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 1690. A СНАР. І. Of the Holy Scripture. LTHOUGH the Light of Nature,and the Works of Creation and Providence do fo far manifeft the Goodness, Wisdom, and Power of God, as to leave Men unexcufable *; yet law, are a arc Rom, 2, 14. For when the excufe. Pfal. 19. 1. The heavens Gentiles which have not the law, declare the glory of God, and the do by nature the things contained firmament fheweth his handy-work. in the law, thefe having not the v. 2. Day unto day uttereth fpeech, law unto themfelves: and night unto night the weth know15. Which fhew the work of the ledge. v. 3. There is no speech, nor law written in their hearts, their language, where their voice is not confcience alfo bearing witnefs, and heard. Rom. 1. 32. Who knowing their thoughts the mean while accu- the judgment of God, (that they fing, or elfe excufing one another, which commit fuch things are wor Rom. 1. 19. Becaufe that which thy of death) not only do the fame, may be known of God, is manifeft but have pleasure in them that do in them; for God hath fhewed it un- them. With Rom. 2. 1, Therefore to them. v. 20. For the invifible thou art inexcufable, O man, whothings of him from the creation foever thou art that judgeft; for of the world, are clearly feen, being wherein thou judgeft another, thou understood by the things that are condemneft thy felf; for thou that made, even his eternal power and judgeft doft the fame things. Godhead; fo that they are without B b I Cor. are they not fufficient to give that Knowledge of God and of his Will, which is neceffary unto Sal vation. Therefore it pleafed the Lord, at fundry times,and in divers manners, to reveal himself,and to declare that his Will unto his Church; and afterwards for the better Preferving and Propagating of the Truth, and for the more fure Eftablishment and Comfort of the Church against the Corruption of the Filefh, and the Malice of Satan and of the World, to commit the fame wholly unto Writing a which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most neceffa b I Cor. 1. 21. For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleafed God by the foolislinefs of preaching to fave them that believe. 1 Cor. 2. 13. Which things alfo we fpeak, not dome words ry; things from the very firft, to write unto thee in order, moft excellent Theophilus, v. 4- That thou might know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. Rom. 15. For whatsoever things which mans were written aforetime, were writwif but which the holy ten for our learning; that we through Ghoft teacheth, comparing fpiri- patience and comfort of the feritual things with spiritual, v. 14. ptures might have hope. Matths + But the natural man receiveth not 4. But he answered and faid, the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, becaufe they are fpiritually difcerned. C Heb. 1. 1. God who at fundry times, and in divers manners fpake in time paft unto the fathers by. the prophets. Prov. 22. 19. That thy truft may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day,even to thee. v. 20. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counfels and knowledge; v. 21. That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightft anfwer the words of truth to them that fend unto thee? Luke 1. 3. It feemed good to me alfo, having had perfect understanding of all It is written, Man fhall not live by ry; thofe former ways of God's revealing his Will unto his People, being now ceafed ... II. Under the Name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the Books of the Old and New Teftament, which are these : All which are given by Infpiration of God, to be the Rule of Faith and Life . III. The Books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of Divine Inspiration, are no Part of the Canon of the Scripture; and therefore are of no Authority in the Church of God, nor to be any otherwife approved, or made ufe of, than other human Writings h. IV. The Authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the Teftimony of any Man,or Church; but wholly upon God (who is Truth it felf) the Author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God i. V. We &tion, for inftruction in righteous ness. III. b Luk. 24. 27. And beginning at Mofes, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the fcriptures, the things concerning himself. v. 44. And he faid unto them, Thefe are the words which I fpake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Mofes, and in the prophets, and in the pfalms concerning 3.2. Much every way: chiefly becaufe unto them were committed the oracles of God. me. Rom 8 Luke 16. 29. Abraham faith unto him, They have Mofes and the prophets, let them hear them. v.31. And he faid unto him, If they hear not Mofes and the prophets, neither will they be periwaded, though one rofe from the dead. Eph. 2. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apofties and prophets, Jefus Christ himself being the chief corner-ftone. Rev. 22. 18. For I teftify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man fhall add unto these things, God fhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. v. 19. And if any man For the prophecy came not in old fhall take away from the words of time by the will of man, but holy the book of this prophecy, God men of God fpake as they were fhall take away his part out of the moved by the holy Ghoft. book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 2 Tim. 3. 16. All fcripture is given by infpirazion of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for corre 2. Pet. I. 21. IV. i 2 Pet. 1. 19. We have alfo a more fure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that fhineth in dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ftar arife in your hearts. V. We may be moved and induced by the Tefimony of the Church, to an high and reverent Efteem of the Holy Scripture. And the Heavenlinels of the Matter, the Efficacy of the Doctrine, the ' Majefty of the Stile, the Confent of all the Parts, the Scope of the Whole (which is to give all Glory to God) the full Difcovery it makes of the only Way of Man's Salvation, the many other incomparable Excellencies, and the intire Perfection thereof, are Arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence it felf to be the Word of God; yet notwithftanding our full Perfwafion and Affurance 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'. v. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the holy Ghoft. 2 Tim. 3.16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteousness. 1 John 5. 9. If we receive the witnefs of men, the Witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God, which he hath teftified of his Son. 1 Thef. 2. 13. For this caufe alfo thank we God without ceafing, because when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh alfo in you that believe. V.1 Tim.3.15. But if I tarry long, that thou mayft know how thou Oughteft to behave thy felf in the houfe of God, which is the church VI. The of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 1 John 2. 20. But ye have an unction from the holy One, and ye know all things. v. 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him, abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: But as the fame anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie; and even as it hath taught you, ye fhall abide in him. John 16. 13. Howbeit, when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he fhall not speak of himfelf, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come. v. 14. He fhall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and fhall fhew it unto you. I Cor. 2. 1o. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit fearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. v. 11. For what man knoweth the things of a |