ter, the Efficacy of the Doctrine, the Majefty of the Stile, the Consent of all the Parts, the Scope of the Whole, (which is, to give all Glory to God) the full Discovery it makes of the only Way of Man's Salvation, the many other incomparable Excellencies, and the entire Perfec tion thereof, are Arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithftanding our full Perfwafion and Affurance of the infal lible Truth and Divine Authority thereof, is from the inward Work of the Holy Spirit, bearing Witness by and with the Word, in our Hearts ..

11 John 2. 20,27. John 16. 13,14. 1 Cor. 2. 10,11, 12. Ifa. 59. 21.

VI. The whole Counfel of God, concerning all Things neceffary for his own Glory, Man's Salvation, Faith, and Life, is either exprefly fet down in Scripture, or by good and neceffary Confequence may be deduced from Scripture; unto which nothing at any Time is to be added, whether by new Revelations of the Spirit, or Traditions of Men . Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward Illumination of the Spirit of God to be neceffary, for the faving Understanding of fuch Things as are revealed in the Word n: And that there are fome Circumstances concerning the Worfhip of God, and Government of the Church, common to human Actions and Societies, which are to be ordered by the Light of Nature and Chriftian Prudence, according to the general Rules of the Word, which are always to be obferved o.

m 2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17. Gal. 1. 8, 9. 2 Thef. 2. 2. n John 6. 45. 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10, 12. 1 Cor. 11. 13, 14. I Cor. 14. 26, 40.

VII. All Things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all p Yet thofe Things which are neceffary to be known, believed and obferved for Salvation, are fo clearly propounded and opened in fome Place of Scripture or other, that not only the Learned, but the Unlearned, in a due Ufe of the ordina

p 2 Pet. 3. 16.

ту

ry Means, may attain unto a fufficient Understanding of them q.

q Pfal. 119. 105, 130.

VIII. The old Teftament in Hebrew, (which was the Native Language of the People of God of old) and the New Testament in Greek (which at the Time of the Writing of it was most generally known to the Nations) being immediately infpired by God, and by his fingular Care and Providence kept pure in all Ages, are therefore Authentical r; fo as, in all Controverfies of Religion, the Church is finally to appeal unto them. But, becaule thefe original Tongues are not known to all the People of God, who have Right unto, and Interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded, in the Fear of God, to read and fearch themt; therefore they are to be tranflated into the vulgar Language of every Nation unto which they come u, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable Manner w; and, through Patience and Com fort of the Scriptures, may have hape x.

Mat. 5. 18. Ifa. 8. 20. Acts 15. 15. John 5. 39, 45. t John 5. 39. u 1 Cor. 14. 6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 27, 28. Col. 3. 16, Rom. 15. 4.

IX. The infallible Rule of Interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a Question about the true and full Senfe of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one) it must be fearched and known by other Places that speak more clearly y. * 2 Pet. I 20, 21. Acts 15, 15, 16.

X. The Supreme Judge, by which all Controverfies of Religion are to be determined, and all Decrees of Counfels, Opinions of ancient Writers, Doctrines of Men, and privare Spirits, are to be examined, and, in whofe Sentence we are to rest; can be no other but the Holy Spirit Speaking in the Scripture z.

Mat. 22. 29, 31. Eph. 2. 20. with Acts 28. 25.

T

Here is but One only a, living and true God b; who is Infinite in Being and Perfection c, a most pure Spirit d, Invifible e, without Body, Parts f, or Paffions g, Immutable h, Immense i, Eternal k, Incomprehenfible, Almighty m, moft Wife n, moft Holy, moft Free p, moft Abfolute q, working all Things according to the Counfel of his own immutable and most righteous Will r, for his own Glory, moft Loving t, Gracious, Merciful, Long-fuffering, abundant in Goodnefs and Truth, forgiving Iniquity, Tranfgreffion and Sinu, the Rewarder of them that diligently feek him w`; and withal, moft Juft and Terrible in his Judgments x, hating all Siny, and who will by no means clear the Guilty z.

་

a Deut. 6. 4. 1 Cor. 8. 4, 6. b 1 Thef. 1. 9. Jerem. 10. 10. Job 11. 7, 8, 9. Job 26. 14. d John 4. 24. e 1 Tim. 1. 17. f Deut. 4. 15, 16. John 4. 24, with Luke 24. 39. g Acts 14. 11, 15. h James 1. 17. Mal. 3. 6. 1 Kings 8. 27. Jer. 23. 23, 24. k Pfal. 90. 2. 1 Tim. 1. 17. /Pfal. 145. 3. m Gen. 17. 1. Rev. 4. 8. n Rom. 16. 27. • Ifa. 6. 3. Rev. 4. 8. P Pfal: 115.3. q Exod. 3. 14. r Eph. 1. 11. Prov. 16. 14. Rom. II 36. John 4. 8, 16. u Exod. 34. 6, 7. w Heb. 11.6. Nehem. 9. 32, 33. y Pfal. 5. 5, 6. z Neh. 1. Exod. 34. 7.

2, 3.

II. God hath all Life a, Glory b, Goodness c, Bleffednefs d, in and of himself; and is alone in, and unto himself All-fufficient, not standing in Need of any Creatures which he hath made e, nor deriving any Glory from them f, but only manifefting 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

a John 5. 26. b A&ts 7. 2 c Pfal 119. 68. di Thef. 6. 15. Rom. 9 5. e Acts 17. 24, 25. ƒ Job 22, 2, 3.

all Things g; and hath most fovereign Dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatfoever himself pleaseth h. In his Sight all Things are open and manifefti, his Knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the Creature k, fo as nothing is to him contingent, or uncertain. He is moft Holy in all his Counfels, in all his Works, and in all his Commands m. To him is due from Angels and Men, and every other Creature, whatsoever Worship, Service, or Obedience he is pleafed ro require of them n.

g Rom. 11. 36. h Rev. 4. II. 1 Tim. 6. 15. Dan.4: 25, 35. i Heb. 4. 13. k Rom. 11. 33. 34. Pfal. 147. 5. Acts 15. 18. Ezek. 11.5. m Pfal. 145. 17. Rom. 7. 12. n Rev. 5. 12, 13, 14.

III. In the Unity of the God-head there be Three Perfons, of one Substance, Power, and Eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost o The Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding: The Son is eternally begotten of the Father p; the Holy Ghoft eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son q.

• 1 John 5. 7. Mat. 3. 1617. Mat. 28. 19. Cor. 13. 14. John 1. 14, 19 John 1. 15, 26. Gal. 4. 6.

CHA P. III.

Of God's Eternal Decree.

God from all Eternity Will, freely, and unchangea

Od from all Eternity did, by the most wife and ho

bly ordain whatsoever comes to pass a: Yet fo, as thereby neither is God the Author of Sin b, nor is Violence offered to the Will of the Creatures, nor is the Liberty or Contingency of fecond Caufes taken away, but rather established c.

a Eph. 1. 11. Rom. 11. 33. Heb. 6. 17 Rom. 9. 15, 18. 6 James I. 13, 17. I John 1. 5. c Acts 2. 23. Mat. 17. 12. Ads 4. 27. 28. Job 19. 11. Prov. 16. 33.

II. Al

II. Although God knows whatfoever may, or can come to pass upon all fuppofed Conditions d; yet hath he not decreed any Thing, because he forefaw it as future, or as that which would come to pafs upon fuch Condition e.

d Acts 15. 18. 1 Sam. 23. 11, 12. Mat. 11. 21, 23. e Rom. 9. 1, 13, 16, 18.

III. By the Decree of God, for the Manifeftation of his Glory, fome Men and Angels f, are predeftinated unto everlasting Life, and others fore-ordained to everlafting Death g.

f1 Tim. 5. 21. Mat, 25. 41. g Rom. 9. 22, 23. Eph, 1. 5,6. Prov. 16. 4.

IV. These Angels and Men, thus predeftinated and fore-ordained, are particularly, and unchangeably defigned, and their Number is fo certain, and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished h. h 2 Tim. 2. 16. John 13. 18.

V. Thofe of Mankind that are predeftinated unte Life, God, before the Foundation of the World was laid, according to his eternal and immutable Purpose, and the fecret Counfel and good Pleafure of his Will, hath chofen, in Chrift, unto everlafting Glory i, out of his mere free Grace and Love, without any Forefight of Faith or good Works, or Perfeverance in either of them, or any other Thing in the Creature, as Conditions, ór Caufes moving hun thereuntok, and all to the Praife of his glorious Grace /.

¿ Eph. 1. 4, 9, 11. Rom. 8. 30. 2 Tim. 1.9. 1 Thef, 5.9. k Rom. 9. 11, 13, 16. Eph. 1. 4, 9. (Eph. I. 6, 12.

VI. As God hath appointed the Elect unto Glory, fo hath be, by the eternal and moft free Purpofe of his Will, fore-ordained all the Means thereunto m. Wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Chrift n; are effectually called unto Faith in Chrift,

13,

m 1 Pet. 1. 2. Eph. 1. 4, 5. Eph. 2. 10. 2 Thef. 2. 1 Thef. 5. 9, 10. Tit. 2. 14.