done in kirks conftituted and fettled: It being always free to the magiftrate to advise with fynods of ministers and ruling elders, meeting upon delegation from their churches, either ordinarily, or, being indicted by his authority, occafionally and pro re nata; it being alfo free to affemble together fynodically, as well pro re nata as at the ordinary times, upon delegation from the churches, by the intrinfical power received from Christ, as often as it is neceffary for the good of the Church so to affemble, in cafe the magistrate, to the detriment of the church, with-hold or deny his consent; the necessity of occafional affemblies being first remonftrate unto him by humble fupplication. A. KER.

Charles I. Parl. 2. Seff. 2. Act 16.

ACT anent the Catechisms, Confeffion of Faith, and ratification thereof.

T

At EDINBUGH, February 7. 1649.

HE Eftates of Parliament now presently conveened in this fecond Seffion of the fecond triennial Parliament, by virtue of an act of the committee of Estates, who had power and authority from the last Parliament for conveening the Parliament, having fcrioufly confidered the Catechifims, viz. the Larger and Shorter ones, with the Confeffion of Faith, with three acts of approbation thereof by the Commiffioners of the General Affembly, prefented unto them by the Commiffioners of the faid General Assembly; do ratify and approve the faid Catechifins, Confeffion of Faith, and Acts of approbation of the fame, produced as it is; and ordains them to be recorded, pub, lished, and practifed.

THE

CONFESSION of FAITH,

AGREED UPON BY THE

ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES

AT

WESTMINSTER,

WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF

сомMISSIONERS

FROM THE

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,

AS

A Part of the Covenanted Uniformity in Religion betwixt the Churches of CHRIST in the Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland.

Approved by the General Afssembly 1647, and ratified and establish ed by Act of Parliament 1649, and 1690, as the public and avowed CONFESSION of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND.

WITH THE PROOFS FROM THE SCRIPTURE.

EDINBURGH:

:

Printed for ALEXANDER KINCAID His Majesty's Printer,

MDCCLXXII.

**

CHAP.

THE CONTENTS.

I. OF the Holy Scripture.

II. Of God and of the Holy Trinity.

III. Of God's Eternal Decree.

IV. Of Creation.

V. Of Providence.

VI. Of the fall of Man, of Sin, and of the punishment

thereof.

VII. Of God's Covenant with Man.

VIII. Of Christ the Mediator.

XI. Of Free Will.

X. Of Effectual Calling.
XI. Of Fuftification.
XII. Of Adoption.

XIII. Of Sanctification.
XIV. Of Saving Faith.

XV. Of Repentance unto Life.

XVI. Of Good Works.

XVII. Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

XVIII. Of Affurance of Grace and Salvation.

XIX. Of the Law of God.

:

:

XX. Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Confcience. XXI. Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath-Day.

XXII. Of lawful Oaths and Vows.

XXIII. Of the Civil Magistrate.

XXIV. Of Marriage and Divorce.

XXV. Of the Church.

XXVI. Of Communion of Saints.

XXVII. Of the Sacraments.

XXVIII. Of Baptifm.

XXIX. Of the Lord's Supper.

XXX. Of Church-Cenfures.

XXXI. Of Synods and Councils.

XXXII. Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Re

furrection of the Dead.

XXXIII. Of the last Judgment.

A

THE

THE

CONFESSION OF FAITH,

Agreed upon by the Affembly of Divines at Westminster: Examined and approved anno 1647, by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND; and ratified by Act of Parliament 1649, and 1690.

A

CHAP. I. Of the Holy Scripture.

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

I. a Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves: v. 15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their confcience alfo bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or elfe excufing one another. Rom.i. 19. Because that which may be known of God, is manifest in them; for God hath fhewed it unto them. v. 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excufe. Pfal. xix. 1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy-work, v. 2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and B3

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

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

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

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