Sam. 12:14
14 Luke 22:32,61,62
CHAPTER 18
OF THE ASSURANCE OF GRACE AND SALVATION
Paragraph 1. Although temporary believers and other unregenerate
men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal
presumptions of being in the favor of God and in a state of
salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish;1
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,2
which hope shall never make them ashamed.3
1 Job 8:13,14; Matt. 7:22,23
2 1 John 2:3, 3:14,18,19,21,24, 5:13
3 Rom. 5:2,5
Paragraph 2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and
probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an
infallible assurance of faith,4 founded on the
blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel;5
and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit
unto which promises are made,6 and on the
testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits
that we are the children of God;7 and, as a fruit
thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy.8
4 Heb. 6:11,19
5 Heb. 6:17,18
6 2 Pet. 1:4,5,10,11
7 Rom. 8:15,16
8 1 John 3:1-3
Paragraph 3. This infallible assurance does not so belong to the
essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and
struggle with many difficulties before he be partaker of it;9
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:10
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;11
-so far is it from inclining men to looseness.12
9 Isa. 50:10; Ps. 88; Ps. 77:1-12
10 1 John 4:13; Heb. 6:11,12
11 Rom. 5:1,2,5, 14:17; Ps. 119:32
12 Rom. 6:1,2; Titus 2:11,12,14
Paragraph 4. True believers may have the assurance of their
salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by
negligence in preserving of it,13 by falling into
some special sin which wounds the conscience and grieves the
Spirit;14 by some sudden or vehement temptation,15
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,16
yet are they never destitute of the seed of God17
and life of faith,18 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,19 and by the which, in the
meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.20
13 Cant. 5:2,3,6
14 Ps. 51:8,12,14
15 Ps. 116:11; 77:7,8, 31:22
16 Ps. 30:7
17 1 John 3:9
18 Luke 22:32
19 Ps. 42:5,11
20 Lam. 3:26-31
CHAPTER 19
OF THE LAW OF GOD
Paragraph 1. 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;1
by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire,
exact, and perpetual obedience;2 promised life
upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it,
and endued him with power and ability to keep it.3
1 Gen. 1:27; Eccles. 7:29
2 Rom. 10:5
3 Gal. 3:10,12
Paragraph 2. The same law that was first written in the heart of
man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the
fall,4 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.5
4 Rom. 2:14,15
5 Deut. 10:4
Paragraph 3. 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;6
and partly holding forth divers instructions of moral duties,7
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.8
6 Heb. 10:1; Col. 2:17
7 1 Cor. 5:7
8 Col. 2:14,16,17; Eph. 2:14,16
Paragraph 4. 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 modern use.9
9 1 Cor. 9:8-10
Paragraph 5. The moral law does for ever bind all, as well
justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof,10
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;11
neither does Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve, but much
strengthen this obligation.12
10 Rom. 13:8-10; James 2:8,10-12
11 James 2:10,11
12 Matt. 5:17-19; Rom. 3:31
Paragraph 6. Although true believers are not under the law as a
covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned,13
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;14
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 show 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 show 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 encourages to the one and deters from the
other, is no evidence of his being under the law and not under
grace.15
13 Rom. 6:14; Gal. 2:16; Rom. 8:1, 10:4
14 Rom. 3:20, 7:7, etc.
15 Rom. 6:12-14; 1 Pet. 3:8-13
Paragraph 7. Neither are the aforementioned uses of the law
contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with
it,16 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, requires to be done.17
16 Gal. 3:21
17 Ezek. 36:27
CHAPTER 20
OF THE GOSPEL AND OF THE EXTENT OF THE GRACE THEREOF
Paragraph 1. 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;1
in this promise the gospel, as to the substance of it, was
revealed, and [is] therein effectual for the conversion and
salvation of sinners.2
1 Gen. 3:15
2 Rev. 13:8
Paragraph 2. This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is
revealed only by the Word of God;3 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;4 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.5
3 Rom. 1;17
4 Rom. 10:14,15,17
5 Prov. 29:18; Isa. 25:7; 60:2,3
Paragraph 3. The revelation of the gospel to 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;6 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 made, or can do so;7 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.
6 Ps. 147:20; Acts 16:7
7 Rom. 1:18-32
Paragraph 4. 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;8
without which no other means will effect their conversion unto
God.9
8 Ps. 110:3; 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 1:19,20
9 John 6:44; 2 Cor. 4:4,6
CHAPTER 21
OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY AND LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE
Paragraph 1. The liberty which Christ has purchased for believers
under the gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin,
the condemning wrath of God, the severity and curse of the law,1
and in their being delivered from this present evil world,2
bondage to Satan,3 and dominion of sin,4
from the evil of afflictions,5 the fear and sting
of death, the victory of the grave,6 and
everlasting damnation:7 as also in their free
access to God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of
slavish fear,8 but a child-like love and willing
mind.9 All which were common also to believers
under the law for the substance of them;10 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.11
1 Gal. 3:13
2 Gal. 1:4
3 Acts 26:18
4 Rom. 8:3
5 Rom. 8:28
6 1 Cor. 15:54-57
7 2 Thess. 1:10
8 Rom. 8:15;
9 Luke 1:73-75; 1 John 4:18
10 Gal. 3;9,14
11 John 7:38,39; Heb. 10:19-21
Paragraph 2. God alone is Lord of the conscience,12
and has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men
which are in any thing contrary to his word, or not contained in
it.13 So that to believe such doctrines, or
obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of
conscience;14 and the requiring of an implicit
faith, an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of
conscience and reason also.15
12 James 4:12; Rom. 14:4
13 Acts 4:19,29; 1 Cor. 7:23; Matt. 15:9
14 Col. 2:20,22,23
15 1 Cor. 3:5; 2 Cor. 1:24
Paragraph 3. 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,16 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.17
16 Rom. 6:1,2
17 Gal. 5:13; 2 Pet. 2:18,21
CHAPTER 22
OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP AND THE SABBATH DAY
Paragraph 1. The light of nature shows that there is a God, who
has lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and does good
to 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.1 But the acceptable
way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself,2
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.3
1 Jer. 10:7; Mark 12:33
2 Deut. 12:32
3 Exod. 20:4-6
Paragraph 2. Religious worship is to be given to God the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, and to him alone;4 not to
angels, saints, or any other creatures;5 and
since the fall, not without a mediator,6 nor in
the mediation of any other but Christ alone.7
4 Matt. 4:9,10; John 6:23; Matt. 28:19
5 Rom. 1:25; Col. 2:18; Rev. 19:10
6 John 14:6
7 1 Tim. 2:5
Paragraph 3. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of natural
worship, is by God required of all men.8
But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the
Son,9 by the help of the Spirit,10 according to
his will;11 with understanding, reverence,
humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with
others, in a known tongue.12
8 Ps. 95:1-7, 65:2
9 John 14:13,14
10 Rom. 8:26
11 1 John 5:14
12 1 Cor. 14:16,17
Paragraph 4. Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all
sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter;13
but not for the dead,14 nor for those of whom it
may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.15
13 1 Tim. 2:1,2; 2 Sam. 7:29
14 2 Sam. 12:21-23
15 1 John 5:16
Paragraph 5. The reading of the Scriptures,16
preaching, and hearing the Word of God,17
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord;18
as also the administration of baptism,19 and the
Lord's supper,20 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,21 and thanksgivings,
upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious
manner.22
16 1 Tim. 4:13
17 2 Tim. 4:2; Luke 8:18
18 Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19
19 Matt. 28:19,20
20 1 Cor. 11:26
21 Esther 4:16; Joel 2:12
22 Exod. 15:1-19, Ps. 107
Paragraph 6. 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;23 as in private families24
daily,25 and in secret each one by himself;26
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 calls thereunto.27
23 John 4:21; Mal. 1:11; 1 Tim. 2:8
24 Acts 10:2
25 Matt. 6:11; Ps. 55:17
26 Matt. 6:6
27 Heb. 10:25; Acts 2:42
Paragraph 7. 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 has particularly
appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him,28
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:29 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.
28 Exod. 20:8
29 1 Cor. 16:1,2; Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:10
Paragraph 8. 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 a holy rest all day,
from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly
employment and recreations,30 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.31
30 Isa. 58:13; Neh. 13:15-22
31 Matt. 12:1-13
CHAPTER 23
OF LAWFUL OATHS AND VOWS
Paragraph 1. A lawful oath is a part of religious worship,
wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgment,
solemnly calls God to witness what he swears,1
and to judge him according to the truth or falseness thereof.2
1 Exod. 20:7; Deut. 10:20; Jer. 4:2
2 2 Chron. 6:22, 23
Paragraph 2. 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;3 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;4
so a lawful oath being imposed by lawful authority in such
matters, ought to be taken.5
3 Matt. 5:34,37; James 5:12
4 Heb. 6:16; 2 Cor. 1:23
5 Neh. 13:25
Paragraph 3. Whosoever takes 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 knows to be truth; for
that by rash, false, and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked, and for
them this land mourns.6
6 Lev. 19:12; Jer. 23:10
Paragraph 4. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense
of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation.7
7 Ps. 24:4
Paragraph 5. 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;8 but popish monastical vows of
perpetual single life,9 professed poverty,10
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.11
8 Ps. 76:11; Gen. 28:20-22
9 1 Cor. 7:2,9
10 Eph. 4:28
11 Matt. 19:1
CHAPTER 24
OF THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE
Paragraph 1. God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, has
ordained civil magistrates to be under him, over the people, for
his own glory and the public good; and to this end has armed them
with the power of the sword, for defence and encouragement of them
that do good, and for the punishment of evil doers.1
1 Rom. 13:1-4
Paragraph 2. It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute
the office of a magistrate when called thereunto; in the
management whereof, as they ought especially to maintain justice
and peace,2 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.3
2 2 Sam. 23:3; Ps. 82:3,4
3 Luke 3:14
Paragraph 3. 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;4 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.5
4 Rom. 13:5-7; 1 Pet. 2:17
5 1 Tim. 2:1,2
CHAPTER 25
OF MARRIAGE
Paragraph 1. 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.1
1 Gen. 2:24; Mal. 2:15; Matt. 19:5,6
Paragraph 2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband
and wife,2 for the increase of mankind with a
legitimate issue,3 and the preventing of
uncleanness.4
2 Gen. 2:18
3 Gen. 1:28
4 1 Cor. 7:2,9
Paragraph 3. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who
are able with judgment to give their consent;5
yet it is the duty of Christians to marry in the Lord;6
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.7
5 Heb. 13:4; 1 Tim. 4:3
6 1 Cor. 7:39
7 Neh. 13:25-27
Paragraph 4. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of
consanguinity or affinity, forbidden in the Word;8
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.9
8 Lev. 18
9 Mark 6:18; 1 Cor. 5:1
CHAPTER 26
OF THE CHURCH
Paragraph 1. 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 fills all in all.1
1 Heb. 12:23; Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:10,22,23,
5:23,27,32
Paragraph 2. 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;2 and of such ought
all particular congregations to be constituted.3
2 1 Cor. 1:2; Acts 11:26
3 Rom. 1:7; Eph. 1:20-22
Paragraph 3. The purest churches under heaven are subject to
mixture and error;4 and some have so degenerated
as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan;5
nevertheless Christ always has 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.6
4 1 Cor. 5; Rev. 2,3
5 Rev. 18:2; 2 Thess. 2:11,12
6 Matt. 16:18; Ps. 72:17, 102:28; Rev. 12:17
Paragraph 4. 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;7 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 exalts himself in the
church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord
shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.8
7 Col. 1:18; Matt. 28:18-20; Eph. 4:11,12
8 2 Thess. 2:2-9
Paragraph 5. In the execution of this power wherewith he is so
intrusted, the Lord Jesus calls out of the world unto himself,
through the ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are
given unto him by his Father,9 that they may walk
before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribes to
them in his word.10 Those thus called, he
commands to walk together in particular societies, or churches,
for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that
public worship, which he requires of them in the world.11
9 John 10:16; John 12:32
10 Matt. 28:20
11 Matt. 18:15-20
Paragraph 6. 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;12
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.13
12 Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2
13 Acts 2:41,42, 5:13,14; 2 Cor. 9:13
Paragraph 7. To each of these churches therefore gathered,
according to his mind declared in his word, he has given all that
power and authority, which is in any way needful for their
carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he has
instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules for the
due and right exerting, and executing of that power.14
14 Matt. 18:17, 18; 1 Cor. 5:4, 5, 5:13, 2 Cor.
2:6-8
Paragraph 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.15
15 Acts 20:17, 28; Phil. 1:1
Paragraph 9. 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;16 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;17 and of a deacon that he be chosen by
the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like
imposition of hands.18
16 Acts 14:23
17 1 Tim. 4:14
18 Acts 6:3,5,6
Paragraph 10. 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;19 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,20 so as they may have
a comfortable supply, without being themselves entangled in
secular affairs;21 and may also be capable of
exercising hospitality towards others;22 and this
is required by the law of nature, and by the express order of our
Lord Jesus, who has ordained that they that preach the Gospel
should live of the Gospel.23
19 Acts 6:4; Heb. 13:17
20 1 Tim. 5:17,18; Gal. 6:6,7
21 2 Tim. 2:4
22 1 Tim. 3:2
23 1 Cor. 9:6-14
Paragraph 11. 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.24
24 Acts 11:19-21; 1 Pet. 4:10,11
Paragraph 12. 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.25
25 1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:6,14,15
Paragraph 13. 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.26
26 Matt. 18:15-17; Eph. 4:2,3
Paragraph 14. 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,27 in all places, and upon all
occasions to further 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.28
27 Eph. 6:18; Ps. 122:6
28 Rom. 16:1,2; 3 John 8-10
Paragraph 15. 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;29
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.30
29 Acts 15:2,4,6,22,23,25
30 2 Cor. 1:24; 1 John 4:1
CHAPTER 27
OF THE COMMUNION OF THE SAINTS
Paragraph 1. 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;1 and, being
united to one another in love, they have communion in each others
gifts and graces,2 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.3
1 1 John 1:3; John 1:16; Phil. 3:10; Rom. 6:5,6
2 Eph. 4:15,16; 1 Cor. 12:7; 3:21-23
3 1 Thess. 5:11,14; Rom. 1:12; 1 John 3:17,18;
Gal. 6:10
Paragraph 2. 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;4
as also in relieving each other in outward things according to
their several abilities, and necessities;5 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,6 or churches,7
yet, as God offers 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, does not take away or infringe the title or
propriety which each man has in his goods and possessions.8
4 Heb. 10:24,25, 3:12,13
5 Acts 11:29,30
6 Eph. 6:4
7 1 Cor. 12:14-27
8 Acts 5:4; Eph. 4:28
CHAPTER 28
OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
Paragraph 1. 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.1
1 Matt. 28:19,20; 1 Cor. 11:26
Paragraph 2. These holy appointments are to be administered by
those only who are qualified and thereunto called, according to
the commission of Christ.2
2 Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 4:1
CHAPTER 29
OF BAPTISM
Paragraph 1. 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;3 of remission of sins;4
and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk
in newness of life.5
3 Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; Gal. 3:27
4 Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16
5 Rom. 6:4
Paragraph 2. 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.6
6 Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36,37, 2:41, 8:12, 18:8
Paragraph 3. 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.7
7 Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 8:38
Paragraph 4. Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is
necessary to the due administration of this ordinance.8
8 Matt. 3:16; John 3:23
CHAPTER 30
OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Paragraph 1. 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 showing to all the world the sacrifice of himself
in his death,1 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.2
1 1 Cor. 11:23-26
2 1 Cor. 10:16,17,21
Paragraph 2. 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;3
and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God for the
same.4 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.
3 Heb. 9:25,26,28
4 1 Cor. 11:24; Matt. 26:26,27
Paragraph 3. 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.5
5 1 Cor. 11:23-26, etc.
Paragraph 4. 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.6
6 Matt. 26:26-28, 15:9, Exod. 20:4,5
Paragraph 5. 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, in other words, the body and blood of Christ,7
albeit, in substance and nature, they still remain truly and only
bread and wine, as they were before.8
7 1 Cor. 11:27
8 1 Cor. 11:26-28
Paragraph 6. 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,9 but even to common sense and reason,
overthrows the nature of the ordinance, and has been, and is, the
cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries.10
9 Acts 3:21; Luke 14:6,39
10 1 Cor. 11:24,25
Paragraph 7. 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.11
11 1 Cor. 10:16, 11:23-26
Paragraph 8. 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;12 yea, whosoever shall receive
unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating
and drinking judgment to themselves.13
12 2 Cor. 6:14,15
13 1 Cor. 11:29; Matt. 7:6
CHAPTER 31
OF THE STATE OF MAN AFTER DEATH, AND OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
Paragraph 1. The bodies of men after death return to dust, and
see corruption;1 but their souls, which neither
die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return
to God who gave them.2 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;3 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;4
besides these two places, for souls separated from their bodies,
the Scripture acknowledgeth none.
1 Gen. 3:19; Acts 13:36
2 Eccles. 12:7
3 Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:1,6,8; Phil. 1:23; Heb.
12:23
4 Jude 6, 7; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 16:23,24
Paragraph 2. At the last day, such of the saints as are found
alive, shall not sleep, but be changed;5 and all
the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and none
other;6 although with different qualities, which
shall be united again to their souls forever.7
5 1 Cor. 15:51,52; 1 Thess. 4:17
6 Job 19:26,27
7 1 Cor. 15:42,43
Paragraph 3. 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.8
8 Acts 24:15; John 5:28,29; Phil. 3:21
CHAPTER 32
OF THE LAST JUDGMENT
Paragraph 1. God has appointed a day wherein he will judge the
world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ;1 to whom
all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not
only the apostate angels shall be judged,2 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.3
1 Acts 17:31; John 5:22,27
2 1 Cor. 6:3; Jude 6
3 2 Cor. 5:10; Eccles. 12:14; Matt. 12:36; Rom.
14:10,12; Matt. 25:32-46
Paragraph 2. 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;4 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 do not know God, and do
not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast aside into
everlasting torments,5 and punished with
everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from
the glory of his power.6
4 Rom. 9:22,23
5 Matt. 25:21,34; 2 Tim. 4:8
6 Matt. 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thess. 1:7-10
Paragraph 3. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded
that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from
sin,7 and for the greater consolation of the
godly in their adversity,8 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,9 and may ever be prepared to say,
Come Lord Jesus; come quickly.10 Amen.
7 2 Cor. 5:10,11
8 2 Thess. 1:5-7
9 Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-40
10 Rev. 22:20
ENDING STATEMENT AND SIGNATORIES
We the MINISTERS, and MESSENGERS of, and concerned for upwards of, one hundred BAPTIZED CHURCHES, in England and Wales (denying Arminianisim), being met together in London, from the third of the seventh month to the eleventh of the same, 1689, to consider of some things that might be for the glory of God, and the good of these congregations, have thought meet (for the satisfaction of all other Christians that differ from us in the point of Baptism) to recommend to their perusal the confession of our faith, which confession we own, as containing the doctrine of our faith and practice, and do desire that the members of our churches respectively do furnish themselves therewith.
Hansard Knollys, Pastor Broken Wharf, London
William Kiffin, Pastor Devonshire-square, London
John Harris, Pastor, Joiner's Hall, London
William Collins, Pastor, Petty France, London
Hurcules Collins, Pastor, Wapping, London
Robert Steed, Pastor, Broken Wharf, London
Leonard Harrison,Pastor, Limehouse, London
George Barret, Pastor, Mile End Green, London
Isaac Lamb, Pastor, Pennington-street, London
Richard Adams, Minister, Shad Thames, Southwark
Benjamin Keach, Pastor, Horse-lie-down, Southwark
Andrew Gifford, Pastor, Bristol, Fryars, Som. & Glouc.
Thomas Vaux, Pastor, Broadmead, Som. & Glouc.
Thomas Winnel, Pastor, Taunton, Som. & Glouc.
James Hitt, Preacher, Dalwood, Dorset
Richard Tidmarsh, Minister, Oxford City, Oxon
William Facey, Pastor, Reading, Berks
Samuel Buttall, Minister, Plymouth, Devon
Christopher Price, Minister, Abergayenny, Monmouth
Daniel Finch, Minister, Kingsworth, Herts
John Ball, Minister, Tiverton, Devon
Edmond White, Pastor, Evershall, Bedford
William Prichard, Pastor, Blaenau, Monmouth
Paul Fruin, Minister, Warwick, Warwick
Richard Ring, Pastor, Southhampton, Hants
John Tomkins, Minister, Abingdon, Berks
Toby Willes, Pastor, Bridgewater, Somerset
John Carter, Pastor, Steventon, Bedford
James Webb, Pastor, Devizes, Wilts
Richard Sutton, Pastor, Tring, Herts
Robert Knight, Pastor, Stukeley, Bucks
Edward Price, Pastor, Hereford City, Hereford
William Phipps, Pastor, Exon, Devon
William Hawkins, Pastor, Dimmock, Gloucester
Samuel Ewer, Pastor, Hemstead, Herts
Edward Man, Pastor, Houndsditch, London
Charles Archer, Pastor, Hock-Norton, Oxon
In the name of and on the behalf of the
whole assembly.