THE BAPTIST CONFESSION
OF FAITH OF 1689
WITH SCRIPTURE PROOFS
Put forth by the Elders and Brethren of many Congregations of
Christians
(baptized upon profession of
their faith) in
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Romans 10:10
“This ancient document is the most
excellent epitome of the things most surely believed among us. It is not issued
as an authoritative rule or code of faith, whereby you may be fettered, but as
a means of edification in righteousness. It is an excellent, though not
inspired, expression of the teaching of those Holy Scriptures by which all
confessions are to be measured. We hold to the humbling truths of God's
sovereign grace in the salvation of lost sinners. Salvation is through Christ
alone and by faith alone."
- Charles Haddon Spurgeon
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
TITLES
FOREWORD
THE
BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH
ENDING
STATEMENT AND SIGNATORIES
FOR
FURTHER STUDY
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
‘I
have thought it right to reprint in a cheap form this excellent list of
doctrines, which were subscribed to by the Baptist Ministers in the year
1689. We need a banner because of the truth; it may be that this small
volume may aid the cause of the glorious gospel by testifying plainly what are
its leading doctrines . . . May the Lord soon restore unto His Zion a pure language,
and may her watchmen see eye to eye.’ So wrote the young C.H. Spurgeon,
then in the second year of his ministry at New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, in a preface addressed to All the Household of
Faith, who rejoice in the glorious doctrines of Free Grace with which he
prefixed this Confession when he published it in October, 1855.
The
Confession itself was first compiled by the Elders and Brethren of many
congregations of Christians, baptized upon their profession of faith, in London
and the country (as they then described themselves) in the year 1677. It
was based upon, and drew its inspiration from the Confession drawn up by the
Westminster Assembly of Divines a generation earlier, and indeed differs only
from it in its teaching upon those matters, such as baptism, the Lord's Supper,
and church government, upon which among the Reformed churches the Baptists
differ from the Presbyterians. For fear of persecution, the compilers of
the 1677 Confession did not subscribe their names to it, but when, in
September, 1689, following the Revolution of the previous year, the Ministers
and Messengers of the churches were able to meet in more peaceful times,
thirty-seven of them, including all the most eminent Baptist ministers of the
day, set their names to the recommendation with which it was circulated among
the churches. Thereafter for between 150 and 200 years it remained the
definitive Confession of Faith of the Particular (or Calvinistic) Baptist
churches of
Mr.
Spurgeon did not, however, when he republished this Confession, merely preface
it with certain words of general commendation. He also addressed to his
own church at
‘This
little volume,’ he wrote, ‘is not issued as an authoritative rule, or code of
faith, whereby you are to be fettered, but as an assistance to you in
controversy, a confirmation in faith, and a means of edification in righteousness.
Here the younger members of our church will have a body of divinity in small
compass, and by means of the scriptural proofs, will be ready to give a reason
for the hope that is in them.
Be
not ashamed of your faith; remember it is the ancient gospel of the martyrs,
confessors, reformers, and saints. Above all, it is the truth of God,
against which all the gates of Hell cannot prevail. Let your lives adorn
your faith, let your example adorn your creed.
Above all live in Christ Jesus, and walk in Him, giving credence to no teaching
but that which is manifestly approved of Him, and owned by the Holy
Spirit. Cleave fast to the Word of God which is here mapped out for you.’
This new edition of the Confession is sent out as a private
venture by a small group of Baptists who are convinced that it has a message
for this generation and believe its publication to be long
overdue. They hope it will achieve a wide circulation among the churches,
and receive the close study which they believe it will richly repay.
In
Presbyterians and Congregationalists suffered less than did Baptists under this
harassment. No little reason for their relative success in resisting
government tyranny was their united front of doctrinal agreement. All
Presbyterians stood by their Westminster Confession of 1646.
Congregationalists adopted virtually the same articles of faith in the Savoy
Confession of 1658. Feeling their substantial unity with paedobaptists suffering under the same cruel injustice,
Calvinistic Baptists met to publish their substantial harmony with them in
doctrine.
A
circular letter was sent to particular Baptist churches in
A preface
to the original publication of 1677 says in part: “. . . It is now many years
since diverse of us . . . did conceive ourselves under a necessity of
publishing a Confession of our Faith, for the information and satisfaction of
those that did not thoroughly understand what our principles were, of had
entertained prejudices against our profession . . . This was first put forth
about the year 1643, in the name of seven congregations then gathered in London
. . .” (These early Baptists were conscious that the 1644 Calvinistic
Baptist Confession predated the 1646 Presbyterian Confession and the 1658
Congregationalist Confession).
“Forasmuch
as this confession is not now commonly to be had; and also that many others
have since embraced the same truth which is owned therein; it was judged
necessary by us to join together in giving a testimony to the world of our firm
adhering to those wholesome principles . . .”
THE BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH
CHAPTER 1; OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
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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
|
Ephesians
|
Hebrews
|
All of which are given by
the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.5
5 2 Tim. 3:16
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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:20; Acts
15:11
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 Spir