The Ginful Nature, and dangerous Confequences of Divifion a mong the Proteftant Churches Page 32, 33 The great Ufefulness of Confeilions to cure thofe Evils, and to promote Peace and Union 33, 34 The Uncharitableness and Folly of fome High-Church Princi ples PART II. 34, 35 Concerning that End of Confeffions which particularly refpects the Rulers and Paftors of the Church, when Creeds are eftablished as a Standard of Orthodoxy, and must be fubfcribed by Ecclefiaftical Officers 35, 40 35 A fhort History of this Controverfy, and an Account of the Opi nions of different Parties concerning the Authority of Confeflions, their Lawfulnefs, Expediency, and Ufefulness The Arguments againft Confeffions reprefented at one View in their full Strength 40 Their Contrariety to the Perfection and Perfpicuity of the Scrip ture And to the unalienable Liberties of a Chriftian ibid. 41 ibid. A Paffage of Epifcopius paraphrafed, and a Quotation from the Occa fional Paper Light 42 The abfolute Unfitnefs of Confeffions to promote Truth and 43 Their fatal Influence on the Temper and Affections of their Admirers ibid 44 The great Prejudice they are to practical Holiness All which Obfervations are juftified and illuftrated by the History of the Church in all Ages ibid. The only Way to remedy thofe Evils, with the Advantages of laying afide all fuch humane Tefts 45 A Defence of the Equity, Ufefulness and Excellency of Confefli ons, particularly of the Practice and Principles of the Church of Scotland with respect to them 45 What the Authority and Ufe of Confeffions with respect to Minifters, &c. are in the Church of Scotland, manifefted by the Acts of Parliament relative thereto Several Methods might be taken to vindicate this Ufe of Confef fions, with that followed in this Effay 55, 52 52-56 The general Principles upon which the Authority of Confeffions may be built, and any Church may juftly require an Affent to them from her Minifters From all which it appears, That the very Maxims of Liberty which our Adverfaries glory in, are Props firm enough to fupport the Weight k 3 Weight of that Authority which the Creeds of our Church pre tend to The general Principles of Nature agreeable to divine Revelation Page 57 ibid, 58 ibid. An Anfwer to all the Objections which are brought against Confeffions and Creeds Objection I. taken from their tyrannical Nature and Tendency, the Invafion they make on the effential Freedoms of a Chriftian; and their Inconfiftency with the noble Proteftant Principle,That the Bible is the only Rule of Faith and Manners This Objection anfwered; and the Weaknefs, Uncharitableness and Miftakes of it shown 59-63 The Adverfaries to Confeffions, at the Bottom, Enemies to Li berty; and the Principles upon which the Oppofition to Creeds is built, are really deftructive of the Right of private Judgment, and a Freedom of Confcience; and in many refpects tyranni cal and arbitrary 64---66 The Enemies of Confeffions as much influenced by the Sound of fome favourite Words of a Party, and as angry, uncharitable and imperious, as the moft zealous Patrons of Orthodoxy 66, 67 The depofing of Minifters who depart from the publick Standard and, as a Confequence hereof, the depriving them of their Sti pends, no Perfecution, but perfectly confiftent with the ftricteft Maxims of Liberty 67-69 The Opinion of our Adverfaries, as to this Cafe, juftly chargeable with grievous Perfecution 69, 70 70, 71 This Cafe further illuftrated from two parallel Inftances 72-75 75----77 Objection II. taken from the Inconfiftency of Confeffions with the abfolute Sufficiency and Perfpicuity of the Scriptures; and the great Difhonour which is done to the Sacred Writings, by expreffing our Faith in other Words than are therein con tained The Practice of the Church of Scotland noways expofed to this Ob 77,78 jection 78 The reftricting Churches in the Confeffions of Faith to the precife Words and Phrafes of the Bible, and the denying a Liberty to ufe Forms of humane Compofure for this Purpofe, is extremely unreafonable According to it the neceffary Ends of Creeds can never be gained the plain Commands of our Saviour obeyed nor 78, 79 79,80 This This Opinion deftructive of all Church-Communion Page 81, 82 The Liableness of our Confeffions to the fame Inconveniencies, confidered 82 82---84 This Opinion of the Enemies to Creeds is extremely fuperftitious and Pharifaical The Papifts much obliged to these pretended Afferters of Liberty whofe Doctrines of opus operatum, and Prayers in an unknown Tongue, they feem to fall in with on this Occafion No Unity of Faith according to this Opinion An Evafion of our Adverfaries confidered 85 85, 86 86, 87 86 That the Words of the Bible may be fubfcribed where the Scriptures are not in the leaft affented to This Principle inconfiftent with Preaching, or any Expofition of the Holy Scriptures, and destructive of the Office of the Miniftry 87----89 The plain Contradictions which the Enemies to Creeds, particu larly the Nonfubfcribers at London are chargeable with 92-94 89 It follows from this Scheme, that a Confeffion of Faith could not be formed in the Words of any Tranflation of the Bible; and that no Chriftian, who did not understand Hebrew and Greek, could ever make a Profeffion of his Faith 89----91 Yea there could be no Confeffion even in Hebrew and Greek 91 This Opinion reftricting Confeflions of Faith to Scripture-Terms, deftructive of negative Creeds, though fometimes neceffary 91,92 And of a Declaration of our Belief of Scripture-Confequences: With the grofs Abfurdities hereof From all which appear the Unreafonableness, Abfurdity and Dif honour done to the Sacred Writings, by a Scheme which pretends to fo much Veneration and Regard for them Remarks on two Paffages, one of the Occafional Paper, the other of the Reasons of the Nonfubfcribers 94-96 That Confeffions of human Compofure of publick Authority in the Church, and confifting of other Words and Phrafes than thofe of the Sacred Writings, are in all refpects agreeable to the Honour and Dignity, the Sufficiency and Perfpicuity of the Bible. And the great Mifreprefentations and Mistakes of our Adverfaries manifefted by feveral Arguments 96----104 The Injuftice and Groundlefnefs of calumniating our Principles, as if they had the leaft Connection with, or Tendency towards thofe of the Church of Rome 94 104 Objection III. taken from the bad Influence Creeds may have on the Interefts of Learning and Religion, and their Hindrance to new Difcoveries and Advances in Knowledge 104, 105 The Infufficiency of this Kind of Reasoning, and the fatal Confequences of it to all Religion and Goodness 105-108 That Religion and Learning can fuffer no Lofs by this Authority of Confeffions: And that valuable and substantial Discoveries are likelier to be made according to our Principles, than by he Scheme of the Adverfaries 108---13 The The Weakness of this Objection further evidenced Page 11311 Objection IV. taken from the mifchievous Confequences of fuch publick Standards of Orthodoxy, with respect to the Peace and Happiness of Mankind, and the Divifions, Animofities, & which, it is alledged, they are the Occafion of ibid. This Objection ftrikes only againft the Abufe of Creeds, but is of no Force against Confeffions duly regulated And thefe Evils are really owing to the unfanctified Paffions of Mankind, and not to their Opinions either for or against Con feffions Therefore the Authority of Confeffions in our Church, noways prejudicial to any of the Virtues of Chriftianity 116, 117 117 118 Several Confiderations which evidence the Importance of this Queftion, invigorate our Zeal in behalf of Confeffions, and heighten our Value and Efteem for them The near Connection which this Queftion concerning Confeffions of Faith hath with the Doctrines of Chriftianity, and the great Influence Creeds have on the Interefts of Religion, are Things of much Importance 118, 119 A pathetick Exhortation to Conftancy in the Principles of Religi on, and to a vigorous Zeal and fteady Adherence to the Faith of the Gofpel: With Remarks fuited to the prefent Times 119--124 The great Importance and Neceffity of a Belief of the Principles of Religion applied to the prefent Purpose 125, 126 The Unreafonableness and fatal Confequences of a Church's receiving any Minifters among them who maintain not the Purity of Faith, and refufe to fubfcribe the publick Standard 126, 127 None fo violent Oppofers of Confeffions as the declared Enemies of revealed Religion, with Remarks upon it 127, 128 The happy Effects which the Authority of Creeds in the Church of Scotland hath had upon Truth, Peace and Holiness 128, 129 Some Things particularly with refpect to the Westminster Confel fion PART III. 129, 130 Containing thofe Ends of Confeffions which have a Relation all the Members of the Church ibil The Firft End, To provide the People with a short and ufeful Summary of the Doctrines of Religion 130, 131 The Excellency of the Westminster Confeffion and Catechifms in this refpe&t 131---133 The Second End, To maintain the Purity of Faith, and prevent the fpreading of Errors among the People, explained and illuAtrated 133-135 Remarks on a Book lately published, The Marrow of modern Divinity Page 135-138 138 The Third End, To tranfmit the Truth to Pofterity, and animate their Zeal and Stedfaftnefs in the Profeffion of it This applied to the State of the Church of Scotland, with a particu lar Refpect to the National Covenant 138---140 The Laft End of Confeffions, To be fubfervient to the Hiftory of the Church 140, 141 An Objection, arifing from the alledged Ufe of our Confeffion in the Adminiftration of Baptifm, anfwered 141---143 The Claufe in the 4th Section of the 23d Chapter of our Confer fion, Infidelity or Difference in Religion doth not make void the MagiStrate's just and legal Authority, nor free the People from their due Obedience to him, confidered 143, 144 |