THE

CONFESSION OF FAITH,

AGREED UPON BY THE

ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER,

WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF

COMMISSIONERS 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 Assembly, 1647, and ratified and established by

Acts of Parliament, 1649 and 1690, as the publick and avowed

CONFESSION OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,

WITH THE

PROOFS FROM THE SCRIPTURE.

THE

CONFESSION OF FAITH,

Agreed upon by the ASSEMBLY of DIVINES at Westmii-

ster : Exumined and approved, Anno 1647, by the GENE-

RAL ASSEMBLY of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND ;

and ratified by Acts of Parliament 1649 and 1690.

CHAP. I. Of the Holy Scripture.
LTHOUGII the light of nature, and the works of cre-

A

ation and providence, do so far manifest the goodness,

wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable a ;

1. a. Rom. ii. 14. For when, the sing one another. Rom. i. 19. Be.

Gentiles, which have not the law, do cause that which may be known of

by nature the things contained in the God is manifest in them; for God

law, these having not the law, are a hath shewed it unto them. Ver. 20.

law unto themselves : V. 15. Which For the invisible things of him from

shew the work of the law written in the creation of the world are clearly

their hearts, their conscience also seen, being understood by the things

bearing witness, and their thoughts that are made, even his eternal power

the mean while accusing or else excu- and Godhead; so that they are with-

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b

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yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation b; therefore, it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church ; and afterwards, 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 d; which maketh the holy scripture to be most necessary ; those former ways out excuse. Psal. xix. 1. The heavens ledge; Ver. 21. That I might make declare the glory of God; and the fir- thee know the certainty of the words mament_sheweth his handy-work. of truth; that thou mightest answer Ver. 2. Day unto day uttereth speech, the words of truth to them that send and night unto night sheweth know. unto thee? Luke i. 3. It seemed good ledge. Ver. 3. There is no speech nor to me also, having had perfect underlanguage where their voice is not standing of all things from the very heard. Rom. i. 32. Who knowing first, to write unto thee in order, most the judgment of God, (that they which excellent Theophilus ; Ver. 4. That commit such things are worthy of thou mightest know the certainty of death,) not only do the same, but have those things wherein thou hast been pleasure in them that do them. With instructed. Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoRom. ii. 1. Therefore thou art inex- ever things were written aforetime, casable, O man, whosoever thou art, were written for our learning; that we that judgest ; for wherein thou judg. through patience and comfort of the est another, thou condemnest thyself; scriptures might have hope. Matth. for thou that judgest doest the same iv. 4. But he answered and said, It is things.

written, Man shall not live by bread bi Cor. i. 21. For after that, in alone, but by every word that proceedthe wisdom of God, the world by wis- eth out of the mouth of God. Ver. 7. dom knew not God, it pleased God by Jesus said unto him, It is written a. the foolishness of preaching to save gain, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord them that believe. 1 Cor. ii. 13. thy God. Ver. 10. Then saith Jesus Which things also we speak, not in unto him, Get thee hence, Saran : for the words which man's wisdom teach. it is written, Thou shalt worship the eth, but which the Holy Ghost teach. Lord thy God, and him only shalt

thou cth; comparing spiritual things with serve. Isa. viii. 19. And when they spiritual. Ver 14. But the natural shall say unto you, Seek unto them man receiveth not the things of the that have familiar spirits, and unto wi. Spirit of God; for they are foolishness zards that peep and that mutter ; unto him : neither can he know them, should not a people seek unto their because they are spiritually discerned. God? for the living to the dead ? Ver.

c Heb. i. 1. God, who at sundry 20. To the law, and to the testimony: times, and in divers manners, spake in if they speak not according to this time past unto the fathers by the word, it is because there is no light in prophets.

them. Prov. xxii. 19. That thy trust e 2 Tim. ii. 15. And that from a may be in the Lord, I have made child thou hast known the holy scripknown to thee this day, even to thee. tures, which are able to make thee Ver. 20. Have not I written to thee wise unto salvation, through faith excellent things in counsels and know which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Pet.i. 19.